Turns Out My Supermodel Boyfriend Was in a Cult

About this episode

Donna Flagg didn’t expect to fall in love with a supermodel, but her connection with Hoyt Richards was undeniable. The two would talk to each other for hours, effortlessly, over dinner or lying in front of Donna’s fireplace, building a level of intimacy they describe as “a precious gem.” Then, one day four years into their relationship, Hoyt disappeared from Donna’s life. Donna questioned her own reality: Who had she been dating? She tried to move on, but years later, Donna got a phone call that explained everything. Hoyt had disappeared because he was in a cult. Now, he had escaped. This week on the “Modern Love” podcast, Donna Flagg and Hoyt Richards explain the role their relationship had in Hoyt’s leaving the cult, and why they decided to marry last September, more than 30 years after they first met. Donna and Hoyt’s wedding was featured in the article, “He Left Her for a Cult, but It Would Be Years Before She Knew It.” Here’s how to submit a Modern Love essay. Here’s how to submit a Tiny Love Story. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here. For more podcasts and narra