{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6ac3c2599610f265be0022ef/6ac3c3ef7c84f5d4dd51d39d?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"FORCED to Scam as a Romani Fortune Teller","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6ac3c2599610f265be0022ef/2965aea19bcb6fd67128d8514efc8102.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Gina Merino grew up in California with a very strict family which identifies as “Gypsies”. Her life was strictly controlled and she experienced harsh ab*se at the hands of her step mother. At elementary age, before being pulled out of school, she would begin telling fortune, understanding she was lying to people, but had no other choice. She uncovers ways in which her and her family scammed people out of thousands of dollars. When her father revealed a deep secret to his wife and family, both him and Gina were immediately treated like garbage. Gina was stuck, isolated in the family until years later when she made a daring escape and never looked back.&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://youtu.be/lFD7FaWWWY4\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube</a></p><p><br></p><p>Find Gina:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Book:&nbsp; Shay Bari</p><p>IG: <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/_shaybari/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@_shaybari&nbsp;</a></p><p>Tiktok: <a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@_ShayBari\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.tiktok.com/@_ShayBari</a></p><p><br></p><p>Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code SHELISE at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: <a href=\"https://incogni.com/shelise\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://incogni.com/shelise</a></p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe to our<a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClip\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> C2C \"CLIPS\" Channel!</a></p><p><br></p><p>Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.</p><p><a href=\"https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!</a></p><p>Patreon <a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness</a></p><p>Venmo @sheliseann</p><p><br></p><p>Find us on Social media!</p><p>Instagram <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@cultstoconsciousness</a>&nbsp;</p><p>Host Instagram <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@sheliseann&nbsp;</a></p><p>Co Producer / Host <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@jonathan.rosales_&nbsp;</a></p><p>TikTok <a href=\"http://cults.to.consciousness\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@cults.to.consciousness&nbsp;</a></p><p>Twitter <a href=\"https://twitter.com/cultstocon\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@cultstocon</a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**</p><p><br></p><p>Chapter Marks</p><p>00:00:00 Intro</p><p>00:03:56 The specific Romani group that Gina came from</p><p>00:06:20 How Gina feels about using the G-word to refer to her people</p><p>00:08:08 Stand out memories for Gina</p><p>00:10:05 How Gina reacted to getting pulled out of school</p><p>00:11:09 Why it was important to be pulled out of school</p><p>00:13:56 How Gina was taught to scam at an early age</p><p>00:20:30 How Gina felt having to lie at an early age</p><p>00:23:50 The biggest scam Gina witnessed</p><p>00:29:52 Growing up with an abus*ve stepmother</p><p>00:38:21 Gina's father comes out as gay and it changes the course of her life</p><p>00:41:44 Gina's last words to her father</p><p>00:46:18 Gina was forced to go back</p><p>00:51:53 Gina is in a painful place, and is put on a strict diet</p><p>00:53:31 Gina is forced back to fortunetelling</p><p>00:59:37 Gina plots her escape</p><p>01:11:16 \"I just needed more hugs\"</p><p>01:14:22 Did Gina ever make contact with her family again?</p><p>01:15:56 What brings Gina joy now</p><p>01:19:44 Linda, listen</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href=\"https://art19.com/privacy\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href=\"https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>","author_name":"Shelise Ann Sola, Jonathan C Rosales"}