When I was working as an intern the company was into a group called PSI Seminars. They are also into Tony Robbins. When I didn’t finish PSI Basic everything changed. I had no future there. How can I explain to a future potential employer that my last employer was in a cult without looking unprofessional? I highly think they are going to throw me under the bus if used as a reference.

I am going to go against the grain of conventional advice and say you should just outline it like you did here. I have been in the position of hiring people before. I much prefer to know the real reason why someone left a company. Granted, if someone says “my boss was an asshole”, I would probably just see that as likely making excuses. But, if someone says “I left because I was subjected to verbal and emotional harassment by my boss, and if you want me to provide specific examples I can do so”, that’s actually information I would prefer to know. I think your situation falls into that later example for sure. The idea that you should never speak ill of a former employer regardless of the circumstances IMO is bad advice.

In general it really does depend on the interviewer. I was honest and open about how my new manager at my last job fucked over the team and myself, with specific details, and it led to good conversations during the interview process for the place I’m at now.