
Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts - art19.com
Latest episode: Wed Jul 30 2025
Trust Me is a weekly interview podcast about cults, extreme belief, and the fine line between devotion and delusion—told through firsthand accounts from the people who lived it. Hosted by two women who’ve been in cults themselves, Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth, the show features survivors from groups like Heaven’s Gate, the Manson Family, NXIVM, OneTaste and more–sharing personal stories of how they got in, how they got out, and everything in between.
Each week, they invite these guests alongside experts who can dive deep into seductive leaders, the darker aspects of organized religion, and the subtler shades of groupthink and the psychology of influence. Trust Me explores it all with unfiltered honesty, dark humor, and a lot of heart. This isn’t a sensationalized deep dive into cults—it’s a compassionate, first-person exploration of what it means to believe, to belong, and to break free. At the end of the day, wanting to believe in something bigger than yourself is one of the most human instincts there is.
- Jul30Akina Cox - Part 1: Unification Church, Mass Weddings, and Unpaid Labor63mins
- Jul16Introducing Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation1min
- Jul9REWIND: Dianne Lake - The Manson Family, Part 1: Meeting Charlie66mins
- Jul2REWIND: Glynn Washington - The Worldwide Church of God57mins
- Jun25REWIND: Hoyt Richards - From Supermodel to Cult Member79mins
- Jun18REWIND: Lola's Mom - Mormon-Offshoot Cult73mins
- Jun11An Exciting Update from Lola and Meagan!
- Mar12Amanda Rae - The Kingston Clan and Escaping Polygamy79mins
- Mar5Maggie Rowe - Sinning Bravely and Moral Scrupulosity80mins
- Feb26Caleb Ward, Part 2 - Disneyland for Christians and Exiting the Church54mins
- Feb19Caleb Ward, Part 1 - Kingdom Life Ministries and Evangelical Youth Culture57mins
- Feb12Uriah Wesman, Part 2 - Growing Up in Three Cults (The Hearts Center and The Ideal Society)65mins
- Feb5Uriah Wesman, Part 1 - The First Cult: Church Universal and Triumphant53mins
- Jan24Philip Deslippe & Stacie Stukin - 3HO,Kundalini yoga, & Yogi Bhajan93mins
- Jan15REWIND: Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 2: Breaking Away34mins
- Jan10REWIND: Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 1: The Nomadic Lifestyle43mins
- Jan1Ashlen Hilliard - The Evolution of Cult Intervention Practices81mins
- Dec26REWIND: Joann Vaega: Waco Survivor and Former Branch Davidian63mins
- Dec18Carolyn Costin - The Link Between Cults and Eating Disorders79mins
- Dec11Yoni Shrira, Part 2 - Hard Labor, Isolation, Running Away, and a Dark Legacy55mins
- Nov27Yoni Shrira, Part 1 - The Family Foundation School, Troubled Teens, and Snitching Culture46mins
- Nov21Tory Hess - From Second Life to Wilderness Commune80mins
- Nov14REWIND: Jay Van Bavel - Groupthink, Social Identity, and Cult Psychology63mins
- Nov6Bethany Joy Lenz - One Tree Hill, a Secret Cult, and Living a Double Life75mins
- Oct31Anne - Psychosis, Delusions, & the Cult of Your Own Mind54mins
- Oct23REWIND: Jitarth Jadeja - Former QAnon Believer76mins
- Oct16Gareth Gore - Opus Dei, Human Trafficking, & Project 202568mins
- Oct9Norah - Girls Night In: L.A. Facebook Group Gone Culty88mins
- Oct2Demetria, Part 2 - Twin Ray Mysticism, Spiritual Retreats, and the Necessity of Rage66mins
- Sep27Demetria, Part 1 - Online Gurus, Mysterious Elixirs, and Joining the Twin Ray Cult63mins
- Sep18Joelle Tamraz, Part 2 - Meeting The Elders, Emotional Manipulation, and Moving On69mins
- Sep11Joelle Tamraz, Part 1 - Traveling to India, Meeting a Swami, and "Past Lives"63mins
- Sep4Sara Teitelman - The Culty Elements of Technology71mins
- Aug28Min Zhou, Part 2 - Labor Camps, Persecution, and Mass Killings in the Cultural Revolution48mins
- Aug21Min Zhou, Part 1 - The Cult of Mao Zedong, and Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution52mins
- Aug14Tia Levings, Part 2 - Questioning Fundamentalism, Motherhood, and the Dangers of Christian Nationalism48mins
- Aug7Tia Levings, Part 1 - A Well-Trained Wife in the Christian Patriarchy46mins
- Jul31Andrea Dunlop, Part 2 - A Family Torn, Munchausen by Proxy, & Critiquing Take Care of Maya47mins
- Jul24Andrea Dunlop, Part 1 - Munchausen by Proxy, a Faked Miscarriage, and a Perpetrator in the Family52mins
- Jul17J. Wesley Boyd - When Physician Health Programs Go Wrong65mins
- Jul10R. Derek Black, Part 2 - How a White Supremacist Changed Their Mind57mins
- Jun26R. Derek Black, Part 1 - Former White Nationalist, Growing Up in the KKK, and Cognitive Dissonance50mins
- Jun19Ian Rafalko, Part 2 - Son of a YouTube Scientologist Health Guru84mins
- Jun12Ian Rafalko, Part 1 - Former Scientology Auditor53mins
- Jun5Aliia Roza - Former Russian Secret Agent and Sex Spy76mins
- May29Rabia Chaudry - Serial, True Crime, & Countering Violent Extremism60mins
- May23Jessica Kahn - Y2K Cult68mins
- May16Madi Stroud - Daughter of a Cult Leader: Love Has Won & Amy Carlson66mins
- May9Dr. Inna Kanevsky - Pseudoscience, TikTok Psychology, & Culty Psychologists76mins
- May1Warren Kohl, Part 2 - The Pressures of Preaching in a Secretive Cult60mins
- Apr25Warren Kohl, Part 1 - Preparing to Preach in a Secretive Cult43mins
- Apr17Nadine Macaluso - Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing from Trauma Bonds78mins
- Apr3Zoe & Lillian, Part 2 - Troubled Teens, Midwest Academy, and Solitary Confinement48mins
- Mar27Zoe & Lillian, Part 1 - The Program, Ivy Ridge and Casa by the Sea48mins
- Mar21Roberta Blevins, Part 2 - Leaving The LuLaRoe Family53mins
- Mar13Roberta Blevins, Part 1 - Inside LuLaRoe66mins
- Mar6Lola & Meagan - Am I in a Cult (or Just a Group)?58mins
- Feb28Katelyn Jade Hlavaty, Part 2 - Satanic Ritual Abuse & Becoming a Spokesperson72mins
- Feb21Katelyn Jade Hlavaty, Part 1 - Joining Operation Light Force62mins
- Feb14Sara Gorman - Science, Healthcare, and Why We Ignore Facts77mins
- Feb7Jenna Miscavige, Part 2 - Escaping Scientology47mins
- Jan31Jenna Miscavige, Part 1 - Growing up in Scientology's Sea Organization56mins
- Jan24Crystal Hefner - Surviving The Playboy Mansion67mins
- Jan17Michelle Dowd, Part 2 - From the Mountain to the Hospital to Forging Her Own Path64mins
- Jan10Michelle Dowd, Part 1 - Becoming a Forager in The Field50mins
- Dec27Thomas & Micah, Part 2 - Mormon Mission, Scientology, & Disney Adults61mins
- Dec20Thomas & Micah, Part 1 - God, Goofy, and Growing Up Gay in Religion42mins
- Dec13Marji Mozart, Part 2 - Life After the FLDS61mins
- Dec7Marji Mozart, Part 1 - Growing up in the FLDS70mins
- Nov29Barak Hardley - Where Belief Intersects Creativity59mins
- Nov22Annie Taylor - The Garden: Commune or Cult67mins
- Nov15Alice Hines & Lorraine - Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe74mins
- Oct25Jill Duggar Dillard & Derick Dillard61mins
- Oct18Marlene Winell - Leaving The Fold, Religious Trauma, and Emotional Recovery61mins
- Oct11Listener Stories - Independent Baptist Movement & Capoeira Teacher51mins
- Oct4Daniella Mestyanek Young, Part 2 - Military Life & Parallels to The Children of God63mins
- Sep27Daniella Mestyanek Young, Part 1 - Children of God, 9/11, & Escaping the Cult52mins
- Sep20Andrew Seidel - Christian Nationalism & Information Warfare65mins
- Sep13REWIND: Post-Traumatic Growth with Richard Tedeschi56mins
- Sep6Simon Kent Fung - Dear Alana & Conversion Therapy61mins
- Aug30Dr. Marc Feldman & Jordyn Hope - Munchausen by Proxy aka Medical Child Abuse89mins
- Aug23Kyle & Kari, Part 2 - The 2x2s: Uncovering Widespread Sexual Abuse56mins
- Aug16Kyle & Kari, Part 1 - Deconstructing The 2x2s80mins
- Aug9Martin - Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, & The I.D.W.70mins
- Aug2Guinevere Turner, Part 2 - Group Exile, Culture Shock, & Recovery60mins
- Jul26Guinevere Turner, Part 1 - The Lyman Family, Compound Life, and Queen Jessie56mins
- Jul19Emily Lynn Paulson - Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing66mins
- Jul12Madison McGhee - The Dark Side of Sorority Life70mins
- Jul5Christy Carlson Romano - Child Actors & the Toddler to Trainwreck Pipeline75mins
- Jun21Lindsey Williams, Part 2: Going to IBLP Headquarters & The Downfall of Bill Gothard73mins
- Jun14Lindsey Williams, Part 1: Shiny Happy People, The Institute in Basic Life Principles, and Meeting Bill Gothard67mins
- Jun7Allison Miller - Interstitial Cystitis, Orthorexia, and an Alternative Medicine Cult78mins
- May31Jimanekia Eborn - Reclaiming Your Sexuality After Trauma78mins
- May24Mubin Shaikh, Part 2: 9/11, Reinterpreting Islam, and Going Undercover55mins
- May17Mubin Shaikh, Part 1: Islamic Extremism, Meeting the Taliban, and Getting Radicalized60mins
- May10Jennings Brown & Justice - Liana Shanti's Conspiracy Sisterhood84mins
- May3Kara Goucher - Alberto Salazar and the Nike Oregon Project74mins
- Apr27Perfectionism & Purity49mins
- Apr19Robert Fitzpatrick - The History of MLMs70mins
- Apr12Priscilla Tucker, Part 2: Escaping the Kingstons, Forced Rehab, and a Billion Dollar Tax Fraud52mins
- Apr5Priscilla Tucker, Part 1: The Kingstons, Polygamy, and a Cousin Engagement47mins
- Mar29Adam Levin - Romance Scams, Hackers, & Protecting Your Identity72mins
- Mar22Zacch Comfort, Part 2: The Bride of Christ Church, and an Important Story From Lola69mins
- Mar15Zacch Comfort, Part 1: The Bride of Christ Church and a Sex Offender Turned Prophet59mins
- Mar9Sam Ciavarella - When CrossFit Gets Culty71mins
- Feb22Keith Page - From Megachurch Pastor to Secular Death Doula85mins
- Feb15Rosanna Arquette - Commune Life, Racism, & Harvey Weinstein44mins
- Feb8Felicia Rosario and Daniel Levin - Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence63mins
- Feb1Antonio Perez - Alex Jones, the New World Order, and Conspiracy Theory Addiction58mins
- Jan25Chris Kavanagh & Matthew Browne - Decoding the Gurus66mins
- Jan18Lauren Drain, Part 2: Life After Westboro59mins
- Jan11Lauren Drain, Part 1: Joining The Westboro Baptist Church49mins
- Jan4Jay Van Bavel - Groupthink, Social Identity, and Cult Psychology63mins
- Dec28Conspiracy Month: Morbid - Elisa Lam, False Accusations, & the Dangers of Web Sleuthing61mins
- Dec21Conspiracy Month: Aja Romano & The Satanic Panic71mins
- Dec14Conspiracy Month: Mikey Biddlestone - What Makes Conspiracy Theorists Double Down60mins
- Dec7Conspiracy Month: Lisa Fazio - Why Fake News Feels Real51mins
- Nov30Josh Lobo - What Happens When You Troll a Cult64mins
- Nov23Jan Broberg, Part 2: Seduction, Secrecy, and Realizing the Lie47mins
- Nov16Jan Broberg, Part 1: Family Grooming, Aliens, and the First Kidnapping54mins
- Nov9Trust Me 100!68mins
- Nov2Elishaba Doerksen, Part 2 - Escaping Alaska and the Road to Recovery64mins
- Oct19Elishaba Doerksen, Part 1 - My Family Cult in the Wilderness52mins
- Oct12Abigail Kochunas - The Gloria Gifford Conservatory for the Performing Arts82mins
- Oct5Sari Crawford - Synanon: Rehab Program Turned Cult57mins
- Sep28Charlotte Laws - IsAnyoneUp.com, Revenge Porn, and the Most Hated Man on the Internet60mins
- Sep22Listener Stories - Financial Abuse, Mormon Missions, and Coming Out82mins
- Sep14Chris Bail - Online Extremism, Trolls, & the Myth of the Echo Chamber82mins
- Aug31Cheryl Nichols - High School Teacher Grooming, Patriarchy, and "Passing the Trash"60mins
- Aug24Camille & Trillium - A Pagan Coven and a Southern Fried Narcissist74mins
- Aug17Strictly Stalking's Jaimie Beebe & Jake Deptula76mins
- Aug15Welcome To The Sunshine Place4mins
- Aug10Virginia Heffernan: Edge, Jeffrey Epstein, & the Intellectual Dark Web74mins
- Aug3Joann Vaega: Waco Survivor and Former Branch Davidian62mins
- Jul27Spencer Schneider: Sharon Gans, School, & a Manhattan Cult Story55mins
- Jul21Luis Favela & Honor Academy80mins
- Jul14Hank Nuwer & Hazing Culture59mins
- Jul6Evan McNary: Assisting Exorcisms, Speaking in Tongues & Pastors in Sunglasses59mins
- Jun22G Charles Wright: Growing up Bisexual, Natural Disasters & Abusive Parenting67mins
- Jun15Sara Levine & Danny Murphy of Not Another True Crime Podcast54mins
- Jun8Monia Ali: One Direction & Toxic Fandom76mins
- Jun1Patrick Ryan and Joe Kelly - Transcendental Meditation & Cult Intervention73mins
- May25Rethinking Trauma: The Power Threat Meaning Framework with Lucy Johnstone73mins
- May18Rethinking Trauma: Post-Traumatic Growth with Richard Tedeschi55mins
- May11Rethinking Trauma: Self-Regulation and Healing Trauma with Robert Rhoton76mins
- May4Rethinking Trauma: Resilience with George Bonanno57mins
- Apr27Jordan Harbinger: Scams, Influence, & The Law of Attraction60mins
- Apr21Nitai Joseph, Part 2: When Meditation Gets Culty55mins
- Apr13Nitai Joseph, Part 1 - Hare Krishna, Cool Gurus, & Labor Exploitation71mins
- Apr6Lynn Short - The New Gnostic Society, Sexual Alchemy, & Lucid Dreaming78mins
- Mar30Anne Speckhard - How Terrorists Are Made62mins
- Mar23Terra Newell, Part 2 - Killing Dirty John46mins
- Mar16Terra Newell, Part 1 - Meeting Dirty John57mins
- Mar9Sinasta Colucci – Romance, Racism, & Cover-Ups in Twelve Tribes47mins
- Mar2Sinasta Colucci - Twelve Tribes, Farm Life, and The End Times42mins
- Feb23The Airborne Toxic Event's Mikel Jollett - My Childhood in Synanon75mins
- Feb9Jillian Lauren, Part 2 - Return to Brunei and Meeting a Serial Killer43mins
- Feb2Jillian Lauren, Part 1 - Life in a Harem57mins
- Jan26Banachek, Part 2 - Critical Thinking vs Skepticism52mins
- Jan19Banachek, Part 1 - Mentalism vs Psychic Ability48mins
- Jan12Drew Amstutz - Surviving Conversion Therapy50mins
- Jan5Amanda Knox & Christopher Robinson - Understanding Cognitive Bias74mins
- Dec22Bob Nygaard, Part 2 - How Psychics Manipulate60mins
- Dec15Bob Nygaard, Part 1 - Investigating Psychic Fraud55mins
- Dec8Lauren & John Matthias – The Daybells, Part 2: Buried Bodies & the Dark Triad56mins
- Dec1Lauren & John Matthias – The Daybells, Part 1: Murder, Zombies, & LDS Fan Fiction57mins
- Nov17Angie Kehler & Yahanna Masimer - The Assembly of YHWHhoshua65mins
- Nov10Listener Stories - Purity Culture & Narcissist Dads65mins
- Nov3Rachel Bernstein & IndoctriNation60mins
- Oct27Dr. Ramani Durvasula - Narcissism 10184mins
- Oct21Jennings Brown - Investigating the Fellowship of Friends75mins
- Oct6Glenn Carter - UK Raelian Leader, Part 2: A Debate on Power Dynamics69mins
- Sep29Glenn Carter - UK Raelian Leader, Part 1: Aliens, Meditation & Cloning66mins
- Sep22The Cult of Hollywood49mins
- Sep15Natascia Mallin – Therapy Cult, Part 2: Trauma Bonding & Lifting the Veil45mins
- Sep9Natascia Mallin – Therapy Cult, Part 1: A Guru Named Stan48mins
- Sep1Christina Babin - Children of God, Part 2: Reprogramming Camps56mins
- Aug25Christina Babin – Children of God, Part 1: Punishment Camps & Flirty Fishing51mins
- Aug19Katherine - Teal Swan53mins
- Aug12Jonas Bell Pasht - How To Become A Tyrant59mins
- Aug4Torah Bontrager - Growing Up Amish, Part 2: Escaping & Activism53mins
- Jul21Torah Bontrager – Growing Up Amish, Part 1: Corporal Punishment & Rumspringa49mins
- Jul14Glynn Washington - The Worldwide Church of God57mins
- Jul7Hoyt Richards - From Supermodel to Cult Member79mins
- Jun30April Snow - Scientology & the Sea Org, Part 2: Leaving & The Aftermath50mins
- Jun23April Snow - Scientology & the Sea Org, Part 1: The LA Celebrity Centre54mins
- Jun16Brian Holoyda - Folie à Deux & Shared Delusions64mins
- Jun9Danny Gold & Sean Williams - Mafias & Organized Crime61mins
- May26Taylor Brown - Tech CEOs63mins
- May19Dianne Lake - The Manson Family, Part 2: The Tate-LaBianca Murders69mins
- May12Dianne Lake – The Manson Family, Part 1: Meeting Charlie66mins
- May5Janja Lalich - Democratic Workers Party and Bounded Choice in Cults53mins
- Apr28Avital Ash - Orthodox Judaism78mins
- Apr21Anna LeBaron - Ervil LeBaron, the "Mormon Manson"91mins
- Apr14Kilian Aulenbacher - Church Universal and Triumphant64mins
- Apr7Gerardo Lopez - MS-13 & the Police, Part 2: The Rampart Scandal67mins
- Mar24Gerardo Lopez - MS-13, Part 1: LA in the 80s and 90s53mins
- Mar17Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 2: Breaking Away43mins
- Mar10Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 1: The Nomadic Lifestyle51mins
- Mar3Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti - Autism, Racism, and a Religious Cult47mins
- Feb18M.E. Thomas & Arya - Two Sociopaths (Who Are Dating)72mins
- Feb10Elana Auerbach - OneTaste (aka the Orgasm Cult)70mins
- Feb3Nicoletta Heidegger - BDSM vs. Abuse58mins
- Jan27Yuval Laor - Fervor, Awe, and Hyperreligiosity65mins
- Jan19Lucien Greaves - The Satanic Temple, Satanic Panic, & Recovered Memory59mins
- Jan13Jitarth Jadeja - Former QAnon Believer76mins
- Jan6Amber Dawn Lee - Zion Society (Fundamentalist Mormon Cult)54mins
- Dec30Amanda Montell - The Language of Cults and Fanaticism59mins
- Dec23Cliff "Fifth" Henderson - Jehovah's Witnesses72mins
- Dec17Naomi Gibson - Children of God and NXIVM, Part 2: Recruited into NXIVM74mins
- Dec10Frank Meeink - From Neo-Nazism to Anti-Racism75mins
- Dec2Naomi Gibson – Children of God and NXIVM, Part 1: Life on an Abusive Commune50mins
- Nov25Vikram Gandhi - Being Kumaré, the Fake Guru54mins
- Nov18Noël Wells - Scam Psychic Retreat77mins
- Nov11India Oxenberg - NXIVM56mins
- Nov4Steve Hassan - The Moonies, Trump, and QAnon65mins
- Oct27Esther & Lori - Current FLDS Members60mins
- Oct20Will Allen - Buddhafield61mins
- Oct13Moses Storm - Andrea Yates's Cult60mins
- Oct7Lola's Mom - Mormon-Offshoot Cult73mins
- Oct2Trust Me Trailer