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    Society & Culture

    Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

    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.

    Advertise

    Copyright: 2025 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    Annie Taylor - The Garden: Commune or Cult Nov 22, 2023
    Show notes

    Annie Taylor, Executive Producer of Discovery's The Garden: Commune or Cult, shares about her time living in an off the grid community that went viral on TikTok for accusations of being a cult and disturbing allegations about a cat. Annie tells how she and the crew showed up and gradually earned the trust of the community, filming on one of the group's properties with a fascinating cast of characters, dumpster diving as their primary food source, surviving a tornado without proper shelter, their attempts at a leaderless society, the founder's connection to Rainbow Gatherings... and whether or not The Garden is actually a cult!

    Check out our holiday sponsors!

    Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/trustme

    Progressive: Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive!

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    @TrustMeCultPodcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Alice Hines & Lorraine - Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe Nov 15, 2023
    Show notes

    Journalist Alice Hines and former Twin Flames Universe member Lorraine, both featured in the Amazon docuseries Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe, discuss the online community that was Twin Flame Ascension, what attracted people to it, how founders Jeff and Shaleia became more controlling and abusive over time, why encouragement to pursue one's twin flame sometimes led to restraining orders, the group's MLM-like structure, why you couldn't always choose your own twin flame, and their use of gender identity coercion.

    Check out our great sponsors!

    Trust Me is sponsored by BetterHelp! Visit BetterHelp.com/trust to get 10% off your first month!

    ZocDoc: Need a doctor? Go to Zocdoc.com/trustme and download the Zocdoc app for FREE!

    Progressive: Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive!

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Jill Duggar Dillard & Derick Dillard Oct 25, 2023
    Show notes

    Members of the Duggar family, former cast members of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, and Counting The Cost authors, Jill Duggar Dillard & Derick Dill discuss the family's involvement in the very strict Institute in Basic Life Principles, what it was like being on TV at such a young age, how her dad (Jim Bob) convinced the family that the show served the ministry of their church, how none of the kids got paid while he made millions, Jill and Derick having their first date on camera, how she was tricked into signing a contract that she didn't know existed, the inherent coercive nature of being on a reality show, why the show was rebranded after concealed records were illegally released publicly describing abuse that she experienced without her consent, the Megan Kelly interview she was pressured into doing, how outing people's trauma against their will can be re-traumatizing, and if Jill has hope of reconnecting with her family.

    Check out our great sponsors!

    Trust Me is sponsored by BetterHelp! Visit BetterHelp.com/trust to get 10% off your first month!

    Prose: Take your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first order at Prose.com/trust

    Quince: Love affordable luxury? Go to Quince.com/trust for free shipping and 365-day returns!

    Progressive: Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive!

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Marlene Winell - Leaving The Fold, Religious Trauma, and Emotional Recovery Oct 18, 2023
    Show notes

    Psychologist, educator, and Leaving The Fold author, Marlene Winell, talks with Lola & Meagan about how she came to study the negative impacts of religion, how some basic concepts of Christianity can be harmful, why authoritarian structures of religion can sometimes lead to trauma, how we can rationally understand something but emotionally reject it, the spectrum of meaning, and what that looks like after leaving a religion.

    Trust Me is sponsored by Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/trustme

    Learn more at Marlene's work at JourneyFree.org

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    @TrustMeCultPodcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Listener Stories - Independent Baptist Movement & Capoeira Teacher Oct 11, 2023
    Show notes

    Two new listener stories! One from Shelly about her time in the Independent Baptist Movement under pastor Jack Hyles and the cult recovery work she is doing now, and one from Claire about the manipulation she experienced under her capoeira teacher.

    Trust Me is brought to you by Progressive! Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive!

    Learn more about Shelly HERE!

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    @TrustMeCultPodcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Daniella Mestyanek Young, Part 2 - Military Life & Parallels to The Children of God Oct 04, 2023
    Show notes

    In part two of her interview with Lola & Meagan, Children of God survivor and military veteran, Daniella Mestyanek Young, talks about joining the military after high school, being a woman in a hyper masculine culture, and unsettling parallels between what she saw in the military and the Children of God.

    Check out our great sponsors!!

    Shopify: Run your own business? Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/trustme

    ZocDoc: Need a doctor? Go to Zocdoc.com/trustme and download the Zocdoc app for FREE!

    Progressive: Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive!

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!!bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Daniella Mestyanek Young, Part 1 - Children of God, 9/11, & Escaping the Cult Sep 27, 2023
    Show notes

    In part one of her interview with Lola & Meagan, Children of God survivor and military veteran, Daniella Mestyanek Young, discusses being raised in the Children of God, the various forms of punishment she and the other children experienced, how child sexual abuse was not only encouraged but part of the belief system, how the youth were taught to practice for raids and lie to protect the group, why 9/11 was a turning point in her beliefs, and how she finally left the cult.

    Trust Me is brought to you by Prose! Take your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first order at Prose.com/trust

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!!bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    @TrustMeCultPodcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Andrew Seidel - Christian Nationalism & Information Warfare Sep 20, 2023
    Show notes

    Constitutional attorney, author, and YouTuber Andrew Seidel joins Lola & Meagan to discuss Christian Nationalism, why its based on a myth, how it led to cultural shifts in the U.S. during the 1950s, its impact on the Supreme Court today, the practice of cherry picking ideas from the Bible, the worst case scenario of where it can lead, and why the separation of church and state was a uniquely American concept.

    Trust Me is brought to you by Progressive! Quote today at Progressive.com to try the Name Your Price® tool for yourself, and join the over 29 million drivers who trust Progressive!

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    @TrustMeCultPodcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    REWIND: Post-Traumatic Growth with Richard Tedeschi Sep 13, 2023
    Show notes

    UNC Charlotte professor and psychology researcher Dr Richard Tedeschi discusses his pioneering work on post-traumatic growth, how his field is different from resilience, how core beliefs are involved in our trauma, what "integration" means, and the value of an "expert companion," having a mission, and sharing your story. Learn more about Richard's work at BoulderCrest.org Original Airdate: 5/18/2022

    Trust Me is brought to you by Progressive! Quote today at Progressive.com to try the Name Your Price® tool for yourself, and join the over 29 million drivers who trust Progressive!

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    @TrustMeCultPodcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Simon Kent Fung - Dear Alana & Conversion Therapy Sep 06, 2023
    Show notes

    Tech and media expert Simon Fung joins Lola and Meagan to discuss the heartbreaking story behind his new podcast, Dear Alana. When Alana Chen took her own life in 2019, Simon read about her in the news and was shocked by the similarities in their stories and experiences with conversion therapy. Simon delves into how conversion therapy is no longer the lobotomies and electro-shock therapy of the past. It's become a still controversial but compelling narrative that can draw young people in, especially those who want to be a priest or a nun - just like Simon and Alana.

    Check out our great sponsors!

    ZocDoc: Find and book a top-rated doctor at Zocdoc.com/trustme - download the Zocdoc app for FREE!

    Shopify: Run your own business? Sign up for a $1 / month trial at shopify.com/trustme

    Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com

    CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

    INSTAGRAM:

    @TrustMePodcast

    @oohlalola

    @meaganelizabeth11

    TWITTER:

    @TrustMeCultPod

    @ohlalola

    @baberahamhicks

    TIKTOK:

    @TrustMeCultPodcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


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