Podcasts · Society & Culture · True Crime

Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

283 episodes

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.

More about the show

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.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Makelle Bistline, Part 1 - The FLDS, Marrying Sam Bateman, and Resisting Control Through Taylor Swift

    · 51 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Makelle Bistline, who grew up in the polygamist sect the FLDS and became one of the wives of self-proclaimed prophet Samuel Bateman–ultimately playing a crucial role in bringing him down. Makelle…

  2. Felicia Rosario - Larry Ray’s Coercive Tactics, Life After the Sarah Lawrence Cult, and Becoming an Expert Witness

    · 1 h 10 min · Explicit

    This week, the girls are joined again by Felicia Rosario, survivor of the cult at Sarah Lawrence, led by a man named Larry Ray. Today Felicia, who previously came on the show along with fellow survivor Daniel Levin,…

  3. Stephen Kinzer - MKUltra, Sidney Gottlieb, and the CIA’s Hunt For Mind Control

    · 1 h 11 min · Explicit

    This week, author and historian Stephen Kinzer joins Trust Me to discuss his book, Poisoner in Chief, and its subject: chemist Sidney Gottlieb, who led mind control experiments in the CIA’s Project MKUltra. Stephen…

  4. Renee Spencer, Part 2 - The Jesus Christians, the “Kidney Cult,” and Suing Your Daughter’s Religious Group

    · 58 min · Explicit

    This week is part two with advocate and therapist Renee Spencer, who sued the Jesus Christians, aka the “kidney cult,” after they recruited her daughter. Last week, Renee explained how she realized her daughter…

  5. Renee Spencer, Part 1 - When Your Daughter Joins the “Kidney Cult”

    · 43 min · Explicit

    This week is part 1 with advocate and therapist Renee Spencer, whose daughter was recruited into the Jesus Christians: a group commonly referred to as the “kidney cult” for their practice of encouraging members to…

  6. Larena & Elyse Wynn, Part 2 - Leaving Mormonism, Becoming Dominatrixes, and Reclaiming Power with BDSM

    · 1 h 00 min · Explicit

    We’re back with twins Larena and Elyse Wynn, also known as Mothermary. In part 2 this week they’ll talk about how Elyse got fed up with being obsessive about sin all the time, which led her to hitch a ride out of Idaho…

  7. Larena & Elyse Wynn, Part 1 - Montana Mormons, Sex at BYU, and the “Miracle" of Forgiveness

    · 50 min · Explicit

    This week is part 1 with musicians, identical twins, and former Mormons turned dominatrixes Larena and Elyse Wynn, also known by their band name Mothermary. The girls share what it was like being raised in the LDS…

  8. John Hunter - Manufacturing Mania in Self-Help Seminars

    · 1 h 11 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is psychology researcher and lecturer Dr. John Hunter, joining the show to talk about intensive self-help seminars–known as “large group awareness trainings,” or LGATs–and the emotions they produce.…

  9. Laci Mosley – Scams vs. Cults, and the Many Forms of Fraud

    · 1 h 15 min · Explicit

    This week, the girls are joined by Laci Mosley, comedian, actress, and host of the Scam Goddess podcast and TV show (and author of Scam Goddess the book), to talk about the many types of frauds that are out there, from…

  10. Michele McPhee – The Polygamist, the Criminal, and Their Multibillion-Dollar Scam

    · 1 h 05 min · Explicit

    This week, Meagan and Lola sit down with Michelle McPhee, investigative reporter and host of podcast Kingdom of Fraud, to discuss how Jacob Kingston, a fundamentalist Mormon from the secretive polygamist sect known as…

  11. Anke Richter, Part 2 - Harem Culture, Leaving ISTA, and DeCult

    · 43 min · Explicit

    This week is part 2 with Anke Richter, journalist, author of Cult Trip, former member of Tantric group ISTA, and founder and director of New Zealand’s cult conference DeCult. In part 2 with Anke, she explains how the…

  12. Anke Richter, Part 1 - Ecstatic Dancing, Tantric Sex, and Joining ISTA

    · 59 min · Explicit

    Today is part 1 with Anke Richter, journalist, author of Cult Trip, former member of Tantric group International School of Temple Arts, and founder and director of New Zealand’s cult conference DeCult. In this week’s…

  13. Sophie Fergi, Part 2 - Living with Piper, Constant Control, and Being Shunned by the Squad

    · 1 h 00 min · Explicit

    This week is part two with Sophie Fergi, former child influencer featured in the Netflix docuseries Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing. In this episode, she shares what happened after she and her mom moved in…

  14. Sophie Fergi, Part 1 - Kidfluencing, Joining the Squad, and the Dark Side of YouTube

    · 44 min · Explicit

    This week is part one with Sophie Fergi, former child influencer who told her story in the Netflix docuseries Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing. In this episode, she explains how she first met YouTube…

  15. Jasper Hoffman, Part 2 - Undercover Therapy, Leaving the Mennonites, and the Aftermath

    · 50 min · Explicit

    This week, the girls are back with Jasper Hoffman, writer, podcaster, and former Mennonite. In part two today, Jasper explains what the perfect Mennonite woman looked like, how concerns were raised when she wasn't…

  16. Jasper Hoffman, Part 1 - From Atheists to Mennonites

    · 52 min · Explicit

    This week, the girls are joined by Jasper Hoffman, writer, podcaster, and former Mennonite. In part one, she explains how her parents went from a being punk rock atheist and an anthropology major to homesteading,…

  17. Dr. Christine Marie - Undercover in a Cult Town: Taking Down False Prophet Sam Bateman

    · 1 h 21 min · Explicit

    This week, Lola’s mom Dr. Christine Marie (and the podcast’s very first guest!) comes back on the show to talk about moving to FLDS town Short Creek, how she and Lola’s stepdad Tolga earned the trust of new…

  18. Nikki G, Part 2 - The Seven Mountain Mandate, “Church Hurt,” and Why Cults Aren’t Just a White People Problem

    · 1 h 02 min · Explicit

    In part two with Nikki G., she discusses more of the high-control groups she joined, the political project of the Seven Mountain Mandate that she was part of, the connection between biblical concepts of obedience and…

  19. Nikki G, Part 1 - Down the Rabbit Hole, Cult Hopping, and Surviving the Black Church

    · 49 min · Explicit

    This week, Nikki G., host of Surviving the Black Church and survivor of FIVE different high-control groups, discusses joining the first church on her cult-hopping journey, how she got initially pulled down the rabbit…

  20. Maria Bamford - 12 Step Programs, OCD, and How to Join Every Group

    · 1 h 30 min · Explicit

    This week, Lola and Meagan are joined by comic, actor, and author of Sure I’ll Join Your Cult, Maria Bamford. The girls discuss Maria’s childhood OCD, intrusive thoughts, and the ways those experiences primed her to…

  21. Sarah Edmondson, Part 2 - DOS, Disillusionment, and Leaving Keith Raniere

    · 49 min · Explicit

    This week is part 2 with Sarah Edmondson, NXIVM survivor, author, and host of A Little Bit Culty. The girls pick back up as Sarah goes deeper into the organization, eventually entering DOS and confronting the growing…

  22. Sarah Edmondson, Part 1 - Joining NXIVM, Meeting Keith Raniere, and Moving Up the Ranks

    · 51 min · Explicit

    This week is part 1 with, at long last, Sarah Edmondson, NXIVM survivor, author, and host of A Little Bit Culty, a podcast and now book, co-hosted and authored with her husband, Nippy Ames. She’ll tell the girls how…

  23. Nomzia Bistline, Part 2 - Raided by the FBI, Life in Prison, and Breaking Free From Sam Bateman

    · 1 h 06 min · Explicit

    In part 2 with Nomzia aka Nomz Bistline, from Netflix’s docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet (with Lola’s mom), Nomz shares what it was like getting raided by the FBI, how she felt about Lola’s mom when she learned…

  24. Nomzia Bistline, Part 1 - The False Prophet: Growing Up FLDS & Marrying Sam Bateman

    · 55 min · Explicit

    This week is part one with Nomzia “Nomz” Bistline, from the Netflix docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet (with Lola’s mom, Christine!). Nomz joins the girls to talk about what it was like growing up in polygamist…

  25. Lyndsey Burr - Producing America’s Next Top Model

    · 1 h 11 min · Explicit

    Lyndsey Burr, longtime reality television producer who worked on America’s Next Top Model for years, joins the girls to talk about her experiences working on the now-controversial hit show. She talks about what the…

  26. Matthew Remski, Part 2 - Cult Hopping, Disillusionment, and Root Causes of Cults

    · 51 min · Explicit

    In part two with Matthew Remski (author and host of the Conspirituality podcast), Matthew shares how he cult hopped from his first guru to his second, the moment that disillusioned him, and the cultural patterns he's…

  27. Matthew Remski, Part 1 - Seizures, Spirituality, & the First Charismatic Guru

    · 54 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Matthew Remski, author and host of the Conspirituality podcast. In part one, he talks about his own personal experiences with gurus and cultic dynamics, and what led him to the topic of cults and…

  28. Harrison Hill - The Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps

    · 58 min · Explicit

    Author Harrison Hill joins the girls to discuss his new book The Oracle’s Daughter, which follows the rise and fall of a small cult called the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps. He explains what the…

  29. Celeste Gross - Growing Up in the Children of God

    · 57 min · Explicit

    Celeste Gross joins the girls to talk about her experiences growing up in the Children of God - aka the Family - along with her many siblings. She explains how her parents joined when it still just seemed like a…

  30. Dan Olson, Part 2 - Charismatic Leaders and the Cult of Crypto

    · 48 min · Explicit

    This week, Dan Olson, creator and host of YouTube channel Folding Ideas, returns to continue the conversation on cryptocurrency and NFTs. They discuss how these bubbles are driven primarily by charismatic leaders, why…

  31. Dan Olson, Part 1 - Crypto, NFTs, and Tech’s War on Doubt

    · 53 min · Explicit

    This week, Dan Olson of the YouTube channel Folding Ideas joins the show for a deep dive into crypto, NFTs, and why so many of these spaces start to feel less like finance and more like belief systems. He breaks down…

  32. Liz Cameron, Part 2 - Christ is on Earth, He’s in Prison, and You’re His Bride

    · 55 min · Explicit

    This week is part two with Liz Cameron, author of Cult Bride and survivor of Korean religious group Jesus Morning Star, also known as JMS. Last week she discussed the slow process of indoctrination into the group, and…

  33. Liz Cameron, Part 1 - Jesus Morning Star aka JMS: A Bookstore, a Bible Study Group, and a Prophet on Earth

    · 55 min · Explicit

    This week is part one with Liz Cameron, survivor of South Korean religious sect Jesus Morning Star (aka JMS, aka Providence), and author of Cult Bride: How I Was Brainwashed – and How I Broke Free. She explains how her…

  34. Martina Castro, Part 2 - Allegations, Disappearances, and the Crumbling Cult of John of God

    · 52 min · Explicit

    This week we’re back with Martina Castro, creator of new Exactly Right podcast Two Faced: John of God, a series about John of God, the famous Brazilian “healer” and “psychic surgeon.” Last week she explained John of…

  35. Martina Castro, Part 1 - Psychic Surgeries & John of God's Spiritual Celebrity

    · 50 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Martina Castro, creator of podcast Two Faced: John of God, Exactly Right’s new podcast series about John of God, the Brazilian self-proclaimed healer and “psychic surgeon.” In part one, Martina…

  36. Parvati Shallow - From Surviving a Cult to Winning Survivor

    · 53 min · Explicit

    This week, the show is joined by Parvati Shallow, two-time Survivor winner, current cast member on The Traitors, and author of Nice Girls Don’t Win: How I Burned it All Down to Claim My Power. Parvati shares about her…

  37. Jenny Eliscu - Conservatorships & Freeing Britney Spears

    · 1 h 09 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Jenny Eliscu, journalist, radio host, and producer on Britney vs. Spears, which covered Britney Spears’ infamous conservatorship. She explains how Britney’s struggles in 2008 were used to justify a…

  38. Jonathan Hirsch, Part 2 - Meditation, Getting Blessed, and Leaving Adidam

    · 1 h 04 min · Explicit

    In part 2 with podcaster & writer Jonathan Hirsch (creator of podcasts like Dear Franklin Jones), Lola & Meagan discuss life in the cult of Franklin Jones, aka Adi Da. They discuss the dramatic meditation rituals in…

  39. Jonathan Hirsch, Part 1 - A Guru, a Compound, and the Cult of Adi Da

    · 59 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Jonathan Hirsch, podcaster, producer, and author who grew up in Adidam, a cult led by new age guru Franklin Jones - also known as Adi Da. In this week’s episode, Jonathan explains how his parents…

  40. David Farrier - Conspiracies, Cults, and Investigating Arise Church

    · 1 h 13 min · Explicit

    This week, Trust Me is joined by David Farrier, journalist and filmmaker known for documentaries like Tickled and Netflix series Dark Tourist. He shares about his work studying strange subcultures and conspiracy…

  41. Jess Rothschild - SoulCycle and the Cult of Spinning

    · 1 h 02 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Jess Rothschild, creator of documentary podcast "Cult of Body & Soul," which dives into the history of cult fitness brand Soulcycle. She explains the spinning company's origins, how the workout…

  42. REWIND: Elana Auerbach - OneTaste (aka the Orgasm Cult)

    · 1 h 11 min · Explicit

    Episode 19: Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth interview Elana Auerbach, former follower of sexual wellness company OneTaste--elsewhere deemed the Orgasm Cult--in its early years. Elana discusses being the founder's right…

  43. REWIND: Felicia Rosario and Daniel Levin - Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence

    · 1 h 04 min · Explicit

    Survivor's of Larry Ray's sex cult Felicia and Daniel discuss how they came to meet Larry, how he leveraged his memory and connections to craft an image of authority, how Larry gained control of their lives under the…

  44. Theo Pratt - Blue Dresses, Smacking Ladies, and an Isolated Compound: Surviving Gloriavale

    · 1 h 15 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Theo Pratt, survivor of Gloriavale, an isolated Christian cult hidden deep in rural New Zealand, and author of Unveiled: A Story of Surviving Gloriavale. She’ll talk about being raised on the…

  45. Renee DiResta - Part 2: Pseudo-Events, More on Disinformation, and Telling Fact From Fiction

    · 50 min · Explicit

    Renee DiResta, professor and author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality, joins the show again to dive deeper into disinformation, propaganda, and "pseudo-events," or manufactured controversies…

  46. Renee DiResta - Part 1: Propaganda, Disinformation, and Bespoke Realities

    · 52 min · Explicit

    This week’s guest is Renee DiResta, professor, and author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality. In part one this week, she talks to Lola and Meagan about propaganda, disinformation vs.…

  47. Mike & Abbi Prussack – Part 2: Predators in Power, Institutional Denial, and the Fight to Expose It

    · 44 min · Explicit

    This week, Lola and Meagan continue their conversation with Mike and Abbi Prussack, former members of Meagan’s childhood church, the 2x2s. In part 2, they walk the girls through the abuse crisis that has shaken the…

  48. Mike & Abbi Prussack - Part 1: A Church with No Name, Isolated Childhoods, and Doomsday Fear

    · 47 min · Explicit

    This week, Lola and Meagan talk with Mike and Abbi Prussack, former members of Meagan’s childhood church, the 2x2s, also known as The Truth or The Way. The couple, who now help moderate the Ex-2x2 Facebook community,…

  49. Tim Squirrell - Incels, Redpill, and the Manosphere

    · 1 h 11 min · Explicit

    This week, researcher Tim Squirrel joins Lola & Meagan to break down the manosphere: incels, redpill, MGTOW, and the differences between some of the misogynistic subcultures in the online world of men. They discuss how…

  50. Sarma Melngailis - Part 2: Isolation, Deeper into the Scam, & Getting Arrested

    · 1 h 05 min · Explicit

    In part 2, Sarma Melngailis, subject of the docuseries Bad Vegan and author of The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, tells Lola & Meagan how Mr. Fox consumed her time, overwhelmed her with information, and dangled promises of…

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