Best Superficialmagic Podcasts (2023)

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Daniella Mestyanek Young, Part 1 - Children of God, 9/11, & Escaping the Cult 57:35

2d ago57:35

57:35

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 pr…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Andrew Seidel - Christian Nationalism & Information Warfare 1:11:33

9d ago1:11:33

1:11:33

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 s…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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THROWBACK: Post-Traumatic Growth with Richard Tedeschi 1:01:01

17d ago1:01:01

1:01:01

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 …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

101
Simon Kent Fung - Dear Alana & Conversion Therapy 1:08:10

23d ago1:08:10

1:08:10

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 …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Dr. Marc Feldman & Jordyn Hope - Munchausen by Proxy aka Medical Child Abuse 1:36:55

1M ago1:36:55

1:36:55

Dr. Marc Feldman, professor of psychology and expert in Munchausen by Proxy, talks to the girls along with survivor Jordyn Hope for an information-packed episode. Dr. Feldman discusses why he prefers the term medical child abuse (MCA), some of the more extreme cases he's seen, red flags he looks out for, and how parents get doctors to believe and t…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Kyle & Kari, Part 2 - The 2x2s: Uncovering Widespread Sexual Abuse 1:01:18

1M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

In part two of their interview, Kyle and Kari, former members of the 2x2s (the group that Meagan grew up in), talk about the Facebook group they created for people leaving the group, which created a forum for people to share their stories for the first time. They discuss the overseer who was found dead in a hotel and the letter that exposed his sex…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Kyle & Kari, Part 1 - Deconstructing The 2x2s 1:05:28

1M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

Former members of the Two by Twos Kyle and Kari (the group that our Meagan grew up in) discuss the apocalyptic focus on the religion, personal stories of deconstructing their beliefs, the peculiar structure of the group led by pairs of ministers called "workers", how Kyle and Kari joined and met as kids, how it compared to Meagan's experience, what…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Martin - Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, & The I.D.W. 1:15:33

2M ago1:15:33

1:15:33

There's order. And there's chaos. Simple, right? Today our new friend Martin shares how he used to be a big fan of Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro, how he found videos as a teenager that helped him feel empowered as he searched for identity, the impact they had on his worldview, some of the idealogical tenants of Jordan Peterson, why so many young …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Guinevere Turner, Part 2 - Group Exile, Culture Shock, & Recovery 1:04:33

2M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

In part two of her two-part interview, Guinevere Turner, renowned screenwriter (writer of films like American Psycho and Charlie Says), actress, and author of new memoir When The World Didn't End, talks about getting kicked out of the group and living with her mother after years of barely knowing her, the cognitive dissonance of suddenly going to s…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Guinevere Turner, Part 1 - The Lyman Family, Compound Life, and Queen Jessie 1:00:35

2M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

In part one of her two-part interview, Guinevere Turner, renowned screenwriter (writer of films like American Psycho and Charlie Says), actress, and author of new memoir When The World Didn't End, talks about growing up in the Lyman Family cult, bouncing around between different compounds, and being raised by women in the group who were not her mot…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Emily Lynn Paulson - Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing 1:11:28

2M ago1:11:28

1:11:28

When #BossBabe culture goes wrong. Author of Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing and former member of an MLM she calls Rejuvinat, Emily Paulson, shares how she was first introduced to the group by a friend from school, how it seemed to be the perfect way to bring purpose and extra income to her sta…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Madison McGhee - The Dark Side of Sorority Life 1:15:28

3M ago1:15:28

1:15:28

Ever joined a sorority? It's all Greek to us! Former sorority member and Ice Cold Case podcast host Madison McGhee shares how she always dreamed of joining a sorority, which one she chose after growing up Christian, what the process of joining was like, being the only person of color in the sorority, how she was punished for not straightening her c…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Christy Carlson Romano - Child Actors & the Toddler to Trainwreck Pipeline 1:21:09

3M ago1:21:09

1:21:09

From Even Stevens to Kim Possible, Disney Channel legend and Vulnerable podcast host Christy Carlson Romano talks about the difficulties of being a working actor from such a young age, what it was like to be well-known, and the pressures of stage parents. She also discusses the "toddler to trainwreck pipeline" and the lack of an exit strategy from …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Lindsey Williams, Part 2: Going to IBLP Headquarters & The Downfall of Bill Gothard 1:18:35

3M ago1:18:35

1:18:35

Shiny Happy People's Lindsey Williams shares how Institute in Basic Life Principles leader Bill Gothard would recruit young girls to headquarters, the inappropriate questions he asked and physical boundaries he repeatedly crossed, how controlling he was over who Lindsey dated, the website where women began connecting the dots about his behavior, th…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Lindsey Williams, Part 1: Shiny Happy People, The Institute in Basic Life Principles, and Meeting Bill Gothard 1:12:38

4M ago1:12:38

1:12:38

Makeup artist, podcaster, and former Institute in Basic Life Principles member, Lindsey Williams (who is featured in Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets), delves into the Duggar family connection into the IBLP, being home schooled using "wisdom booklets", how physical punishment was a tenant of the faith, why women lived under the authority o…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Allison Miller - Interstitial Cystitis, Orthorexia, and an Alternative Medicine Cult 1:22:19

4M ago1:22:19

1:22:19

A Million Little Things star Allison Miller shares with Lola & Meagan how she was once a client of a culty alternative medicine clinic run by a couple who claimed to know how to heal her chronic bladder condition, Interstitial Cystitis (also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome). They dig into the societal reason why women have to resort to these meas…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Jimanekia Eborn - Reclaiming Your Sexuality After Trauma 1:23:51

4M ago1:23:51

1:23:51

Jimanekia Eborn, sex educator, trauma counselor, podcast host, and founder of non-profit Tending the Garden, shares the traumas she's experienced in her own life, what her healing journey has been like, and what led her to help others in her work. They discuss sex after trauma, going on self-dates to learn what you like (and don't like), the import…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Mubin Shaikh, Part 2: 9/11, Reinterpreting Islam, and Going Undercover 59:26

4M ago59:26

59:26

In part two of their conversation with deradicalized extremist and former Canadian government operative, Mubin Shaikh, Lola and Meagan dig into Mubin's meet-cute with his now-wife (who was not Muslim when they met), how little she knew about his extremism, why 9/11 was the turning point in his radical beliefs, and his deeper exploration into Islami…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Mubin Shaikh, Part 1: Islamic Extremism, Meeting the Taliban, and Getting Radicalized 1:04:32

5M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

Mubin Shaikh, deradicalized Islamic extremist and former security intelligence & counter-terrorism operative, discusses his upbringing balancing secular and Muslim life in Toronto, the party he threw as a young man that made him feel ashamed enough to become more deeply religious, and how an encounter with the Taliban pushed him toward radicalizati…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Jennings Brown & Justice - Liana Shanti's Conspiracy Sisterhood 1:29:50

5M ago1:29:50

1:29:50

Journalist Jennings Brown returns, this time with a guest who goes by Justice, to talk about a new internet cult leader named Liana Shanti and her social media presence, which targets women with wellness cleanses, women's empowerment, wild conspiracy theories, and grandiose claims about her supernatural powers. They discuss Shanti's followers' patt…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Kara Goucher - Alberto Salazar and the Nike Oregon Project 1:18:50

5M ago1:18:50

1:18:50

Accomplished Olympic runner and The Longest Race author Kara Goucher shares how she and her partner were invited to join the prestigious Nike Oregon Project and coach Alberto Salazar, how Alberto's methods seemed effective at first but became more controlling and inappropriate over time, what led her to become a whistleblower, and the stark contras…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Perfectionism & Purity 52:32

5M ago52:32

52:32

No one is perfect. Not even Lola and Meagan. Today the ladies delve into the extreme belief of perfectionism, its connection to purity culture, Lola and Meagan's firsthand experience with OCD and religious trauma, how to address your inner cult leader, the intersectionality with cancel culture, and the importance of staying connected to those with …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Robert Fitzpatrick - The History of MLMs 1:09:41

5M ago1:09:41

1:09:41

Time to level up. MLM expert and author of Ponzinomics, the Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing, Robert Fitzpatrick, discusses the history of MLMs including why they took off in the 80s, their connection to the American Dream and economic inequality, the biggest scams he's seen over the years, how MLMs disconnect people from their identities, and…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Priscilla Tucker, Part 2: Escaping the Kingstons, Forced Rehab, and a Billion Dollar Tax Fraud 55:32

6M ago55:32

55:32

In the second half of their conversation with Kingston Clan survivor Priscilla Tucker, Lola and Meagan learn more about the leader of the group, why being sent to a bad kid camp turned out to be a positive experience for Priscilla, and how she worked for billion-dollar fraudster Jacob Kingston, ultimately helping the FBI take him down. Plus, how Pr…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Priscilla Tucker, Part 1: The Kingstons, Polygamy, and a Cousin Engagement 50:30

6M ago50:30

50:30

Priscilla Tucker, friend of the show and survivor of Mormon-offshoot polygamist group the Kingstons, talks about the origins of the group and how it differs from other polygamist sects, why so many members become doctors and lawyers, and her upbringing, including how she began working for pennies from the age of 8. They also discuss the leader of t…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Adam Levin - Romance Scams, Hackers, & Protecting Your Identity 1:17:05

6M ago1:17:05

1:17:05

Have you been scammed? Lola and Meagan have... and one of them was even part of one. What the Hack podcast host Adam Levin joins Trust Me to chat about phishing, romance scams that target the elderly, social engineering, who the scammers ARE, and tips on how to protect your identity online. Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse o…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Zacch Comfort, Part 2: The Bride of Christ Church, and an Important Story From Lola 1:13:38

6M ago1:13:38

1:13:38

In part two of Lola & Meagan's interview with Bride of Christ Church survivor Zacch Comfort, they discuss how leader Thomas Clyde Smith Jr's control tactics got more extreme once the group moved to the Oregon commune, including separating children from their families, requiring people to hit each other in church, and cycling children into his home …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Zacch Comfort, Part 1: The Bride of Christ Church and a Sex Offender Turned Prophet 1:02:49

7M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

Survivor of The Bride of Christ Church and creator of the Boiled Frogs podcast, Zacch Comfort, shares how convicted child molester Thomas Clyde Smith, Jr went from seeing visions in a psych ward to starting his own church, asserting control and arranging marriages while the group was in Las Vegas, the eventual move of the cult to a commune in Orego…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Sam Ciavarella - When CrossFit Gets Culty 1:16:37

7M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

If the shoe CrossFits... Former employee and enthusiast of CrossFit, Sam Ciavarella, shares about a time when she constructed her whole identity around CrossFit, the feeling of constant pressure to push herself to the limit, the shady story of the original owner, comparing CrossFit to generally competitive athletic endeavors, and why pushing yourse…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Keith Page - From Megachurch Pastor to Secular Death Doula 1:30:45

7M ago1:30:45

1:30:45

It's the episode you've been dying to hear. Keith Page, funeral celebrant, hospice chaplain, and death doula/midwife, shares what it was like being a pastor of large church and why parts of that experience made him uncomfortable, his fall from grace that led him to turn away from religion, and how he found his calling by helping people deal with de…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Rosanna Arquette - Commune Life, Racism, & Harvey Weinstein 47:44

8M ago47:44

47:44

Actor, director, and activist Rosanna Arquette discusses her childhood growing up on a commune that was part of the Subud spiritual movement, her mom's journey from her own abuse to helping other women, the racism she saw in the community outside of the commune, her own personal experience with Harvey Weinstein's harassment, the subsequent changes …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Felicia Rosario and Daniel Levin - Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence 1:08:25

8M ago1:08:25

1:08:25

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 guise of helping them, when the manipulation elevated into sexual abuse and violence, and how they're doing now that Larry is going t…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Antonio Perez - Alex Jones, the New World Order, and Conspiracy Theory Addiction 1:02:11

8M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Get your pocket constitution ready. Antonio Perez, a former conspiracy theorist who followed Alex Jones, shares why Jones' over-the-top theories about the New World Order appealed to him, how Antonio's addiction factored into his dopamine-seeking thinking, and why building an internal locus of control can help avert conspiratorial thinking. Plus, h…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Chris Kavanagh & Matthew Browne - Decoding the Gurus 1:11:14

8M ago1:11:14

1:11:14

Cognitive anthropologist Chris Kavanagh and psychologist Matthew Browne, hosts of the podcast Decoding the Gurus, share some of their criteria for what makes a guru, discussing a few of the many personalities they've covered on their podcast: Elon Musk and Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan, oh my. They discuss the horrors of social media, the importanc…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Lauren Drain, Part 2: Life After Westboro 1:03:21

8M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

In part two of their discussion with former Westboro Baptist Church member Lauren Drain, she'll share how she was kicked out of the group and struggled to build a new social circle, the fear mongering that the Church used, and her healing journey including the use of fitness, EMDR, and ayahuasca. PLUS an incredible update on her family's current st…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Lauren Drain, Part 1: Joining The Westboro Baptist Church 52:58

9M ago52:58

52:58

Banished author, fitness model, and registered nurse Lauren Drain joins Lola and Meagan to talk about her upbringing in the Westboro Baptist Church. They'll discuss the group's hateful and cruel picketing of public events, how Lauren's family joined after her dad intended to make a mockumentary about the church, how tightly controlled everyday life…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Jay Van Bavel - Groupthink, Social Identity, and Cult Psychology 1:07:55

9M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Groups!... I did it again. Jay Van Bavel, NYU Associate Professor of Psychology and Neural Science, Director of the Social Identity and Morality Lab, and co-author of The Power Of Us, discusses how our social identities change depending on our environment and context, how the groups we identify with affect our decisions and perception, and the impo…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Conspiracy Month: Morbid - Elisa Lam, False Accusations, & the Dangers of Web Sleuthing 1:05:28

9M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

Metal musician and filmmaker Pablo "Morbid" Vergara, who appeared in the Netflix docuseries "Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel," shares what drew him to metal music and its horror-centric imagery, and how his dark persona led to him being accused by strangers of murdering Elisa Lam--despite the fact that he was there a full year before …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Conspiracy Month: Aja Romano & The Satanic Panic 1:16:09

9M ago1:16:09

1:16:09

Don't panic! Writer Aja Romano shares how they became interested in the history of the Satanic Panic in the US, how it ramped up in the 60s and 70s, the societal impact of horror films like The Exorcist, books like Satan Seller and Michelle Remembers, rising fear and trials that arose in the 80s, its impact on the LGBTQ community, and how these kin…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Conspiracy Month: Mikey Biddlestone - What Makes Conspiracy Theorists Double Down 1:03:53

10M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

Lola and Meagan chat with Mikey Biddlestone, post-doc researcher at the Cambridge social decision making lab whose focus is on conspiracy beliefs, misinformation, and political psychology. They'll dig into what factors make someone more likely to believe in conspiracies, the values they do or DON'T bring to people's lives, how discrimination agains…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Conspiracy Month: Lisa Fazio - Why Fake News Feels Real 54:27

10M ago54:27

54:27

It's Conspiracy Month! In our first episode of the series, Lisa Fazio, Associate Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University, discusses how we come to believe falsehoods, why none of us are experts at discerning fact from fiction, and how repetition can make false information seem more true. She'll discuss why misinformation spreads so easily …

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Josh Lobo - What Happens When You Troll a Cult 1:09:14

10M ago1:09:14

1:09:14

Filmmaker and Lola's pal Josh Lobo shares his experiences as a teenager dealing with a militant small-town religious group in Wyoming. He'll discuss how trolling the group on Facebook led to them seeking revenge, escalating over time to the point of shooting his car up, how he sought legal action to protect himself, and whether or not he regrets hi…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Jan Broberg, Part 2: Seduction, Secrecy, and Realizing the Lie 50:11

10M ago50:11

50:11

Jan Broberg, kidnapping survivor and subject of the Peacock documentary Friend of the Family: True Evil (plus scripted series Friend of the Family), describes how Robert Berchtold seduced Jan's mom to get to Jan, and what it was like the second time he abducted her, keeping her hidden for 4 months in Southern California. She discusses how deeply br…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Jan Broberg, Part 1: Family Grooming, Aliens, and the First Kidnapping 57:59

11M ago57:59

57:59

Jan Broberg, kidnapping survivor and subject of the Peacock documentary Friend of the Family: True Evil (plus scripted series Friend of the Family), shares her story of how a man from church befriended her family when she was a child, grooming and seducing both of her parents to get to Jan. She discusses how the man, Robert Berchtold, kidnapped her…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Trust Me 100! 1:13:33

11M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

Lola and Meagan celebrate their 100th episode by looking back at some of their most awe-inspiring, informative, and touching moments from their interviews with former Moonie Steve Hassan, NXIVM survivor India Oxenberg, former Manson girl Dianne Lake, Heaven's Gate survivor Frank Lyford, and more! This episode of Trust Me is brought to you by the Am…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Elishaba Doerksen, Part 2 - Escaping Alaska and the Road to Recovery 1:08:16

11M ago1:08:16

1:08:16

Lola and Meagan continue their conversation with Elishaba Doerksen, author of Out of the Wilderness: Escaping My Father's Prison and My Journey to Forgiveness. Elishaba discuess her family's move to Alaska, how her father's physical abuse turned sexual after years of grooming, how she finally escaped, how she mentally adjusted to life in normal soc…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Elishaba Doerksen, Part 1 - My Family Cult in the Wilderness 56:21

12M ago56:21

56:21

Elishaba Doerksen, author of Out of the Wilderness: Escaping My Father's Prison and My Journey to Forgiveness, describes how her father rejected his well-to-do upbringing, became a hippie, and eventually found Christianity, deeming himself a sort of prophet. In part one of her story, she shares how he moved their entire family into a cabin in the w…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Abigail Kochunas - The Gloria Gifford Conservatory for the Performing Arts 1:27:46

12M ago1:27:46

1:27:46

Actor Abigail Kochunas and our very own Meagan Elizabeth share stories of what they saw and were subjected to as students in Gloria Gifford's Acting Conservatory including classes that would go on for hours, public humiliation, and the unusual level of control Gloria had over the lives of her members. Abigail shares how much time and money she inve…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Sari Crawford - Synanon: Rehab Program Turned Cult 1:01:28

12M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

Sari Crawford, host of podcast The Sunshine Place, details her father's involvement with Synanon, the notorious drug rehabilitation program turned cult. Sari shares what led Charles Dederich to found the group in the 1950s, Synanon's early success helping addicts recover, and practices like "the game" and "the trip." She also discusses how the grou…

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Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

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Charlotte Laws - IsAnyoneUp.com, Revenge Porn, and the Most Hated Man on the Internet 1:04:43

1y ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Author and anti-revenge porn activist Charlotte Laws details her battle against the infamous founder of IsAnyoneUp.com and the subject of Netflix's The Most Hated Man on the Internet, Hunter Moore. She shares how her daughter Kayla's photos were hacked and stolen by Hunter, how he refused to take down his victim's photos, how his online following b…

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