Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation podcast

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.

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.

 

#239

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

Renee DiResta, professor and author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Rea... more

10 Dec 2025

49 MINS

49:38

10 Dec 2025


#238

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

This week’s guest is Renee DiResta, professor, and author of Invisible Rulers: The P... more

03 Dec 2025

52 MINS

52:19

03 Dec 2025


#237

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

This week, Lola and Meagan continue their conversation with Mike and Abbi Prussack, former... more

19 Nov 2025

43 MINS

43:35

19 Nov 2025


#236

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

This week, Lola and Meagan talk with Mike and Abbi Prussack, former members of Meagan&rsqu... more

12 Nov 2025

46 MINS

46:36

12 Nov 2025


#235

Tim Squirrell - Incels, Redpill, and the Manosphere

This week, researcherTimSquirrel joins Lola & Meagan to break down the manosphere: incels,... more

05 Nov 2025

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:14

05 Nov 2025


#234

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

In part 2, Sarma Melngailis, subject of the docuseries Bad Vegan and author of The Girl wi... more

29 Oct 2025

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:34

29 Oct 2025


#233

Sarma Melngailis - Part 1: Bad Vegan, Meeting Mr. Fox, and Early Red Flags

In part 1 with guestSarmaMelngailis, subject of the docuseries Bad Vegan and author of The... more

22 Oct 2025

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:58

22 Oct 2025


#232

Arabelle Sicardi - Plastic Surgery in Mormonism, Biohacking, and the Beauty Industry

This week, the girls are joined by Arabelle Sicardi, writer, image theorist, and author of... more

15 Oct 2025

1 HR 06 MINS

1:06:25

15 Oct 2025


#231

Anthony Cesar Duncan - ChatGPT Psychosis and the Dangers of AI

This week, the girls are joined by Anthony Cesar Duncan, an artist, mental health advocate... more

08 Oct 2025

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:43

08 Oct 2025


#230

Aaron Goldenberg - Homeschool, Conversion Therapy, and Finally Coming Out

Aaron Goldenberg, actor, comedian, and (hilarious) content creator, joins Lola and Meagan ... more

01 Oct 2025

1 HR 17 MINS

1:17:18

01 Oct 2025


#229

Sarah Stankorb - Quiverfull, Christian Nationalism, and Why Evangelical Women Are Leaving

Journalist Sarah Stankorb comes on the show to talk about her book, Disobedient Women, and... more

24 Sep 2025

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:38

24 Sep 2025


#228

Erika Lantz & Elin Lantz Lesser - Book Burnings, Rapture Drills, & the River Road Fellowship

Guests Erika Lantz and Elin Lantz Lesser join to discuss season 3 of their investigative p... more

17 Sep 2025

1 HR 22 MINS

1:22:30

17 Sep 2025


#227

Jane Borden - Cults Like Us: Puritans, Demagogues, and America’s Doomsday Obsession

Journalist Jane Borden joins the girls to discuss her book Cults Like Us, a gripping inves... more

10 Sep 2025

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:56

10 Sep 2025


#226

Megan Elizabeth Cox - The Remnant Fellowship, Gwen Shamblin, and the Worship of Skinny

Megan Elizabeth Cox–not to be confused with our Meagan Elizabeth–shares how sh... more

03 Sep 2025

1 HR 17 MINS

1:17:13

03 Sep 2025


#225

Claire Hoffman - The Rise and Vanishing of Evangelist Megastar Aimee Semple McPherson

Journalist Claire Hoffman joins us again, this time to discuss her new book Sister, Sinner... more

27 Aug 2025

54 MINS

54:23

27 Aug 2025


#224

Claire Hoffman - Levitation, Meditation, and a Childhood in a Transcendental Meditation Trailer Park

In Part 1 of our interview with journalist Claire Hoffman, Claire shares what it was like ... more

20 Aug 2025

39 MINS

39:56

20 Aug 2025


#223

Carol Merchasin - The Cult Assassin: Suing High-Control Groups

Attorney Carol Merchasin didn’t set out to expose cults, but after investigating all... more

13 Aug 2025

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:50

13 Aug 2025


#222

Akina Cox - Part 2: The Moonies, ICE, and the Cult Tactics of Trump

Artist and writer Akina Cox returns to share more about her experience growing up in the U... more

06 Aug 2025

53 MINS

53:11

06 Aug 2025


#221

Akina Cox - Part 1: Unification Church, Mass Weddings, and Unpaid Labor

Artist and writer Akina Cox shares about her childhood growing up in the Unification Churc... more

30 Jul 2025

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:31

30 Jul 2025