Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcastsTrust 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 ... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 264 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureTrue Crime | |||
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Latest Episodes
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 seek support, structure, and belon... more
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 contradictions inside NXIVM. She’... more
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 she first joined the self-help gro... more
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 Christine was the FBI informant, ... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- Oprah
Too much glorification of Oprah in episode lest we forget son of John was not her only intro of perpetrators in the world lest we forget Dr Oz and Dr Phil as well as the guy that made up the book A Million Little pieces:James Frey!
Apple Podcasts5MelWStew
United States2 months ago - Empathetic
Love their attitude of empathy, since they understand how one gets confused in their thinking , and their drawing of parallels to cult like behavior around beauty standards, AI use etc.
These women are smart and have on great guests so each episode is interesting, even if I didn’t think I’d relate I can learn something from each one. Thanks for keeping it real ladies !!
Apple Podcasts5ThemzezUnited States3 months ago - Great show!
I’ve been listening since they joined ERM and I don’t want to say it’s been a pleasure . . . but this is a great show that is really elevated by the hosts deep understanding of high control tactics. Highly recommend!!
Apple Podcasts5Dovie11United States3 months ago - Almost Through the Catalog
Learned about this podcast when they joined exactly right and I’m almost done listening all the way back to the beginning. Love hearing people’s stories and the understanding that comes from the hosts’ perspectives. Balance of serious content and finding the joy perfect.
Apple Podcasts5Study Buddy 95United States3 months ago - Great show!
Very interesting content from a very interesting perspective.
Meagan is the best. She told me to say that. This is not an AI paid advertisement.
Apple Podcasts5USCfightonUnited States3 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #118 | United States/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #154 |  Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #221 |  United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #237 |  Australia/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #142 |  South Africa/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #147 |  Ireland/Society & Culture |
Talking Points
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show centers on firsthand experiences with high-control groups, exposing how manipulation, indoctrination, and charismatic leadership shape belief and behavior. Across episodes, conversations blend survivor testimony with expert analysis to unpack the dynamics of coercive influence, love bombing, and social manipulation, while offering practical guidance for recognizing red flags and rebuilding lives after exit. Notable strengths include empathetic hosting, rigorous research, and a balance of serious critique with accessible storytelling that helps listeners understand why people join and stay in high-control environments—and how to safely exit or support others who do.
What stands out is the hosts' lived experience as former participa... more
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
2. The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
3. Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes
4. A Little Bit Culty
5. Wicked Words - A True Crime Talk Show with Kate Winkler Dawson
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 264 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on this podcast?
Recent guests on this podcast include:
1. Sarah Edmondson
2. Nomz Bistline
3. Lyndsey Burr
4. Matthew Remski
5. Harrison Hill
6. Celeste Gross
7. Dan Olson
8. Liz Cameron
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