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 | 272 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureTrue Crime | |||
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Latest Episodes
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 episode she shares how she began ... more
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 with Piper Rockelle and Piper's... more
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 kidfluencer Piper Rockelle, and how Pi... more
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 compliant enough, and how over time ... more
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- Loving it
I do love a good cult tell all. The ins and outs, the ups and downs, the parallels and the vast differences.
Remembering where the two of you have come from, I think it’s remarkable the work you are doing.
One small request, is there any way to get Jasper‘s mom in an interview? I feel like that could be an entire separate thing. Understanding why she let her daughter go outside of the community to seek therapy. Anyway! Love you ladies.
Apple Podcasts5Manda_Panda17
United Statesa month ago - Please put part 2 out on time
I really love your podcast but you do so many part 1s and part 2s. It’s frustrating when you don’t put part 2 out on time the next week. Where is the Sarah Edmondson Part 2 episode?
Apple Podcasts3Not2day888United States2 months ago - 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 Podcasts5MelWStewUnited States4 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 States5 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 States5 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #184 | United States/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #220 |  Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #246 |  Philippines/Society & Culture |
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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. Was I in a Cult?
3. A Little Bit Culty
4. The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
5. Cults to Consciousness
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 272 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. Anke Richter
2. Sophie Fergi
3. Jasper Hoffman
4. Christine Marie
5. Nikki G.
6. Maria Bamford
7. Sarah Edmondson
8. Nomz Bistline
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.