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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: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

FOR OUR 200th EPISODE, we are joined by eating disorder therapist, author, and expert Carolyn Costin to discuss her own experiences that led to her starting her practice, why so many cults control the eating habits of their members, why having an eating disorder is like having a little cult leader in your brain, and how Carolyn helped Meagan with her own eating disorder.
 

 
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Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carolyn Costin - The Link Between Cults and Eating Disorders

You're a child living on a remote compound in West Texas. One day authorities show up at your front door and an exchange of gunfire breaks out. Just as you expected would happen. Survivor of the Branch Davidians and the Waco massacre, Joann Vaega, discusses her earliest memories of living on the compound, what cult leader David Koresh was like in person, why she did not feel fear when the siege began, how her mom bravely acted to save her, learning about the fire that killed 76 people, including her own parents, and how she's currently defying how people said she would turn out. Original Airdate: 08/03/2022
 

 
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Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REWIND: Joann Vaega: Waco Survivor and Former Branch Davidian

Cult interventionist and founder of People Leave Cults, Ashlen Hilliard, talks about her path to working in cult intervention and recovery, her personal religious experience that led her to this work, how interactions with Mormons in Utah affected her worldview, how she defines what a cult is, why accusing a group of being a cult isn't always helpful, how cult intervention today is different from how it was in the 70s, how it used to involved kidnapping and unethical practices, how her model takes a harm reduction approach, and when cult intervention practices can become culty themselves!
 

 
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 • 
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BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch
 

 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashlen Hilliard - The Evolution of Cult Intervention Practices

Episode 22: Lola & Meagan interview Frank Lyford, survivor of Heaven's Gate who left after 18 years--just a few years before discovering his friends and loved ones in the group had died by suicide. In part 1, he tells the girls how he began following the leaders Ti and Do, what it was like living a nomadic lifestyle with his "check partner," and what happened when they all settled in one place for "Class." They discuss being separated from the love of his life, how the rules became more strict and controlling, and how much darker things got after Ti got cancer. Stay tuned next week for part 2! Original Airdate: 03/10/2021
 

 
Trust Me is sponsored by Shopify! Upgrade your business! Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/trustme 
 

 
BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch 
 

 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REWIND: Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 1: The Nomadic Lifestyle

Episode 23: Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth continue to interview Frank Lyford, former member of Heaven's Gate. In part 2, they discuss the growing number of red flags he began to notice after one of the leaders died, including talk of castration, and what led to his decision to finally, after 18 years, break away. He also tells the girls what it was like when he heard about the mass suicide on the news, how heartbreaking that was, the lessons he's learned as a result, and what his life is like now. Original Airdate: 03/17/2021
 

 
Trust Me is sponsored by Shopify! Upgrade your business! Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/trustme
 

 
BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch
 

 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REWIND: Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 2: Breaking Away

Creator of the one man show 3 Cults Walk Into a Bar, Uriah Wesman, shares about his FIRST cult experience in Church Universal and Triumphant, how they combined Christianity and New Age ideas, the paranoia that was created by beliefs surrounding demons, his mom's mental deterioration that led her to accuse his father of being a demon, and his parents split that led him to his next cult... which we'll discuss next week!
 

 
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 • 
ZocDoc • : Stop putting off those doctors appointments! Go to 
Zocdoc.com/trustme • to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
 • 
Shopify • : Upgrade your business! Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at 
shopify.com/trustme • 
 

 
BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch 
 

 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uriah Wesman, Part 1 - The First Cult: Church Universal and Triumphant

Today is part 2 with Uriah Wesman, former member of THREE different cults. This week he’ll talk to us more about cult #2, the Hearts Center (which was an offshoot of cult #1 from last week), what it was like being a rebellious emo kid slowly starting to realize inconsistencies in the church, and how his dad discovered cult #3 in Canada, the Ideal Society.
 
We’ll talk about why he loved Canada so much, how he became obsessed with Alex Jones in his rebellious phase, and what that third cult - a vegan meditation cult - was like, being surrounded by adults who spoke French and didn’t want him there. Plus, how he ended up leaving, and how creating a one man show helped him process his experiences.
 

 
BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch 
 

 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uriah Wesman, Part 2 - Growing Up in Three Cults (The Hearts Center and The Ideal Society)

Former pastor's son Caleb Ward joins Lola and Meagan to share his experience about the height of evangelical culture in the early 2000s in a church called Kingdom Life Ministries. Caleb discusses growing up in an environment where everyone was speaking in tongues and having loud prophecies in the middle of church, the pressures that come with being the son of a pastor, how heightened emotional experiences keep people connected to their churches, wild evangelical youth culture involving Christian rock, how good church leadership can actually exist, and why shunning is one of the worst parts of modern Christian religion.
 

 
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 • 
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Prose.com/trust • for your FREE consultation and 50% off your custom routine!
 • 
Shopify • : Upgrade your business! Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at 
shopify.com/trustme • 
 

 
BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch 
 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 
TIKTOK:
 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caleb Ward, Part 1 - Kingdom Life Ministries and Evangelical Youth Culture

Former evangelical Christian and pastor's son Caleb Ward continues his story of growing up in evangelical culture in the early 2000s. We discuss some of the touchstones of his youth including Heritage USA (Disneyland for Christians) and Christian rock event Creation Festival, as well as his fear of losing his virginity before marriage, what hell to meant to him (and Lola and Meagan) growing up, how his dad was an example of healthy church leadership, how his parents were ostracized when they left the church, and what solidified his decision to leave evangelical Christianity
 

 
We have deals for you!!
 
 • 
Quince • : Give yourself the luxury you deserve! Go to Quince.com/trust for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
 • 
Trust Me is sponsored by BetterHelp! • Visit BetterHelp.com/trust for 10% off your first month!
 

 
BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch
 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caleb Ward, Part 2 - Disneyland for Christians and Exiting the Church

Today our guest is Maggie Rowe, former writer on Arrested Development and author of Sin Bravely, a book about her experiences with moral scrupulosity, or sin-focused OCD. We talk a lot about OCD on this show, so here’s a guest who wrote an entire book about growing up with religious obsessions! She’ll tell us about her first obsessions about what was and was not sin, how she started to analyze the Bible with a critical mind to try to understand how to avoid hell, and how her parents tried to help but her church leaders didn’t understand OCD and made it worse.
 
We’ll talk about the compulsions she would engage in to make sure she was being the right amount of righteous, how she checked herself into a treatment facility for Christians, the incorrect diagnosis of bulimia she received, and how she finally got diagnosed with moral scrupulosity and began getting the treatment she actually needed.
 

 
Trust Me is sponsored by ZocDoc! Stop putting off those doctors appointments! Go to ZocDoc.com/trustme to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor TODAY!
 

 
BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch 
 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com
 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie Rowe - Sinning Bravely and Moral Scrupulosity

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 society, and the process of healing that many layers of trauma.
 

 
Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at Trust Me Pod @gmail.com
 

 
INSTAGRAM:
 
@TrustMePodcast
 
@oohlalola
 
@meaganelizabeth11
 

 
TWITTER:
 
@TrustMeCultPod
 
@ohlalola
 
@baberahamhicks
 

 
TIKTOK:
 
@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elishaba Doerksen, Part 2 - Escaping Alaska and the Road to Recovery

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