Journalist Alice Hines and former Twin Flames Universe member Lorraine, both featured in the Amazon docuseries Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe, discuss the online community that was Twin Flame Ascension, what attracted people to it, how founders Jeff and Shaleia became more controlling and abusive over time, why encouragement to pursue one's twin flame sometimes led to restraining orders, the group's MLM-like structure, why you couldn't always choose your own twin flame, and their use of gender identity coercion.

Check out our great sponsors!

Trust Me is sponsored by BetterHelp! Visit BetterHelp.com/trust to get 10% off your first month!

ZocDoc: Need a doctor? Go to Zocdoc.com/trustme and download the Zocdoc app for FREE!

Progressive: Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive!

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
CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch 
INSTAGRAM:
@TrustMePodcast
@oohlalola
@meaganelizabeth11
TWITTER:
@TrustMeCultPod
@ohlalola
@baberahamhicks
TIKTOK:
@TrustMeCultPodcast  

Alice Hines & Lorraine - Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe

A podcast about cults, extreme belief, and manipulation – from two hosts who’ve actually lived it.  Hosted by Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth.

Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or manipulation? 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

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Comedy

True crime

Today is part two with Warren Kohl, former member and religious leader within the 2x2s (Meagan's secretive childhood group that technically has no name). Today we'll hear how Warren left behind his dreams of medical school to become a "worker" (a minister who stays in people's homes). He'll talk about the pressure to speak with some kind of authority, how he was scolded for genuinely trying to connect with the members, being told to stay out of a domestic violence situation within the group, how his mental health deteriorated, how he finally left, and his message to those still in the religion.

Check out our great sponsors!!

Trust Me is sponsored by BetterHelp! Visit BetterHelp.com/trust to get 10% off your first month!

Shopify: Run a business? Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/trustme 

Need a place? Check out Apartments.com - THE place to find a place! 

Warren Kohl, Part 2 - The Pressures of Preaching in a Secretive Cult

Today's guest is Warren kohl, a fifth generation member and former “worker” (or minister) in the 2x2’s, the group that Meagan grew up in. Warren shares how devout he was to the group at a very young age, having your entire life controlled, and how utter heartbreak in high school led him to celibacy and a deeper commitment to the group.

Trust Me is sponsored by ZocDoc! Find and book a top-rated doctor at Zocdoc.com/trustme  and download the Zocdoc app for FREE!

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 

Warren Kohl, Part 1 - Preparing to Preach in a Secretive Cult

Psychologist, trauma bond expert, and author of Run Like Hell: A Therapist's Guide to Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing from Trauma Bonds, Nadine Macaluso share about her relationship with ex-husband Jordan Belfort (aka The Wolf of Wall Street) and how it led her to become a therapist with a focus on trauma bonds. They also discuss "mind mapping", intermittent reinforcement, the difference between intensity and intimacy, the three phases of trauma bonds and how violence can play into them, why Nadine uses the term "pathological lover" instead of narcissist, how to tell if you're currently in a trauma bond, and green flags that are the sign of a healthy relationship.

Check out our great sponsors!

Quince: Love affordable luxury? Go to Quince.com/trust for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Shopify: Run a business? Sign up for a $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 

Nadine Macaluso - Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing from Trauma Bonds

In part two with Zoe and Lilly, survivors of Midwest Academy, one of the abusive troubled teen programs in the same organization that was spotlighted in the docuseries The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping, we dig deeper into Lily’s experience. She’ll tell us how she was in solitary confinement for two months, and how her reaction was to rebel in any way she could. We’ll get into how they both left, and how no one believed them for years - in some cases, up until just last month - how this was and still is a multi-billion dollar industry, and where they’re both at in their healing journey.

Trust me is sponsored by BetterHelp! Visit BetterHelp.com/trust to get 10% off your first month!

Learn more about WWASP awareness below:
https://icapanetwork.org/ 
https://wwaspsurvivors.com/ 

CHECK OUT 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 

Zoe & Lillian, Part 2 - Troubled Teens, Midwest Academy, and Solitary Confinement

Survivors of the infamous WWASP schools, Zoe & Lillian, share about their experiences being forced to join Ivy Ridge, Midwest Academy, and Casa by the Sea; All schools featured in the current Netflix docudrama, The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping. Lola & Meagan dig into how these programs were marketed to parents, the dramatic ways Zoe & Lillian were brought to the facilities as teenagers, the levels inside the program that were impossible to climb, how they could only communicate with their eyes, and how they were kept from their families.

Check out our great sponsors!!

Quince: Love affordable luxury? Go to Quince.com/trust for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Shopify: Run a business? Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/trustme 

ZocDoc: Need a doctor? Go to Zocdoc.com/trustme and download the Zocdoc app for FREE!

CHECK OUT 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 

Alice Hines & Lorraine - Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe

Download our free app to listen on your phone