Episode 47: In part two of their discussion with author of The First 50, Natascia Mallin, Lola and Meagan discuss the trauma bonding that happened within the group, whether or not the program really worked, and the importance of staying anchored to the outside world.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 46: In part one of their chat with author of The First 50: A Saga of Backseats, Bedrooms, Lookout Points, and Dive Bars, Natascia Mallin, Lola and Meagan discuss how Natascia's time working at Cafe Gratitude and the Landmark Forum led her to join a "therapy cult" led by a well-read charismatic guru named Stan.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 45: In part two of their interview with Children of God survivor, Christina Babin, Lola and Meagan discuss life in the "reprogramming camps," the difficulty coming forward about these kinds of experiences, and finding love after leaving the group.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 44: Love bombing. Flirty fishing. Moving from country to country. Just a few standard parts of life as a member of David Berg's Children of God. In part one of their conversation with Christina Babin, Lola and Meagan discuss Christina's experience in punishment camps, the separation from her family, and being exploited in a child sex trafficking cult.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 43: Lola & Meagan chat with a woman named Kathryn about her experiences as a follower of the charismatic social media guru Teal Swan... who is often accused of being a cult leader. They discuss Teal's online presence and appeal, how she conducts her workshops, controversies of plagiarism, and a concerning story of what happened to one member.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 42: Executive producer of Netflix's How To Become a Tyrant (and friend of the show!) Jonas Bell Pasht joins Lola & Meagan to talk about the behaviors of infamous dictators like Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, and Saddam Hussein, the parallels between tyrants and cult leaders, and how dictators prey upon societies' wants and needs.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 41: In part two of their conversation with activist / Amish Girl in Manhattan author TORAH BONTRAGER, Lola & Meagan discuss the abuse Torah suffered in her family, escaping the community, graduating from Columbia University, and Torah's involvement with the fight against the Supreme Court case, Wisconsin v Yoder.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 40: No cars, electricity, or indoor bathrooms - think you could do it? Activist / Amish Girl in Manhattan author TORAH BONTRAGER shares about her upbringing in an Amish community in Wisconsin, speaking the Amish language, the real meaning of Rumspringa, her tumultuous family relationships, the use of corporal punishment in Amish culture, and some of the abuse she experienced firsthand.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 39: End time prophecies? Memorizing the bible? Required church vacations your family can't afford? Snap Judgment host and creator Glynn Washington shares his experiences growing up in the apocalyptic religion the Worldwide Church of God. He tells the girls about believing the end of the world was imminent, the white supremacist roots of the group and how he was forbidden from dating outside of his race, and the book that began to change his thinking.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 38: What do you model your life after? For producer, actor, and former supermodel Hoyt Richards, it was the teachings of a charming man from Nantucket who spoke about the impending apocalypse and a distant star named Arcturus. Hoyt shares how he was indoctrinated into the Eternal Values cult as his modeling career was taking off, what he describes as "cultic relationships," and how Fabio (yes, that Fabio) was involved in his recovery.

If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at [email protected].

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@trustmepodcast

@oohlalola

@vibehigherbitch

OR TWITTER:

@trustmecultpod

@ohlalola 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.