Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

Madi Stroud - Daughter of a Cult Leader: Love Has Won & Amy Carlson

May 16, 2024

Madi Stroud, daughter of late cult leader Amy Carlson, discusses her childhood, Amy's cult Love Has Won, and the impact on followers. They talk about the growth of the cult, the role of 'Father God', Amy's decline, and the difficulty of watching her health deteriorate. The episode delves into family secrets, emotional turmoil, and the aftermath of Amy's involvement in the cult.

01:13:43

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Episode guests

Madi Stroud

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Amy Carlson's transformation into 'Mother God' sparked a cult following with increasingly fanatic believers.

Maddie Stroud's emotional journey reveals the complexities of navigating a family member's involvement in extreme beliefs.

The legal aftermath of Amy Carlson's death exposes the lack of accountability for her cult followers, highlighting the dangers of unchecked manipulation.

Deep dives

Mother's Transformation into Cult Leader

The podcast episode explores the transformation of Maddie Stroud's mother from a normal maternal figure to a cult leader known as Mother God. We learn that Amy Carlson started the Love Has Won New Age cult, claiming she was God and gradually attracted fanatical followers who believed in her divine identity. The podcast delves into how Amy's cult grew, the influence of her romantic partner, Father God, and the escalating fanaticism within the group.

Introduction

2min

Navigating Controversy and Certainty

6min

Unveiling Family Secrets

6min

Unconventional 'Marriage' in Cult-Like Group

7min

Exploring the Cult Leader's Influence and Followers' Devotion

4min

Reflections on a Mother's Cult Leadership

14min

Family's Unsettling Encounter with Dr. Phil Unveiled

2min

Cult Intervention and Escalating Tensions

12min

Emotional Journey: Love, Abandonment, and Shocking News

5min

10.

Facing the Darkness: Healing from Cult Trauma

7min

11.

Exploring the Temptation of Joining Like-Minded Communities and the Dangers of Cult-like Influence

3min

Today our guest is Madi Stroud. She was featured on the HBO docu series Love Has Won, and is late cult leader Amy Carlson’s daughter - the one whose mummified body was found wrapped in Christmas lights in Colorado. Madi shares what she remembers of her mom as a kid, how it felt after Amy suddenly left Madi and her brothers when she was only 7, and how she discovered that her mom had started the Love Has Won new age cult, claiming she was God - or more specifically, Mother God. We’ll talk about how Amy’s cult grew and her followers became more fanatical, how her last boyfriend known as “Father God” contributed to her demise, and how difficult it was for Madi to watch her mother’s health deteriorate, knowing the people around her could have tried to help.

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