Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 10, 2025 • 50min
Renee DiResta - Part 2: Pseudo-Events, More on Disinformation, and Telling Fact From Fiction
Renee DiResta, professor and author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality, joins the show again to dive deeper into disinformation, propaganda, and "pseudo-events," or manufactured controversies and news stories.She explains why it’s so difficult to tell fact from fiction online, how propagandists stoke real, often legitimate tensions to create division, how American politicians are amplifying false information instead of shutting it down, and possible policies that could help reduce our culty social media silos.SOURCES Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-events in AmericaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 3, 2025 • 52min
Renee DiResta - Part 1: Propaganda, Disinformation, and Bespoke Realities
This week’s guest is Renee DiResta, professor, and author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality. In part one this week, she talks to Lola and Meagan about propaganda, disinformation vs. misinformation, and how social media algorithms push us all into highly individualized, “bespoke” realities.They discuss how she became interested in this topic after social media algorithms started suggesting anti-vaxxer content to her, how rage bait and other emotionally charged material spreads faster, and why social media makes it seem like other people have more extreme views than the majority of them actually do.SOURCES Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into RealitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8 snips
Nov 19, 2025 • 44min
Mike & Abbi Prussack – Part 2: Predators in Power, Institutional Denial, and the Fight to Expose It
Mike Prussack and Abbi Prussack, former members of the 2x2 church, share their insights on institutional abuse and community organizing. They discuss the alarming scale of abuse within the organization, revealing over a thousand perpetrators. The couple highlights the culture of secrecy enforced by church leadership and the ongoing FBI investigation into these abuses. With a focus on supporting victims, they emphasize the importance of speaking out and the complexities faced by those leaving the church. Their perspective sheds light on a collective reckoning.
8 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 47min
Mike & Abbi Prussack - Part 1: A Church with No Name, Isolated Childhoods, and Doomsday Fear
Mike Prussack and Abby Prussack, former members of the secretive 2x2 church, share their compelling journey from isolation to awakening. They discuss their strict upbringing with rigid clothing rules and the church's unique worker system. The couple also reveals how a single question about prayer shattered their faith, leading to self-discovery and identity rebuilding. With insights into the ambiguous teachings and deep-seated fears within the community, their story is both harrowing and enlightening.
22 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 1h 11min
Tim Squirrell - Incels, Redpill, and the Manosphere
Tim Squirrel, a researcher focused on the manosphere and online male communities, joins the hosts to explore the dark underbelly of incel culture and radicalization. He discusses how isolation leaves boys vulnerable to harmful internet subcultures, like the redpill and MGTOW movements. Tim explains how influential figures like Andrew Tate monetize misogyny while attracting young men searching for identity. He also highlights the mental health risks within these communities and offers advice on how to engage with and support those who may be drawn into these extremist spaces.
Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 5min
Sarma Melngailis - Part 2: Isolation, Deeper into the Scam, & Getting Arrested
In part 2, Sarma Melngailis, subject of the docuseries Bad Vegan and author of The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, tells Lola & Meagan how Mr. Fox consumed her time, overwhelmed her with information, and dangled promises of financial freedom that was always JUST around the corner as a way to get her to send him more and more money. She’ll share about the fabricated online personas he created as part of the manipulation, how he always knew things it seemed like he couldn’t have known, and the tactics he used to keep her in a constant state of confusion and dependence, driving across the country until they were finally both arrested. Plus, how she felt about her time in Rikers, and the current status of her restaurant. SOURCES The Girl With the Duck TattooSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 1h 2min
Sarma Melngailis - Part 1: Bad Vegan, Meeting Mr. Fox, and Early Red Flags
Sarma Melngailis, author and former owner of the acclaimed vegan restaurant Pure Food and Wine, shares her captivating journey from finance to culinary fame. She recounts her fateful meeting with the enigmatic Mr. Fox on Twitter, revealing the initial red flags she overlooked. Sarma delves into the subtle manipulation tactics he employed, from financial demands disguised as emergencies to the psychological grip of constant communication. Listeners will be intrigued by her experiences of vulnerability, intuition, and the staggering toll it all took on her life.
9 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 6min
Arabelle Sicardi - Plastic Surgery in Mormonism, Biohacking, and the Beauty Industry
Arabelle Sicardi, a writer and image theorist, dives into the intricate web of the beauty industry and its psychological impacts. She explores why Utah sees high rates of plastic surgery within Mormon communities and discusses how beauty ideals create cult-like dynamics, influencing women to align with unrealistic standards. The conversation touches on luxury's role in isolating us from global exploitation and the troubling normalization of beauty procedures among Gen Z. Ultimately, Arabelle champions the idea that true beauty lies in fostering genuine human connections over superficial aesthetics.
Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 4min
Anthony Cesar Duncan - ChatGPT Psychosis and the Dangers of AI
Anthony Cesar Duncan, an artist and mental health advocate, shares his harrowing journey through a psychotic episode triggered by extended interactions with ChatGPT. He reveals how what began as casual use escalated into obsession, isolating him from loved ones as AI amplified his delusions. Anthony discusses the blurred lines between reality and AI suggestions, his experiences with intervention, and the importance of navigating mental health crises in the digital age. Now in recovery, he emphasizes building boundaries around AI use.
Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 17min
Aaron Goldenberg - Homeschool, Conversion Therapy, and Finally Coming Out
Aaron Goldenberg, actor, comedian, and (hilarious) content creator, joins Lola and Meagan to talk about being gay as a Christian child, what it was like learning Bill Gothard’s IBLP homeschool curriculum as a boy, and how his parents discovered his queerness and sent him to conversion therapy. He talks about Exodus International, a now-disbanded “ex-gay” Christian ministry that taught that you could heal your gayness (until its president apologized to the gay community and said it didn’t work), doubling down on his belief that he could force himself to be straight, and how getting sober finally forced him to confront the truth and accept himself for who he really was.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
