Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

Writer and author of several books including Hazing: Destroying Young Lives, Hank Nuwer, discusses the various forms that hazing can take, why he started tracking data of deaths and injuries, a history of tragic incidents, the functions and alternatives of hazing, how it varies between fraternities and sororities, and general discussions of group dynamics.  PLUS: Lola and Meagan discuss hearing voices, a wholesome bigfoot hunting trip gone wrong, the 1997 sci-fi flick Contact, why space is Lola's new religion, and how we might be living in a simulation! 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 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Evan McNary discusses his childhood in an exorcism focused church, believing in demons, helping with church exorcisms, having "possessed" people living in his home, and attending a Pentecostal church where members would laugh and scream for hours on end. PLUS: an interesting conversation about how a world with less religion is a double-edged sword, and Evan's theory on pastor's who wear sunglasses. 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 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casting director and former Christian G Charles Wright talks about growing up Christian and struggling with his sexuality, a natural disaster he was caught in the middle of, why he calls his mom a psychopath, and how he shed the influence of his upbringing and finally accepted himself and his sexuality. 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 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sara & Danny, hosts of Not Another True Crime Podcast, join Lola and Meagan to discuss the tragic cases of Matthew Coleman and Anthony Todt and delusional conspiracy theories that they believed, the recent wave of con men documentaries, the cults of Reddit and SoulCycle, the link between Mormonism and MLMs, and Meagan's family connection to the BTK Killer. 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 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former One Direction stan Monia Ali shares her involvement in various fandoms throughout her life, how old she was when she became a One Direction stan, the conspiracy theory she became wrapped up in, the online bullying she experienced when she left the fandom, and the role of identity and community in these groups. If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at trustmepod@gmail.com FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to learn how to levitate? Cult Interventionists and Founders of Cult News 101, Patrick Ryan and Joe Kelly, talk about their work with ICSA (the International Cultic Studies Association), how levitation played into their experiences with Transcendental Meditation, early cult deprogramming and why it was problematic, how most people leave cults of their own volition, and why exploring someone's beliefs are better than attacking them. Learn more about Patrick and Joe's work here: cultmediation.com  cultnews101.com  If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at trustmepod@gmail.com FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK consultant clinical psychologist and one of the authors of the power threat meaning framework Lucy Johnstone shares how her work is meant to re-conceive how we think of mental illness, why the DSM is flawed, the position of why labels are problematic, how "ideological power" factors in, how "mental illnesses" can be adaptive, and the importance of creating your narrative. PLUS!! A bonus interview with Lola's mom Dr Christine Marie!! Learn more about Lucy's below:  https://www.bps.org.uk/power-threat-meaning-framework  https://www.pccs-books.co.uk/products/a-straight-talking-introduction-to-the-power-threat-meaning-framework-an-alternative-to-psychiatric-diagnosis  If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at trustmepod@gmail.com FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UNC Charlotte professor and psychology researcher Dr Richard Tedeschi discusses his pioneering work on post-traumatic growth, how his field is different from resilience, how core beliefs are involved in our trauma, what "integration" means, and the value of an "expert companion," having a mission, and sharing your story.Learn more about Richard's work at https://bouldercrest.org/If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at trustmepod@gmail.comFOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:@trustmepodcast@oohlalola@vibehigherbitchOR TWITTER:@trustmecultpod@ohlalola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we self-regulate when faced with triggers? CEO of the Arizona Trauma Institute and President at the Trauma Institute International Dr Robert Rhoton digs into the physiology of trauma, why the particular therapeutic model isn’t THAT important (as long as our therapists are trauma-informed), how being dysregulated is akin to a certain Marvel character, and why it’s important for our therapists to be regulated themselves. Plus, how our culture might not promote emotional regulation, practical ways to get regulated, and how we can actually begin to heal our trauma over time. Learn more about Robert's work at https://aztrauma.org/  If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at trustmepod@gmail.com. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalolaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're taking May to dive into trauma: how we think about it, how it works, and what we can actually DO about it if we're struggling. How can we live our best lives, even if we've had difficult or terrifying experiences? In part 1 of the Rethinking Trauma series, Lola and Meagan chat with Columbia professor and PhD George Bonanno about his pioneering research into trauma and resilience, how we aren't necessarily doomed to be traumatized when we experience something terrible, why "coping ugly" is okay, and how flexibility can help us become more resilient. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/  If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, shoot us an email at trustmepod@gmail.com. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalolaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.