Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

Dr. Christine Marie - Undercover in a Cult Town: Taking Down False Prophet Sam Bateman

This week, Lola’s mom Dr. Christine Marie (and the podcast’s very first guest!) talks about moving to FLDS town Short Creek, how she earned the trust of new self-proclaimed prophet Sam Bateman, and what it was like going undercover with the FBI to get him put in prison for sexual abuse—and being there for the raid. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nikki G, Part 2 - The Seven Mountain Mandate, “Church Hurt,” and Why Cults Aren’t Just a White People Problem

In part two with Nikki G., she discusses more of the high-control groups she joined, the political project of the Seven Mountain Mandate that she was part of, the connection between biblical concepts of obedience and white supremacy, and how everyone joins cults, even if white people are the biggest group talking about it. Plus, the difference between “church hurt” and religious trauma. SOURCES Surviving the Black Church Podcast [https://survivingtheblackchurch.buzzsprout.com/] Black Religious Trauma Recovery Network [https://www.blackreligioustraumarecoverynetwork.com/] Nikki G. Speaks [https://www.nikkigspeaks.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nikki G, Part 1 - Down the Rabbit Hole, Cult Hopping, and Surviving the Black Church

This week, Nikki G., host of Surviving the Black Church and survivor of FIVE different high-control groups, discusses joining the first church on her cult-hopping journey, how she got initially pulled down the rabbit hole by conspiracy theories and the Book of Revelation, and the intensity and community that drew her to each group. She tells the girls about her second and more radical group, IHOP (International House of Prayer), how she eventually learned the term “religious addiction,” and why the idea of “waiting for your Boaz,” or your perfect husband, can be so harmful for women in the church. SOURCES Surviving the Black Church Podcast [https://survivingtheblackchurch.buzzsprout.com/] Black Religious Trauma Recovery Network [https://www.blackreligioustraumarecoverynetwork.com/] Nikki G. Speaks [https://www.nikkigspeaks.com/]   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Maria Bamford - 12 Step Programs, OCD, and How to Join Every Group

This week, Lola and Meagan are joined by comic, actor, and author of Sure I’ll Join Your Cult, Maria Bamford. The girls discuss Maria’s childhood OCD, intrusive thoughts, and the ways those experiences primed her to seek support, structure, and belonging through a variety of groups later in life. They explore culty (but helpful!) aspects of 12 step programs like Debtors Anonymous and Al-Anon, along with the many other communities she’s loved and joined along the way. Maria also shares her experience with eating disorders, going to treatment in her twenties, and the controversial Suzuki Method through which she learned violin as a child. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Sarah Edmondson, Part 2 - DOS, Disillusionment, and Leaving Keith Raniere

This week is part 2 with Sarah Edmondson, NXIVM survivor, author, and host of A Little Bit Culty. The girls pick back up as Sarah goes deeper into the organization, eventually entering DOS and confronting the growing contradictions inside NXIVM. She’ll discuss the emotional grip of the group, the normalization of control, and the psychological unraveling that began once the cracks became impossible to ignore. Sarah also opens up about loyalty, fear, cognitive dissonance, and the terrifying process of realizing the self-help system she devoted years to was built around manipulation. The conversation explores deconstruction in real time, what finally pushed her to question Keith Raniere, and how leaving meant rebuilding her entire sense of self. SOURCEShttps://alittlebitculty.com/ A Little Bit Culty [https://alittlebitculty.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.