Artist and writer Akina Cox returns to share more about her experience growing up in the Unification Church (also known as the Moonies), its physical punishment rituals, and where the church stands now. The girls then transition from the topic of her particular cult to a discussion on the cult-like patterns of the current American political landscape, and how to approach political disagreements with loved ones.

Akina also reflects on her article for Salon, where she explores how the Trump administration employs many of the same tactics used by Reverend Moon, and how high-control groups tend to choose a group to scapegoat for their problems. They discuss the demonization of immigrants and trans folks, the realities of ICE kidnappings, and how the failures of political leadership effectively addressing income inequality created an opening for demagogues to thrive.

 

SOURCES:

Akina Cox

Salon

How to Talk to Your Republican Uncle

The Atlantic

 

ORGANIZATIONS FOR OUTREACH AND RESISTANCE:

Ktown For All

CHIRLA

Unión del Barrio

LA Tenants Union

National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)

Artist and writer Akina Cox returns to share more about her experience growing up in the Unification Church (also known as the Moonies), its physical punishment rituals, and where the church stands now. The girls then transition from the topic of her particular cult to a discussion on the cult-like patterns of the current American political landscape, and how to approach political disagreements with loved ones.
Akina also reflects on her article for Salon, where she explores how the Trump administration employs many of the same tactics used by Reverend Moon, and how high-control groups tend to choose a group to scapegoat for their problems. They discuss the demonization of immigrants and trans folks, the realities of ICE kidnappings, and how the failures of political leadership effectively addressing income inequality created an opening for demagogues to thrive.
&nbsp;
SOURCES:
<a href="https://akinaruthcox.com/home.html">Akina Cox</a>
<a href="https://www.salon.com/2025/07/13/the-cult-tactics-behind-ice/">Salon</a>
<a href="https://www.printedmatter.org/catalog/54175/">How to Talk to Your Republican Uncle</a>
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/silence-spiral/683372/">The Atlantic</a>
&nbsp;
ORGANIZATIONS FOR OUTREACH AND RESISTANCE:
<a href="https://www.ktownforall.org/">Ktown For All</a>
<a href="https://www.chirla.org/">CHIRLA</a>
<a href="https://uniondelbarrio.org/eng/">Uni&oacute;n del Barrio</a>
<a href="https://latenantsunion.org/en/">LA Tenants Union</a>
<a href="https://ndlon.org/about-us/">National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)</a>

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.

Trust Me is a weekly interview podcast about cults, extreme belief, and the fine line between devotion and delusion&mdash;told through firsthand accounts from the people who lived it.&nbsp;Hosted by two women who&rsquo;ve been in cults themselves, Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth, the show&nbsp;features survivors from groups like Heaven&rsquo;s Gate, the Manson Family, NXIVM, OneTaste and more&ndash;sharing personal stories of how they got in, how they got out, and everything in between.
Each week, they invite&nbsp;these guests&nbsp;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.&nbsp;This isn&rsquo;t a sensationalized deep dive into cults&mdash;it&rsquo;s a compassionate, first-person exploration of what it means to believe, to belong, and to break free.&nbsp;At the end of the day, wanting to believe in something bigger than yourself is one of the most human instincts there is.

Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

Akina Cox - Part 2: The Moonies, ICE, and the Cult Tactics of Trump

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e509290a-c709-4224-af5c-b32a0182dc87/transcript

This week, author and historian Stephen Kinzer joins Trust Me to discuss his book, Poisoner in Chief, and its subject: chemist Sidney Gottlieb, who led mind control experiments in the CIA’s Project MKUltra. Stephen explains who Gottlieb was and how he came to lead this harrowing attempt to control the human mind, what Operation Paperclip was (the US saved doctor-torturers from Nazi Germany and Japan and gave them jobs), and how the CIA began experimenting on subjects in other countries in horrific ways—all in the name of patriotism and “fighting communism.”

Stephen describes Gottlieb’s obsession with LSD and how the CIA began conducting drug experiments on inmates, people in psychiatric institutions, and other unwitting folks. He discusses the hunt for the perfect mind control tactic, how the word “brainwashing” can’t be separated from the Red Scare, and how none of the experiments were fruitful.

Plus, whether Gottlieb experienced any remorse later in life, and how we have the CIA to thank for the explosion of LSD onto the American scene (and, ironically, the major role it played in the anti-war movement).

SOURCES

Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control

 

This week, author and historian Stephen Kinzer joins Trust Me to discuss his book, Poisoner in Chief, and its subject: chemist Sidney Gottlieb, who led mind control experiments in the CIA&rsquo;s Project MKUltra. Stephen explains who Gottlieb was and how he came to lead this harrowing attempt to control the human mind, what Operation Paperclip was (the US saved doctor-torturers from Nazi Germany and Japan and gave them jobs), and how the CIA began experimenting on subjects in other countries in horrific ways&mdash;all in the name of patriotism and &ldquo;fighting communism.&rdquo;
Stephen describes Gottlieb&rsquo;s obsession with LSD and how the CIA began conducting drug experiments on inmates, people in psychiatric institutions, and other unwitting folks. He discusses the hunt for the perfect mind control tactic, how the word &ldquo;brainwashing&rdquo; can&rsquo;t be separated from the Red Scare, and how none of the experiments were fruitful.
Plus, whether Gottlieb experienced any remorse later in life, and how we have the CIA to thank for the explosion of LSD onto the American scene (and, ironically, the major role it played in the anti-war movement).
SOURCES
<a href="https://stephenkinzer.com/2019/08/poisoner-in-chief-sidney-gottlieb-and-the-cia-search-for-mind-control/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://stephenkinzer.com/2019/08/poisoner-in-chief-sidney-gottlieb-and-the-cia-search-for-mind-control/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1791405306160000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3SHHAtSshU-qxgSP8dCUG2">Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control</a>
&nbsp;

Stephen Kinzer - MKUltra, Sidney Gottlieb, and the CIA’s Hunt For Mind Control

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b664f94f-953d-412a-8d0e-b4db014b4782/transcript

This week is part two with advocate and therapist Renee Spencer, who sued the Jesus Christians, aka the “kidney cult,” after they recruited her daughter. Last week, Renee explained how she realized her daughter Ellicia’s communication was being controlled, and this week she picks back up on Ellicia’s mysterious whereabouts around the world--going wherever the group sent her, cutting off emotional contact, and virtually disappearing from Renee's life.

Renee shares how the group’s leader, Dave McKay, began accusing her of being a Satan worshipper, which was used to demonize her and keep Ellicia away. Renee shares how she’s connected with other parents, what she learned about some of the things her daughter has been through (including their highly punitive “grievance” system), and how Renee finally took Dave McKay to court.

SOURCES

Recover From Coercive Control

SOCCHG

CIFS Australia

This week is part two with advocate and therapist Renee Spencer, who sued the Jesus Christians, aka the &ldquo;kidney cult,&rdquo; after they recruited her daughter. Last week, Renee explained how she realized her daughter Ellicia&rsquo;s communication was being controlled, and this week she picks back up on Ellicia&rsquo;s mysterious whereabouts around the world--going wherever the group sent her, cutting off emotional contact, and virtually disappearing from Renee's life.
Renee shares how the group&rsquo;s leader, Dave McKay, began accusing her of being a Satan worshipper, which was used to demonize her and keep Ellicia away. Renee shares how she&rsquo;s connected with other parents, what she learned about some of the things her daughter has been through (including their highly punitive &ldquo;grievance&rdquo; system), and how Renee finally took Dave McKay to court.
SOURCES
<a href="https://www.recoverfromcoercivecontrol.com/about-recover-from-coercive-control" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.recoverfromcoercivecontrol.com/about-recover-from-coercive-control&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790817267898000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0mPhAouulHfBkjvWVN1wZZ">Recover From Coercive Control</a>
<a href="https://www.socchg.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.socchg.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790817267898000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07YMltkEbd1qd_70fr3-F6">SOCCHG</a>
<a href="https://www.cifs.org.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cifs.org.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790817267898000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2kUFgJlghkqhlmyW-pkJgp">CIFS Australia</a>

Renee Spencer, Part 2 - The Jesus Christians, the “Kidney Cult,” and Suing Your Daughter’s Religious Group

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9113ba85-2c84-4112-9e30-b4d3017b447c/transcript

This week is part 1 with advocate and therapist Renee Spencer, whose daughter was recruited into the Jesus Christians: a group commonly referred to as the “kidney cult” for their practice of encouraging members to donate their kidneys to strangers. Renee shares about her and her daughter Ellicia’s close relationship, how Ellicia suddenly stopped contacting Renee, and why Renee tried to be accepting of her daughter’s choices–even while slowly learning that Ellicia had joined a mysterious group of traveling Christians and was being isolated from her former life.

She explains how Ellicia was initially recruited through YouTube, how Ellicia told Renee she was engaged to someone from the group after just a couple of months, and the minimal contact Renee was allowed when she visited. They discuss what she learned about Ellicia’s new husband Joseph, the whipping “trials” the group’s leader had organized to teach Joseph’s family a lesson, and how Renee discovered that her daughter’s communication had been far more controlled than she even realized.

This week is part 1 with advocate and therapist Renee Spencer, whose daughter was recruited into the Jesus Christians: a group commonly referred to as the &ldquo;kidney cult&rdquo; for their practice of encouraging members to donate their kidneys to strangers. Renee shares about her and her daughter Ellicia&rsquo;s close relationship, how Ellicia suddenly stopped contacting Renee, and why Renee tried to be accepting of her daughter&rsquo;s choices&ndash;even while slowly learning that Ellicia had joined a mysterious group of traveling Christians and was being isolated from her former life.
She explains how Ellicia was initially recruited through YouTube, how Ellicia told Renee she was engaged to someone from the group after just a couple of months, and the minimal contact Renee was allowed when she visited. They discuss what she learned about Ellicia&rsquo;s new husband Joseph, the whipping &ldquo;trials&rdquo; the group&rsquo;s leader had organized to teach Joseph&rsquo;s family a lesson, and how Renee discovered that her daughter&rsquo;s communication had been far more controlled than she even realized.

Renee Spencer, Part 1 - When Your Daughter Joins the “Kidney Cult”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8b50be57-c81c-4d76-870d-b4cd000073e6/transcript

Akina Cox - Part 2: The Moonies, ICE, and the Cult Tactics of Trump

In 1 playlist(s)

Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips