Attorney Carol Merchasin didn’t set out to expose cults, but after investigating allegations about a high-control Buddhist organization and discovering that the abuse had run more rampant than she’d imagined, she became a lawyer and focused her practice on getting justice for survivors of cults and abusive groups.

Carol discusses the legal ins and outs of suing cults and spiritual leaders, where American law stands in recognizing coercion and human trafficking, and why the differences in ideologies between high-control groups really don’t matter. Plus: the patterns and red flags she’s learned to spot, why spiritual language is often used to disguise harm, and what to do if you get sued by your group for speaking out.

 

SOURCES:

BITE MODEL of Authoritarian Control 

Heartwood Center

McAllister Olivarius Law

For pro bono legal help, look up your state bar association for a directory of pro bono attorneys.

Attorney Carol Merchasin didn&rsquo;t set out to expose cults, but after investigating allegations about a high-control Buddhist organization and discovering that the abuse had run more rampant than she&rsquo;d imagined, she became a lawyer and focused her practice on getting justice for survivors of cults and abusive groups.
Carol discusses the legal ins and outs of suing cults and spiritual leaders, where American law stands in recognizing coercion and human trafficking, and why the differences in ideologies between high-control groups really don&rsquo;t matter. Plus: the patterns and red flags she&rsquo;s learned to spot, why spiritual language is often used to disguise harm, and what to do if you get sued by your group for speaking out.
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SOURCES:
<a href="https://freedomofmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BITE-model.pdf">BITE MODEL of Authoritarian Control</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.heartwoodcenter.com/practitioners/nancy-floy-2/">Heartwood Center</a>
<a href="https://mcolaw.com/">McAllister Olivarius Law</a>
For pro bono legal help, look up your state bar association for a directory of pro bono attorneys.

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

 Carol Merchasin - The Cult Assassin: Suing High-Control Groups

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6408483c-9e35-48f5-8cc3-b332001b744d/transcript