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.

This week, Lola&rsquo;s mom Dr.&nbsp;Christine&nbsp;Marie (and the podcast&rsquo;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&mdash;and being there for the raid.

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

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f330a719-f2b2-4983-ab0e-b479006d232a/transcript