Today is part one with Min Zhou, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies at UCLA, who also grew up during the Cultural Revolution: a decade of social chaos in China in the 1960s and 1970s where intellectuals, artists, and anyone perceived as representing capitalism or the "old ways" were persecuted and murdered in the hundreds of thousands or more. She’ll tell us about the backstory leading to this moment in history, who Mao Zedong was and what the country's climate was like when he began to use propaganda to create a cult of personality around himself, and the movement to “purge,” through psychological or violent means, anyone who disagreed with Mao’s policies.

She’ll tell us about just how far the fanaticism and propaganda around Chairman Mao went, who the Red Guards were and how they initially seemed just like a cool subculture of young people when she was a kid - until they began to grow more destructive - and why her father was an immediate target. Plus, next week, we’ll discuss the labor camps her parents were sent to, and what it was like trying to survive while they were away.



Check out our amazing sponsors this week! 

CBDistillery: Reset your health! Visit CBDistillery.com and use code TRUST for 20% off!

Pluto.TV: Summer movies and tv... Free! Pluto.TV





BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch



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 TrustMePod@gmail.com








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@TrustMePodcast



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Today is part one with Min Zhou, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies at UCLA, who also grew up during the Cultural Revolution: a decade of social chaos in China in the 1960s and 1970s where intellectuals, artists, and anyone perceived as representing capitalism or the "old ways" were persecuted and murdered in the hundreds of thousands or more. She’ll tell us about the backstory leading to this moment in history, who Mao Zedong was and what the country's climate was like when he began to use propaganda to create a cult of personality around himself, and the movement to “purge,” through psychological or violent means, anyone who disagreed with Mao’s policies.
She’ll tell us about just how far the fanaticism and propaganda around Chairman Mao went, who the Red Guards were and how they initially seemed just like a cool subculture of young people when she was a kid - until they began to grow more destructive - and why her father was an immediate target. Plus, next week, we’ll discuss the labor camps her parents were sent to, and what it was like trying to survive while they were away.

Check out our amazing sponsors this week! 
<a href="http://CBDistillery.com" target="_blank">CBDistillery</a>: Reset your health! Visit CBDistillery.com and use code TRUST for 20% off!
<a href="http://Pluto.tv" target="_blank">Pluto.TV</a>: Summer movies and tv... Free! Pluto.TV


BUY OUR MERCH!! <a href="http://bit.ly/trustmemerch" target="_blank">bit.ly/trustmemerch</a>

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 TrustMePod@gmail.com

 

INSTAGRAM

@TrustMePodcast

@oohlalola

@meaganelizabeth11

 

TWITTER

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

Min Zhou, Part 1 - The Cult of Mao Zedong, and Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b2c27d83-3b79-4868-90d8-b2de011cec46/transcript

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