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>

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

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