Journalist Sarah Stankorb comes on the show to talk about her book, Disobedient Women, and the deep dive she did on why a series of evangelical women in America began to leave their communities as the internet came into prominence. They discuss patriarchal teachings within cultures like the Quiverfull movement, including stories like Vyckie Garrison’s, who was pressured into having repeated pregnancies that defied her doctors and put her life at risk.

They also dive into figures like Bill Gothard, who built the IBLP curricula and created a system of mini-cults across the country, the many stories of sexual abuse that were covered up by various religious organizations, and how online communities helped women share stories, band together, and begin to speak out. Plus: how figures like Doug Wilson helped push Christian nationalism from the fringes into the political mainstream.

SOURCES:

Disobedient Women

Elle

Vice

Vice

Washtington Post

Cosmopolitan

Marie Claire

Journalist Sarah Stankorb comes on the show to talk about her book, Disobedient Women, and the deep dive she did on why a series of evangelical women in America began to leave their communities as the internet came into prominence. They discuss patriarchal teachings within cultures like the Quiverfull movement, including stories like Vyckie Garrison&rsquo;s, who was pressured into having repeated pregnancies that defied her doctors and put her life at risk. They also dive into figures like Bill Gothard, who built the IBLP curricula and created a system of mini-cults across the country, the many stories of sexual abuse that were covered up by various religious organizations, and how online communities helped women share stories, band together, and begin to speak out. Plus: how figures like Doug Wilson helped push Christian nationalism from the fringes into the political mainstream.<a href="https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a21345667/stay-at-home-daughters-christian-patriarchy/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a21345667/stay-at-home-daughters-christian-patriarchy/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wI8fBzGvq8_ct17iQlDdM"></a>
SOURCES:<a href="https://sarahstankorb.com/disobedient-women" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sarahstankorb.com/disobedient-women&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ZLnrsyhytlM1LYWLVtePF"></a>
<a href="https://sarahstankorb.com/disobedient-women" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sarahstankorb.com/disobedient-women&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ZLnrsyhytlM1LYWLVtePF">Disobedient Women</a>
<a href="https://www.elle.com/life-love/opinions-features/a64637668/tradwives-escaping-patriarchy-social-media-interview-2025/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.elle.com/life-love/opinions-features/a64637668/tradwives-escaping-patriarchy-social-media-interview-2025/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0W7prGOVeqWH96QbSIlg2L">Elle</a>
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-southern-baptist-church-ignored-its-abuse-crisis-she-exposed-it/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-southern-baptist-church-ignored-its-abuse-crisis-she-exposed-it/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2RrAQv9OZvyRZ1TPqAWQMG">Vice</a>
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-the-church-that-preaches-wives-need-to-be-led-with-a-firm-hand/#:~:text=Wilson%20cast%20their%20sexual%20interactions,on%20a%20Haitian%20mission%20trip." data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-the-church-that-preaches-wives-need-to-be-led-with-a-firm-hand/%23:~:text%3DWilson%2520cast%2520their%2520sexual%2520interactions,on%2520a%2520Haitian%2520mission%2520trip.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2KZjRuniUcz_q1sx8hp-qK">Vice</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/06/03/feature/the-crusading-bloggers-exposing-sexual-assault-in-protestant-churches/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/06/03/feature/the-crusading-bloggers-exposing-sexual-assault-in-protestant-churches/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1gIo4FddgkEgalCf4shkIV">Washtington Post</a>
<a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a26026217/sexual-abstinence-joshua-harris-purity-movement-scam/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a26026217/sexual-abstinence-joshua-harris-purity-movement-scam/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2zY6_EqcH4MmD-f26Zn2D9">Cosmopolitan</a>
<a href="https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a21345667/stay-at-home-daughters-christian-patriarchy/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a21345667/stay-at-home-daughters-christian-patriarchy/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758758209599000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wI8fBzGvq8_ct17iQlDdM">Marie Claire</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

Sarah Stankorb - Quiverfull, Christian Nationalism, and Why Evangelical Women Are Leaving

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f7823587-0833-4681-86c3-b361000f4653/transcript