Best 2x2s Podcasts (2025)

1
Akina Cox - Part 2: The Moonies, ICE, and the Cult Tactics of Trump 53:11

4d ago53:11

53:11

Artist and writer Akina Cox returns to share more about her experience growing up in the Unification Church (also known as the Moonies), its physical punishment rituals, and where the church stands now. The girls then transition from the topic of her particular cult to a discussion on the cult-like patterns of the current American political landsca…

1
Akina Cox - Part 1: Unification Church, Mass Weddings, and Unpaid Labor 1:03:31

11d ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Artist and writer Akina Cox shares about her childhood growing up in the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies. They discuss the background of the church and its late leader Reverend Moon, how her parents both joined after hitchhiking in the 70s, and what it was like growing up in the group. She shares how it felt participating in a mass we…

1
Live Show in San Francisco: Season 4 finale 1:22:37

19d ago1:22:37

1:22:37

Generation Cult's live show and literary event happened on stage at The Lost Church San Francisco in front of a fabulous audience on June 26, 2025. If you missed it, you're in luck because the recording is finally out now! It was a late night in North Beach deep down in the Victorian speakeasy-style venue that hosted our show and book signing featu…

1
Introducing Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation 1:24

26d ago1:24

1:24

Trust Me is the podcast that pulls back the curtain on cults, high-control groups and the psychology of belief. Hosted by cult survivors Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth, the show features raw, first-hand accounts from people who’ve been manipulated, love-bombed and pulled into systems of control—and lived to tell the tale. Each week, Lola and Meaga…

1
REWIND: Dianne Lake - The Manson Family, Part 1: Meeting Charlie 1:06:36

1M ago1:06:36

1:06:36

Trust Me has joined Exactly Right Media. Hosts Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth will be back with new episodes on Wednesday, July 30th. You’re a teenage girl in the late 60s, bouncing between communes, when a charismatic man and his group of young women welcome you with open arms. You were looking for a family, and now you’ve found one. In part one of…

1
REWIND: Glynn Washington - The Worldwide Church of God 57:59

1M ago57:59

57:59

Trust Me has joined Exactly Right Media. Hosts Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth will be back with new episodes on Wednesday, July 30th. End time prophecies? Memorizing the bible? Required church vacations your family can't afford? Snap Judgment host and creator Glynn Washington shares his experiences growing up in the apocalyptic religion the Worldwid…

1
REWIND: Hoyt Richards - From Supermodel to Cult Member 1:19:50

2M ago1:19:50

1:19:50

Trust Me has joined Exactly Right Media. Hosts Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth will be back with new episodes on Wednesday, July 30th. What do you model your life after? For producer, actor, and former supermodel Hoyt Richards, it was the teachings of a charming man from Nantucket who spoke about the impending apocalypse and a distant star named Arct…

1
REWIND: Lola's Mom - Mormon-Offshoot Cult 1:13:39

2M ago1:13:39

1:13:39

Trust Me has joined Exactly Right Media. Hosts Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth will be back with new episodes on Wednesday, July 30th. In their first ever episode, Lola and Meagan interviewed Christine Marie, Lola's mom, about her and Lola's experiences believing in a self-proclaimed Mormon prophet. They discuss how they came to believe in him, their…

1
An Exciting Update from Lola and Meagan! 0:35

2M ago0:35

0:35

The rumors are true—Trust Me is coming back this summer on the Exactly Right podcast network! This teaser has everything you need to know about our next chapter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

1
Opening the 2X2s Floodgates with Mike 38:19

3M ago38:19

38:19

Mike and Abbi grew up going to something they called "the truth" or "the way" or sometimes it didn't have a name at all. But it wasn't a church. A church was something the other kids attended. They went to "meetings" at people's houses and had leaders called "workers" who stayed with them. After they got married and left the religion, or whatever i…

1
156 | Chatting with a 4th Generation Member of "The Way" 2x2s 46:04

4M ago46:04

46:04

In this week's special podcast episode, Phylicia interviews Angelika Rasper, former 4th generation member of "the Way", also known as the 2x2 sect. In this interview Gel shares what the 2x2s are, what her experience was like growing up in the group, why she left and how she has healed since then. This interview is included in our new Freedom from L…

1
155 | Do Christians Need to Obey Old Testament Law? 25:45

5M ago25:45

25:45

Salvation is found through faith in Jesus Christ alone—a truth that stands in contrast to a growing movement in the West of “Torah Observant Christians” who argue that Gentile believers must follow Old Testament laws to secure salvation. Phylicia, however, emphasizes a key distinction: while Jewish Christians may observe these laws as part of their…

1
154 | How Believable Ideas Lead to Dangerous Beliefs - Unmasking Marcionism 29:22

5M ago29:22

29:22

⭐️In this episode Phylicia explores Marcionism's heretical views on the Old Testament, emphasizing the importance of understanding scripture in light of personal biases and promoting the Old Testament's foundational role in Christianity. Mentioned in this episode: ⭐️ 10 Myths About the Old Testament: https://everywomanatheologian.myflodesk.com/oldt…

1
Amanda Rae - The Kingston Clan and Escaping Polygamy 1:19:13

5M ago1:19:13

1:19:13

Today our guest is Amanda Rae, host of YouTube channel by the same name and former member of the Kingston Clan, or the Order, a polygamist group in Utah, not to be confused with the FLDS. Some of you may remember our previous guest Priscilla from the same group - both of these gals were on Escaping Polygamy. Amanda’s going to tell us who the Kingst…

1
153 | Understanding Lent: Traditions, Sacrifices, and Spiritual Growth 6:33

5M ago6:33

6:33

Join us in this enlightening mini-episode as we delve into the rich history and profound spiritual meaning of Lent! In this video, you'll discover the origins of Lent, what makes up it's three pillars, and more about the traditions that surround this annual event leading up to the highest of Holy Holidays. Join us as we prepare our hearts for the c…

1
Special Film Edition: Beyond the Fence with Lindsey and Ashlen 26:20

5M ago26:20

26:20

We're dropping back in with a Special Film Edition as Generation Cult's Season 4 draws to a close! For this bonus episode, we're bringing back our old friend and former Season 3 co-host Ashlen, who's been hard at work helping people recover from controlling groups through her LLC People Leave Cults, and has become a source of education on the topic…

1
Maggie Rowe - Sinning Bravely and Moral Scrupulosity 1:20:12

5M ago1:20:12

1:20:12

Today our guest is Maggie Rowe, former writer on Arrested Development and author of Sin Bravely, a book about her experiences with moral scrupulosity, or sin-focused OCD. We talk a lot about OCD on this show, so here’s a guest who wrote an entire book about growing up with religious obsessions! She’ll tell us about her first obsessions about what w…

1
Caleb Ward, Part 2 - Disneyland for Christians and Exiting the Church 54:14

6M ago54:14

54:14

Former evangelical Christian and pastor's son Caleb Ward continues his story of growing up in evangelical culture in the early 2000s. We discuss some of the touchstones of his youth including Heritage USA (Disneyland for Christians) and Christian rock event Creation Festival, as well as his fear of losing his virginity before marriage, what hell to…

1
152 | How Gnosticism Contradicts Christian Teaching 30:54

6M ago30:54

30:54

Join us as we explore the intriguing doctrine of Gnosticism, one of the early church's most significant heresies, and its impact on Christianity today. Discover how Gnostics viewed matter as evil and sought salvation through mystical knowledge, challenging traditional beliefs about the body and spirit. We'll also reflect on contemporary parallels t…

1
Caleb Ward, Part 1 - Kingdom Life Ministries and Evangelical Youth Culture 57:07

6M ago57:07

57:07

Former pastor's son Caleb Ward joins Lola and Meagan to share his experience about the height of evangelical culture in the early 2000s in a church called Kingdom Life Ministries. Caleb discusses growing up in an environment where everyone was speaking in tongues and having loud prophecies in the middle of church, the pressures that come with being…

1
Uriah Wesman, Part 2 - Growing Up in Three Cults (The Hearts Center and The Ideal Society) 1:05:00

6M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Today is part 2 with Uriah Wesman, former member of THREE different cults. This week he’ll talk to us more about cult #2, the Hearts Center (which was an offshoot of cult #1 from last week), what it was like being a rebellious emo kid slowly starting to realize inconsistencies in the church, and how his dad discovered cult #3 in Canada, the Ideal S…

1
151 | Understanding the Ancient False Doctrine Behind Jehovah's Witness and LDS 30:03

6M ago30:03

30:03

Phylicia Masonheimer delves into the historical heresy of Arianism, which denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ, highlighting its unexpected resurgence in the theologies of Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter-Day Saints. You'll explore a detailed examination of how these groups subtly alter biblical scripture and reinterpret key passages to portray J…

1
Uriah Wesman, Part 1 - The First Cult: Church Universal and Triumphant 53:05

6M ago53:05

53:05

Creator of the one man show 3 Cults Walk Into a Bar, Uriah Wesman, shares about his FIRST cult experience in Church Universal and Triumphant, how they combined Christianity and New Age ideas, the paranoia that was created by beliefs surrounding demons, his mom's mental deterioration that led her to accuse his father of being a demon, and his parent…

1
150 | Protect Your Faith: Learn to Discern False Teachers 27:34

7M ago27:34

27:34

In this episode, we kick off a series that will teach us how to discern false teachings within Christianity. Discover the key scriptural principles and practical strategies to identify deception, focusing on the character of teachers and the truth of Jesus Christ. Join us this week as we emphasize the importance of humility, prayer, and a deep reli…

1
Philip Deslippe & Stacie Stukin - 3HO,Kundalini yoga, & Yogi Bhajan 1:33:07

7M ago1:33:07

1:33:07

Today our guests are historian Philip Deslippe and writer Stacie Sutkin, who together have done investigative reporting on 3HO (“happy, healthy, holy organization”), Kundalini yoga, and Yogi Bhajan. They’re going to tell us how they got started writing about 3HO, both interacting with Kundalini yoga in different ways, who Yogi Bhajan was and whethe…

1
149 | Wrestling with Faith: Can I Trust The Bible? 42:52

7M ago42:52

42:52

This episode explores the question of the Bible's trustworthiness. Phylicia delves into the historical context of the Old and New Testaments, examining the evidence for their authorship and compilation. She address the "JEDP theory" regarding the Torah, highlighting the importance of considering both divine inspiration and historical accuracy. Phyl…

1
REWIND: Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 2: Breaking Away 34:45

7M ago34:45

34:45

Episode 23: Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth continue to interview Frank Lyford, former member of Heaven's Gate. In part 2, they discuss the growing number of red flags he began to notice after one of the leaders died, including talk of castration, and what led to his decision to finally, after 18 years, break away. He also tells the girls what it was…

1
REWIND: Frank Lyford - Heaven's Gate, Part 1: The Nomadic Lifestyle 43:37

7M ago43:37

43:37

Episode 22: Lola & Meagan interview Frank Lyford, survivor of Heaven's Gate who left after 18 years--just a few years before discovering his friends and loved ones in the group had died by suicide. In part 1, he tells the girls how he began following the leaders Ti and Do, what it was like living a nomadic lifestyle with his "check partner," and wh…

1
System Breakdowns & Perpetual Coercion with Brenda 50:58

7M ago50:58

50:58

Brenda was "mentored" by the former leader of Students of Light, a Toronto-based esoteric group inspired by teachings by Carl Jung and H.P. Blavatsky, from the age of 11 to almost 17. She pursued legal action against him in 1997, and he was eventually arrested in 2019 and extradited to Canada to be charged with rape and assault of a minor. Her case…

1
Ashlen Hilliard - The Evolution of Cult Intervention Practices 1:21:28

7M ago1:21:28

1:21:28

Cult interventionist and founder of People Leave Cults, Ashlen Hilliard, talks about her path to working in cult intervention and recovery, her personal religious experience that led her to this work, how interactions with Mormons in Utah affected her worldview, how she defines what a cult is, why accusing a group of being a cult isn't always helpf…

1
REWIND: Joann Vaega: Waco Survivor and Former Branch Davidian 1:03:09

8M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

You're a child living on a remote compound in West Texas. One day authorities show up at your front door and an exchange of gunfire breaks out. Just as you expected would happen. Survivor of the Branch Davidians and the Waco massacre, Joann Vaega, discusses her earliest memories of living on the compound, what cult leader David Koresh was like in p…

1
Another Legal Chat with Carol! 41:54

8M ago41:54

41:54

We've brought back a fan favorite from Season 3 for an update on litigation cult survivors can bring against their abusers, and this time we're also tackling the dreaded topic of defamation. Carol Merchasin, an attorney with the firm McAllister Olivarius, has had some success bringing lawsuits on behalf of people who were sexually abused in Buddhis…

1
Carolyn Costin - The Link Between Cults and Eating Disorders 1:19:17

8M ago1:19:17

1:19:17

FOR OUR 200th EPISODE, we are joined by eating disorder therapist, author, and expert Carolyn Costin to discuss her own experiences that led to her starting her practice, why so many cults control the eating habits of their members, why having an eating disorder is like having a little cult leader in your brain, and how Carolyn helped Meagan with h…

1
148 | Don't Fall for DANGEROUS Interpretations of Scripture | Do this Instead 21:55

8M ago21:55

21:55

➡️ Join the Bible in a Year Club: https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/bible-in-a-year/ In this video, Phylicia arms you with a five-step process—context, claim, condition, consequence, consistency—for accurately interpreting and applying Biblical promises in our lives. ----- 👩‍💻 Watch the entire Beginner Believer Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlis…

1
Yoni Shrira, Part 2 - Hard Labor, Isolation, Running Away, and a Dark Legacy 55:38

8M ago55:38

55:38

Today is part 2 of our interview with Yoni Shrira, former student at the Family Foundation School, also known as Allynwood, the remote troubled teen program known for a series of lawsuits brought against it as well as over a hundred deaths from overdose or suicide by its former attendees. Last week, we talked about how and why Yoni ended up in the …

1
147 | If I'm Saved, Why Does My Behavior Matter? 17:38

8M ago17:38

17:38

In this episode of the Verity podcast, we delve into the significance of good works for believers, highlighting that our actions are an expression of gratitude for salvation rather than a means to attain it. This understanding fosters a more profound relationship with Christ and has a positive impact on the world. ----- Verity Podcast is an Every W…

1
146 | Why Do I Need Jesus if I Am Already Good? 26:12

8M ago26:12

26:12

What is good? Can you be "good" and not be a Christian? Why do I need Jesus if I am already a good person? ----- Referenced in this episode: ⦿ Who the Son Sets Free - Galatians Bible Study? | https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/product/galatians-bible-study/ --- Verity Podcast is an Every Woman a Theologian company. We believe every woman should be a t…

1
Yoni Shrira, Part 1 - The Family Foundation School, Troubled Teens, and Snitching Culture 46:35

9M ago46:35

46:35

Today our guest is Yoni Shrira, friend of the show and survivor of the Family Foundation School, a troubled teen sobriety school that became notorious for how many of its former students died after going through the program. In part one today, he’s going to talk about what he was like as a teenager, how he was genuinely out of control when it came …

1
Estranged from Mormon Royalty with Lynn 41:32

9M ago41:32

41:32

Estrangement is a traumatic topic, no matter your family of origin, but it feels unavoidable when you reject your tribe’s religious ideologies. Lynn knows this well. She was raised in Salt Lake City on a Mormon pedestal: the great-great grand-niece of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church. It was a bit like being royalty. But then she rejected…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

2x2s Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide