If you have your own story of being in a cult or a high control group, or if you've had an experience with manipulation or abuse of power you'd like to share, leave us a message on our hotline number at 513-900-2955.

Or shoot us an email at TrustMePod at gmail.com.

Trust me. Do you trust me?

Trust me. I'm like a smart person. I've never lied to you. I've never had lied.

If you think that one person has all the answers, don't!

Welcome to TrustMe, the podcast about cults, extreme belief and the abuse of power from two Midwesterners who've actually experienced it.

I am Lola Blanc, and I'm Megan Elizabeth.

And today our guests are two best friends, Angie Keeler and Johanna Macemer, who both grew up in the very same small religious cult called The Assembly of Yahweh, Hoshua.

I think I'm saying that right. It was led by a self-proclaimed prophet named Leshur Gonzalez, who claimed to talk directly to God, or should I say Yahweh.

Yahweh. They're going to tell us about the many rules and restrictions that required them to cover their hair and their entire bodies, how so many things were banned, including drawings, paintings and photos, and how one man who was forbidden from going to the doctor died of his diabetes.

It is very sad, but these two ladies are not sad. They are incredibly inspiring and awesome.

Actually, love talking to two best friends who grew up in the same cult, and then both left the cult, and now just like shit, talk the cult together.

That's so fun. That was like, oh my God, there should be a real housewives of cult leaders.

Former cult members, oh my God, that is such a good idea.

You shouldn't even have said that on the air, because now you're going to, like, someone's going to steal it and get rich off of it.

I guess we have to produce it.

Okay. My friend actually just messaged me and said she's the head of a production company in reality now, so it's off.

I can't wait. Can't wait for the show.

Okay.

Yeah.

So, uh, yeah.

So before we get into this, the fabulous interview with these fabulous ladies, Megan, would you kindly tell me what the cult is thing that's happened to this week?

...