Arabelle Sicardi - Plastic Surgery in Mormonism, Biohacking, and the Beauty Industry

Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

True Crime, Talk Radio, Comedy, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 15 October 2025

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, the girls are joined by Arabelle Sicardi, writer, image theorist, and author of The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry. Lola and Meagan confess the cosmetic procedures they've each had, and Arabelle explores how the beauty industry preys on our deepest fears, giving us a false sense of control and training us to worship ideals that are impossible to reach. They reflect on the high rates of plastic surgery in Utah and the LDS church, the gendered differences between the beauty industry and biohacking, and the relationship of beauty to power.

Arabelle breaks down the cultiness of influencer brand trips, Coco Chanel's forgotten Nazi ties, and how easy it can be to isolate in luxury, detaching from the unseen global exploitation within the beauty industry. Plus: why beauty's true value lies not in perfection, but in human connection.

SOURCES:

The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry

Arabelle Sicard

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is exactly right.
0:06.0	Looking for some spooky vibes this season?
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0:26.2	and a slightly retro feel. In season three, host Meredith Stedman will read and react to
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0:35.4	immersive, sound-designed Tales of Terror.
0:37.7	A new season of Rattled and Shook is available now.
0:40.4	Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:45.0	The Girlfriends is back with a new season, and this time I'm telling you the story of Kelly Harnett.
0:50.8	Kelly spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit.
0:55.4	As she fought for her freedom, she taught herself the law.
0:58.6	He goes, oh God, Arnett, jailhouse lawyer.
1:01.6	And became a beacon of hope for the women locked up alongside her.
1:05.7	You're supposed to have been faith in God, but I had nothing but faith in her.
1:08.6	I think I was put here to save souls by getting people out of prison.
1:13.4	The Girlfriends, Jail House Lawyer, listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
1:23.6	Trust me.
1:24.9	Do you trust me?
1:26.6	When I ever lead you astray?
	...

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