Trust me, do it, trust me, trust me, trust me, I'm like a smart person, I've never lied to you, I never have lied.

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

Welcome to Trust Me, the podcast about cults, extreme belief, and the abusive power from two dummies who've actually experienced it, I'm Lola Blonk, and I'm making Elizabeth.

Today, our guest is Janja Lawlett, she is a PhD researcher, author, and educator, educator.

Excuse me, educators, specializing in cults and extremist groups.

Clearly, I am not education, she's the author.

Is this so funny? Okay, I'm good, okay, go on.

She's the author of a number of books, including her most recent one, Take Back Your Life,

covering from cults and abusive relationships.

She's gonna tell us about her own experience with a political cult called the Democratic Workers Party in the 70s and 80s,

the horrible ways in which the members were expected to put the group over their own family,

and how she got out and got her PhD studying, influence, and control.

We're going to talk about how to tell the difference between a legitimate political group and one that's leaning into cult territory.

What bounded choice means, why you should always slow down even if you feel strong emotions about a group or individual,

and red flags look for in any relationship.

Red flags, well, I fucked up too, so now we're even flags, red flags.

I think you also maybe said legitimate it.

Oh, legitimate it, legitimate.

Okay, you guys, we are a legitimate podcast host and everything's fine.

It's 10 a.m., and that is too early for us.

We cannot talk at 10 a.m.

COVID has murdered my brain.

...