In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Julie Lokun sits down with Dr. Christine Marie to unpack the story behind Trust Me The False Prophet and her years living in Short Creek, an FLDS community.
Christine explains why she moved to Short Creek in 2016, how her own experiences with polygamy shaped her initial perspective, and how getting to know FLDS families challenged some of the assumptions she had formed through sensational media coverage.
The conversation explores how cultic influence works, why Christine believes it is important to look at coercion rather than stereotypes, and how she and her husband Tolga gradually built trust within the community. She also discusses the role of media in giving people the opportunity to tell their own stories, the impact of Warren Jeffs remaining influential while imprisoned, and how Sam Bateman used that loyalty to establish his own authority.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Moving to Short Creek and challenging assumptions about the FLDS through firsthand experience
- Christine’s experience with polygamy and trauma and how it shaped her work with survivors
- Understanding cultic influence and coercive control through different forms of control
- Building trust within the FLDS community and connecting with people in Short Creek
- Using media to give people a voice and let FLDS members share their own stories
- Warren Jeffs and Sam Bateman’s influence and Bateman’s rise to authority
- Why people enter high control groups and how belonging and love bombing can lead to coercion
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Dr. Christine Marie holds a PhD in Psychology specializing in media psychology, along with an MBA and a specialization in Positive Psychology. She is an author, speaker, researcher, educator, kindness advocate, and certified Trauma and Resiliency Life Coach.
Her work focuses on coercive control, cult psychology, media trauma, public shaming, critical thinking, kindness, and resilience. In 2021, she received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the American Psychological Association’s Division of Media Psychology and Technology.
Christine is the founder of Voices for Dignity, a nonprofit supporting marginalized communities and survivors. She has spent the past decade doing humanitarian and dignity work in Short Creek and has extensive experience working with members of the FLDS community. In 2026, she was featured in the Netflix documentary Trust Me: The False Prophet.
MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
(Netflix documentary) Trust Me: The False Prophet - https://www.netflix.com/title/81758532
CONNECT WITH DR. CHRISTINE MARIE:
- Website: https://christinemarie.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinemariePhD/
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/christinemariek
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.christinemarie
ABOUT GET OBSESSED
Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com
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The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future.
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