Amy Carlson (Mother God)

In this episode of Harlots of Spooktalk, we examine the rise and fall of Amy Carlson, the self-proclaimed “Mother God,” and the belief system that surrounded her.

Before diving into her story, we break down the psychology and social dynamics that often make cults possible. We define what constitutes a cult, explore why there are an estimated 70 active cults operating at any given time, and discuss how unresolved trauma can create vulnerability to coercive belief systems.

We explore:

• The emotional impact of being a child of divorce

• How childhood PTSD can shape identity, attachment, and belief

• Dissociation as a coping mechanism, including escaping trauma through fantasy

• The concept of religiosity versus healthy religious or spiritual belief

• The role of narcissism in cult leadership

• The idea of lightworkers and how spiritual language can be used for both healing and manipulation

A commonly referenced resource in lightworker communities, lightworkers.org, is mentioned for context only — we are not sponsored.

We then turn our focus to Amy Carlson herself, examining her personal relationships with her family and her romantic partner, and how belief, trauma, and control intersected to form one of the most unsettling modern spiritual movements.

Content Advisory:
This episode contains discussions of psychological trauma, spiritual abuse, coercive control, and substance use. Listener discretion is advised.

This content is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Any true crime or factual information discussed is publicly available online.