Maria Bamford - 12 Step Programs, OCD, and How to Join Every Group

Maria Bamford - 12 Step Programs, OCD, and How to Join Every Group

From Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

June 10, 2026 · 1h 30m

About this episode

Maria Bamford joins Lola and Meagan to discuss her experiences with OCD, support groups, and the impact of various communities on her life.

This week, Lola and Meagan are joined by comic, actor, and author of Sure I’ll Join Your Cult, Maria Bamford. The girls discuss Maria’s childhood OCD, intrusive thoughts, and the ways those experiences primed her to seek support, structure, and belonging through a variety of groups later in life. They explore culty (but helpful!) aspects of 12 step programs like Debtors Anonymous and Al-Anon, along with the many other communities she’s loved and joined along the way. Maria also shares her experience with eating disorders, going to treatment in her twenties, and the controversial Suzuki Method through which she learned violin as a child. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Lola, Meagan

Guest: Maria Bamford

Topics covered

  • OCD
  • 12 step programs
  • cult experiences
  • support groups
  • eating disorders
  • community

Keywords

  • OCD
  • 12 step programs
  • Maria Bamford
  • eating disorders
  • support groups
  • cult experiences
  • Suzuki Method

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Debtors Anonymous, Al-Anon, Suzuki Method

Books & works: Sure I’ll Join Your Cult

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