Martina Castro, Part 2 - Allegations, Disappearances, and the Crumbling Cult of John of God
From Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
February 25, 2026 · 52 min
About this episode
Martina Castro discusses the darker allegations against John of God, including sexual abuse and mysterious disappearances.
This week we’re back with Martina Castro, creator of new Exactly Right podcast Two Faced: John of God, a series about John of God, the famous Brazilian “healer” and “psychic surgeon.” Last week she explained John of God’s so-called healings and doctor spirits that attracted celebrities and visitors from all over the world, and this week Martina walks Lola & Meagan through some of the darker allegations that began to come out. She shares about how the sexual abuse survivors began to come forward with their stories, the deep political influence John of God had in the town that allowed him to get away with it in plain sight for literally decades, and the mysterious disappearances of people in the town. They discuss the dynamics of devotion and denial, and what it takes to finally break the spell. SOURCES Two-Faced: John of God Dos Caras: Juan de Dios See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Hosts: Lola, Meagan
Guest: Martina Castro
Topics covered
- cults
- sexual abuse
- psychic surgery
- disappearances
- manipulation
- allegations
Keywords
- John of God
- Martina Castro
- cults
- sexual abuse
- disappearances
- psychic surgery
- allegations
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Exactly Right, iHeartPodcasts
Books & works: Two Faced: John of God, Dos Caras: Juan de Dios
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