Claire Hoffman on Cults, Faith & the Scandal That Shaped American Religion

Journalist and author Claire Hoffman joins Painful Lessons to explore faith, scandal, and survival. From growing up in the Transcendental Meditation movement to writing Sister Sinner, Claire shares the incredible true story of Amy Semple McPherson, the most famous woman in 1920s America—who vanished into the ocean and reappeared in the desert 35 days later.

She and host Tyler Ramsey also dive into spirituality, modern cult dynamics, Claire’s investigation into abuse in media empires, and her deeply personal moments around death, doubt, and redemption.

🔸 Topics covered:

• Surviving a spiritual movement

• Writing Sister Sinner

• The disappearance of Amy Semple McPherson

• Religion and media in Los Angeles

• Trauma, belief, and transformation

• Final moments with Claire's father

• Dangers of binary morality

  
  

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