Megan Phelps-Roper discusses leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, interviewing J.K. Rowling and how social media amplifies our worst impulses

Louis is joined by writer, podcaster and subject of not one, not two, but three Louis Theroux documentaries, Megan Phelps-Roper. 20 years on from them meeting, the pair swap notes on Megan’s departure from the church, crossing paths with J.K. Rowling and how social media amplifies our worst impulses. 

 

Warnings: Strong language and adult themes.  

 

If you've been affected by the topics discussed in this episode, visit spotify.com/resources. 

 

Links/Attachments: 

 

The three video/audio extracts are from ‘The Most Hated Family in America’ (BBC) 

Podcast: Book Keeper (2026)  https://open.spotify.com/show/033NjTPZ0bfXfTG4AiEvbn?si=UPd7lChoSNu706sLJyIt0g&utm_source=copy-link

 

TV Show: Deadwood (2004-2006) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348914/  

 

Podcast: The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling (2023) 

https://open.spotify.com/show/0pOqilA3erTXXQ3cf422Ct  

 

Podcast: The Daily Podcast (2017-present) 

https://open.spotify.com/show/6wVeXmXdT9nh5QKiZxPSmy  

 

Book Series: Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling (1997-2007) 

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/harry-potter/resources/series-overview/?srsltid=AYCX9vLX_rGZirNt8zcub_I762yQTqKsHXrX6pejimhQdlgtQZgLXYR4 

 

Book: Kill All Normies, Angela Nagle (2017) 

https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/our-books/kill-all-normies  

 

Podcast: Joe Rogan Experience #974 - Megan Phelps-Roper 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOnefFVBEb0  

 

Credits: 

Producer: Tom Fuller  

Senior Assistant Producer: Maisie Ellen Williams  

Junior Production Manager: Rosie Pender 

Production Executive: Francesca Bassett 

Original Music: Miguel D’Oliveira 

Video Editor: Scott Edwards 

Audio Editor: Tom Guest 

Series Producer: Millie Chu  

Executive Producer: Arron Fellows 

 

A Mindhouse Studios Production for Spotify. 
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