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

The Louis Theroux Podcast

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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 - 1 hour 28 minutes

Louis is joined by writer, podcaster and subject of not one, not two, but three Louis Theroux documentaries, Megan Phelps-Roper. 25 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) 

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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