The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin — Season 1
The fallout of faith
About this season
Explore how the late Gwen Shamblin Lara, who founded the controversial Remnant Fellowship Church and created the Christian weight loss program The Weigh Down Workshop, rose to fame as a diet guru and church leader.
Episodes (5)
1. The Kingdom
7.7Aired 30 September 2021 • 47 min
A deadly plane crash draws public attention to the Remnant Fellowship, a Christian-diet-program-turned-church, and its infamous leader, Gwen Shamblin Lara.
2. A Family Affair
7.5Aired 30 September 2021 • 47 min
Gwen’s divorce and prompt remarriage to struggling actor/musician Joe Lara raise questions about the odd couple’s checkered past – and the church’s finances.
3. Seen But Not Heard
8.0Aired 30 September 2021 • 55 min
When two Remnant members are charged with murder, Gwen rallies her congregation to defend against claims of abuse. As former church members recount their chilling experiences, another tragedy threatens to upend the future of the church.
4. Revelations
7.5Aired 28 April 2022 • 40 min
After a mysterious accident claims the lives of Gwen, Joe, and some of their inner circle, former Remnant members grapple with the leader’s complicated legacy, and new voices come forward for the first time.
5. The Way Forward
6.0Aired 28 April 2022 • 40 min
As the Remnant Fellowship fights to control the narrative, footage of a never-aired reality series pilot surfaces, casting new light on the ways Gwen shaped her image and the lives of those who followed her.