The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin

Synopsis

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.

First Air Date: 2021-09-30

Last Air Date: 2022-04-28

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 5

Networks: HBO Max

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Gwen Shamblin Lara as Self (archive footage)
Joe Lara as Self (archive footage)
Natasha Pavlovich as Self - Former Girlfriend of Joe Lara
Megan Cox as Self - Member 1996-2006
Helen Byrd as Self - Member 2008-2017
Rafael Martinez as Self - Cult Interventionist
Gina Wilson as Self - Member 1996-2012
Rachel Phillips as Self - Member 2002-2009
Glen Wingerd as Self - Former Brentwood Resident
Teri Phillips as Self - Member 1995-2003

Seasons

Miniseries (2021)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: The Kingdom (2021-09-30)

A deadly plane crash draws public attention to the Remnant Fellowship, a Christian-diet-program-turned-church, and its infamous leader, Gwen Shamblin Lara.
Ep. 2: A Family Affair (2021-09-30)

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.
Ep. 3: Seen But Not Heard (2021-09-30)

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.
Ep. 4: Revelations (2022-04-28)

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.
Ep. 5: The Way Forward (2022-04-28)

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.