Putting the βcultβ in cultureβ¦ Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about the Royal Family? What about Disney Adults? Or spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? Weβre Sounds Like A Cult, an iHeart Radio Award-winning podcast that analyzes a different fanatical group every week to try and answer the big question: This ~sounds~ like a cult, but is it really? Created and hosted byΒ New York Times-bestselling author Amanda Montell, co-hosted and produced by Chelsea Charles, Reese Oliver, and Iman Hariri Kia.
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Β AΒ missive has arrived in your mailbox, dear cultie!Β Β WhatβsΒ this?Β AnΒ invitation to an exclusive, mystical, and splendidly nerdy episode ofΒ Sounds Like A CultΒ thatβs only a short ride from Kingβs Cross station away!Β Β YES, your mostΒ British, nostalgia-packed dreams have been realized because this week Amanda and Reese are hopping aboard the Hogwarts Express to every 90s babyβs starter cult, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!Β Β Β Β Joined by the hilarious and wiseΒ podcastersΒ Sequoia ofΒ Fanatical Fics and Where to Find ThemΒ and Mike ofΒ Potterless, Reese and Amanda are drinking the butterbeer and covering everything from Hogwarts houses to Snapewives.Β FollowΒ us as we attempt to dissect the undeniably world-shifting franchise, fandom, and capitalist dreamscape thatΒ mightΒ have more mommy issues than Harry Potter himselfβ¦Β
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Follow us on IGΒ @soundslikeacultpod,Β @amanda_montell,Β @reesaronii,Β @chelseaxcharles.Β
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:Β
https://mutualaidla.org/
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The Cult of Reborn Dolls
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 β’ Duration 01:06:09
BOO! βtis the spookiest time of the year, dear culties, and this year weβve whipped out our cauldrons to cook you an up episode on one of the scariest topics we could think ofβ¦ complex emotions?! That is only half a joke, because this week Reese is equally embarrassed and excited to bring Amanda into the weird and wacky world of reborn dolls with the help of Corrine Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga from Two Girls One Ghost. The "Reborners" community serves a wide range of acolytes, from grieving parents seeking therapeutic tools to fantasy lovers looking to adopt the most finely crafted infant abominable snowmen money can buy (no judgement!). This week, weβre sitting down to investigate exactly why people make, buy, and most cultily, wholeheartedly OBSESS over these fantastical silicone babies. No matter if youβve been a loyal Britton Rose follower for years, or have never heard the words "reborn doll" in your life, this mystical Halloween-flavored episode of Sounds Like A Cult is full of tricks and treats just for you ;)
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @reesaronii @chelseaxcharlesΒ @amanda_montellΒ
Subscribe to the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!
To order Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, click here. To subscribe to Amanda's new Magical Overthinkers podcast, click here :)
Thank you to our sponsors!Β
Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when youβre ready to launch, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
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Go to stopscooping.com/SLAC and enter promocode SLAC to save an EXTRA $50 on any Litter-Robot bundle.Β Β
Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LiquidIV.com and use code CULT at checkout
Further reading:
Effect of Doll Therapy in Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review
Inside the hyper-realistic world of baby doll collecting
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The Cult of Weddings
Season 2 Β· Episode 31
Tuesday, August 30, 2022 β’ Duration 01:03:42
Weddings: Filled to the brim with ritualistic ceremonies, patriarchal traditions, power abuse, bank-breaking costs, conformist uniforms, and false promises galore...sound familiar? Sounds like a freakin CULT to us. This week: Amanda and Isa discuss wedding ceremonies and the lengths people will go to for the "best day of their life" with writer, author of "Trick Mirror," and professional wedding critic, Jia Tolentino.
This is Isa's Parent's flower business! danisaflowers.com
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The Cult of Youth Groups
Season 2 Β· Episode 30
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 β’ Duration 01:06:23
Welcome to our life-changing, missional, intentional ministry for young people from all walks of life to strengthen their faith in Christ while having soooo much fun!! Evangelical youth groups (think: Young Life, Teen Mania Ministries, etc.) love-bomb vulnerable adolescent recruits into joining the Christian βcoolβ kidsβa place where theyβre promised to find both earthly acceptance and heavenly salvationβonly to manipulate and indoctrinate them with oppressive, homophobic, legitimately terrifying dogma and providing zero exit strategy. Sounds. Like. A. Damn. Cult!!! This week, Amanda and Isa chat with former youth group kid turned TikTok comedy sensation Kevin James Thornton to unpack the cult-like tactics and ideology of Christian youth organizations. (Donβt worry, culties, a Jewish youth groups episode is coming l8er!!)
https://www.kevinjamesthornton.com/
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The Cult of The Kardashians
Season 2 Β· Episode 29
Tuesday, August 16, 2022 β’ Duration 01:09:53
The Kardashians: a harmlessly entertaining reality TV family or a dynastic conformist controlling cabal of K-named cult leaders? In this ~intense~ episode, Isa and Amanda chat with comedian and New Yorker writer Meg Indurti to unpack the cult-like influence of Americaβs most (in)famous family. Major Devilβs Avocado energy this week!
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Our listeners get 10% off their first month by visiting our sponsor BetterHelp at BetterHelp.com/cult
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The Cult of The Troubled Teen Industry
Season 2 Β· Episode 28
Tuesday, August 9, 2022 β’ Duration 56:31
Weβre in for a shocking one this week: The Troubled Teen Industry has for decades promised parents to reform their βproblem-causingβ kids through 8-12 week βwilderness therapyβ and other military-style schools. But kidnappings, isolation, punishment, secrecy, and abuse are all a part of the equation, resulting in the separation of families and years of trauma. Yikes doesnβt even begin to describe this unregulated cult-like industry, which was originally inspired by the destructive cult Amandaβs dad grew up in, Synanon, and somehow hasnβt been shut down yet. Many disturbing stories await you this week!!
Source/further reading:
βI Was Forced To Sculpt My Rapeβ: What Is Happening Inside The Troubled Teen Industry? By ELIZABETH GULINO:Β https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/06/10401693/troubled-teens-programs-industry-problem
Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial at DipseaStories.com/CULT
Everlywell is offering listeners twenty percent off an at-home lab test at Everlywell.com/CULT
Dad Grass is offering our listeners 20% off your first order when you go to DADGRASS.COM/CULT
Check out jordanharbinger.com/start for some episode recommendations, OR search forΒ The Jordan Harbinger Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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BONUS: The Cults We ALL Follow
Season 2 Β· Episode 27
Tuesday, August 2, 2022 β’ Duration 44:46
For the last week of Cult Girl Summer, another juicy bonus episode: This time, Isa and Amanda are listening and reacting to unaired voice messages from our loyalest listenersβour beloved βcultiesββwho called into the show to comment on our Season 2 cults of the week (from Disney Adults to theatre kids). Weβll be back with regularly slated episodes next week, but in the meantime, check out Isaβs live comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (details on Instagram @isaamedinaa) and Amandaβs book CULTISH: The Language of Fanaticism (available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook wherever you buy books)!
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The Cult of 12-Step Programs: Part 2
Season 2 Β· Episode 26
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 β’ Duration 45:46
A much-requested Part 2 to continue Cult Girl Summer. Our 12-Step Program episode sparked much debate, and we quickly determined weβd need to continue the conversation about how βcultyβ these addiction recovery groups can be. Inspired by our most engaged culties, here is our first-ever follow-up episode. Many thanks to the listeners who generously called in for this one! For further reading on this subject, check out the study, βExiting Alcoholics Anonymous disappointed: A qualitative analysis of the experiences of ex-members of AAβ (thereβs a free PDF version on ResearchGate) and the 2018 Vox article, βWhy some people swear by Alcoholics Anonymous β and others despise it.β
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The Cult of Plastic Surgery
Season 2 Β· Episode 25
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 β’ Duration 57:04
How much would you risk in pursuit of perfection? Itβs another installment of βCult Girl Summerβ bonus content. This week, Amanda and Isa speak candidly (like reallllllly candidly) about a glamorous and life-threatening industry that sucks you in with promises of beauty and never lets you out: Plastic surgeryβfeaturing very special guest, Emmy-nominated comedian/actress, Sydnee Washington!Β
Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial at DipseaStories.com/CULT
Everlywell is offering listeners 20% off an at-home lab test at Everlywell.com/CULT
Get Honey for FREE at JoinHoney.com/CULT
Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/CULT
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