-
The Cult of Fanfiction
Long before publishing executives "discovered" the internet, a very dedicated group of fans had already built their own literary universe complete with sacred terminology, power hierarchies, and enough drama to make the actual source material blush. This week, Reese and Iman sit down with the iconic Christina Lauren duo, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (@christinalauren), to dissect fanfiction's glow-up from AO3 comment sections to genuine big business. We're getting into the culty dialect (slash, ship AU, canon, OTP), the plagiarism scandals, the parasocial power trips, and the Fifty Shades pipeline that proved E.L. James wasn't the only one who could monetize her Twilight feelings. Press play, culties, your kudos await.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia.
Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events
Thank you to our sponsors!
Join the loyalty program for renters at https://joinbilt.com/cult
Take 20% off your first purchase with code CULT at https://LIQUIDIV.COM
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Playboy
Playboy sold the world a fantasy of luxury and sexual liberation, but behind the velvet curtains, the reality was far more complex. This week, Amanda, Chelsea, and special guest Amy Rose Spiegel (@verymuchso) dive into the Playboy phenomenon…not just as a magazine, but as a carefully curated world built on power, control, and illusion. From the mystique of the Playboy Mansion and its exclusive parties to the troubling stories from former Playmates, we’re exploring how Hugh Hefner crafted an empire that blurred the line between empowerment and exploitation. Was Playboy truly a symbol of freedom, or just another gilded cage? And how does nostalgia shape the way we view its legacy today? Join us as we unravel the cult-like influence of Playboy and the contradictions that made it both iconic and insidious.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH!
Follow Don't Cross Kat on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of Don't Cross Kat early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery+.
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:
https://mutualaidla.org/
https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout
https://shorturl.at/SGW9w
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Academia
Did you know PhD actually stands for “Probably Heavily in Debt” and “Pretty Heavily Depressed”? Jk (or are we?). This week, Isa and Amanda delve into the mahogany-walled “cult” academia, where hierarchies, elitism, financial exploitation, hidden crimes, false promises, and weird robes are just part of the gig. Comedian, writer, and PhD adjunct professor Amy Silverberg joins us to discuss her experience being both a leader and a follower of this prestigious “cult.”
For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/CULT.
Go to HelloFresh.com/cult16 and use code cult16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!
Listeners get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/CULT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Kitchen Culture
Summer 2022, it seemed like everyone and their cult leader was *devouring* the TV show The Bear: an inside look at the hierarchical, co-dependent, misfit-ridden, sometimes downright abusive—but also totally transcendent—“cult” of restaurant kitchen culture. This week, Amanda and Isa are chatting with Matty Matheson, a big-time chef and cast member of the show, for a no holds barred analysis of the culty power dynamics and rituals found in the world of knives, remoulades, shift drinks, “family meal,” and everyone screaming “behind!!!!”
Get Tickets to Isa's Live Comedy Shows Here: https://linktr.ee/isaamedinaa
Attend Amanda's Live Book Events: http://amandamontell.com/events/
Thank to our sponsors:
Dipsea:
Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial at: DipseaStories.com/CULT
Honey:
Get Honey for FREE at JoinHoney.com/cult.
BetterHelp:
When you want to be a better problem solver, therapy can get you there. Visit BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.
Daily Harvest:
Go to DAILYHARVEST.com/cult to get up to forty dollars off your first box!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Momfluencers
Motherhood is hard, lonely, and exhausting... except, apparently, if you're a momfluencer. Since the mid-2000s, a crop of seemingly perfect, all-knowing mommy goddesses in billowy tunics have emerged on social media—and we can't help but feel that their highly monetizable (often misinformation-ridden) internet presences basically exist to make other moms feel less than. This week, with the help of journalist and real-life mother Sara Petersen, author of the forthcoming book MOMFLUENCED, Isa and Amanda spill the (organic, non-toxic, totally baby-safe) tea about how famous internet moms have become their own kind of 21st Century cult leader.
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Thank you so much to our sponsor, Modern Fertility!
To receive 50% or more off your first month of therapy, go to modernfertility.com/CULT.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Rae Dunn
Order Amanda's new book! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976
Get ready to live, laugh, love, and possibly get into an “aisle fight” over this longgggg overdue episode, featuring the iconic Griff Stark-Ennis from the Petty Crimes podcast! In what may just be our *pettiest* episode ever, Griff joins Amanda to discuss the cultish fanaticism surrounding the pottery brand, Rae Dunn. You know those farmhouse-style mugs and platters found at TJ Maxx and Home Goods, featuring cutesy “handwritten” sayings, like “Squeeze the day” and “Bah humbug?” To a certain breed of consumer, Rae Dunn has animorphed into not just a quaint kitchenware brand but a full-blown lifestyle worth making major sacrifices for. In other words, a cult!!! Unsure how the hell that’s possible? Tune in to find out… and don’t miss your chance to see Amanda live on tour together this spring! Tickets are below :)
https://amandamontell.com/events/
Thank you to our sponsors <333
Head to FACTORMEALS.com/CULT50 and use code CULT50 to get 50% off.
Shop SKIMS Bras at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows.
Visit BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Celebrity Megachurches
One of our favorite topics to date: In this can’t-miss episode, we’re unpacking the wave of trendy evangelical church groups (like Hillsong, Mosaic, and Churchome), which use Silicon Valley-savvy marketing, celebrity endorsements, charismatic pastors, and a slew of doubtlessly culty recruitment techniques and power structures in an attempt to make Christ “cool” for masses of modern young people. Here to help us understand the cultishness of hipster Christianity is special guest Grace Baldridge, a musician and documentarian behind Refinery29’s “State of Grace” series, which tackles faith, queerness, and American culture. Be sure to follow @GraceBaldridge on Instagram!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of MAGA Wives
They've got devotion in their eyes, American flag throw pillows on their couches, and a framed photo of Donald Trump in their prayer corner. This week, Amanda and Chelsea are joined by iconic advice columnist, author, and certified legend E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll1), to unpack the wildly culty world of MAGA Wives: the loyal ladies of the far-right who will defend their orange king until the bitter, gold-plated end. From standing by their man (even when he’s been indicted four times) to reposting QAnon memes between Bible verses, MAGA wives operate like a sisterhood of true believers. Why do so many of them double down on submission and conspiracy as lifestyle brands? What do they get out of aligning themselves with an ideology that, let’s be real, doesn’t seem to like women very much? Grab your pearls and your Mar-a-Lago merch...we’re diving into the red-lipped, red-pilled cult of conservative wifedom. 💋🇺🇸🍊
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
Get 50% + FREE SHIP ONLY at https://Adamandeve.com and select any one item. Just enter offer code SLAC at checkout.
Please consider donating to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Team SLAC are donating to the PCRF, a nonprofit organization providing vital medical care, food, and humanitarian aid to children and families in need.
The Big Magical Cult Show is coming to Just For Laughs Toronto on September 27th. Get your tickets before they sell out!
Visit E. Jean's substack for more delicious calls to action and check out her new book Not My Type: One Woman vs. A President.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Pantone (the Color Conspiracy)
What does it mean for a color to be official? This week, Amanda is joined by lexicographer and writer Kory Stamper (@harmless_drudge) to dive into the oddly powerful world of Pantone, the company that turned color into a global authority system complete with sacred swatches, cryptic numbers, and an annual prophecy known as Color of the Year. They unpack how Pantone became the high priest of hue, shaping everything from fashion runways to corporate branding. Why does the word cognac feel more chic than brown? And how did a company convince the world that a very specific white or millennial pink can define an entire cultural moment? Is Pantone simply helping us speak the same visual language… or are we all just obedient followers of the color industrial complex? Either way, pass the swatch book.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia.
Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events
Thank you to our sponsors!
For free shipping and 365-day returns, go to https://Quince.com/slac
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Nickelodeon
Few pop culture phenomena have commanded such fierce devotion while hiding so many skeletons in their neon-colored closet. This week, Chelsea, Amanda, and Reese dig into Nickelodeon—not just as a childhood staple, but as a world built on loyalty, odd rituals, and unsettling secrets. From the hypnotic allure of The Kids' Choice Awards and the iconic green slime to the troubling revelations surrounding Dan Schneider and the exploitation behind the scenes, we’re breaking down how Nickelodeon crafted a universe that felt rebellious and freeing, while masking a much darker reality. Was the network’s quirky, anti-establishment vibe just smoke and mirrors? How does nostalgia shape the way we process these unsettling truths? Join us as we peel back the layers of an empire that shaped generations, for better or worse. Nick-Nick-Nick, Nick-Nick-NICK-NICK!
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
You have got to take advantage of this brand new deal from Adam & Eve at https://www.adamandeve.com/cult
Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:
https://mutualaidla.org/
https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout
https://shorturl.at/SGW9w
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of The Peace Corps
~Join us~ as Isa and Amanda unpack the "cult" of the Peace Corps—its peculiar rituals of initiation, close-knit camaraderie that borders on religious obsession, unwavering devotion to a higher cause, and (wait a second) abuse and murder?? Thanks to insightful listener call-ins, we reveal the eerie similarities that make this hallowed American organization an uncanny mirror to cult-like communities.
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Or follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @isaamedinaa @amanda_montell
Thank you to our sponsors!
Head to stitchfix.com/cult and you'll get 25% off when you keep everything in your Fix
Go to Kosas.com/CULT for 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more plus FREE shipping
Go to betterhelp.com/cult to get 10% off your first month
Dipsea is offering our listeners a 30 day free trial when you go to dipseastories.com/cult
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Glossier
Catch Amanda back on tour this summer!
July 29: The Age of Magical Overthinking book talk at Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle, WA (free!)
Time to Milky Jelly™ cleanse your souls, culties. If you were alive in 2017, and anywhere near our same millennial pink corner of the internet, then you KNEW what a Glossier girl was. The emblem of relatable-but-aspirational coolness helmed by cult leader… ahem, CEO… Emily Weiss (of The Hills fame) was so much more than a cosmetics line. Glossier was a lifestyle, a uniform, an identity template, a cultural phenomenon, a religion? Come on, those pink bubble wrap pouches??? If you had one, it meant you’d reached a certain kind of ~enlightenment~. Alongside the likes of other rare brands like Starbucks and SoulCycle, Glossier was a ”cult-followed” company through in through… but was something more sinister lurking underneath? Why did the brand take off as astronomically as it did? And what is the status of the “cult” now? At long last, host Amanda is (over)analyzing the spiritual movement that is Glossier with none other than beauty journalist Marisa Meltzer, author of the New York Times bestselling book Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier (out now in paperback!).
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell
To order Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, click here :) To subscribe to her new Magical Overthinkers podcast click here!
Thank you to our sponsors, who make this show possible:
Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/cult.
Visit BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.
Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/cult.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Marathon Runners
Welcome to the world of fitness trackers, high-performance athletic gear, nutrition goo, obsessively comparing your stats, and trying to beat your PR… it’s the “cult” of marathoners. Is the seemingly healthy practice of running as pure as it‘s made out to be, or can it take over people’s lives in a disturbingly culty way? With the help of a special guest, fitness influencer (and Isa’s comedy pal) Lydia Keating, we’re talking all things athletics, competition, capitalism, and Tik Tok to try and assess how cultish the running community really is.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of RuPaul's Drag Race
If you don’t worship at the altar of this week’s “cult,” then simply sashay away! One of the most intense, vicious, fabulous reality TV fandoms in history is that of the competition show that put drag queens on the mainstream map: RuPaul’s Drag Race. Season 6 and All-Star queen BenDeLaCreme joins Isa and Amanda to offer an inside look at the most cult-like aspects of Drag Race, from the time she was physically stalked by a fan to the producers’ truly bonkers manipulation techniques. The tea is piping hot!!!
For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/CULT
Go to Zocdoc.com/CULT and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.
For 50% off your first Care/of order, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code cult50
Check out jordanharbinger.com/start for some episode recommendations, OR search for The Jordan Harbinger Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of The Supreme Court
A cabal of black-robed elites who preside, unquestioned, over all our rights and freedoms… hmmm… sounds like a dang cult to us! Isa and Amanda are getting *judicial* this week to analyze the “cult” of The Supreme Court with NYU law professor and host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, Melissa Murray. Just in time for voting season! Check out voting resources below for this year's upcoming midterm elections.
Register to vote, learn about your local elections, and make a plan – resources below! Midterms cheat sheet: https://www.generatorcollective.com/
Vote Save America: https://votesaveamerica.com/be-a-voter/
Get tickets to see Sounds Like A Cult live and in-person in Los Angeles on 12/4! https://www.dynastytypewriter.com
Link to Isa's upcoming NYC comedy show here!
Thank you to our sponsors:
For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/CULT
Get Honey for FREE at JoinHoney.com/cult.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
BONUS: Exposing Our Cult
Welcome to Cult Girl Summer, five weeks of bonus episodes where Isa and Amanda are sharing unfiltered cult convos, footage from the cutting room floor, much-requested Part 2s, and more. Kicking off this juicy summer vibe is an episode to help listeners get to know the “cult” of Sounds Like A Cult a little bit better: This week, Amanda and Isa are answering your most frequently asked questions: Who we are, how we make the show, what “cults” to expect in future episodes, and beyond.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Child Stars
Selena Gomez, Drew Barrymore, and Daniel Radcliffe are all survivors of today's "cult," and so is our guest, Mara Wilson, star of 1990s cinematic classics like Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire. Mara was only five years old when she started appearing in major commercials, and the next ten years of her life were a dream come true—full of glamour and accolades... and intense pressures, isolation, creepy stalkers, and other shocking experiences that make the world of child stars seem VERY culty. This week, with Mara's help, Amanda and Isa attempt to figure out if this secretive wing of the entertainment industry—responsible for what former child star Alyson Stoner once called the "toddler to trainwreck pipeline"—is as cult-like as it seems.
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, donate to Isa’s fundraiser or visit our website, click here!
Thank you so much to our sponsors!
Download SmartNews for free today in the app store!
To receive 50% or more off your first month of therapy, go to cerebral.com/cult.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of The Duggars
Wowowow, today’s episode, which originally aired in December of 2023, features Jill and Derick Dillard, whom you might recognize from TLC’s 19 Kids & Counting!!! Imagine this: You’re born into a family that’s already a little ~abnormal~ because your parents are super religious and you have 200 siblings or whatever, then a reality television network comes knocking with promises of money and glory, slaps your whole clan of loved ones into a giant pair of golden handcuffs, a bunch of exploitation ensues, and one day you wake up and realize you’ve spent your childhood in an insane f*cking cult??? The “cult” of reality TV families, focused on The Duggars, is today’s subject of discussion, and what a juicy convo it was. Of all the reality TV family shows, which do YOU think is the cultiest??
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH!
For your next trip, treat yourself to the luxe upgrades you deserve from Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/slac for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order.
Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:
https://mutualaidla.org/
https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout
https://shorturl.at/SGW9w
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Life Coaches
Why does it seem like certain "life coaches" are exactly the kinda folks who shouldn't be giving life advice? The unregulated life coaching industry is perfectly set up to turn culty: It's rife with New Age quacks charging thousands to tell others how to live, but also... hiring a brainstorming partner to help you work through sh*t during times of uncertainty *does* sound beneficial? Tricky!! This week, Amanda and Isa are joined by comedian and host of the Self-Helpless podcast Kelsey Cook to unpack how much of a "cult" the life coach space has really become.
To check out Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, click here!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @isaamedinaa @amanda_montell
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go to RocketMoney.com/SLAC to cancel unwanted subscriptions!
Go to BEISTRAVEL.com/CULT for 15% off your first purchase.
The Cotton collection and more are available now at SKIMS.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Fantasy Football
Lace up your cleats, because we’re about to tackle one of the most competitive, emotionally charged, and cult-ish communities in modern sports culture: The Cult of Fantasy Football. This week, Chelsea is joined by NFL host and analyst Kimmi Chex (@kimmichex) to break down how a simple hobby turned millions of casual fans into full-blown believers. From office leagues to dynasty drafts, Fantasy Football isn’t just a game… It's a belief system built on stats, superstitions, and Sunday rituals. We unpack the sermons of sleeper picks, the sacred relics of draft boards, and the emotional highs and lows that rival any religion. Whether you’re a casual observer or a card-carrying commissioner, this episode dissects the community, the camaraderie, and the chaos that make Fantasy Football one of the most worshiped cults in sports.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT
Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good. Go to https://Quince.com/slac
EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/soundslikeacult-podcast
Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/st3nalv7 #CashAppPod
London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of The NFL
On theme for Thanksgiving, we've got a bonus episode for you on the "cult" of America's most zealously worshipped, physically hazardous sport: NFL football. One might imagine the typical all-American family spending their Sunday mornings at church followed by a football game, often complete with alcohol-fueled tailgating and rivalrous smack-talking, conformist fan jerseys, and group chants, all of which are certainly "culty" behaviors in a comparatively innocent sense... but does the "cult" of the NFL get darker than that, both for fans and players? This week, we're discussing it all with the help of a very special expert guest, ESPN sports anchor Elle Duncan. Follow us on instagram @soundslikeacultpod, and hosts @isaamedinaa and @amanda_montell.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Duolingo
Is it a free language learning app... or a feathered dictator in your pocket? In this episode, Amanda and Chelsea are joined by Zaria Parvez (@zariaparvez), the social media mastermind behind that chaotic green owl, to unpack the potentially culty world of Duolingo. We’re talking guilt-trippy push notifications, leaderboard anxiety, and the question on everyone’s mind: why does Duo feel more like a clingy ex than a study buddy? Whether you're on a 1-day streak or a 1,000-day emotional journey, this one’s for you.
UPDATE: So, our Duolingo episode was recorded before the company’s AI controversy made major headlines but wow, I guess we found the scandal that could kneecap duo 👀🦉Not to mention our angelic guest quit the company just before this was released!!! WILD TIMES. Do you think Duo is a Live Your Life, Watch Your Back, or a GTFO? Comment below!
Quartz: Duolingo CEO still battling backlash over ‘AI-first’ plans
Adweek: Duolingo Social Media Guru Zaria Parvez Exits
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at https://MINTMOBILE.com/cult
Right now save 20% on your FIRST order and get a free cat toy at https://PrettyLitter.com/CULT
Please consider donating to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Team SLAC are donating to the PCRF, a nonprofit organization providing vital medical care, food, and humanitarian aid to children and families in need.
The Big Magical Cult Show is coming to Just For Laughs Toronto on September 27th. Get your tickets before they sell out!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Harry Potter
A missive has arrived in your mailbox, dear cultie! What’s this? An invitation to an exclusive, mystical, and splendidly nerdy episode of Sounds Like A Cult that’s only a short ride from King’s Cross station away! YES, your most British, nostalgia-packed dreams have been realized because this week Amanda and Reese are hopping aboard the Hogwarts Express to every 90s baby’s starter cult, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Joined by the hilarious and wise podcasters Sequoia of Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them and Mike of Potterless, Reese and Amanda are drinking the butterbeer and covering everything from Hogwarts houses to Snapewives. Follow us as we attempt to dissect the undeniably world-shifting franchise, fandom, and capitalist dreamscape that might have more mommy issues than Harry Potter himself…
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://LIQUIDIV.COM and use code CULT at checkout.
Visit https://BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.
Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:
https://mutualaidla.org/
https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout
https://shorturl.at/SGW9w
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Satanism
Is it evil… or just excellent branding? This week, Amanda & Reese are joined by writer and podcaster Sarah Marshall (You’re Wrong About) to descend into The Cult of Satanism: The spooky, sexy, misunderstood belief system that terrified suburban moms everywhere.
We’re talking devilish imagery, political theater, and the delicious irony of a religion that doesn’t actually believe in the Devil. From Anton LaVey’s campy theatrics to the Wayfair trafficking conspiracy, we’re unpacking how Satanism became the perfect scapegoat for America’s moral panic and how the real horror show was the Satanic Panic itself. So light your black candles, clutch your pearls, and prepare to sell your soul (metaphorically, of course). Because when it comes to culty influence, the devil’s in the details. 😈🔥📜
Listen to The Devil You Know wherever you get podcasts! https://link.mgln.ai/Eg9XvP
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Go to https://Quince.com/slac for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
BONUS: The Cults We ALL Follow
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 listeners—our beloved “culties”—who called into the show to comment on our Season 2 cults of the week (from Disney Adults to theatre kids). We’ll be back with regularly slated episodes next week, but in the meantime, check out Isa’s live comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (details on Instagram @isaamedinaa) and Amanda’s book CULTISH: The Language of Fanaticism (available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook wherever you buy books)!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Shen Yun
You’re walking through the mall or driving down the street, and there it is again: a pastel-colored poster featuring a leaping dancer. It reads: Shen Yun, China Before Communism. What even IS this lavish dance show whose advertisements haunt all our towns? Is it a religion? A political party? A theatre troupe? What is their mission? Is the dancing even good? And where does Shen Yun find the budget for all this marketing?? This week, Amanda is joined by special guests Liz and Brace of the TrueAnon podcast (@trueanonpod) to break down the culty undercurrents of Shen Yun, the ultra-mysterious, Falun Gong-backed dance company that’s less about “reviving ancient Chinese culture” and more about, oh, say, labor exploitation, emotional abuse, and apocalyptic doomsday beliefs. ALLEGEDLY. Tune in as we pirouette through the cultiest corners of this not-so-harmless night at the theater. 🎭💸✨
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://LIQUIDIV.COM and use code CULT at checkout.
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH!
Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:
https://mutualaidla.org/
https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout
https://shorturl.at/SGW9w
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of A Cappella
From The Yale Whiffenpoofs to Pitch Perfect’s Barden Bellas, a cappella groups are not just your average band, they are a *family*, like a cross between fraternities and theatre kids. Crooning Top 40 covers in tight harmonies might sound like the most innocent way to commune... but can these seemingly wholesome, aggressively punny groups be sketchier than they seem? Amanda and Isa chat with an aca-mazing guest, Dani Calleiro—ex-member of the cult-followed YouTube a cappella band, Cimorelli—to get to the base note (sorry) of this week’s “cult.”
In honor of Sounds Like A Cult's one-year anniversary, we're hosting our very first ever live show! It's virtual, meaning anyone from anywhere in the world can attend. On June 15th at 9 pm ET, join Isa and Amanda to ask questions, play games, hear us talk about never-before-discussed cults, and dive into alllllll other things culty. Details and ticket info can be found at momenthouse.com/soundslikeacult
Go to HelloFresh.com/cult16 and use code cult16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!
For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/CULT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of The Biggest Loser
It looked like feel-good weight loss… until Netflix told us the truth. This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by former contestant Tracey Yukich Lane (@traceyyuckichlane) to unpack how The Biggest Loser went from “inspirational reality show” to one of the most culty franchises in TV history. From weigh-in rituals and trainer worship to isolation, fear tactics, and nationwide public shaming, we’re diving into the behind the scenes world that had millions of viewers cheering for transformation while contestants were barely surviving it. Why did we believe this was healthy? How did it become so successful? And what happens when a show about losing weight starts demanding you lose yourself too? Grab your branded sweatband and your cognitive dissonance... this episode gets messy. 🏋🏻♂️📺🔥
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT
Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/slac
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Astrology Apps
~A cosmic new episode of Sounds Like a Cult lies in your near future, Virgo~ No? Capricorn? Pisces, maybe? Whatever your sign is, today’s episode is sure to deliver all of the celestial wisdom you’ve been seeking straight from the comfort of your mobile device, much like today’s cult of discush, astrology apps! The astrologically inclined have fully infiltrated Silicon Valley (thanks, Elon), leaving in their data-farming path a vast plethora of galactic apps to suit whatever flavor of push notification strikes your fancy. Truly a product of the 21st century, astrology apps provide a dystopian look into the spiritual sects of our future, (which, spoiler alert, might not even have human leaders?!), giving us reason to question what “cults” might be lying right beyond our grubby screen protectors. Here to help Amanda and Reese navigate the digital cosmos is astrologer and astrology app co-founder Aliza Kelly, host of the Horoscope Weekly Podcast. Calibrate your sundials, clear up some iCloud storage, and suit up for a light-speed cruise through this astral listen!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell @reesaronii @chelseaxcharles
Watch the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/cult.
Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/CULT.
Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LiquidIV.com and use code CULT at checkout.
Shop the SKIMS Holiday Shop at skims.com/cult.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Military Wives
At long last, the man/myth/legend, Amanda's dad, Craig Montell, whose riveting stories of his childhood spent in the Synanon cult planted her fascination with all things "cultish," joins as this week's guest. In this *extremely wholesome* episode, Amanda and her pop analyze a quartet of listener-submitted stories, documenting four firsthand experiences with “culty” groups (from military wives to Abercrombie & Fitch) comparing each one to the surreal mindfuckery and power dynamics Craig witnessed in Synanon. The episode mostly focuses on the “cult” of military spouses... faaaaascinating how closely it resembles a bonafide '70s-era cult. But is it a Life Your Life, Watch Your Back, or GTFO?? Tune in to find out. Thanks so much to all who wrote in their culty tales!
To check out Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, click here!
The Magical Overthinkers newsletter can be found here.
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod
Thank you to our sponsors!
The Cotton collection and more are available now at SKIMS.com.
Go to betterhelp.com/cult to get 10% off your first month
This episode reflects solely the opinions and work of Amanda and special guests.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of The Hammer Family
You're sure to *devour* this week's episode analyzing four generations of wealthy men who, in our little opinion, represent a stunning example of how a powerful American family can resemble a cult. This week, Isa and Amanda are joined by a third co-host of sorts, true crime TikTokker and friend of the pod Lauren Skae (@thezenblonde), who's here to help tell the harrowing story of The Hammer Family, including actor Armie Hammer, who was exposed for a bunch of power-abusive behaviors. Sometimes murder-y, sometimes cannibal-y (allegedly!!!), this one is not for the faint of heart.
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Or follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @isaamedinaa @amanda_montell
Thank you to our sponsors!
Get free shipping on orders over $75 at SKIMS.com
Go to Zocdoc.com/CULT and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.
Go to Kosas.com/CULT for 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more plus FREE shipping
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Plastic Surgery
How much would you risk in pursuit of perfection? It’s another installment of “Cult Girl Summer” 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 surgery—featuring very special guest, Emmy-nominated comedian/actress, Sydnee Washington!
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
a culty announcement 👽
You're invited to The Big Magical Cult Show!!! Catch host Amanda on tour this April to celebrate her new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking. Half the events are star-studded bookstore stops (where she'll be in conversation with the likes of Molly Ringwald and Pauline Chalamet!), and the other half are these wacky, witchy variety shows, featuring cult-followed podcasters (like Kelsey from Normal Gossip and Ceara & Griff from Petty Crimes), drag burlesque, musical guests, and more. There will be book signings, audience Q&As, and Amanda's first-ever merch collection, available only at these live events!!! Get your tickets below :)
April 9: Los Angeles, CA — Barnes & Noble at The Grove, in conversation with Pauline Chalamet (tickets here)
SOLD OUT April 11: NYC, NY — The Strand
April 12: Brooklyn, NY — Littlefield with Books Are Magic, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Ceara & Griff from Petty Crimes (tickets here)
April 13: Boston, MA — wbur cityspace, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Sasha Sagan (tickets here)
April 15: Washington DC — Solid State Books (tickets here)
April 16: Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts with Uncle Bobbie’s, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Kelsey McKinney from Normal Gossip (tickets here)
April 17: Portland, OR — Powell’s Books, in conversation with Chelsea Bieker (free, no ticket needed)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Flat Earthers
We always thought of “flat earthers” as nothing but a bunch of spoofable Devil advocates with too much time on their hands... but after closer examination, this community of conspiratorial believers sounds a whole lot more like a cult. In this episode, we engage in an enlightening, guffaw-worthy interview with Abbie Richards (@tofology), a Tik Tok sensation known for her knowledge of conspiracy theories and misinformation, to try and determine how destructive the flat earth community *really* is.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of America's Next Top Model
This week, Chelsea, Amanda, and guest Sarah Hartshorne (@sarahbhartshorne) dig into the high-gloss, high-drama, and disturbingly high-control world of America’s Next Top Model. Once hailed as a launchpad for aspiring models, the long-running franchise masked emotional manipulation and identity erasure beneath a veneer of empowerment and fashion fantasy.
From Tyra Banks’ god-like authority to the cultish language of “smize” and “booty tooch,” we explore how ANTM built a reality TV empire on forced makeovers, psychological pressure, and spectacle disguised as self-improvement. Sarah, who rose to fame as the only plus-size contestant on Cycle 9, joins us to expose what really went down behind the catwalk, drawing from her upcoming memoir You Wanna Be On Top?
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors!
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Start paying rent through Bilt and take advantage of your Neighborhood Benefits™ by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
Right now save 20% on your FIRST order and get a free cat toy at https://PrettyLitter.com/CULT
Please consider donating to those affected by ICE activity in the LA Area. Team SLAC are donating to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, an LA-based immigrant rights organization providing legal services, policy advocacy, and direct aid to those most impacted.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Minimalism
The life-changing magic of tidying up gave a shiny new rebrand to age-old ideas that owning less stuff can be connected to enlightenment... but are there people taking the "cult" of *minimalism* too far? Can stripping down your material possessions actually cure the sorrow and ennui of contemporary existence? Isa and Amanda chat with Joshua & Ryan, "cult leaders" of The Minimalists website, podcast, and documentary, and more to find out...
https://www.theminimalists.com/
For a limited time, new users can get $10 in free Bitcoin when you sign up today at Coinbase.com/cult
Go to Cerebral.com/CULT for 65% off your first month.
Go to Grove.com/CULT to get a free gift set worth up to fifty dollars with your first order.
For 50% off your first Care/of order of $40 or more, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code cult50
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Christian Pop Music
Bless up, culties. We descend from the heavens in tandem with the reign of Backflippin’ Benson Boone and Ordinary Alex Warren to share with you an episode to lift your spirit and put music in your soul! But not just any music, these tunes must be self deprecating, they’ve gotta be anthemic, they need building major chords and choral vocal FX like you’ve never seen before. Get stomping and clapping, it’s time to discuss Christian Pop Music. Whether you were a Point of Grace stan since before that was even a thing, jammed to Flyleaf during carpool growing up, or have cried melodramatically to a Switchfoot at some point in your life, there’s no denying Christian music’s massive reach has undoubtedly changed the landscape of pop music and influenced countless lives. This week, Amanda and Reese are breaking down the worship-to-radio pipeline, the blurred lines between faith and fame, and why so many of these bops SLAP (even if you’re not saved). Helping them navigate the not so pure world behind the pearly gates of the christian music industry is former Christian pop DIVA, current philanthropist and founder of the organization This Is What Happens When Women Read, Julianna Glasse (@juliannaglasse), ANDDDD author of the fresh-off-the-gutenberg ’90s/’00s Christian cultural autopsy Jesusland, Joelle Kidd.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go to https://Quince.com/slac for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.
Please consider donating to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Team SLAC are donating to the PCRF, a nonprofit organization providing vital medical care, food, and humanitarian aid to children and families in need.
The Big Magical Cult Show is coming to Just For Laughs Toronto on September 27th. Get your tickets before they sell out!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Coachella
What began as a Woodstock-esque alt music fest in the '90s for fans of indie electronica to get freaky in the California desert has swiftly morphed into more of a celebrity horror show/Instagram museum, where people pay thousands of dollars to gather on a hot slab of corporate-sponsored land, wear disposable outfits, and pretend to have fun. Has Coachella just become obnoxious or something more like a cult?? As we come down from the festival hype this month, with the help of no-holds-barred listener call-ins, Isa and Amanda aim to find out!
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Get free shipping on orders over $75 at SKIMS.com
You can find Julie at your local CVS Target or Walmart or by visiting Juliecare.co
Get $10 off your first month of Nutrafol by visiting nutrafol.com and entering promo code CULT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Weddings
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
Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial at DipseaStories.com/CULT
Go to DadGrass.com/CULT for 20% off your first order.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Ballet
Catch Amanda on tour!
Lace yourselves up for this haunting and twinkle-toed episode covering one of our most consistently requested topics: Ballet! Despite the tutus and baby pink palette, this ruthlessly competitive industry often seems less like a dainty art form and more like a doggone cult. Think about it: Why do we audience members just blindly accept and support an industry helmed by power abusive men, who have absolutely no problem taking little girls away from their families, working them to the bone, and literally starving them, all in pursuit of so-called greatness? Orrrrrr is that take a bit dramatic? To help us figure it out, podcast producer and former ballerina Erika Lantz, host of THE TURNING, joins the pod for a deep discush of how culty the ballet world is really.
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell
To order Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, click here :) To subscribe to her new Magical Overthinkers podcast click here!
Thank you to our sponsors, who make this show possible:
Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/cult.
Go to Zocdoc.com/CULT and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.
Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use code CULT.
Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Celebrity Stans
These days, the lines between celebrity, religious figure, political leader, lifestyle guru, and best friend have blurred so hardcore that enthusiastic celebrity fans have morphed into a whole new kind of beast: rabidly loyal, obsessed stans. Is worshipping and defending megastars like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Elon Musk a harmless pop culture phenomenon, or is it decidedly cultier than that? On this episode, Amanda and Isa analyze the “cult” of celebrity stan culture with the help of insightful and hilarious listener call-ins. Which celebrity do you think has the most extreme stans? And does that make them a “cult leader” of sorts??
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Spiritual Scammers (feat. Listener Stories!)
Time to spill some never-before-heard culty tales: This week, Amanda and Isa are reacting to shocking cult stories submitted by you listeners! Many thanks to those who wrote in to share their personal brushes with New Age scams, love-bombing strangers, elementary school rituals that seem sus in retrospect, and more. Traditional religion may be on the decline, but our cravings for meaning and magic are stronger than ever, which isn't necessarily a bad thing... that's why we're here to determine whether your culty experiences were a Life Your Life, a Watch Your Back, or GTFO!
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Or follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @isaamedinaa @amanda_montell
Thank you to our sponsors!
New customers get $5 off a Lume Starter Pack with code CULT at LumeDeodorant.com
Go to betterhelp.com/cult to get 10% off your first month
Dipsea is offering our listeners a 30 day free trial when you go to dipseastories.com/cult
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Jeep Owners
What is it about Jeeps that inspires such intense devotion? In this week’s episode, Amanda, Chelsea, and a special guest listener dive into the world of Jeep culture—a community that goes way beyond just owning an off-road vehicle. From the infamous Jeep Wave and secret handshakes to brand tattoos and entire lifestyles built around rugged independence, we’re breaking down the cult-like loyalty that Jeep enthusiasts wear like a badge of honor. How did a military vehicle evolve into a global symbol of rebellion and freedom? Is it just marketing magic, or something deeper? Buckle up as we explore how this rolling status symbol became a lifestyle—complete with rituals, rites of passage, and a strong dose of obsession.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/CULT to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.
Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH!
Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:
https://mutualaidla.org/
https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout
https://shorturl.at/SGW9w
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Dave Ramsey
NOT going to lie, this episode was a wee bit nerve racking to record!!! Despite the, ahem, LARGE number of requests we received for this topic (which would make you think it was ubiquitously reviled), the acolytes in this group ride HARD for their leader! Money and religion are the twin engines that make the world go ‘round, dear culties, and as such, they are the perfect mediums for sinister influence. This week’s subject has been ~blessing~ the airwaves and teaching your parents how to be debt free AND godly since the 1990s…the OG finance bro…the one and only… Dave Ramsey. This week, Amanda and Reese take a trepidatious foray into the chaotic, testosterone-filled, rapidly aging world of Ramsey Solutions with the help of seasoned Dave Ramsey experts (though, tbh, *survivors* is probably a more apt word) Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni from the Frugal Friends Podcast.
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell @chelseaxcharles @reesaronii
Watch 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!
Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/CULT.
Shop the SKIMS bras at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, select "Sounds Like A Cult" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of WWE
The lights dim. The murmuring crowd nibbles subpar soft pretzels anxiously. The Sounds Like a Cult theme music begins to blare at ear-splitting volumes, pyrotechnics nearly blinding an old lady caught in the front of the mob as a spandex-clad (think Barbie meets Barbarella) Reese Oliver steps into the ring to tackle her biggest opponent yet: The Cult of the WWE. *DINGDINGDING* This time, Reese is flying solo— no tag team parter— but the glitzy world of WWE is too flashy, mythical, and impressively immersive to knock out alone. Joining her is James Bryant (of the YouTube investigative commentary duo Fundie Fridays) to help demystify: the sacred chants, fak- *ahem* scripted storylines, and secret right wing ties lying beneath the sequins that characterize this cult. If you’ve never watched wrestling, the inherent culty nature of WWE might not occur to you at first glance, but we invite you to ponder…Why are toddlers and senior citizens alike crying about John Cena in 2025? Is wrestling fandom culture ripe with toxic masculinity, or a healthy expressive outlet for unironic passion? Why does WWE’s storytelling feel less like sports *yawn* and more like a shared religious experience? Is Vince McMahon’s empire the ultimate cult of spectacle, or just capitalism in a sparkly Lucha mask? And wtf is his wife doing in the white house? Tag someone who smells what The Rock is cooking—this one’s a steel chair straight to the dome.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go to https://Adamandeve.com. Just enter offer code SLAC at checkout. This is an exclusive offer so be sure to use this code SLAC to get your discount, 100% Free Shipping and get it fast with Rush Processing
Head over to https://ThriveMarket.com/SLAC to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.
Go to https://Quince.com/slac for free shipping on your order and 365-Day returns.
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
Please consider donating to those affected by ICE activity in the LA Area. Team SLAC are donating to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, an LA-based immigrant rights organization providing legal services, policy advocacy, and direct aid to those most impacted.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply -
The Cult of Medical School
The Hippocratic Oath says do no harm. Explain elitism, secret societies, and debilitating physical and mental exhaustion to the point of potentially harming both doctor and patient, then?? Such is the "cult" of med school, this week's in-demand topic, which Amanda and Isa are discussing with insights from listeners who've survived this seemingly prestigious, but sneakily damaging (allegedly!!!) everyday "cult."
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Click HERE To get YOUR tickets to Sounds Like A Cult Live in London on May 26th!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Get $10 off your first month of Nutrafol by visiting nutrafol.com and entering promo code CULT
Visit article.com/CULT for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more
Go to DAILYHARVEST.com/cult to get up to $65 dollars off your first box!
Visit BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
Right or Wrong? Nepo Babies (Preview of Isa's New Podcast!)
Listen to Isa Medina NEW PODCAST – I'm Right You're Wrong on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever! Isa Medina is the Former Host and Co-Creator of Sounds Like A Cult Podcast. Follow Isa on IG @isaamedinaa for info about her live stand up comedy and her new podcast @ethicalgirlies.
The episode preview ended at 23 min 40 seconds if you want to start where we left off and finish the episode <3
Right or Wrong? Nepo Babies: This week on I'M RIGHT YOU'RE WRONG, your gorgeous hosts, Lydia Keating and Isa Medina, debate nepo babies. Is it ethically right or wrong for nepo babies to have easy access to coveted careers just because their parent(s) work in the industry? Lydia argues that nepo babies are WRONG. Isa argues that they are RIGHT. They discuss the different types of nepo babies out there (it’s not all Hollywood, honey!) and if there is even an ideal way to be one… After they debate the extremes, in classic fashion, they open their dialogue up to a broader and more honest convo. Are THEY nepo babies?? (no, lol but they do get real about their own privileges). Lydia ponders creativity—is it something innate to the fibers of your being? Was Reese Witherspoon’s son born to be a DJ in the West Village? Isa talks about her boy drama and how men should never complain about being tired. Lydia acknowledges her annual spring/summer glow up. Both hosts agree that ebbing and flowing in one’s hotness is wayyyyy better than being consistently hot all year round, which would actually be so boring. And finally, they talk about WHO is to BLAME for nepotism? (and it’s not the nepo babies or their parents! It’s something far more insidious…) Enjoy the episode! Love you so much.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of The Bachelor (Bonus Part 2!)
A heavily controlled, totally isolated group of women who worship one "charismatic” male figure and aren’t allowed to read magazines, watch TV, or speak to their families… is this a cult or the most popular reality dating show in history? This week, we’re re-airing one of our fave Season 1 episodes with a new, updated intro. It’s the “cult” of The Bachelor Franchise, featuring special guest, former contestant, Kendall Long! We got the juicy inside scoop on how culty The Bachelor *really* is to try and figure out whether this objectively bizarre pop culture phenomenon is a Live Your Life, a Watch Your Back, or a Get the Fuck Out-level “cult.” 🌹
To support Sounds Like A Cult, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Or follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @isaamedinaa @amanda_montell
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Disney Adults
Blackout dates, Genie lines, Magic Keys, Storyliving, DCP, D23... If any of these terms got you feeling some kind of way, you're likely in "cult" of Disney Adults. Grownups who worship an iconic mouse have established themselves as one of the most fanatical fandoms out there, but how dangerously culty are these Disney-inspired behaviors and rituals, *really*? To find out, co-hosts Amanda and Isa solicit the help of many passionate listener call-ins and special guest, cheeky Disney influencer Francis Dominic @francisdominiic.
Go to MeritBeauty.com/CULT to get their free signature reusable makeup bag with your purchase.
Sounds Like A Cult listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/CULT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source -
The Cult of Preppers
The end of the world... but make it cute and consumerist! "Preppers" are the latest iteration of doomsday survivalists, who band together on social media to talk canning, stockpiling, and first aid, but also multi-million-dollar bunkers in rural New Zealand?? Um, yeah, there are also billionaire preppers, and if the apocalypse weren't coming already, these guys are definitely speeding up the process. This week, Isa and Amanda are unpacking the so-called "doom boom" to judge how cultishly bananas (freeze-dried, obvi) modern-day "prepping" has gotten.
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy, buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!
Thank you so much to our sponsor, Cerebral!
To receive 50% or more off your first month of therapy, go to cerebral.com/cult.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reply source