Amanda Montell (@amandamontell) is a language scholar and author of critically acclaimed Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. Her latest book is Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, which explores how cults co-opt the words we use in order to control us and affect our behavior.
What We Discuss with Amanda Montell:
How the uncerta ... Show More
Apr 17
1313: Ruined the 'Do, Ruined the 'I Do' Too | Feedback Friday
Your BFF wrecked your hair, kicked you off her bachelorette trip, and got your fiancé uninvited from his own brother's wedding. Yep, it's Feedback Friday!And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take ... Show More
1h 28m
Sep 2023
cultish, a talk with amanda montell [video]
[video available on spotify] today i present to you, amanda montell: a writer, linguist, and fellow podcast host. amanda has written three books. one of them, the age of magical overthinking, is about to come out. today i want to zoom in on one of our many common interests. she w ... Show More
50m 33s
Jul 2020
Is the Beauty Industry a Cult? Linguistically, Maybe. Featuring Author and Linguist Amanda Montell
Amanda Montell is a writer, linguist, and author of the critically acclaimed book Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language, which has earned praise from readers and critics alike, including publications like The New York Times, Time Magazine, and Harper's Ba ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 2023
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 t ... Show More
29m 4s
May 2024
How Can We Be More Effective With Language?
Have you ever wondered what’s up with double negation, the history of gender neutral pronouns, or why swearing is taboo? Then get ready for this week’s guest, linguist Anne Curzan! Anne and Jonathan talk about how the English language has evolved since the 1300s and how our words ... Show More
53m 20s
Oct 2022
How Do Cults Fashion Themselves? with Sarah C. Byrd
Let’s say you pass a group of people dressed identically. Are they a) following a trend, b) wearing uniforms, or c) in a cult? And who’s to say the answer can’t be all of the above? This week, we’re diving fabric first into the world of American cults, communes, and alternative ... Show More
1h 6m