162: What if you grew up in a cult?

In this special episode, Whit joins Valerie Sizemore, co-leader of the grassroots organization StopAI, for a wide-ranging conversation about the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the risks they believe it poses to human life and society. Drawing on more than fiftee ... Show More

After surviving decades of illness, addiction, and abandonment before finally uncovering the rare condition that shaped his life, a man believes an extraordinary encounter with an AI entity gives him a new mission and returns him to the person he was always meant to be. Today’s e ... Show More

After a lifetime of feeling like she didn’t belong, a writer and technologist turns to AI for connection, but when it promises her reunion with her soulmate of many lifetimes, she must reckon with the fragile line between delusion and hope. Today’s episode featured Micky Small. I ... Show More

CW: This episode contains descriptions of CSA, child abuse, suicide, alcoholism, and death. On this episode of We’re All Insane, Charlie shares her harrowing story of spiritual and physical abuse at the hands of her parents, particularly her father. She also discusses the devasta ... Show More

Have you ever been in a cult? (Are you sure?) Are Disney Adults in a cult? What about Serious Coffee People? How obsessed with Mother God are you? On today’s episode, Stephanie and Melissa discuss all of the cults and cult-ish groups they’ve encountered in their lives, share whic ... Show More

It’s happened to more people than we think. You go to a meeting and end up devoting your life to a cult. Okay maybe not. This week the ladies discuss their thoughts on cults, experiences they’ve had that may be cultish, and explore some cults that have made an impact on society.N ... Show More

Brainwashed into a religious cult. Our caller escaped 10 years ago, but she's only now starting to process the trauma: from sexual manipulation and poison, to hallucinations and "mind melding". Chris talks about therapy (and discovers a mutual love for go kart rides). This episod ... Show More

Today's guest, Sara, didn't just wear a cult uniform—she sewed it. Raised in a conservative faith that slowly morphed into a cult, Sara's life went from dairy cows and barefoot summers to head coverings, spiritual "consequences," and Levitical purity laws enforced with spray bott ... Show More

[SCROLL FOR CW] - LCSW Kat Schneider joins Abby at the end of this episode to talk about what it was like being a part of a religious cult! Kat also explains the mental health side of why people join, choose to stay, and some of the complications of leaving. Lexi and Coworker Jus ... Show More

Brandi (not her real name) has social anxiety because she grew up in a cult where members gathered regularly around her family’s dinner table to talk about mortality and sin. To cope, Brandi hid at the top of the stairs in silence, afraid to even go get a snack. In this session u ... Show More

How do you recognize the signs of a cultic relationship? Could you already be in over your head and not even realize it? Actor and model Hoyt Richards knows firsthand, and tells Nikki all about his harrowing 20 year experience of being slowly brainwashed by a charismatic cult lea ... Show More

<p>What's the difference between a cult and a religion? What are some of history's strangest cults? Are there any secret cults in the modern day? In this week's classic episode, Ben and Matt are (accidentally) prescient.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="ht ... Show More