Anyone who grew up evangelical Christian and/or plugged into teen celebrity news circa 2008 will be familiar with today's cult: Purity Rings. You know, the dainty piece of jewelry placed ritualistically on a teen girl's wedding finger to signify her vow of chastity until marriage, or else?? Purity rings are not just an accessory—they're a bonafide industry, ... Show More
Yesterday
The Cult of Neurolinguistic Programming
What if the right words could rewire your brain… or at least make you feel like they did? This week, Amanda is joined by journalists and hosts of the podcast Mind Games, Alice Hines (@alicehines_) and Zoë Lescaze (@zoelescaze), to unpack the cult of neurolinguistic programming, t ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 14
The Cult of Christian Nationalism
What does the Mormon curl, January 6th, and the rapture all have in common? Christian Nationalism! This week Reese and Amanda are joined by Jennie Gage (@LifeTakeTwoJennie) of Life Take Two, to unpack what we (spoiler alert) feel is one of the most insidious cults taking over Ame ... Show More
1h 19m
Apr 7
The Cult of Kidfluencers
Welcome to the internet, where a kid can lead a cult. From Ryan’s Toys to Piper Rockelle, the world of child influencers is vast, brain-rotted and constantly changing. This week on Sounds Like a Cult, Amanda, Iman, and Reese have journalist and author of the book Like, Follow, Su ... Show More
57m 20s
Nov 2023
Ex-Mormon Girlies Hate on Purity Culture
<p>This week we are talking about purity culture. We talk about how damaging purity culture is, specifically in the Mormon church, for survivors of sexual abuse, how there is no space for those in the LGBTQ+ community, and the different standards the Mormon church, and many organ ... Show More
55m 19s
Oct 2022
Cults: Manipulation Tactics, Celebrity Involvement, Escape w/ Lola Blanc + Meaghan Elizabeth
Joining the Deux U classroom this week are Cult survivors Lola Blanc and Meaghan Elizabeth. On their podcast, Trust Me, they talk to fellow survivors, former and current believers, experts, and everyone in between to try to get to the bottom of how extreme belief happens, who's s ... Show More
1h 5m
Jan 2024
Cultural Update: Kim Davis; Texas Abortion Law Enforcement; Balancing Head & Heart; Should churches be involved in politics?
<p>In addition to our regular weekly episodes, we're starting a new series where we discuss a few current cultural issues that are in the news — and also answer some listener questions.<br/><br/>This week, we discuss:</p><ul><li>Kim Davis' legal fees</li><li>Enforcement ... Show More
36m 6s
Sep 2022
651: Negative Reviews, Narcissist Conspiracy, & Cats Rule
<p>We discuss the negative review we got from a male listener, and share why he wasn't entirely wrong, but we're still mad. Sarah is literally falling apart after her slip-n-slide disaster, and she might have to avoid the powder this winter. We learn why narcissists are prone to ... Show More
59m 40s