Today’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.
Dr. Robin Stern is not your average psycho-therapist – she’s renowned for her work in emotional intelligence, relationships, and well being. And she’s the psychological sleuth who’s highlighted one particularly culty behavior: gaslighting. Fun fact: Dr. Stern actually coined the phrase “the gaslight effect.”
A ... Show More
Yesterday
Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger: Peter Young on the Cult of Uncle Robert Booty (Part 1)
In Part 1 of our convo with Peter Young, we step into the wild, uncomfortable orbit of Uncle Robert Booty, the “cult” leader who slowly took over Peter’s marriage, family, and sense of reality. Peter talks about his book, Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger, and how he first met Pa ... Show More
45m 17s
Apr 16
ALBX: Catching up: Book Update and Listener Voicemails
Buckle up, cultiverse: it’s our catch-up bonus round, where we give you a little bit extra. In this episode, we bask in the glow of your Amazon book reviews (please, keep ‘em coming!) and eavesdrop on the spicy, kooky, and downright cathartic voicemails waiting in our inbox from ... Show More
29m 10s
Apr 13
The Art of Influence: Mind Games’ Alice Hines on NLP and High-Control Manipulation
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.In this episode, we welcome back Alice Hines, co-host of the Mind Games podcast, and dig into her reporting on neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), NXIVM, and the slippery gremlin bridge between self-help, persuasion, and manipulation. Alice ... Show More
1h 2m
Jun 2023
What is a Cult? With Dr. Janja Lalich
Dr. Janja Lalich, the world’s foremost expert on cults, reveals the four principles all cults share, how she survived ten years in a brutal cultic system and how these groups continue to abuse while evading authorities. Dr. Janja also shares an important warning on how to identif ... Show More
1h 39m
Jun 2023
Twin Flame Relationships: Healthy or Abusive? With Candace Moon
Twin Flame online communities say they’re helping people search for their perfect partner, but have recently ignited controversy with members revealing shocking allegations of being encouraged to stay in abusive relationships. One of those members, Candace Moon, opens about what ... Show More
1h 14m
May 2023
Why Do We Gossip? with Dr. Meltem Yucel
You didn’t hear it from us, but this week’s episode is so juicy that you’ll want to tell everyone about it. Dr. Meltem Yucel joins Jonathan to dish on gossip: why it’s irresistible, what it reveals about our moral and social codes, and how we can use it to our benefit. Come for t ... Show More
57m 59s