Today’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.
Nikieta Lambert’s life was derailed by the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) – a culty Evangelical tentacle of Christianity promising nothing short of a fiery eternity in hell for choosing any other lifepath. In this episode, Nikieta discusses how they converted her. She describes the grooming and gaslighti ... Show More
Nov 24
Real Housewife and Bad Mormon: Heather Gay on Surviving Mormonism (Part 1)
<p>Heather Gay, Real Housewife, “Bad Mormon,” and faith deconstruction trailblazer, joined us to talk about her journey from devout church girl to outspoken survivor. She shares what made Mormonism so magnetic, how family, secrets, and ritual shaped her upbringing, and the pivota ... Show More
38m 8s
Nov 20
Empire of Orgasm: Ellen Huet on the Different Strokes of OneTaste (Part 2)
<p>We dive even deeper in Part two with <a href="http://ellenhuet.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ellen Huet</a> to unpack what drove OneTaste’s inner circle, its culty sales playbook, and the strange tangle of power, personal growth, and manipulation. Ellen reveal ... Show More
46m 42s
Nov 17
Empire of Orgasm: Ellen Huet on the Different Strokes of OneTaste (Part 1)
<p>This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.</p><p><br></p><p>What happens when the pursuit of female pleasure blurs into high-pressure sales, psychological control, and a federal criminal trial? In this two-part episode, we’re joined by journalist <a href="http://ellenhuet.com" r ... Show More
41m 22s
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
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
Sep 2019
Joy Ajlouny: Cofounder, Fetchr
Joy talks about building three companies from the ground up: from signing a $10,000 lease at the age of 23 to raising $56M across her ventures. She also talks about how she always challenged the status quo, even as a child.This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballou ... Show More
29m 53s