This episode is sponsored by Better Help.
On this week’s show, we’ll talk to Demetria. She was immersed in TwinRay — an Oregon-based shop and health center that organizes “mass global meditations for peace.” But our guest says there’s way more going on here than peaceful reflection. She talks about how TwinRay’s leaders exploit people for cash and dose even ... 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
Mar 2025
112. Hater Hour: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Leaving Mormonism, and Making Adult Friendships | ft. Prince Abi Our Editor!
<p>It’s about time we had another Hater Hour…and in this episode, Caroline is joined by Not For Everyone Editor Prince Abi! They’ve got lots to say about listener submissions, including discussions about freelancing, working together while maintaining their friendship, building a ... Show More
1h 37m
Sep 2025
Make Oversharing Your Superpower with Tefi Pessoa
What happens when two professional oversharers get together? Pure magic... and a little chaos. JVN is joined by the incomparable Tefi Pessoa — culture commentator, internet big sister, and now host of her brand-new podcast Tefi Talks. Come for the tea, stay for the wisdom, and le ... Show More
53m 2s
Sep 2024
Winged Eyeliner & The Age Of Intolerance
Subscribe to Mamamia Tim Minchin regrets one of his most famous songs. And it tells us a lot about where culture has moved to. In this episode, we discuss the age of intolerance. Plus, we help set up your weekend with some recommendations which include: a book, an album and two ... Show More
50m 32s
Mar 2025
The Truth About Bringing Your "Authentic Self” To Work - A Leadership Coach Explains
Work takes up more of our lives than almost anything else—so it’s no wonder that it can leave us feeling drained, stuck, and oftentimes further away from who we authentically are. This week, JVN is sitting down with leadership coach and author Mory Fontanez to unpack what it real ... Show More
49m 17s
Nov 2025
The Cult of Audiobooks (CULTISH, Amanda's Version)
What is the definition of the word "cult" anyway, according to Sounds Like A Cult??? This week, for the first time ever, host Amanda Montell takes the mic to read from her New York Times bestseller Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, the book that inspired this entire pod. It’s ... Show More
1h 22m
