This week, Raven-Symoné, renowned for her acting career, and Miranda Pearman-Maday, her podcast co-host, dive into the extravagant world of Erewhon, the celebrity-endorsed health food store. They explore the store's cult-like allure, dissecting its high-priced smoothies and marketing strategies. The discussion touches on the absurdity of food trends, like raw milk smoothies, and the accessibility of wellness culture. With humorous critiques and personal anecdotes, they raise questions about the true cost of health and the societal pressures surrounding it.
01:06:04
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Raven's Nostalgic Erewhon Experience
Raven-Symoné shared that she has been shopping at Erewhon since childhood when it was uncool and granola-heavy.
Miranda Pearman-Maday recounted how the hot bar used to taste like cardboard, which made her stop going.
insights INSIGHT
Erewhon's Rebrand is Cultiest
The cultiest aspect of Erewhon is its rebranding into a trendy, elite store rather than its original identity.
Their expensive celebrity smoothie marketing typifies this shift to a celebrity-focused wellness cult.
insights INSIGHT
Erewhon's Japanese Macrobiotic Roots
Erewhon originated from a macrobiotic philosophy rooted in Japan, not from California as many believe.
Its founder studied Eastern philosophies emphasizing diet's role in harmony and wellness.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism,' Amanda Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes in cults and cult-like groups lies in the use of language. The book delves into the verbal elements that make these communities 'cultish,' including the redefinition of words, euphemisms, and other linguistic tricks. Montell analyzes various groups such as Jonestown, Scientology, NXIVM, and even modern entities like SoulCycle and social media influencers, highlighting how these groups use language to create a sense of belonging and loyalty. The book is praised for its engaging narrative, original research, and incisive analysis of the power of language in shaping human behavior.
Word Slut
Word Slut
A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language
Amanda Montell
Word Slut is a witty and insightful exploration of the complexities of language, particularly focusing on words that are often deemed offensive or taboo. Amanda Montell challenges societal norms and expectations surrounding language, arguing for a more nuanced and inclusive approach to word usage. The book examines the historical and cultural contexts of various words, demonstrating how their meanings and connotations have evolved over time. Montell encourages readers to reclaim words that have been weaponized against marginalized groups, promoting a more empowering and liberating relationship with language. Ultimately, Word Slut is a call for reclaiming language and using it as a tool for social justice and personal expression.
Erewhon
or, Over the Range
George Orwell
Samuel Butler's "Erewhon" is a satirical utopian novel exploring themes of social critique and technological advancement. Published in 1872, it presents a fictional society with unique customs and laws, offering a commentary on Victorian England. The novel's exploration of technology and its potential consequences is particularly noteworthy, with its prescient warnings about the dangers of unchecked technological progress. Butler's work anticipates many concerns about artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity, making it a relevant read even today. The novel's enduring appeal lies in its blend of satire, social commentary, and philosophical depth.
The Age of Magical Overthinking
Notes on Modern Irrationality
Amanda Montell
Erewhon: the only place where the quest to enlightenment involves dropping $25 on a celebrity smoothie. This week, Amanda and Chelsea dive into the culty glow of Southern California's bougiest grocery store with oh-so special guests Raven-Symoné and Miranda Pearman-Maday (check out their podcast Tea Time with Raven and Miranda)! From raw milk acolytes and mushroom dust disciples to influencer pilgrammages and ragebait-y marketing, this episode features takes spicier than the hot bar's $17 buffalo cauliflower. It all serves to answer the big question: is Erewhon a wellness wonderland, or a greenwashed Gwynethian cult? We drank the activated charcoal to find out...
Sounds Like A Cult 
