Sarah Edmondson's "Scarred" provides a harrowing firsthand account of her experiences within the NXIVM cult. The book details the manipulative tactics used by the organization's leaders to recruit and control members, including the use of branding and emotional manipulation. Edmondson shares her journey from initial involvement to eventual escape, highlighting the psychological and emotional challenges she faced. The memoir offers a powerful exposé of the cult's inner workings and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of manipulative groups. It also provides valuable insights into the process of recovery and healing from cult trauma.
Mara Einstein's "Hoodwinked" delves into the manipulative tactics employed by marketers, drawing parallels between their strategies and those of cults. The book reveals how seemingly innocuous brands and organizations leverage our social and emotional needs to control our beliefs and behaviors. Einstein exposes the underlying architectures of cult marketing, highlighting the recurring patterns of recruitment, manipulation, and control. The book serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to recognize and resist these tactics in various aspects of modern life, from marketing to politics. Ultimately, "Hoodwinked" empowers readers to become more discerning consumers and citizens.
The book follows Evie Boyd, a 14-year-old girl living in Northern California in the summer of 1969. Evie is struggling with her parents' divorce and feels disconnected from her family. She becomes fascinated with a group of older girls she sees in the park, particularly Suzanne, and eventually joins them at their ranch, which is led by the charismatic and manipulative Russell. The novel explores themes of teenage vulnerability, the desire for belonging, and the dangers of cult culture. The story alternates between Evie's experiences in 1969 and her life decades later, reflecting on the impact of those events on her life[1][4][5].
The beauty and wellness industry promises healing, glow-ups, and self-love—but what happens when those promises come wrapped in pseudoscience, toxic messaging, and culty marketing tactics?
This week, Sarah and Nippy are joined by culture journalist and author Hayley Krischer, whose latest novel You Belong to Me explores the power and peril of the wellness world—especially for women and teenage girls. Together, they unpack how this booming, often unregulated industry thrives on physical insecurities and mental vulnerabilities, pushing pricey products and questionable advice under the guise of “self-care.”
From celebrity brands like Goop to TikTok trends targeting teens, this episode is a deep dive into the cult-like tactics behind the glossy packaging—and a reminder that critical thinking is your best defense.
To learn more about Hayley’s work, visit hayleykrischer.net.
Also… let it be known that:
The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.
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CREDITS:
Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames
Production Partner: Amphibian.Media
Co-Creator: Jess Tardy
Writer: Kristen Reiter
Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media
Audio production: Red Caiman Studios
Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
A Little Bit Culty 
