A Little Bit Culty

Amanda Montell returns for round two, diving into what she's learned since Cultish dropped: Instagram comment wars as tribal battlegrounds, "platforming" as a thought-terminating cliché, and why understanding opposing views could get you canceled. We bonded over podcast economics, navigated controversy around Sounds Like a Cult episodes on Waldorf and fertility, discussed which cult she'd have joined (artist-led, obviously), and took a truly unhinged detour into vampire raves, Gen Z slang, and the etymology of "no cap." Chaos, warmth, and peak cult-nerd energy abound.Be sure to follow Amanda on Instagram @amanda_montell and the Sounds Like a Cult podcast @soundslikeacultpod. Be sure to listen where you get your podcasts!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.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amanda Montell—author, linguist, and our reigning three-time champion guest—returns in studio to talk about the newly released paperback edition of Cultish, the book that launched a thousand cult-discourse hot takes and made us all think twice about our SoulCycle memberships. We dove into what it's like to write a cult book when you're 27, watch it blow up unexpectedly, and face the onslaught of feedback (good, bad, and "I want to ruin your life"). Amanda opened up about the changes she made for the paperback after years of listening, learning, and hiring her own sensitivity checkers, and why the brainwashing debate is way more nuanced than an X thread can handle. Plus: updates on married life, her forthcoming novel Where To Put Your Tongue (yes, really), and why OneTaste's "get off on any stroke" might be the culty-est thought-terminating cliché we've ever heard.Stay tuned Thursday for part 2, follow Amanda on Instagram @amanda_montell and the Sounds Like a Cult podcast @soundslikeacultpod. Be sure to listen where you get your podcasts!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.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames—named #1 by Wirecutter—by using promo code CULTY at checkout. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast,  so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays! Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re back for A Little Bit Extra Thursday filled with Thanksgiving word salads and gallows humor. We chat about the last few truly bonkers weeks, share a long-awaited update on the book (spoiler: it’s actually finished and with our copy editor!), and talk about why we can’t publicly comment on certain NXIVM-adjacent podcasts just yet.We listen to your voicemails about the podcast featuring Allison Mack, Nippy’s growth arc, Westerners hijacking Eastern spirituality, and a culty resort in Costa Rica that’s been pinging your radar. There’s also wild OneTaste/Morehouse prison-cult speculation. We invite you to send in future word-salad prompts and red-flag groups we should investigate. This one’s messy, weirdly cozy, but honest—just the way y’all like it.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.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthia Gillick, an actor, writer, and producer, delves into her harrowing experience as a former insider at OneTaste. She reveals how sexual empowerment can disguise manipulation and abuse, detailing her journey from a lost post-grad to life in a cult-like commune. Topics include the deceptive practices of love-bombing, the normalization of vulnerability, and the psychological tactics used to maintain control. Anthia also shares insights on healing, justice, and the complexities of leaving such an environment.

Heather Gay, bestselling author and former Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star, shares her journey after leaving the LDS Church. She discusses the joy and freedom she found post-Mormonism, alongside her impactful docuseries Surviving Mormonism. Heather reveals the church's troubling responses to abuse and emphasizes the importance of supporting survivors. The conversation hilariously veers into personal freedoms like ditching garments and wearing real bras, culminating in a heartfelt call for reform within the church and recognition of abuse as a crime.

Heather Gay, a star of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and bestselling author of 'Bad Mormon', shares her transformative journey from devout Mormon to vocal advocate for faith deconstruction. She reveals the magnetic pull of her idyllic upbringing and the shocking revelations from her temple endowment ceremony. Highlighting moments that ignited her doubts, like a dismissive bishop and unexpected experiences, Heather discusses the embrace of the ex-Mormon community and the personal risks of speaking out. Her story is both candid and relatable.

Ellen Huet, an investigative journalist and author of 'Empire of Orgasm', dives into the complex dynamics of OneTaste—a wellness cult blending manipulation with promises of personal growth. She reveals the inner workings of its sales tactics and how members were pressured through financial and emotional means. Ellen discusses the role of charismatic leadership, the bizarre jargon that clouded consent, and surprising parallels to AI in fostering emotional manipulation. This conversation highlights the importance of recognizing red flags in modern movements.

Ellen Huet, an award-winning investigative journalist and author of Empire of Orgasm, delves deep into the controversial wellness cult, OneTaste. She reveals how a movement promising sexual healing transformed into a high-demand group that manipulated its members. Ellen discusses the seductive appeal of orgasmic meditation and how the pursuit of pleasure morphed into a psychological trap. Sharing her firsthand reporting experiences, she explores the alarming tactics used to maintain control and the complexities that led to a federal investigation. It's a conversation that challenges the very notion of empowerment.

In this insightful conversation, Sean Prophet, an author and former member of the Church Universal and Triumphant, recounts his journey out of an apocalyptic cult. He shares how failed prophecies and a trivial edict shattered his faith in authority. Sean discusses the slow unraveling of his beliefs, emphasizing the importance of individual agency and the challenges of post-cult identity. He also explores why intelligent people fall prey to cults, the significance of reclaiming personal narratives, and the pursuit of meaning without traditional spiritual frameworks.

What’s it like to grow up the so-called “prince” inside one of America’s most notorious new religious movements—where your mother is a celebrated channeler, your father founds a church, and the end of the world is just another family discussion over dinner? In the first of this two-part episode, we’re joined by Sean Prophet, author of My Cult, Your Cult, for a deep dive into the strange realities of life inside the Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT).Sean unpacks his childhood in sprawling mansions turned cult compounds, the roots of the group’s “ascended master” theology, the peril and privilege of being born to leadership, and why spiritual bootcamp so often blurs into psychological abuse. We tackled the insidious dangers of purity culture, the mind-bending logic of channeling, and the very fuzzy line between a “cult” and a “mainstream religion.” Expect anecdotes about bunker-building, guru-devotion, apocalyptic drama, and real lessons on power, othering, and reclaiming your own critical thinking. You’ll want to stay tuned for part two and follow Sean Prophet on Substack.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.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to joinbilt.com/culty. Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.