Sounds Like A Cult

Have you been an unlucky ear victim of the phrase, “male loneliness epidemic”? Have you had the misfortune of interacting with a black-pilled, looksmaxxing sigma at the peak grindset mentality? Does all of this sound like terrible, confusing babble, that reels your attention in the way a car crash makes you rubberneck? Put your hazmat suits on, culties. It’s about to get scary. This week, Amanda and Reese are daring to visit one of the slimiest, murkiest, cultiest cults we’ve covered to date. The festering societal wound that is the Manosphere is a cult that has heretofore creeped us out enough to keep us at bay, but where and when cultish duty calls, we simply must answer and get the 411 for ourselves. Luckily, we aren’t alone; joining Amanda and Reese in this treacherous trek are the sensational congressional candidate for IL-9, Kat Abughazaleh (@kabughazaleh), and the effervescent author of “For the Love of Men” and host of Boy Problems, Liz Plank (@feministabulous). Come along as we try to figure out wtf and why tf the manosphere is, who’s at the helm of it, and what we stand to lose by engaging with this rapidly growing force of cultish nature. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT⁠⁠⁠ Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/cult To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re revisiting one of our most illuminating conversations: The Cult of Conservative Youth Activism, featuring journalist and author Tina Nguyen, whose book The MAGA Diaries takes us deep inside the movement that shaped a generation of young conservatives. From TPUSA to Tucker Carlson to the campus outreach, we unpack how MAGA youth culture became more than politics, it became identity, community, and in some cases, full-blown devotion. This is a rerun of that timely conversation and a primer for next week, when we dive into another corner of the internet where masculinity, grievance, and algorithmic influence collide. Buckle up. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Thank you to our sponsors! For free shipping and 365-day returns go to https://Quince.com/slac To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clear your schedule and roll out your mat… because this week Chelsea & Amanda and special guest Dr. Adam McAtee (@adammcateepilates) are diving into the meticulously controlled universe of Pilates. Originally developed by Joseph Pilates as a method to restore strength and vitality, the practice has since expanded into a worldwide fitness powerhouse known for its unmistakable studio culture. Why does Pilates inspire such fierce loyalty? And at what point does commitment start to resemble belief? Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT⁠⁠⁠ Join the loyalty program for renters at ⁠https://joinbilt.com/cult Head to https://factormeals.com/cult50off and use code cult50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Amanda, Reese, and Chelsea are joined by writer and comedian Akilah Hughes (@akilahh) to unpack The Cult of Joe Rogan, the podcast empire that’s convinced millions it’s the last bastion of free thought while quietly shaping how they see science, politics, masculinity, and truth itself. From “I’m just asking questions” rhetoric to the anti-establishment cosplay, we dig into how Rogan became less of a host and more of a cult leader. Is this curiosity culture… or a pipeline dressed up as open mindedness? Grab your protein powder and your critical thinking skills. We’re talking about influence, vibes, and why this very chill podcast sounds a lot like a cult. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Thank you to our sponsors! Get 20% off your first order with code CULT at https://LIQUIDIV.COM Visit https://functionhealth.com/CULT and use gift code CULT25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. Head to https://acorns.com/CULT or download the Acorns app to get started. To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clutch your pearls and cancel your plans, because this week Sounds Like A Cult is getting spicy. We’re welcoming our brand new co-host Iman Hariri-Kia (@imanharirikia), romance author, cultural critic, and certified defender of the genre, to break down The Cult of Romance Novels. We're joined by romance author Alexa Martin (@alexambooks) to talk about romance novels as sex education for women, the intense sense of community among readers, and why the genre is so often dismissed despite being wildly popular. Plus, we get into beloved tropes, Heated Rivalry, and how Alexa might have accidentally predicted the Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift era. Is romance harmless hopecore, or a full-blown belief system? Plus, what that snake tongue do? Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT⁠⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to ⁠⁠https://Quince.com/slac⁠⁠ Get unlimited premium wireless for just $15 per month at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/cult Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Chelsea is joined by culture critic and internet oracle Tefi Pessoa (@hellotefi) to take on The Cult of Bad Bunny… a global superstar whose fandom blurs the line between pop icon, political symbol, and cultural lightning rod. We’re unpacking why Bad Bunny inspires a level of devotion that feels almost religious, how his gender expression and fluid masculinity have become a flashpoint in our current hyper-conservative moment, and why his very existence seems to short-circuit traditional ideas of power, patriotism, and Latinidad. From parasocial fan entitlement to moral panics disguised as “concern,” we explore how fandom, identity, and backlash collide. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Thank you to our sponsors! Join the loyalty program for renters at https://joinbilt.com/cult To learn more about how to support Minnesota’s immigrant communities, check out this MSP Mag article, which shares several ways to offer help or find support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We know them. We giggle at them, occasionally. These days, more and more of us admire their simple, tech-free lives. The Amish are often held up as the ultimate model of intentional community, living by principles that seem radically disconnected from our chaotic modern world. But behind the horse-drawn buggies and picturesque farmlands lies a tightly controlled society with its own strict bishops, its own rules for shunning, and its own definition of what it means to be “in the world, but not of it.” This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by Amish-turned-stripper Naomi Swartzentruber (@amishinspiration) to ask the uncomfortable question: when does a religious community become a cultural fortress? Get your butter churners prepped, we’re breaking down the barn doors to ask: is the cult of the Amish a faith, a lifestyle, or a cult? 🧈 Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/slac Content warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Amanda, Reese, and Chelsea are back from hiatus and joined by tech journalist Amanda Silberling (@amandasilberling) to take on The Cult of ChatGPT, the fast growing congregation of users who’ve turned an AI tool into a trusted authority, therapist, oracle, and romantic partner. We’re diving into why ChatGPT feels so intimate, how people are outsourcing thinking and decision making to a machine, and when convenience starts to look a little culty. We also break down the growing legal scrutiny around AI, including high profile lawsuits, accountability gaps, and what happens when automated advice collides with real world harm. Delete your em-dashes, because if you’ve ever named your chat bot (looking at you Chelsea), it might be time to ask who’s really in charge. 🤖🧠⚖️ Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Thank you to our sponsors! This January, quit overspending on wireless with 50% off Unlimited premium wireless at https://MintMobile.com/cult Download the Acorns app to get started or head to https://acorns.com/CULT Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and mental health crises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sounds Like A Cult is still taking a wee break, but we’re leaving you with a little Easter egg 🐍 In this special episode, we’re sharing an exclusive audiobook excerpt from Amanda’s New York Times bestselling book The Age of Magical Overthinking (now out in paperback!) from her chapter on the psychology of Swiftie culture, analyzing the fine line separating admiration and identity from obsession and even culty criminality. Consider this a sermon, a confession, and a gentle side eye at celebrity worship in the modern age. Long live! Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! Join the loyalty program for renters at ⁠https://joinbilt.com/CULT To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to ⁠⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You asked. We panicked. Then we hit record. This week, Sounds Like A Cult turns the microscope inward for The Cult of Podcast Hosts, a very unserious, extremely revealing Q&A episode where your cultie hosties, Amanda, Reese, and Chelsea, answer listener questions about everything from conspiracy theories they lowkey believe to cult verdicts they absolutely regret handing out. We’re talking parasocial projection, hot takes we wish we could un-say, behind-the-scenes mess, and what it’s actually like to be perceived by strangers with headphones and opinions. Pause your shower and grab your Labubu because if anyone sounds like a cult, it might be us. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to ⁠⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/cult #rulapod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when a church treats teenage hormones like a moral emergency… and then appoints its own therapists to fix it? This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by John Dehlin (@johndehlin) of the Mormon Stories podcast (@mormstories) to unpack the deeply culty world of Mormon Therapy, where normal human behavior gets pathologized and sexual shame is framed as “treatment.” Join us as we unpack how Mormon teachings around sex, purity, and control have led to widespread sexual dysfunction, guilt, and fear and how “therapists” trained to protect doctrine (not patients) can do real psychological harm. From compulsory confessions to the pipeline that produces figures like Jodi Hildebrandt, this episode traces how moral panic masquerades as mental health care. Also, fair warning: if you take a shot every time John says the word masturbate, you will absolutely need to lie down afterward. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! Join the loyalty program for renters at https://joinbilt.com/CULT= Order online or download the free 1-800 Contacts app today at ⁠Https://1800contacts.com To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to ⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It looked like feel-good weight loss… until Netflix told us the truth. This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by former contestant Tracey Yukich Lane (@traceyyuckichlane) to unpack how The Biggest Loser went from “inspirational reality show” to one of the most culty franchises in TV history. From weigh-in rituals and trainer worship to isolation, fear tactics, and nationwide public shaming, we’re diving into the behind the scenes world that had millions of viewers cheering for transformation while contestants were barely surviving it. Why did we believe this was healthy? How did it become so successful? And what happens when a show about losing weight starts demanding you lose yourself too? Grab your branded sweatband and your cognitive dissonance... this episode gets messy. 🏋🏻‍♂️📺🔥 Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/slac Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He gives away islands, cures blindness, builds chocolate empires, and commands an online following bigger than some nations... but is he just a YouTuber, or the leader of a full blown digital devotion movement? This week, Reese is joined by Rolling Stone journalist Steven Asarch (@capmiserable) to break down The Cult of Mr. Beast, the hyper optimized, hyper "philanthropic", hyper everything empire that has millions of fans ready to click, defend, and worship at the altar of virality. We’re analyzing how Mr. Beast’s feel good spectacle blurs the line between generosity and influence. Why do fans treat him like a savior? What does it mean when entertainment starts to look like charity... or the other way around? And how much power does a creator have when his followers are willing to do almost anything for a shoutout? Grab your Feastables and your moral ambiguity: we’re diving into the algorithmically engineered rabbit hole that sounds like a cult. 🍫📱 Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/st3nalv7 #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Sounds Like A Cult is revisiting one of the most ritualistic, emotionally charged, and absurdly expensive cults of them all: The Cult of Weddings. We’re sharing (and offering a culty update) to Amanda’s Magical Overthinkers conversation with writer Allison Raskin, (@allisonraskin) author of I Do (I Think), about how weddings have transformed into a cult of consumerism, misogyny (comparing women with opinions to oversized mythical lizards???), and the illusion of perfection. From industrial-sized bridal expectations to the patriarchal rituals, we're sparing no criticism of how an alleged celebration of partnership became a capitalistic rite of passage. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! The best way to cook just got better. Go to https://HelloFresh.com/SLAC10FM Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/CULT #rulapod Order online or download the free 1-800 Contacts app today at Https://1800contacts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lace up your cleats, because we’re about to tackle one of the most competitive, emotionally charged, and cult-ish communities in modern sports culture: The Cult of Fantasy Football. This week, Chelsea is joined by NFL host and analyst Kimmi Chex (@kimmichex) to break down how a simple hobby turned millions of casual fans into full-blown believers. From office leagues to dynasty drafts, Fantasy Football isn’t just a game… It's a belief system built on stats, superstitions, and Sunday rituals. We unpack the sermons of sleeper picks, the sacred relics of draft boards, and the emotional highs and lows that rival any religion. Whether you’re a casual observer or a card-carrying commissioner, this episode dissects the community, the camaraderie, and the chaos that make Fantasy Football one of the most worshiped cults in sports. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good. Go to https://Quince.com/slac EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/soundslikeacult-podcast Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/st3nalv7 #CashAppPod London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Amanda and Reese are being initiated into the high-drama, low-stakes universe of the Bravoholics. Joined by Steve, certified Bravoholic and owner of @facesbybravo, we’re breaking down the sacred texts (from Real Housewives reunions to Vanderpump Rules scandals), the high priests (Andy Cohen), and the ritualistic weekly watch parties that lead only the most devoted viewers to the mecca of BravoCon. Whether you’re a casual Summer House viewer or have a housewives franchise for every night of the week, we’re sure you’d agree Bravo has had the girls, gays, and theys in a CHOKEHOLD since 2003, and we’re here to get to the bottom of it. Are we in a parasocial relationship with a network? Is "who gon' check me, boo?" a mantra for the modern age? Grab your skinny margarita and join the congregation as we ask: when does a fandom become a faith? Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to https://joinbilt.com/culty Use code SLAC to get started at https://AdamandEve.com right now! London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 a behind-the-scenes listen into the language of persuasion, belonging, and belief infiltrates everything from religious movements to self-help brands to our favorite podcasts. So relax and take a listen to the source material for all our juicy, culty lore. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT ⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT⁠ Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to ⁠https://joinbilt.com/culty⁠ London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it evil… or just excellent branding? This week, Amanda & Reese are joined by writer and podcaster Sarah Marshall (You’re Wrong About) to descend into The Cult of Satanism: The spooky, sexy, misunderstood belief system that terrified suburban moms everywhere. We’re talking devilish imagery, political theater, and the delicious irony of a religion that doesn’t actually believe in the Devil. From Anton LaVey’s campy theatrics to the Wayfair trafficking conspiracy, we’re unpacking how Satanism became the perfect scapegoat for America’s moral panic and how the real horror show was the Satanic Panic itself. So light your black candles, clutch your pearls, and prepare to sell your soul (metaphorically, of course). Because when it comes to culty influence, the devil’s in the details. 😈🔥📜 Listen to The Devil You Know wherever you get podcasts! https://link.mgln.ai/Eg9XvP Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT Go to https://Quince.com/slac for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the low, low price of $19.99, you too can manifest love, money, or maybe just a little chaos. On this Halloween flavored episode of Sounds Like A Cult, we are diving broom first into The Cult of Etsy Witches, the booming online marketplace where spirituality meets capitalism and hexes come with free shipping. From TikTok witchfluencers to hexed baseball teams to real life political curses, host Amanda Montell explores how witchcraft became one of the internet’s most aesthetic and suspiciously profitable belief systems. Joined by practicing witch and author Mya Spalter (@mya.spalter), we’re unpacking what the Cult of Etsy Witches reveals about our craving for magic, meaning, and maybe a bit of manipulation Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT Go to https://HelloFresh.com/SLAC10FM now to Get 10 Free Meals + a Free Item for Life! London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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