Sounds Like A Cult Podcast Por Studio71 arte de portada

Sounds Like A Cult

Sounds Like A Cult

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 Putting the “cult” in culture… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about the Royal Family? What about Disney Adults? Or spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? We’re Sounds Like A Cult, an iHeart Radio Award-winning podcast that analyzes a different fanatical group every week to try and answer the big question: This ~sounds~ like a cult, but is it really? Created and hosted by New York Times-bestselling author Amanda Montell, co-hosted and produced by Chelsea Charles and Reese Oliver. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com We want to make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy 2025 Amanda Montell & Studio71 301568 Ciencias Sociales Espiritualidad
Episodios
  • The Cult of WWE

    The Cult of WWE
    Jun 24 2025
    The lights dim. The murmuring crowd nibbles subpar soft pretzels anxiously. The Sounds Like a Cult theme music begins to blare at ear-splitting volumes, pyrotechnics nearly blinding an old lady caught in the front of the mob as a spandex-clad (think Barbie meets Barbarella) Reese Oliver steps into the ring to tackle her biggest opponent yet: The Cult of the WWE. *DINGDINGDING* This time, Reese is flying solo— no tag team parter— but the glitzy world of WWE is too flashy, mythical, and impressively immersive to knock out alone. Joining her is James Bryant (of the YouTube investigative commentary duo Fundie Fridays) to help demystify: the sacred chants, fak- *ahem* scripted storylines, and secret right wing ties lying beneath the sequins that characterize this cult. If you’ve never watched wrestling, the inherent culty nature of WWE might not occur to you at first glance, but we invite you to ponder…Why are toddlers and senior citizens alike crying about John Cena in 2025? Is wrestling fandom culture ripe with toxic masculinity, or a healthy expressive outlet for unironic passion? Why does WWE’s storytelling feel less like sports *yawn* and more like a shared religious experience? Is Vince McMahon’s empire the ultimate cult of spectacle, or just capitalism in a sparkly Lucha mask? And wtf is his wife doing in the white house? Tag someone who smells what The Rock is cooking—this one’s a steel chair straight to the dome. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! Go to https://Adamandeve.com. Just enter offer code SLAC at checkout. This is an exclusive offer so be sure to use this code SLAC to get your discount, 100% Free Shipping and get it fast with Rush Processing Head over to https://ThriveMarket.com/SLAC to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift. Go to https://Quince.com/slac for free shipping on your order and 365-Day returns. Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT Please consider donating to those affected by ICE activity in the LA Area. Team SLAC are donating to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, an LA-based immigrant rights organization providing legal services, policy advocacy, and direct aid to those most impacted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h y 15 m
  • The Cult of Sleepaway Camp

    The Cult of Sleepaway Camp
    Jun 17 2025
    What happens when a seemingly innocent summer camp experience turns into a breeding ground for conformity, control, and groupthink? This week, Reese and Chelsea dive deep into the cult-like rituals of sleepaway camps, unpacking how a place meant for childhood fun can quickly slip into something far darker. From initiation rituals to absurd team-building exercises, we explore how sleepaway camps use isolation, authority, and shared secrets to create an all-encompassing sense of belonging. What happens when the quest for friendship and personal growth starts feeling more like a psychological experiment? With bizarre camp traditions, strict hierarchies, and a little bit of manipulation, we trace the fine line between team spirit and maybe a little mind control. 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 Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/cult⁠ Go to https://Quince.com/slac for free shipping on your order and 354 -day returns. Please consider donating to those affected by ICE activity in the LA Area. Team SLAC are donating to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, an LA-based immigrant rights organization providing legal services, policy advocacy, and direct aid to those most impacted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    53 m
  • The Cult of Purity Culture

    The Cult of Purity Culture
    Jun 10 2025
    RERUN! We took a cute little break to have a very culty wedding weekend but couldn’t leave the culties high and dry on content! This week we give you one of our favorite episodes from last season! Anyone who grew up evangelical Christian and/or plugged into teen celebrity news circa 2008 will be familiar with today’s cult: Purity Rings. You know, the dainty piece of jewelry placed ritualistically on a teen girl’s wedding finger to signify her vow of chastity until marriage, or else?? Purity rings are not just an accessory-they’re a bonafide industry, complete with rules, ceremonies, secrets, veiled threats, and religious trauma up the wazoo... but are they a cult? This week, a very special (ex-evangelical) guest, @normalgossip’s @mckinneykelsey, is joining host Amanda to unpack just that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h y 12 m

Featured Article: Delve into the Darker Side of Human Nature with the 15 Best Podcasts About Cults


Cults are fascinating. There’s something curiosity-inducing about stories of ordinary people who get wrapped up in groupthink that quickly veers into dangerous territory. Part of the appeal is because we think it could never happen to us, even though we suspect, deep down, that it absolutely could. These listens explore the nature of cults, the figures who lead them, and the followers who have been lured into their orbits.

Featured Article Delve into the Darker Side of Human Nature with the 15 Best Podcasts About Cults
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I think they’re funny and insightful. The way they discuss language and culture reminds me of smoke circles in college lol literally talking about everything under the sun and how it all connects

Fun/Funny/insightful

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Kinda just that’s. B hut Io I in Mimi th DC idk what else to put and for what everj reason there is a word minimum so im just yapping at this pointless thing thing Ty

Stuff is cooling I fed my fort the thennhugly y. M. Uh n v nuggetyc cute yyyv chicks

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This is a witty and humorous Podcast, but it lacks substance. Although they choose interesting topics, they throw around the word “cult” with recklessness and abandon. Listen for yourself (and pay attention to how frequently they contradict themselves within each episode). The result amounts to less news and analysis than you’d get, for example, from Entertainment Tonight.

Gossip Without Substance

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Interesting premise, but dear sweet baby Jesus in heaven above the level of obnoxious, quirky, NLOGs these two hosts are at is just… superior. Damn. After a single episode my face was hurting from all the cringing.

Very ‘not like other girls’

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