A Little Bit Culty

By: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony “Nippy” Ames
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  • Summary

  • Think you might be in a cult? Want to know the signs? Join Sarah Edmondson and Anthony “Nippy” Ames to talk about things that are..a little bit culty. Or in their case: a whole bunch of culty. As whistleblowers documented in the critically-acclaimed HBO series “The Vow,” Sarah and Nippy have a lot to say about their experience, and burning questions to ask people with similar stories. They’re here to help people understand, heal from, and avoid abusive situations one little red flag at a time. Listen in as they share their stories, have frank and unscripted conversations with other survivors and cult experts, and do a deep dive on how devotion can turn to dysfunction.
    © 2022 A Little Bit Culty
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Episodes
  • Culty Voicemail Roundup: ALBC Listeners Speak (10/14/24 EDITION)

    Culty Voicemail Roundup: ALBC Listeners Speak (10/14/24 EDITION)
    Oct 14 2024

    This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/CULTY to get started today.

    Hey campers, we hope your October’s been spooky so far. We’ve got a batch of listener voicemails to check out, so pull up a chair and we’ll get into it. Today’s callers want to talk about a real potpourri of culty stuff. We cover Arbonne, Optavia, BDSM and consent, Eckhart Tolle, and as always, a little bit of the hot NXIVM goss to round out the hour.

    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.

    Check out our lovely sponsors

    Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

    Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

    Support the pod and smash this link

    Cult awareness and recovery resources

    Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

    CREDITS:

    Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

    Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

    Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

    Associate producers: Emma Diehl and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

    Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

    Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
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    39 mins
  • Diet Wars: Wade T. Lightheart on Culty Nutrition

    Diet Wars: Wade T. Lightheart on Culty Nutrition
    Oct 7 2024

    This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp.

    We’re calling it now, we’re gonna get some flack on this one. It’s no surprise, but anytime we mention diet, fitness, or nutrition, we hear about it in our DMs. There’s some tension here, we know it, we see it, and we hear you. And it makes sense. In the world of health and diet, there’s a lot of snake oil salesmen out here. The cult of nutrition is very real.

    Today’s guest is a friend who is familiar with the false gurus that flock to the fitness space. Wade T. Lightheart is the co-founder of supplement brand BiOptimizers. We thought this chat would be a great way to answer questions we get all the time from our listeners. How do you know if you’re buying into something healthy or just drinking snake oil? And is it just us, or have health and wellness trends become culty as hell? How do you cut through the noise to make the right choice for your health and wellness? Tune in to hear us talk about health, staying fit, and picking from the buffet of beliefs to find the right path for you.

    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.

    Check out our lovely sponsors

    Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

    Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

    Support the pod and smash this link

    Cult awareness and recovery resources

    Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

    CREDITS:

    Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

    Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

    Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

    Associate producers: Emma Diehl and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

    Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

    Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 11 mins
  • The Cult Next Door: Mike King on the Zion Society

    The Cult Next Door: Mike King on the Zion Society
    Sep 30 2024

    Well, this is a first for us. Today, we’re covering the Zion Society, which was a cult run by a landscaper, Arvin Shreeve. Based out of Ogden, Utah, Shreeve and his followers had some of the most manicured lawns in the neighborhood. But, behind lush green lawns hid sinister secrets. This polygamist sect had about 100 members at its peak, hiding in plain sight in a quiet suburban cul-de-sac. Former lieutenant Mike King was the one to discover them. With a tip from one of the former followers, Mike helped put Shreeve and many of his followers behind bars for life.

    Mike King is the creator and host of Profiling Evil, a YouTube channel and podcast that covers breaking true crime stories, as well as the author of “Deceived: An Investigative Memoir of the Zion Society Cult.” We spoke to him this summer in front of a live audience at CrimeCon. Now, we’re sharing it on our main feed. In this episode, we dive deep into the practices of the Zion Society and Mike’s investigation that ultimately brought the cult down.

    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.

    Check out our lovely sponsors

    Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

    Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

    Support the pod and smash this link

    Cult awareness and recovery resources

    Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

    CREDITS:

    Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

    Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

    Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

    Associate producers: Emma Diehl and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

    Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

    Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 8 mins

What listeners say about A Little Bit Culty

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Amazing, uplifting, & informational!

I love everything about this podcast. The host are great, funny, inspiration, honest, and raw. They give us tips and views of their experiences and help us with their guest to give us advice and information on cults and so call religions. It's very eye opening and I can't wait for more!

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Profile Image for Bug Noona

Heavy subjects covered with realness.

Sara and Nippy cover some really heavy stuff, and come from a place of knowing. The guests and topics are always handled with care, the hosts are not afraid to show emotion, and yet there is always at least one good laugh to be had. Yes, they use adult language, but the avenues they walk down aren't Sesame Street, so I feel they've definitely earned the right. (Maybe we should have a drinking game a la the Fair Game podcast, where we drink every time one of the hosts curses? Just a thought.) Hard topics, covered with humour and heart, while giving listeners a great, first-person education. If you've not listened before, it's worth the time to binge the episodes from the beginning, as I did.

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Profile Image for Nancy S

One of my don't-miss weekly podcasts

I've never been in a cult (that I'm aware of...), but listening to the guests on this show and the hosts, I have come to believe that cults are what happens when the normal human need for belonging and meaning meets the (alas) all-too-common traits of narcissism and the need to control. Recognizing that a group you belong to or a relationship you're in is abusive is a skill we should all have, and the hosts are doing a great service--and making it entertaining and a safe space.

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...My New Go To...

Great listen. Recommend! Seven episodes in and I am enjoying the conversation and guests on the show.

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Profile Image for MSY

Amazing

This is an amazing PodCast to listen to. I believe that everything spoken about in the PodCast can fit into someone's life at some point or another even if they have not been indoctrinated into a cult themselves. Thank you Sarah & Nippy. Love Listening!
Missy - New Orleans

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BADASS!!!

I devoured episode after episode. It's incredible and quite unique having a space of "contrapunto" where widely different voices come together in harmony in a safe, and respectful space. The topic is always painful and terrifying, and Sarah and Nippy are brilliant transmitting care with a joyful and hopeful twist. Thank you ALBC for existing!

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Profile Image for Sharon S

Useful if you can get around some things

After watching "The Vow" and "Seduced," I was interested in learning more from Sarah Edmundson. She's really engaging. I enjoy learning from her. I keep finding parts of this podcast insufferable.

For example, Nippy conflated both political parties in his discussion of politics. One led an insurrection, and one was the object of threats and violence -- I belong to neither but it is jarring to see how non trained experts pontificate; it seems like Nippy is great at gaslighting. Instead of backing his informed guest, he decided to not take a stand.

The guests on this show are wonderful and I have learned a lot. I really want to learn more from their guests.

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LOVE IT!!

So informative and funny! Love the diversity of the guest and the hosts are funny.

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Profile Image for E. Anderson

As a Survivor...

I was born into the Institute of Basic Life Principles cult, or the Duggar cult, as it's often known. I got out when my parents divorced. Thankfully I was placed with my neglectful parent, not the abusive one, but I had to dig my way out from the cult mentality at the tender age of 13. I still suffer from PTSD from that time and upbringing, which wasn't helped by a career in the military. Listening to Sarah and Anthony and this podcast, after watching The Vow, Seduced, and even reading the trial transcripts of Keith Raniere has greatly helpes my recovery, and I fully admire what they do. This series is engaging, funny, informative, and unlike a lot of other cult shows, it talks about how to protect yourself and heal yourself from cultic abuse, instead of just describing the experience of being in a cult. Thank you, guys. Your work and efforts are greatly appreciated.

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Profile Image for Paula Nelson

INFORMATIVE, EDUCATIONAL, and HOPEFUL

GREAT guests! So informative. Wide range of viewpoints and reference material. Nippy & Sarah may have been victimized, but both are a far cry from victims. The world needs more people like Mike Rinder, Leah Remini, Nippy Ames & Sarah Edmondson. Good work.

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