Sounds Like A Cult
Studio71
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, Reese Oliver, and Iman Hariri Kia.
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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
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 1h 2min
The Cult of Pantone (the Color Conspiracy)
Kory Stamper, lexicographer and author of True Color, unpacks Pantone’s rise to cultural authority. They explore how Pantone standardized color, the rituals around swatch books, controversies like licensing disputes and tone-deaf Color of the Year choices. Short, sharp looks at naming’s power, color forecasting, and the industry pushback that questions who really owns color.
10 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 1h
The Cult of OneTaste, Creepy Church of Orgasms
Ellen Hewitt, investigative journalist and author of Empire of Orgasm, walks listeners through OneTaste’s rise from Silicon Valley sex startup to scandal. She breaks down orgasmic meditation, the group’s in-group language and consent shifts, the leadership dynamics, and how wellness, sales tactics, and growth ideologies masked harm. Short reflections warn how similar movements can adapt online.
Mar 17, 2026 • 1h 1min
The Cult of Fanfiction
Lauren Billings, co-writer of bestselling contemporary romances who began in fanfiction communities. Christina Hobbs, her writing partner who transitioned fanfics into hits like Beautiful Bastard. They trace fanfiction’s rise from zines to big business. Topics include fandom lingo and rituals, the pipeline from fanfic to publishing, scandals and toxicity, and how communities create space for marginalized voices.
29 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 60min
The Cult of The Manosphere
Liz Plank, feminist journalist and author who studies masculinity, and Kat Abughazaleh, reporter and IL-9 congressional candidate who investigates the far right, unpack the Manosphere. They map its online hubs, leaders, symbols, and recruitment tactics. They trace political ties, algorithmic radicalization, subgroup differences, and the real-world harms linked to this movement.
14 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 1h 13min
The Cult of MAGA Youth
Tina Nguyen, national correspondent and author of The MAGA Diaries, offers firsthand reporting on conservative youth activism. She explores how MAGA youth culture became identity and community. They discuss recruitment pipelines, campus stunts, online radicalization, mentorship networks, and the media personalities that fuel devotion.
12 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 52min
The Cult of Pilates
Dr. Adam McAtee, a physical therapist and Pilates educator who runs Evidence-Based Pilates, brings a science-forward critique of traditional training. He unpacks Pilates’ cultlike studio culture, lineage dogma, insider language, social media echo chambers, and how evidence can challenge long-held Pilates claims. Short, lively, and provocative conversation.
20 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 1h 13min
The Cult of Joe Rogan
Akilah Hughes, writer and comedian, joins to unpack Joe Rogan’s cult-like sway. She discusses parasocial bonds, why massive, chill conversations build loyalty, and how branding and platforming shape beliefs. They explore fandom defensiveness, public-health harms from amplified misinformation, and practical steps for breaking the spell.
Feb 10, 2026 • 1h 11min
The Cult of Romance Novels
Alexa Martin, a USA Today bestselling romance author, chats about romance fandom and tropes. She talks about how tropes act as gateway drugs, the intense community language that binds readers, and why romance can feel cult-like yet empowering. Short, spicy, and full of fan culture moments.
9 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 40min
The Cult of Bad Bunny
Tefi Pessoa, culture critic and internet commentator known for sharp pop culture and identity analysis, dives into Bad Bunny's rise and why fandom feels almost religious. They unpack his gender-bending style, political moments on big stages, parasocial fan entitlement, language and xenophobia tensions, and how backlash reveals cultural nerves.
11 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 1h 8min
The Cult of The Amish
Naomi Swartzentruber, an Ex‑Amish creator and memoirist who left a strict Swartzentruber Amish community, joins to recount life inside and the reasons she ran away at 17. She discusses strict rules, shunning, language and schooling, and tensions between conservative and more liberal Amish groups. Conversation touches on leaving, adapting to modern life, and why Amish aesthetics fascinate outsiders.
