Rephonic
Artwork for A Little Bit Culty
Cults
NXIVM
Cult Dynamics
Mental Health
Scientology
Coercive Control
Religious Trauma
Therapy
Mormonism
Child Abuse
The Vow
Emotional Manipulation
Spirituality
Corey Feldman
The Grotto
Kundalini Yoga
Chess
Childhood Trauma
Jehovah's Witnesses
Emotional Abuse

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... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes354Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for A Little Bit Culty

Latest Episodes

In this bonus episode, we hop over to Cults to Consciousness with past ALBC guest Shelise Ann Sola for a real, slightly sweaty, very honest conversation about how cults mess with your head, your body, and your sense of what’s normal. We talk about ou... more

Gerette Buglion’s back for part two of our catch-up. This one dives deeper into the messy, important work of healing through writing, therapy, and self-trust. She talks about internal consent, knowing when to pause, and why it’s so important for surv... more

YouTube

In our next “Where are they now?” catch-up episode, Gerette Buglion is back, and she’s still doing what she does best: helping survivors turn cult experience into something meaningful, grounded, and actually useful. In this conversation with Sarah, s... more

YouTube

If you love listening to ALBC on your commute, while folding laundry, or as your little antidote to the daily chaos, you’ll be right at home with the audiobook version of A Little Bit Culty: Navigating Cults, Control and Coercion. This bonus episode ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Was I in a Cult?
Was I in a Cult?Liz Iacuzzi
Cults to Consciousness
Cults to ConsciousnessShelise Ann Sola, Jonathan C Rosales
Life After MLM
Life After MLMRoberta Blevins

Recent Guests

Gerrett Buglion
Survivor, writer, and advocate in the cult recovery space
GerrettBuglion.com / Living Cult Free
Episode: Where are they now? Gerette Buglion on Writing to Reckon (Part 2)
Gerette Buglion
Author, educator, co-founder Living Cult Free
Living Cult Free
Episode: Where are they now? Gerette Buglion on Writing to Reckon (Part 1)
Stephen Hassan
Dr. Stephen Hassan, cult expert and author of Freedom of Mind
Author, expert on cults
Episode: Summer bonus: Chapters 3 and 4 from the A Little Bit Culty audiobook!
JANJA Lalich
Dr. Janja Lalich, cult researcher and survivor
Professor emerita, California State University
Episode: Summer bonus: Chapters 3 and 4 from the A Little Bit Culty audiobook!
Ramani Durvasala
Dr. Ramani Durvasala, clinical psychologist
Clinical psychologist and author
Episode: Summer bonus: Chapters 3 and 4 from the A Little Bit Culty audiobook!
Dan Shaw
Dan Shaw, licensed clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, and author
Survivor perspective
Episode: Summer bonus: Chapters 3 and 4 from the A Little Bit Culty audiobook!
Teal Swan
Teal Swan, self-proclaimed spiritual guru
Influencer/teacher
Episode: Summer bonus: Chapters 3 and 4 from the A Little Bit Culty audiobook!
Dr. Romany
Dr. Romany, psychologist
Episode: Summer bonus: Chapters 3 and 4 from the A Little Bit Culty audiobook!
Gillie Jenkinson
Accredited psychotherapist, international speaker, author
Episode: Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 1)

Hosts

Sarah Edmondson
Host of the show; long-time advocate and survivor-commentator on cult dynamics.
Anthony Nippy Ames
Co-host and interviewer; shares personal experiences with coercive groups.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 6.1k ratings
  • Workout Witch on Reddit

    I enjoyed the episode as an intro to Somatics… and they closed with a great question on how to see the difference between a legit Teacher/Healer but failed to question her on the MANY complaints about her on Reddit and other social media platforms as a total scammer. Obviously a difficult thing to pull off without disrespecting the guest, or maybe they truly just quickly bought into her book. But the criticisms are very real and she doesn’t have any real credibility or credentials. (No degree.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Limey Losers
    United States21 days ago
  • Somatic Workout Witch

    ALBC always hit the nail on the head with guests and topics to help you recover and this is a great episode to listen to if your looking for another tool in the box. Nippy and Sarah are always so open and genuine with their journey and process it’s a joy to listen too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maxi and Linda
    Australia25 days ago
  • My HCR Explained

    Wow episode with Sam & Elise hit home! They described my experience with high control religion. I keep saying I left a cult and now I can prove it. Thanks for your work in exposing the cults

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GPCESC
    United Statesa month ago
  • From 5 ⭐️ to 3

    Could not get through this one - as unfortunately is the case with many of the episodes lately. While I’m sure Sarah had the best intentions of being supportive and helpful, it came across as condescending and know-it-all. Also, the editors could have stepped in to mitigate the extremely long pauses when the guest was speaking. Sarah and Nippy have done great work in this space and it’s a shame to hear the quality decline.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    ArtQueen303
    United Statesa month ago
  • Update

    I was liking this pod but something felt off. Little comments here and there gave me the sense that these two have more work to do on their recuperation. Platforming Tolle was what broke the shelf. I wish them the best but I’ll be moving on. Steven Hassan doesn’t have a smooth voice or interviewing style but he’s the real deal. If you’re recovering from cult abuse, listen to a pro. If you decide to stay with this pod, listen with caution and use your best critical thinking skills.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    changagarcia
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners critique political neutrality and perceived bias in hosts' perspectives.
Many fans credit practical healing guidance and deep-dive analysis of coercive dynamics.
Listeners value survivor-centered storytelling and thoughtful interviews.
Episodes are praised for breadth and honesty, with hosts' humor balancing heavy topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#238
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#136
South Africa/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#155
Finland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#185
Chile/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Where are they now? Gerette Buglion on Writing to Reckon (Part 2)
Q: When do you push through a difficult writing moment versus stepping back to protect yourself?
It varies per person; activation can signal important territory to explore, but you should also practice self-care and use boundaries to know when to pause and integrate.
Where are they now? Gerette Buglion on Writing to Reckon (Part 1)
Q: What do you think it is about writing that makes it such a powerful way for people to reckon with experience, especially with fragments that are hard to name?
Writing taps into our biological wiring for storytelling; it helps survivors articulate and organize fragmented memories, while peer discussion and feedback validate their experiences and encourage integration.
Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 2)
Q: What are the consistent through lines you notice when working with people in high-control groups, and what challenges do you encounter helping them move through these dynamics?
Thought reform is a central through line, with focus on educating people about how control operates, plus the impact of introjected beliefs and the pseudo-identity. Challenges include navigating patients' trauma responses, the risk of triggering therapy dynamics, and finding ethical, effective modalities that clients can actually engage with, whether with a therapist or on their own.
Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 1)
Q: What was going on for you? Where were you in your life that you heard about this cult?
Gillie describes a push-pull of belonging and safety in a close-knit religious community, her early vulnerability, and how the recruitment appeal leveraged promise of purpose and spiritual certainty, which gradually tightened into coercive control.
Religious Trauma and Cults: Sam Sellers & Elise Heerde on Healing After High Control Churches (Part 1)
Q: What was the moment you realized the harm and decided to leave?
Elise recounts the final Sunday where she was visibly upset, a church member tried to diagnose her unseen sin, and she walked out, choosing to never return after facing social repercussions and pressure to stay.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About A Little Bit Culty

What is A Little Bit Culty about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep, survivor-centered coverage of coercive control, high-control groups, and the ethics of exposing abuse. Episodes regularly explore NXIVM, ISTA, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other cult-like ecosystems, with guests ranging from survivors to investigative journalists and subject-matter experts. The hosts balance personal experience with rigorous questions about manipulation, consent, healing, and accountability, often tying media influence and public perception to justice and reform. Noteworthy is the show's commitment to practical guidance for recognizing red flags, navigating healing, and holding powerful groups to account, all while maintaining a candid, occasionally candidly humorous tone that helps stories land without sensationalism.

Where can I find podcast stats for A Little Bit Culty?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for A Little Bit Culty. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to A Little Bit Culty and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does A Little Bit Culty get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for A Little Bit Culty, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for A Little Bit Culty?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for A Little Bit Culty, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does A Little Bit Culty have?

To see how many followers or subscribers A Little Bit Culty has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to A Little Bit Culty?

These podcasts share a similar audience with A Little Bit Culty:

1. Was I in a Cult?
2. Cults to Consciousness
3. WTF is on my Mind?!
4. Life After MLM
5. Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

How many episodes of A Little Bit Culty are there?

A Little Bit Culty launched 6 years ago and published 354 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact A Little Bit Culty?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for A Little Bit Culty?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for A Little Bit Culty from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for A Little Bit Culty?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of A Little Bit Culty. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on A Little Bit Culty?

Recent guests on A Little Bit Culty include:

1. Gerrett Buglion
2. Gerette Buglion
3. Stephen Hassan
4. JANJA Lalich
5. Ramani Durvasala
6. Dan Shaw
7. Teal Swan
8. Dr. Romany

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days