
Daniella Mestyanek Young is a captivating figure in the study of cults and group psychology. Raised in the notorious Children of God cult, she escaped as a teenager and later joined the U.S. military, where she specialized in studying terrorists and other extreme groups as a military intelligence officer. Daniella holds a master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Harvard Extensi... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 65 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationSociety & Culture | |||

Content warnings: discussion of child abuse, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, trauma, recovery culture, substance abuse, and high-control groups.
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella and Scot are joined by Violet, a wri... more
In this special edition of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella speaks with Ashley Shelton, founder of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana, about organizing, democracy, and what it actually means to fight authoritarianism in... more
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd are joined by hip-hop artist, author, and activist Spryte the Emcee, who shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and eventual deconstr... more
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella sits down with political scientist Thomas Kelly to revisit one of the most foundational ideas in cult studies: cognitive dissonance. Their conversation centers on Leon Festinger's famous b... more
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Interesting podcast but difficult to enjoy due to poor audio quality.
I love this podcast and I love Daniella’s work in general. Y’all have some very thoughtful guests and do some very thorough breakdowns on these topics.
I will say, though, that the audio quality could use some improvement. Daniella’s audio is noticeably fuzzier a lot of the time, and I notice a lot of overlapping audio when multiple people are talking and no one is willing to pause to let someone else finish their sentence. This stuff really needs to be cleaned up in post because it’s really ha... more
With anything Daniella discusses always relevant, informative and helpful
Excellent. Verifiable research, and personal experience delivered with authenticity.
I never thought I knew it all about cults but I have been learning about them ever since leaving one in 1979. Daniella’s insights are remarkable and she consistently makes new observations - like the “skinny white woman” role in a cult. I like that she challenges us to think about the cult dynamics that come up in society more broadly.
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The content intricately examines the nature of cults, drawing from the personal experiences of hosts who are both survivors of cults. A significant focus is placed on the psychological dynamics within cults, including manipulation tactics, cognitive dissonance, and the parallels between cult behaviors and broader societal issues like authoritarianism, isolation, and systemic injustices. The hosts facilitate discussions with various guests, including experts and individuals with firsthand experiences, to unpack complex topics surrounding trauma, community engagement, and the impact of high-control environments on personal and societal levels. Each episode invites listeners to reflect on their own beliefs and the often unseen influences of ma... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Cults and the Culting of America:
1. Hey White Women
2. Conspirituality
3. A Little Bit Culty
4. Flipping Tables
5. Sounds Like A Cult
Cults and the Culting of America launched 2 years ago and published 65 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Cults and the Culting of America include:
1. Ashley Shelton
2. Sprite the Emcee
3. Thomas Kelly
4. Ara Jade
5. Emily Hulen
6. Dr. Cyntia Brown
7. Amanda Nelson
8. Jamal Bruce
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