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Artwork for Cults and the Culting of America

Cults and the Culting of America

Daniella Claire Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd
Cults
Children Of God
Self-Sacrifice
NXIVM
Capitalism
Patriarchy
United Pentecostal Church
High Control Groups
Psychology
U.S. Military
Emotional Manipulation
Social Issues Of the 1970s
Heaven's Gate
White Supremacy
Identity Formation
Total Institutions
Military
Us Versus Them Mentality
Army Of God
Roe V. Wade

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes59Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Cults and the Culting of America

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Brown discusses her journey in women's health and fertility, emphasizing the importance of understanding these topics beyond conventional medicine. The conversation explores the Maha movement and its impact on women's hea... more

Content Warnings:

• Sexual assault and child sexual abuse

• Sex trafficking and the Epstein list

• Cult dynamics, coercive control, and brainwashing

• White supremacy, racism, xenophobia, and fascism

• Historical violence, genocide, N... more

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Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of religious and institutional abuse, child abuse, disordered eating, family estrangement, mental illness, trauma recovery, and medication withdrawal. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episod... more

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In this special episode, Daniella Mestyanek Young ("Knitting Cult Lady") speaks with Dr. Bryan Pitts, Assistant Director of UCLA's Latin American Institute, about the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964–1985) and how studying Brazil's political his... more

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Recent Guests

Amanda Nelson
Content creator and American history educator with a focus on political volunteerism and historical context.
Episode: Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 58 | America Branded Fascism
Jamal Bruce
A high school teacher in Chicago, a Black educator advocating for his community.
Episode: Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 55 | The Power of Story Telling
Rebecca Davis
Co-director and co-producer of the film 'Join or Die'
Join or Die Film
Episode: Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Scot Loyd | 54 | Join A Club, Not A Cult
Pete Davis
Co-director and co-producer of the film 'Join or Die'
Join or Die Film
Episode: Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Scot Loyd | 54 | Join A Club, Not A Cult
Candy Carpenter
Singer and songwriter known for her profound lyrics that address themes from her childhood in evangelicalism.
Episode: Cults & The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Loyd | ep51 | Candi Carpenter
Cynthia Williams
Former member of the United Pentecostal Church, sharing her experiences and insights on cult behavior and control dynamics.
United Pentecostal Church International
Episode: Episode 42 | "Not My Church": Plausible Deniability in High-Control Systems
Hillary Giovale
Interdisciplinary scholar focusing on indigenous relations and author of 'Becoming a Good Relative'
Good Relative
Episode: Episode 41 | Decolonizing Yourself with Hilary Giovale
Dr. Scott Culpepper
History professor and researcher of the satanic panic
Christian university in Northwest Iowa
Episode: Episode 39 | "Satanic Panic" Facts and Fiction
Casey Saganaro
Former Starbucks barista and store manager, now a speech therapist
Episode: Episode 38 | Starbucks and Corporate Cults

Hosts

Scott Lloyd
Co-host and survivor of a cult, bringing personal insights into discussions on cult dynamics and societal structures.
Daniella Mestyanek Young
Co-host and scholar of cults, extreme groups, and toxic leadership, sharing insights from her experiences growing up in a high control environment.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 221 ratings
  • Always on point

    With anything Daniella discusses always relevant, informative and helpful

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ms.smortion
    Australia3 months ago
  • Thank you

    Excellent. Verifiable research, and personal experience delivered with authenticity.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ketra412
    United States6 months ago
  • Worth listening!

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    S. Irving
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent Resource

    This podcast is an excellent resource for anyone trying to understand cults. It does seem that episode 7 (on isolation) is missing, which is a shame. I was looking forward to hearing what they had to say on this topic.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    208Hansen
    United Statesa year ago
  • Recognize Coercive Patterns of Control

    This is not a trauma-🌽 cult podcast—Daniella’s unique perspective as a third-gen cult-kid offers much more than novelty. Where most post-cult entertainment content focuses heavily on the joiners—‘how could they ever?!’—Daniella’s work focuses on the cult-like patterns that *perpetrators* exhibit. Which is to say, the focus is directed in the correct direction.

    This, crucially, allows us a clear view of who these harmful leaders are and how we can arm ourselves against the tactics they and many ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    videoej
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the focus on broader implications of cult behaviors in various societal sectors.
The content is praised for its depth, challenging traditional narratives around cults and high-control environments.
Insightful and engaging discussions that tackle complex societal issues related to cult behavior and leadership.
The hosts offer personal experiences that resonate and provide comfort to those affected by cults or similar dynamics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Scot Loyd | 54 | Join A Club, Not A Cult
Q: Are there other factors at play regarding why we're becoming more disconnected as a nation?
Factors include television consumption, generational habits, and a decline in local newspapers, leading to a 'civic desert.'
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Scot Loyd | 54 | Join A Club, Not A Cult
Q: Can you talk about how the absence of being a part of these positive community groups sort of creates the opportunity for people to become attached to groups that obviously produce harm?
The absence leads to increased vulnerability to depression and isolation, making it easier for toxic groups to fill the void and offer false community.
Cults and The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Lloyd | Episode 47 | The Cultiness of Nursing
Q: What advice do you have for those looking to become better patients in the healthcare system?
Patients should approach their healthcare with gratitude, advocate for themselves, and recognize that healthcare professionals, although trained, are not infallible and should be engaged with critically.
Cults and The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Lloyd | Episode 47 | The Cultiness of Nursing
Q: Why is nursing more intense and more culty than doctors?
Doctors are typically in a position of power, while nurses are expected to follow orders and carry the burden of patient care, which leads to a culture of self-sacrifice and marginalization.
Cults and The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Lloyd | Episode 46 | The God I Was Given book coming out soon!
Q: What God were you given?
Scott discusses how his geographical and familial context shaped his understanding of God and religion.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cults and the Culting of America

What is Cults and the Culting of America about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the intersection of cult dynamics and broader societal influences, this podcast explores the psychological mechanisms behind high control groups and the lasting impacts they have on individuals and communities. Episodes feature in-depth conversations with both hosts, who are survivors of cult experiences, and a diverse range of guests, including scholars, activists, and former members of various organizations. This unique blend of personal narratives and academic insight aims to shed light on the manipulative tactics employed by charismatic leaders, not just within cults, but also within systems like healthcare, corporate cultures, and social movements. Listeners can expect to gain a deeper understanding of how these dynamics pl... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cults and the Culting of America?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cults and the Culting of America:

1. Hey White Women
2. Flipping Tables
3. Maintenance Phase
4. Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation
5. IndoctriNation

How many episodes of Cults and the Culting of America are there?

Cults and the Culting of America launched a year ago and published 59 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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What guests have appeared on Cults and the Culting of America?

Recent guests on Cults and the Culting of America include:

1. Amanda Nelson
2. Jamal Bruce
3. Rebecca Davis
4. Pete Davis
5. Candy Carpenter
6. Cynthia Williams
7. Hillary Giovale
8. Dr. Scott Culpepper

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