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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
United Pentecostal Church
Patriarchy
High Control Groups
Psychology
U.S. Military
Emotional Manipulation
White Supremacy
Social Issues Of the 1970s
Heaven's Gate
Total Institutions
Identity Formation
Military
Us Versus Them Mentality
Roe V. Wade
Army Of God

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes65Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Cults and the Culting of America

Latest Episodes

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

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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

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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

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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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Recent Guests

Ashley Shelton
Advocate for voter engagement and empowerment among black and brown communities.
Power Coalition
Episode: Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 64 | Power Coalition and Getting Involved
Sprite the Emcee
Gen X hip hop artist and author
Episode: Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 63 | NA vs Opportunity
Thomas Kelly
Political scientist focused on health policy and the study of cognitive dissonance.
Episode: Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 62 | Cognitive Dissonance Fact Check
Ara Jade
Former member of a cult associated with the Hebrew Israelites
Episode: Cults & The Culting of America w/ Dr. Scot Loyd | 61 | Jewish Black Supremacy Cult
Emily Hulen
Professionally a massage therapist and trauma coach, specializing in how the body holds trauma and a survivor of cult upbringing.
Holistic Echoes
Episode: Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 60 | Christian Science
Dr. Cyntia Brown
Specializes in women's health and fertility, founder of Coppola Health
Coppola Health
Episode: Cults & the Culting of America Podcast w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 59 | MAHA vs. Fertility Treatment
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

Hosts

Scott Loyd
Co-host and expert on cult dynamics, as well as a survivor of a high-control group, offering unique insights into the psychology and strategies of cult leaders.
Daniella Mestyanek Young
Co-host and former member of the Children of God cult, author and scholar, specializing in cult research and the dynamics of manipulative leaders.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 247 ratings
  • Please fix audio quality

    Interesting podcast but difficult to enjoy due to poor audio quality.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JWDox
    United Statesa month ago
  • Intelligent and Empathetic Look at the lives of cult survivors

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    dickvanSIKE
    United States2 months ago
  • Always on point

    With anything Daniella discusses always relevant, informative and helpful

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ms.smortion
    Australia5 months ago
  • Thank you

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ketra412
    United States9 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

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the relevant and informative discussions that challenge them to think critically about cult dynamics in society.
Reviews highlight the authenticity and depth of personal experiences shared by hosts and guests, making complex topics more accessible and engaging.
Audience members value the unique insights from hosts who are both experts and survivors, providing a fresh perspective on the themes explored.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 65 | The Children of AA
Q: What would you say to someone who was contemplating entering a 12-step program?
I would urge them to keep their kids out of it and not bring them into meetings or program activities.
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 60 | Christian Science
Q: What was your path to extricating yourself from this particular group?
Emily describes her gradual realization of the cult's control, culminating in her struggles and conflicts with her family.
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 60 | Christian Science
Q: Emily, could you tell us a little bit about what Christian Science is?
Emily explains that Christian Science is a religious organization that claims reality is an illusion, which leads to neglect of medical treatment.
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.

Audience Metrics

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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?

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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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. Conspirituality
3. A Little Bit Culty
4. Flipping Tables
5. Sounds Like A Cult

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

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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What guests have appeared on Cults and the Culting of America?

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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