
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 | 59 | Founded | a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationSociety & Culture | |||

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
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
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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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.
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.
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
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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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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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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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