Rephonic
Artwork for Let's Talk About Sects

Let's Talk About Sects

Sarah Steel
Cults
Emotional Abuse
Universal Medicine
Troubled Teen Industry
Psychological Harm
Large Group Awareness Trainings
Serge Benhayon
The Twelve Tribes
Psychology
Defamation Lawsuit
Mental Health
Human Rights
Social Exploitation
Psychological Manipulation
Harry Palmer
Avatar
Mental Healthcare
The Retreat
Trauma
Bipolar Disorder

Let's Talk About Sects is an award-winning monthly podcast focusing on a different cult each episode. Sarah takes a storytelling, deep dive approach, looking at the history of a sect's leaders, the recruitment of members, their experiences, psychological aspects, and notable incidents during its existence.

You can support us on Patreon, with a one-off donation, or grab some merch. Sarah Steel's de... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes105Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryTrue CrimeSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Let's Talk About Sects

Latest Episodes

Danny Rensch grew up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness, a cult he usually refers to as ‘the Collective’. Started by Steven and Trina Kamp, the group followed the teachings of a Dr Pahlvon Duran, whose spirit first visited Trina when she was 9. ... more

From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate, to the Octopus Murders and the Waco Siege, the world is full of deception, manipulation, and destruction. Listen to Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes every Wednesday as we explore the real people at the centre of... more

The Logos Foundation was often described as ‘mysterious’ in media coverage, but became a part of the religious right that published full page newspaper advertisements encouraging the electorate to vote on ‘moral’ issues at Queensland state elections ... more

Clare Heath-McIvor is the daughter of the leader of the City Builders Church, an organisation that she and others who know it feel confident fits the definition of a cult. Her marriage was arranged within the church to Patrick McIvor, a man who had s... more

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.

The Cult Next Door
The Cult Next DoorThe Cult Next Door
A Little Bit Culty
A Little Bit CultySarah Edmondson & Anthony “Nippy” Ames
IndoctriNation
IndoctriNationIndoctriNation

Recent Guests

Danny Rensch
International chess master, world-renowned chess broadcaster, and chief chess officer at chess.com
chess.com
Episode: The Collective: Dark Squares with Danny Rensch
Clare Heath-McIvor
Daughter of the leader of the City Builders Church and advocate on issues of cults and organized fringe groups.
Episode: Interview Episode: Clare Heath-McIvor
Liz Cameron
Survivor of the JMS cult and author of 'Cult Bride'
Episode: Cult Bride & Providence/JMS with Liz Cameron
Ryan Carey
Former member of the Geelong Revival Centre and advocate for cult reform
Episode: Interview Episode: Victorian Inquiry into Cults with Ryan & Catherine Carey
Catherine Carey
Former member of the Geelong Revival Centre and advocate for cult reform
Episode: Interview Episode: Victorian Inquiry into Cults with Ryan & Catherine Carey
Jaya Mangalam-Gibson
Former Falun Gong practitioner and critic
Episode: Falun Gong
Mirriam Francis
Former Scientologist and advocate for child safety
Scientology
Episode: Children in Scientology with Mirriam Francis
Maria Esguerra
Psychologist specializing in helping survivors of cults, particularly SGAs
Assessable
Episode: SGAs with Maria Esguerra
Ewan Whyte
Writer and cultural critic, author of essays on the Community of Jesus and Grenville Christian College
Episode: Interview Episode: The Community of Jesus

Host

Sarah Steel
Host, storyteller, and advocate for cult awareness.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • Meaningful Interviews

    Excellent questions and great guests. Thanks Sarah. Always love your shows!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Virginia horses
    United States24 days ago
  • Ethical and Thorough Cult Investigation

    I’ve read and listened to a lot about cults but Let’s Talk About Sects is simply the best out there. The investigations are thorough, well researched and, importantly, ethically produced. It’s not flashy, there isn’t dramatic music accompanying the most sordid details. However, it’s still incredibly engaging without feeling exploitative. I love that we get to hear from a lot of survivors, and it really feels like Sarah gives them a space to open up and tell their story, without it feeling like s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bethsy06
    United Statesa month ago
  • Ex 2x2 member

    Just found this podcast and as an ex 2x2 cult member who was born and raised in it I found the episodes about the 2x2s sooo vindicating. Finding any community and understanding has been very difficult for years given the immense secrecy of the cult. Thank you so much for putting this all together

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kernal K5
    Canadaa month ago
  • Great podcast that over the years never dropped in quality. Thoroughly researched topics, sources always disclosed and no click bait. Fully recommended

    Podcast Addict
    5
    demicanadian
    7 months ago
  • WOW!!!

    Fascinating, informative, well made! I just can’t stop listening. Thank you for doing all the work and producing such great shows!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SRPokorny
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is empathetic, well-researched, and presents cult experiences thoughtfully.
The podcast is praised for its quality production and the host's soothing and engaging voice, contributing to an enjoyable listening experience.
Many find the discussions around lesser-known cults enlightening and informative, expanding their understanding of the topic.
Listeners appreciate the storytelling approach that combines personal experiences with factual information.
Some listeners express frustration with certain controversial discussions, indicating a desire for balanced perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#246
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#175
Denmark/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#184
Belgium/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#226
Sweden/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Collective: Dark Squares with Danny Rensch
Q: Can you share a bit about the Church of Immortal Consciousness aka the Collective in terms of how it operated and how your parents originally became involved?
Danny explains that the cult operated under the teachings of a trans medium, Dr. Duran, and that its structure was communistic, with leaders making all significant life decisions for members, creating a control-fueled environment.
The Collective: Dark Squares with Danny Rensch
Q: Tell me how the book came about.
Danny shares that his journey of writing the memoir began after having discussions about his life's unique experiences and the encouragement from a friend to articulate his story rather than have it be reduced to a documentary.
Interview Episode: Fynn's time with the Logos Foundation
Q: How did your family end up in Tasmania?
After Logos disbanded, Fynn's family moved to Tasmania for their father to attend a Christian university, but they were linked to another cult-like church.
Interview Episode: Fynn's time with the Logos Foundation
Q: What can you tell me about the beliefs and the behaviors of the Logos members?
Fynn described the beliefs of the church as misogynistic, homophobic, with a culture of fear and authoritarianism, including physical and emotional discipline.
Interview Episode: Fynn's time with the Logos Foundation
Q: Can you tell me what years you were part of the Logos Foundation and how your family became involved?
Fynn's family was involved since the mid to late 70s until around 1995 when they moved to Tasmania.

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 Let's Talk About Sects

What is Let's Talk About Sects about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This engaging podcast provides an in-depth exploration of various cults and sects, taking listeners through their histories, leadership, and the psychological aspects involved in recruitment and member experiences. Each episode often features personal stories from survivors and experts, shedding light on the often hidden dynamics within these groups, including emotional and psychological abuses. The podcast adopts a storytelling approach, maintaining an empathetic tone while revealing unsettling truths about fringe organizations, making it a compelling listen for anyone interested in understanding the complexities and dangers of cults and psychological manipulation.

Where can I find podcast stats for Let's Talk About Sects?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Let's Talk About Sects. 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 Let's Talk About Sects and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Let's Talk About Sects get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Let's Talk About Sects, 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 Let's Talk About Sects?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Let's Talk About Sects, 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 Let's Talk About Sects have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Let's Talk About Sects 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 Let's Talk About Sects?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Let's Talk About Sects:

1. The Cult Next Door
2. A Little Bit Culty
3. Was I In A Cult?
4. IndoctriNation
5. Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

How many episodes of Let's Talk About Sects are there?

Let's Talk About Sects launched 8 years ago and published 105 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 Let's Talk About Sects?

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 Let's Talk About Sects?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Let's Talk About Sects 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 Let's Talk About Sects?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Let's Talk About Sects. 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 Let's Talk About Sects?

Recent guests on Let's Talk About Sects include:

1. Danny Rensch
2. Clare Heath-McIvor
3. Liz Cameron
4. Ryan Carey
5. Catherine Carey
6. Jaya Mangalam-Gibson
7. Mirriam Francis
8. Maria Esguerra

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