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Sounds Like A Cult

Studio71
Mental Health
Social Media
Cults
Nostalgia
Consumerism
Feminism
Patriarchy
Tiktok
Reality TV
Celebrity Worship
Pop Culture
Elon Musk
Anti-Vaccine Movement
Friendship Breakups
Covid-19
Synanon
Conspiracy Theories
Reality Television
Spirituality
Body Image Issues

Putting the “cult” in culture… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about the Royal Family? What about Disney Adults? Or spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? We’re Sounds Like A Cult, an iHeart Radio Award-winning podcast that analyzes a different fanatical group every week to try and answer the big question: This ~sounds~ like a cult, but is it really? Created and hosted by New Yo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes238Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureEducation

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Artwork for Sounds Like A Cult

Latest Episodes

This week, Reese and Iman cha cha slide straight into the surprisingly culty world of Dancing With the Stars, where celebrities come for career rehab, pros become stars in their own right, and millions of viewers suddenly believe they are qualified t... more

YouTube

This week, Amanda and Chelsea enter The Cult of Dog People, from pup birthday parties and breed evangelists to raw-feeding wars, “adopt don’t shop” morality, and the steadfast conviction that your dog can detect bad vibes better than you can. How did... more

YouTube

What happens when your cool older stepbrother gets a mullet, a microphone, and millions of impressionable young men listening to him yap for three hours at a time? This week, Reese finds out while covering The Cult of Theo Von, the comedian-turned-po... more

YouTube

Grab your onions, this week, Reese and Iman are entering The Cult of Shrek, a fandom that somehow evolved from a beloved children’s movie into an online religion (or dare we say... cult). Joining them are Bechdel Cast hosts (@bechdelcast) Caitlin Dur... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Erin Ryan
Writer and political commentator
Crooked Media
Episode: The Cult of Theo Von
Jamie Loftus
Writer and comedian; Bechdel Cast co-host
The Bechdel Cast
Episode: The Cult of Shrek
Caitlin Durante
Movie expert; Bechdel Cast co-host
The Bechdel Cast
Episode: The Cult of Shrek
Jami Rice
podcaster and true crime storyteller (Murderish, Bravo's Most Wanted, Dirty Money Moves)
Murderish, Bravo's Most Wanted, Dirty Money Moves
Episode: The Cult of Bellum Entertainment
Dr. Mara Einstein
Marketing critic; author of Hoodwinked
Independent/Author
Episode: The Cult of Celebrity Wellness Brands
David Farrier
Journalist, documentary filmmaker; host of Dark Tourist (Netflix) and Flightless Bird Podcast
Netflix / Dark Tourist
Episode: The Cult of Dark Tourism
Laci Mosley
Host of Scam Goddess, actress and author
Scam Goddess / Scam Goddess Pod
Episode: The Cult of Lush
Calvin Wayman
Grew up in a plural marriage family
Cultured Boy (YouTube), former member of Centennial Park Group
Episode: The Cult of Sister Wives
Anna Konkle
Co-creator and star of Pen15; author of The Sane One memoir
Pen15, The Sane One
Episode: The Cult of Y2K

Hosts

Amanda Montell
Host of Sounds Like A Cult; author of Cultish
Chelsea Charles
Co-host and unscripted TV producer
Iman Hariri Kia
Author and co-host
Reese Oliver
Host and rhetoric scholar

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 20.2k ratings
  • Unfollowed after the Celebrity Stan episode where the hosts criticised bullying by Taylor Swift fans, but then told Taylor Swift to learn how to take a joke when she spoke out about being bullied by TV programs. Gross and hypocritical stance by the hosts

    Podcast Addict
    1
    MightyMooloos
    17 days ago
  • Good information and easy to listen to

    The hate on recent reviews of this podcast sounds like a concerted effort. I find this informative and easy to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chris Lamke
    United States22 days ago
  • Sometimes great storytelling and interesting topics, sometimes meh

    1. Listening to the episode on celeb wellness marketing, finding it increasingly painful to listen to the hosts’ paid and very fake endorsements of products during ad breaks… consider alternative financing options or do an episode on the cult of podcasting & ads

    2. Wondering if all the recent reviews saying “this podcast used to be great but had declined so much” are incels or other recent episode subjects feeling personally attacked lol

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    tangerine171
    United Statesa month ago
  • Snarky, Lazy, and Willfully Uninformed

    I have very rarely come across a podcast that is as low effort and judgy as this. I went into this expecting nuanced exploration of various “fringe” groups, and instead was met with essentially prejudiced and one-sided “yes, this is a cult and it’s bad”. I started by listening to the Waldorf episode and within the first few minutes they were writing their own definitions of what anthroposophy is to say that the indoctrination of children is the primary purpose, which is bizarre and irresponsible... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MeghanAngier
    United Statesa month ago
  • Lazy Patronizing Elitist Takes

    This pod has gone so downhill. Now it just seems like women trying to be as elevated from the rest of us as possible, with minimal research or compassion. Awful.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Scooching in Here
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistent, accessible entry point into complex social topics
Some listeners feel the tone has shifted toward snark in recent episodes
Engaging deep dives with sharp analysis
Guests bring insider perspectives and survivors share rooted experiences
Smart, funny, and thought-provoking discussions on culture and power

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#213
United States/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#182
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#222
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#142
Italy/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#201
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#130
China/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Cult of Theo Von
Q: Would you please introduce yourself to our listeners?
Erin Ryan introduces herself as the host of Hysteria on Crooked Media and a writer/commentator who covers politics, feminism, culture, and media.
The Cult of Shrek
Q: What makes Shrek culture cult-like despite its light-hearted surface?
Its long-running, multi-generational engagement, ritualized activities (festivals, raves, weddings), and a language that evolves within the community create a sense of belonging and belonging to a larger belief system beyond a simple movie fandom.
The Cult of Celebrity Wellness Brands
Q: What characterizes the spectrum of celebrity wellness brands from brand cults to MLMs?
Dr. Einstein outlines a continuum: brand cults like Rare Beauty and Rhode at one end, moving through influencer-led cult-lite phases to MLMs, with each step representing deeper integration of the celebrity into the product and deeper consumer parasocial bonds.
The Cult of Dark Tourism
Q: What do you see as the core appeal of dark tourism despite its ethical concerns?
People are drawn to the thrill of witnessing something grave while also trying to understand history, culture, and mortality, but the ethics of exploitation vs education are a constant tension that the field wrestles with.
The Cult of Gooning
Q: Are there real-world harms associated with gooning according to your research?
Yes, there are cases of extreme behavior, including public incidents and coercive online dynamics, plus the potential for addiction and strain on personal relationships, though many participants frame it as a hyper-specific form of sexual expression or fandom.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sounds Like A Cult

What is Sounds Like A Cult about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show that investigates cult-like dynamics across a wide range of cultural phenomena, from reality TV production and celebrity wellness brands to online subcultures and political movements. Each episode blends investigative storytelling with expert analysis, often featuring firsthand accounts from people with lived experience. Guests range from whistleblowers and survivors to journalists and scholars, offering practical guidance on spotting manipulation, understanding group psychology, and evaluating ethical concerns in contemporary culture. Notably, the hosts bring a sharp, witty, and accessible style that keeps complex topics engaging while maintaining a critical lens on power, labor, and influence in modern groups.

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How many subscribers and views does Sounds Like A Cult have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Sounds Like A Cult?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sounds Like A Cult:

1. Magical Overthinkers
2. Maintenance Phase
3. You're Wrong About
4. American Hysteria
5. Normal Gossip

How many episodes of Sounds Like A Cult are there?

Sounds Like A Cult launched 5 years ago and published 238 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 Sounds Like A Cult?

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What guests have appeared on Sounds Like A Cult?

Recent guests on Sounds Like A Cult include:

1. Erin Ryan
2. Jamie Loftus
3. Caitlin Durante
4. Jami Rice
5. Dr. Mara Einstein
6. David Farrier
7. Laci Mosley
8. Calvin Wayman

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.

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