
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 238 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureEducation | |||

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
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
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
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
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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
The hate on recent reviews of this podcast sounds like a concerted effort. I find this informative and easy to listen to.
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
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
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #130 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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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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.
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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
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