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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes241Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureEducation

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Latest Episodes

BOO! We’re bringing back one of our favorite Halloween episodes from the SLAC crypt. This week’s re-air takes us back into the deeply uncanny world of reborn dolls with Corrine Vien (@corrinevien) and Sabrina Deana-Roga (@sabbertoothtiger) of Two Gir... more

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This week, Amanda and Chelsea get into the cult of TikTok Sleuths, where people fall down conspiratorial rabbit holes and rally around theories that inspire a whole new level of group-think. The Lindsay Clancy case and the death of Nolan Wells show h... more

YouTube

When does hate following become its own kind of devotion? This week, Amanda and Iman descend into the anonymous world of influencer snark, where strangers gather to dissect creators’ relationships, bodies, businesses, politics, and every perceived in... more

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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

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Recent Guests

Annie Elise
True-crime podcaster covering cases and their developments
Episode: The Cult of TikTok Sleuths
Hannah Stella
Writer and influencer who became the subject of a prominent snark community during her divorce
Episode: The Cult of Influencer Snark
Ryan Bailey
Pop culture commentator, actor, host of So Bad It's Good
So Bad It's Good Podcast
Episode: The Cult of Dancing With The Stars
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

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
  • Trouble accessing the hammer episode

    I listened to half the day the hammer episode came out, I have not been able to finish it. Every other episode works tho 🤷‍♀️

    Update:snark episode, hearing multiple valley girl voices is nauseating. The pod has not been holding interest in a while. Good bye friends.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    lyzzardwyzzard
    United States15 days ago
  • Still listening… for now

    This show has a great premise but is getting hard to listen to recently. The take aways of the episodes are more the host’s personal opinions and less of the actual impact whatever this week’s subject is having on society. Pushing through the pithy gossip and hot takes is getting laborious, although they do a great job of selecting guests and do excellent work of prompting them to share insights. These hosts are certainly very intelligent but perhaps are falling into the trap of catering to more... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    bailanda
    United States16 days ago
  • Looks like gold can tarnish after all

    This show was great. Was. Now it’s just garbage. If you actually have interest in the sociology, psychology, and impact of a real cult or cult leader, this is just a bunch of stoned girls with vocal fry giggling about why they think they’re better than people with different interests than they have.

    There was a host named Isa a long time ago and the dynamic between her and Amanda was intelligent and thought provoking. They were fun to listen to.

    Then something happened and it just rotted. The... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ngigusch
    United States21 days ago
  • Sounds Like A Rant

    Quality varies with this podcast. The latest episode about dog people is a perfect example. A chunk of the conversation was the two hosts going on and on about what they dislike about dog people. The interview wasn’t particularly revealing or well-done. Other episodes have been fantastic. YMMV.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Newsjunkie70
    United Statesa month ago
  • Was willing to look past things at first…

    As someone who really loves cultures and had read Cultish, I really thought I found a podcast that can analyze the pop culture obsessions and break them down. However, I think the hosts often contradict themselves and have bias opinions on the topic. Then the sprinkled in man-hating got annoying. But sound quality is great!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    JacobQ92
    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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Cult of Influencer Snark
Q: Do you feel then that snarking is somewhat of a necessary evil to hold creators accountable?
Hannah Stella says public work invites critique, but anonymous posts can cause real harm, often without the writer intending it and without a clear way for targets to seek accountability.
The Cult of Influencer Snark
Q: What is the number one cultiest thing about influencer snark communities?
Hannah Stella says the forums may claim to welcome free discussion, but dissent can meet strong opposition and vitriol when the group has settled on a view of a creator.
The Cult of TikTok Sleuths
Q: What boundaries should people who genuinely want to help as amateur sleuths follow?
Elise advises against contacting attorneys or urging people to flood police departments. If someone believes they have useful information, she says they should send it privately to someone involved in the case rather than posting it for attention.
The Cult of TikTok Sleuths
Q: Do you consider yourself an online sleuth, and when did you realize your audience wanted to participate in solving cases?
Elise considers social media one avenue of case research, alongside court records. While livestreaming early in her career, she saw viewers share findings and research information together, revealing that her audience wanted to crowdsource details.
The Cult of Dancing With The Stars
Q: What drew you to cover Dancing With The Stars this season?
I found the cast compelling and noticed the show's evolving role in pop culture, including how it intersects with influencers and online communities, which felt like a rich area for analysis.

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 241 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?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Sounds Like A Cult?

Recent guests on Sounds Like A Cult include:

1. Annie Elise
2. Hannah Stella
3. Ryan Bailey
4. Erin Ryan
5. Jamie Loftus
6. Caitlin Durante
7. Jami Rice
8. Dr. Mara Einstein

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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