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Artwork for Sounds Like A Cult

Sounds Like A Cult

Studio71
Mental Health
Lululemon
Chiropractic
K-Pop
Love Is Blind
Amazon
CIA
Brittany Norwood
Munchausen By Proxy Syndrome
Rae Dunn
Homeschooling
Cults
Fashion
Anti-Vaccine Movement
K-Pop Industry
Fandom Culture
Chip Wilson
Jaina Murray
Child Medical Abuse
Cruise Ships

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes189Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Sounds Like A Cult

Latest Episodes

It’s not just a chicken sandwich, it’s a ca-ca-calling

This week, host Amanda and special guest Carys Kolb (⁠@carys.avooca⁠), former employee and the pod's very own sister-in-law, dig into the waffle-fried, lemonade-sweetened, suspiciously polite wo... more

YouTube

Co-creator of Sounds Like A Cult, Isa Medina is back with Season 2 of her critically acclaimed podcast I'm Right You're Wrong! Every Wednesday, Isa banters about life's rights & wrongs and then welcomes a special guest to chat about the everyday deba... more

This week, Amanda is joined by vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez and cultural critic Jane Borden (@janebordan) to unravel the misinformation machine and identity politics that keep this movement alive. Together, we break down not only how the anti-va... more

YouTube

She survived the Great Depression, she fought for women's suffrage, and for many of us, she was our first window into what it meant to be American. This week, Amanda and Chelsea are joined by culture writers and co-editors of An American Girl Antholo... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dr. Peter Hotez
A vaccine scientist, pediatrician, and global health leader.
Baylor College of Medicine
Episode: The Cult of Anti-Vaxxers
Jane Borden
A culture critic and author of Cults Like Us.
Episode: The Cult of Anti-Vaxxers
Justine Orlovsky-Schnitzler
Co-editor of the anthology, An American Girl, Finding Ourselves in the Pleasant Company Universe
Episode: The Cult of American Girl Doll
KC Hysmith
Co-editor of the anthology, An American Girl, Finding Ourselves in the Pleasant Company Universe
Episode: The Cult of American Girl Doll
Isabella Janssen
Full-time van lifer and content creator, also known as The Lone Soul on social media
Episode: The Cult of Van Life
E. Jean Carroll
Journalist, author, and activist known for taking Donald Trump to court
Author and columnist
Episode: The Cult of MAGA Wives
Julianna Glasse
Former Christian pop singer and philanthropist
This Is What Happens When Women Read
Episode: The Cult of Christian Pop Music
Joelle Kidd
Author of Jesusland, a collection of essays exploring Christian pop culture
Episode: The Cult of Christian Pop Music
Zaria Parvez
Global social media manager at Duolingo
Duolingo
Episode: The Cult of Duolingo

Hosts

Amanda Montell
New York Times-bestselling author, host, and cultural commentator.
Chelsea Charles
Co-host and producer with a focus on cultural discussions.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 18.7k ratings
  • Interesting, shocking, fun and informative!

    I recently found this fun show and I am sharing it with family and friends. Definitely many serious moments, but lots of laughing out loud moments, too. I’m sure there is at least one episode that will strike a chord with you! Ok, tons of them will get ya. Admit it 😂 Well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dance Fun Forever
    United States25 days ago
  • It’s a comedy show. Calm down guys.

    Dear fellow reviewers,

    It’s comedy. No one is saying that it’s investigative journalism. It may be based in the real world, and touch on some real-world issues, but it is comedy. While they have made a few mistakes in the past, it’s not trying to be balanced news coverage; it’s trying to be an easy listen that pokes some fun at modern-day society.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Platypusoppossum
    United Statesa month ago
  • HE IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT! MAGA!

    They brought in noted liar and sociopath E. Jean Carroll, so I’m OUT.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    AKM522
    United Statesa month ago
  • Usually entertaining, but not always factual

    First, you have to get over the giggling. Then, you have to acknowledge some topics are niche and others aren’t very deeply researched. Once you get past that, it’s an entertaining, little podcast worth the occasional listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    llamalovin'chil
    United Statesa month ago
  • Mostly hits, some misses

    Most of the time I love the balance of lightheartedness and real talk, but the Duolingo episode was basically an ad for the app. There was really no criticism. I actually left the cult of Duo when the CEO announced AI-first learning, hiring, and people leading back in April. A quick Google would have shown this. This episode put the guest on a pedestal. Feels like the hosts sold out and/or there were certain important topics off limit with the guest.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    EMPian0
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Many enjoy the light-hearted critique of cult-like behaviors in society, resonating with their own experiences.
Listeners appreciate the blend of humor and depth in topics, finding it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Critics highlight that it can be overly light and lacks deep research on some subjects, impacting its credibility for serious discussions.

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 Anti-Vaxxers
Q: What do you make of the claim that COVID vaccines caused deaths or heart issues?
These claims are false; the COVID virus itself, not the vaccines, poses a significant risk to heart health.
The Cult of Anti-Vaxxers
Q: What is a vaccine? How does it work and why are they important?
Vaccines work by training our immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens.
The Cult of Chick-fil-A
Q: Can you tell us about your general relationship to Chick-fil-A?
I've been addicted to Chick-fil-A for probably the past three years, but especially last summer. I probably got it at least once or twice a week.
The Cult of American Girl Doll
Q: In your opinion, is it ethical, manipulative, or a bit of both to use historical trauma as a bonding mechanism for children?
Using historical trauma as a bonding mechanism can risk glamorizing or trivializing real struggles while providing frivolous escapism.
The Cult of American Girl Doll
Q: So when we say the Cult of American Girl Dolls and we didn't come up with this idea, like we've been requested over the years to cover this, what behaviors or other phenomena spring to mind for each of you?
The American Girl franchise blurred the line between education for kids and identity, immersing them in trauma narratives that can feel intense for children.

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 Sounds Like A Cult

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

This podcast engages listeners in entertaining discussions that dissect various cultural phenomena often likened to cult behaviors. Each episode explores a different group or trend—from fast food chains and reality TV to alternative lifestyles and digital marketing schemes—by examining the psychological and societal influences that foster intense devotion among their followers. The approach combines humor with critical insights, inviting a reflection on what exactly constitutes a 'cult' in contemporary culture and how certain fads can sometimes resemble those characteristics. The dynamic between the hosts adds a relatable charm, drawing audiences who appreciate a light-hearted yet thought-provoking take on societal norms.

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How many listeners does Sounds Like A Cult get?

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

To see how many followers or subscribers Sounds Like A Cult 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 Sounds Like A Cult?

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

1. Maintenance Phase
2. Magical Overthinkers
3. You're Wrong About
4. American Hysteria
5. If Books Could Kill

How many episodes of Sounds Like A Cult are there?

Sounds Like A Cult launched 4 years ago and published 189 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for 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. Dr. Peter Hotez
2. Jane Borden
3. Justine Orlovsky-Schnitzler
4. KC Hysmith
5. Isabella Janssen
6. E. Jean Carroll
7. Julianna Glasse
8. Joelle Kidd

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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