I made it half way through the Synanon episode when the repeated use of the term “dope fiend” and demonization of drug addiction made my have to turn it off. In 2024 to continue to use language that suggests drug addicts are lesser people than her innocent Dad in joining the cult is really an ignorant choice to everything we know today.

This used to be one of my favorite shows, but over the past few months it just hasn’t been very good. I’m not sure what happened, but this went from a very funny and informative show to something completely different. Now it’s more of a snark podcast where they pick random topics and mostly insult or make fun of them.

I was so excited to hear their take on Burning Man, which I have attended and enjoyed in all its culty fun for over a decade. And then…. they chose only to interview 2 random women who have never even been, and know nothing about it. So that’s now 4 people who know absolutely nothing about Burning Man, get together to discuss it. You literally worked harder to find a Disney Adult. 80,000 people go to the burn EVERY year and you couldn’t be bothered to find one of them? You could have had an amazing discussion, and instead it was just 4 people sharing their judgements and assumptions without fact checking anything. I’m so done with this podcast, now I’m doubting the research on every other episode.

I just found this podcast because of two girls one ghost and I’m in love! All I have is time to listen to music in podcasts because I’m a mobile dog groomer and I have to say that I binged this podcast so fast. I love hearing intellectual conversations with a mix of silliness. Also really loving Amanda’s other podcast which I will do a review for! Thanks for all your work ladies!

Love this show, love what you’re are doing !

I love this podcast! Amanda’s wit, humor, smarts and insights are a breath of fresh air in this culty universe. If you haven’t read her book Cultish, highly recommend it too - that’s what led me to this podcast :)

I was recommended this because I like You’re Wrong About. I enjoyed the first few episodes, but over time I realized there’s little to no factual statements about the groups they talk about and often it just perpetuates stereotypes, it’s fully just their opinions. Which would be fine if they marketed it like that or if it were funny at all, but it’s not. If people want to learn about obscure things from a well-researched POV, there are plenty of better podcasts! This missed the mark for me, not funny enough to be comedy and not thoughtful enough to be informative.

This show looks at all culty groups, not just the extremely destructive ones.

I wish half stars existed so I could give this a 3.5… it’s a decent show and the premise it started out with was great. Over time I’ve realized it’s pretty unpredictable based on the subject, guest, co host etc. (I can’t exactly remember but wasn’t the guest on the army wives episode one of the hosts dad? Random.) Anyway, it’s interesting still and having different co hosts coming in has me continuing to listen, for now.

SLAC used to be one of my favorite shows. Haven’t felt as connected to it as of late. I really like the hosts as women but do feel like Reese does a bit too much with acting out a scene instead of just holding a conversation. The past few episodes (Gilmore Girls, Horoscope Apps) I couldn’t get through. Will come back in a month to see if there’s any change ironing out the growing pains? It’s understandable the podcast is trying to find its new footing. Looking forward to giving it another shot soon.

Went down hill when second host left unfortunately…I wouldn’t waste my time with this one

I’m sorry, but there was no content. I don’t even know how you could stay on this topic for an hour.

Based on the title, I was expecting something else. I thought they might be actually talking about the “traditional” interpretation of a cult—don’t get me wrong, they do stay within the parameters of the definition, just with a different spin on it, which you might like. I appreciate how much work goes into producing a podcast and the enthusiasm and interviewing skills of the host. I listened to the Gilmore Girls episode where they shared insight that millennials, it seems the host and guests were in agreement, have had so many more challenges in life than their parents. They had found their people with each other—which is a great feeling; however, showed bias toward certain demographics (age) of their listeners.

As soon as I finished Amanda’s book Cultish, I started binging every episode of this podcast. It’s one of my favorites!

Truly enjoy the discussions on this pod. Now and then the guest is underwhelming but the topics never disappoint. And neither does Amanda. Alright podcaster, writer, thinker, fun human, pop off ☺️

I just listened to The Cult of Free Birthers. Language and medical trauma…look up certified child life specialists. There are professionals trained and hired to educate, support, and decrease the likelihood of medical trauma starting in the pediatrician’s office. Love this podcast and the fact that I’m a certified child life specialist who spent ten years making sure people know there are resources for them/their kids and help them understand that the words you use to describe healthcare experiences determine how you continue to feel about healthcare. I’ve also had an IUD placed and it was uncomfortable but the purpose was so much more important than the few minutes of being uncomfortable. I coached parents into describing procedures to kids afterwards focusing on the positive parts not on the “pinch” or “pressure” felt but on how they held so still. If we describe everything at the doctor as painful and scary it creates fear and stops people from getting potentially life-saving procedures.

One of the cohost’s (Reese) audio is consistently bad. I understand the first episode not having the right equipment, but there’s really no excuse after multiple episodes to get it figured out. It’s distracting and unpleasant to listen to now, which is sad, because I really like this pod!

I’ve been in it since the beginning and I’m still enjoying it!

The host will not stop talking in the most sing songy voice that is actually so grating to listen to. And the cadence is very forced like a nervous rejected late night talk show host who can’t make their big break. Some of the content can be good but it also feels very judgy. I am also tired of the incessant self promotion, it feels disingenuous. It’s nice to let your hard work speak for itself sometimes if it’s truly good. I’m sorry to sound so mean but I have tried this podcast many times and I just can’t get past the privileged mean girl vibes of it. Also there are WAY too many ads and the mics pic up SO MANY AWFUL mouth sounds. It sometimes sounds like they’re trying to chew smooth peanut butter when they talk it’s like they’re smacking while they speak PLEASE figure out the mics.

Very entertaining! I like the ones where they go further in depth/detail. As a member of the cult of FIRE (financial independence retire early) I’d love to suggest it as a topic—it’s a solid live your life imo, but try to change my mind:)

I have been a fan of Amanda Montell‘s since I read her very first book “wordslut” and have read all subsequent books she’s written as well. Her podcasts are just as beautifully done, hilarious and eye-opening as her books. I look forward to every podcast drop and can’t wait to hear more. Both this podcast and Magical Overthinkers are the only podcast I listen to because they are hands-down the greatest ones. Can’t recommend this podcast more!!! ❤️💕

I listen to this podcast on the daily, and it’s really fun yet informative and interesting!!

I have been listening to this show for a few years now because it’s a great concept, and there’s been many fascinating topics. I was about to give up on it after a while of Amanda only episodes because I couldn’t take them anymore. The amount of silly voices and acting like a ditz (instead of a confident woman who is an authority on the topic) was grating. Amanda is a wealth of knowledge and she is at her best when she is sounding competent, not silly. Then, they introduced two new co-hosts, and the episode with Amanda, Chelsea and Reese was great. It was back to the “friends having a conversation” style. Chelsea’s episodes have been my favorite by far. She balances out Amanda really well. She has made great points in every episode. She is a confident, self-assured, intelligent woman who is eloquent and doesn’t try to act like a teenage girl. She is so much more relatable to me as a millennial woman. Anyways, I’m loving the new episodes! More Chelsea, please! (I just wanted to add I have never met Chelsea, just so no one thinks this was written by a friend of hers or something. Also, this isn’t a dig at Reese in any way. I haven’t heard enough of her yet to make an honest review).

I absolutely adore this show! I’ve listened to nearly every episode. It’s so fun and so entertaining. Keep up the good work Amanda!

I wanted to finish my very first episode of this podcast but the cohost’s audio is inconsistent all the time. I listened to it while driving, and it’s still very noticeable. It bothered me so much that I am here writing reviews. Why the audio engineer thought it was fine??

Well researched and witty!

Saw the Dave Ramsey episode listed, listened and left educated and informed. I’ll be reviewing the entire back catalog now. Well done!

I,like,wanna listen to this podcast,like,though,I can't,like,get past,like, how many times you say LIKE. For the love of vocabulary,Ladies...

I've been listening for a few years. I enjoy the variety of topics, from serious to not so serious. A good podcast to have in your feed for car rides and long work days.

I really like this podcast, but the new cohosts need to fix their audio

Came for the Dave Ramsey episode, stayed for the candor, banter and the fresh perspective. Always queued up other past episodes of interest for me!

I just wanted to say that I enjoy the show very much and I love Amanda’s books. It’s always very entertaining and informative.

Thank you so much!!!!!!!! I love your pod!!!!

I adore this show as well as Amanda’s general voice (literal and metaphorical). Never stop giggling, girl!

I’ve been a weekly listener for years, and it’s always enjoyable. However, please supply the new hosts with appropriate recording equipment! Listening to someone record with background noise and tincan sounding audio is really grating.

I love the comedy but also shining a light on “cults” that have been normalized by our culture.

Great fun and incisive critiques of organizations we may take for granted but which should be more closely considered. Fun-loving hosts definitely do their homework and present the topics clearly, leaving room for listeners to judge for themselves whether something is a cult (and virtually everything is a cult) and just how “culty” it may be. Keep up the good work! We need more critical thinking.

I love anything cult! cult hating and learning about cults has always fascinated me. The content is interesting but host drives me insane with her vocal fry and phony cadences. There are also way too many commercials. It’s a decent listen if she could correct that as well as tone down the biases and politics

So goood!

Like something you forgot in the back of your refrigerator, this show has gone sour. What was once a show making interesting commentary about the day to day obsessions of our lives is now a vessel for mean girls to make fun of things/people they don’t like. For instance, instead of focusing on the rampant homophobia, racism and fatphobia inherent to LuLuLemons brand, the hosts used their show to take little jabs at the people who wear the brand. In the middle of their rant on how Costco is an evil capitalist hellscape, we listen to an ad from SKIMS, a company owned by a vapid, rich, hateful, cult leader.

👏👏👏The momtok episode although I would have loved to have a Mormon/ex Mormon guest, the analysis and getting down to the underlying issues was beautiful.

Interesting topics, love the energy but be prepared to scrub through ads every 4 or 5 mins. I gave up and stopped the episode.i know people need to get paid but dang.

Great chemistry between you two! Recent episodes have been great.👍

I have tried way too many times to give this podcast a chance. The topics always sound interesting but they are almost always lacking thorough research and fact checking. It feels inherently surface level when there is so much joking and quipping about serious topics. I am cringing after hearing the banter about substance use disorders in the 12 Step Program episode!

Love the sing songy-ness! Warming up to the new co-host because I hate change but I’ll get there lol!

I love the new cohost! The banter between you to is so much fun!

I stumbled upon this podcast a few weeks ago and I’m obsessed. I like how it’s conversational but they don’t go off-topic and stay focused. I highly suggest this podcast ♥️♥️♥️

It makes it nearly impossible to listen to

I, too, am a member of this cult (especially in baked goods), but I love this podcast — keep up the incredible work!

Howdy! Really enjoy your podcast, great guests and great content :) My only qualm (as a cult follower of the Grateful Dead) is this: the Dead isn’t a jam band. They are a psych, classic rock band, who no doubt influenced jam bands, but still…not a jam band. I personally can’t stand jam bands because of the weird fusion nonsense they get up to, and some of my least favorite live Dead performances are 15 minute songs. Just some food for thought for folks to chew on. Also, anyone who gate keeps music and scoffs at your answer to your “favorite song” question is a jerk! Keep listening (or should I say, keep on truckin ;) )