Inside Cults: Podcast Recommendations

Inside Cults: Podcast Recommendations

October 19, 2022

Five podcast episodes on a theme, each week curated by a different person

Curator

Why did you choose this theme?

I grew up in a doomsday apocalyptic cult and have noticed a rise in cult mentalities in U.S. society. Cults are also at the forefront of popular culture as seen in HBO's The Vow, Scientology: The Aftermath, and shows like Keep Sweet.Podcasts that can help educate people about what defines a cult, how to talk to someone who is in one, and stories about people who have successfully gotten out are both fascinating and inspiring.

PODCAST PICKS:Click on the podcast art to listen đź‘‚

The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steven HassanGinni Thomas's Cultic Past

Dr. Steven Hassan is one of the most renowned cult experts in the United States. In this podcast, he interviews various cult survivors -- from MLMs, sex trafficking organizations, Bible cults, and political cults -- to expose how cult leaders control people's behavior, information, thoughts and emotions. 

Worldwide: The Unchosen ChurchGod Speaks to Us: An Insider's Guide to the Worldwide Church of GodThis brand new podcast is created by our curator, Tricia Jenkins!The series is hosted by a media professor who also grew up inside of the church and offers frank discussions and interviews with other survivors.As one apple podcast reviewer states, the series "has accomplished something that several have tried in the past and never quite succeeded at. [It] has succeeded in putting a human face on what it was like growing up in a fundamentalist personality cult. Numerous websites and blogs are filled with personal stories that people have submitted, but hearing actual people share their stories brings more meaning and depth into exposing cult teachings.

The Breakup: Samantha Freedom on Leaving the Alt-Right

Sarah Edmondson and her husband Nippy were former members of the NXIVM cult, the subject of a recent HBO documentary called The Vow. A Little Bit Culty, now in its fourth season, is the duo's podcast, which sheds light on who gets involved in cults and how they can get out. It's a fascinating roster of guests that span a wide range of interests.

Heaven's GateThe SeekersGlynn Washington, the host of Snap Judgment, grew up in the Worldwide Church of God, a doomsday apocalyptic cult. He takes his personal experience with him, as he investigates the infamous doomsday group Heaven's Gate.

Twin FlamesFollow MeHosted by Stephanie Beatriz, Twin Flames examines two YouTube cult leaders who promised to find their followers' divine soulmates. Instead, followers claim they were encouraged to cut ties with friends and family that were "holding them back" and to claim their Twin Flame by any means necessary -- even if that could end them in jail.

SPONSORS:

Podcast Futures Conference

The event welcomes independent audio people, podcasters, producers, and creators…as well as the pros. Everyone, really!Discussion points and panels include the future of podcasting, Gen Z, in-car listening, getting discovered, the value of ad tech, 'how to' on podcast networks, and spotlights on creators who do it differently. Wednesday, October 19th - Javits Center, NYCAttend

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FEEDBACK WITH EARBUDS:

This week on our podcast...(Click on Tricia to listen)Tricia is on the show to share her podcast recommendations for this week's theme. ALSO: We tell you about our spotlight pick, A Matter of Degrees. It's a podcast about the climate crisis that gives tips on what you can actually do to help!Listen to Feedback for all of your podcast recommendation needs!Subscribe

COMMUNITY:

🎤This week in Podcast The Newsletter, Anne Baird writes, "

VALENCE is a serialized urban fantasy audio drama by Hug House Productions about magic, data privacy, queerness, found family, and revolution."

👩‍⚖️Sound Judgment explores the question, “What does it take to become a beloved podcast host?” Host Elaine Appleton Grant answers this by dissecting one episode at a time with today’s best hosts. Listen.

🔉Discover the latest episode of Centuries of Sound. This is a 4.5-hour soundscape of 1943, the year the record business closed down. Music of all sorts; radio, film soundtrack, speeches, and found sound are used to paint a vivid picture of this most turbulent of years.

✨Send your updates for us to include in our Community section. Submit!

CLASSIFIEDS:

🏋️‍♀️Gillian Tietz started the first sober podcast network, Sober Powered Media. The network includes four of the top 100 mental health podcasts: The Addicted Mind Podcast, A Sober Girls Guide, The Hello Someday Podcast, and Sober Powered. Learn more.🦤Like many birders, Bring Birds Back host Tenijah Hamilton discovered her love of birds during the pandemic. Now she invites you to join her in appreciating the beauty and mystery of the birds all around us. Let's take action on their behalf.

Advertise your podcast or business here starting at $40/week.

PODCAST SPOTLIGHT:

Join Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson as they tell stories about the powerful forces behind climate change — and the tools we have to fix it.Our recommendation: start with season 3, episode 1 - "What Can I Do?" It kicks off a three-part series on how to combat the climate crisis in your personal life.

EXPLORE MORE FROM EARBUDS (click on the images)

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Patreon Spotlight

In each episode of Strong Sense of Place, hosts Dave and Melissa get curious about one destination and discuss what makes it different than every other place on earth. They share recommendations for great books — novels, nonfiction, graphic novels, short stories, and more — that took them to those locations on the page.

Thank you for your support of EarBuds, Dave and Melissa!