Best Culti Podcasts (2025)

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#10: Yoga culture & when it’s culty, witchcraft, changing spiritual and political beliefs, & funny personal stories | Christina 2:32:58

15h ago2:32:58

2:32:58

In this episode, Christina and I discuss the weird, funny, and sometimes healing world of yoga culture. We talk about her experience with Baptiste yoga teacher training, the aspects of that training that were very culty, and how emotional manipulation can show up in spiritual spaces. We also get into the ethics of coaching, question whether energy …

1
Justified Resentment: When AA Goes Culty with April McLean 1:26:50

40m ago1:26:50

1:26:50

Alcoholics Anonymous has become a household name. You’ve probably heard of the 12 steps, sponsors, and sobriety chips. At its best, AA can be life-changing. But in some chapters, things can take a darker turn, and when they do, there’s no centralized structure to step in. In this episode, we’re talking with April McLean—a blogger and former member …

1
117. Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: A Mother’s Story of Love and Loss - Tara Couture of Slowdown Farmstead 1:33:12

15h ago1:33:12

1:33:12

In 2021 Tara and her family got the knock on their door that every parent fears most. In the days that followed they discovered eighteen-year-old Mila’s journal and were able to piece together the shocking and devastating chain of events that led to her death. Tara’s Instagram and Substack, Slowdown Farmstead, is followed and admired by tens of tho…

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117. Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: A Mother’s Story of Love and Loss - Tara Couture of Slowdown Farmstead

2d ago

—

In 2021 Tara and her family got the knock on their door that every parent fears most. In the days that followed they discovered eighteen-year-old Mila’s journal and were able to piece together the shocking and devastating chain of events that led to her death. Tara’s Instagram and Substack, Slowdown Farmstead, is followed and admired by tens of tho…

1
The Pro-Metabolic Diet 2:29:48

7h ago2:29:48

2:29:48

The wellness-to-alt-right pipeline has led many Americans to a diet that we didn't even know we were on. Find out what's true, half-true and completely false in a sea of claims about beef liver, regenerative agriculture, raw milk, raw carrot salad, cow colostrum, bioavailability, seed oils, HTMA tests, nutritional therapy practitioners, Weston A Pr…

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#9: Dark humor & why every single subject is worth laughing about | Jordan Gray 1:10:12

6d ago1:10:12

1:10:12

My husband Jordan & I discuss midgets, suicide, Hitler, farts, and other things — like how humor helps us heal and the importance of being able to laugh about every topic. Comedians we mention: Phil Hanley (Demetra’s favorite), Tom Segura, Andrew Shulz, John Mulaney, Louis CK, Dave Chappelle Jordan's email list Demetra's writing Demetra's website W…

1
EP 098: The practice that has changed my life--helped me heal attachment wounds, manifest, step deeper into my creativity, feel even more embodied, the list goes on... Sex Magick 38:24

10d ago38:24

38:24

Sex Magick is seriously, a practice that has absolutely transformed my life. I'm so eager to share this magic with you all. In this episode, I discuss: What sex magick is How it influences my entire life How to live a sex magick life What my practice looks like How you can make your practice look like HEAD TO MY WEBSITE HERE FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM …

1
Laura Richards: What Kanye West, Britney Spears, and Blake Lively’s Cases Reveal About Coercive Control (Part 2) 1:05:16

12d ago1:05:16

1:05:16

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. We’re back with behavioral science expert Laura Richards for Part 2 of our deep dive into coercive control—and how it shows up in some of today’s most talked-about celebrity cases. Laura, who spent ten years at New Scotland Yard and helped establish the UK’s coercive control laws, joins us again to u…

1
#8: Ex-Mormon, from queer to straight, parenting boys, & re-discovering Christianity | Kymberli 2:37:39

13d ago2:37:39

2:37:39

Kymberli tells us all about growing up Mormon, what Mormonism really means, and what it was like to decide to leave the community. She describes deciding she was lesbian and where that came from and her realization that she is straight after all. We discuss healthy masculinity and how that comes up when parenting her son, the rise of wokeism especi…

1
All about Tantra & sacred sexuality w/ Tantra Practitioner, Faciliator & Author, Leola Watkins 52:22

15d ago52:22

52:22

Leola is a Pleasure Priestess & the best-selling author of Sacred Sex Ed, inspiring others to see an integration of sexuality and spirituality. She guides individuals and couples in discovering how life-force energy moves in the body; and more importantly, how to harness this inner-power for a pleasure-filled life that begins with our most intimate…

1
Laura Richards: What Gabby Petito, “Dirty John,” and Keith Raniere Have in Common 1:01:58

14d ago1:01:58

1:01:58

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. What do serial killers, cult leaders, and domestic abusers have in common? According to criminal behavior analyst Laura Richards, quite a lot. In this powerful conversation, Laura explains the concept of coercive control—the psychological abuse tactic often at the core of these crimes—and how it play…

1
#7: Polyamory to monogamy, porn, abortion, & the dark side of “sex positivity” | Jennifer Jade Merrihue 3:04:05

20d ago3:04:05

3:04:05

Jade joins me for this episode to discuss the lies we were sold about "sexual liberation" — from polyamory and BDSM to the way porn is impacting our society and why we now have porn-free relationships. We discuss our culture’s links to pedophilia, the way kink is used (and abused), and why not all desires are good. We also discuss women making mone…

1
Mind Control in Disguise: Cristina Coello on the Dangers of the Bright Path 1:32:15

21d ago1:32:15

1:32:15

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. Ishayas’ Ascension—also known as the Bright Path—is a new-agey meditation movement that promises spiritual enlightenment through “stillness” and expensive courses. But behind the soothing mantras and lofty ideals lurks a leader who demands total submission. Followers are taught that their thoughts, e…

1
#6: True resilience, living from love instead of fear, & is climate change real? | Bridget Bloom 2:08:27

29d ago2:08:27

2:08:27

Bridget is a wild woman who has lived and worked on all 7 continents, traveling to over 80 countries and having BIG adventures (including coming face to face with polar bears, riding a reindeer into Siberia, skiing across Greenland, dancing with whales, playing with penguins, and being bitten by a lion). In this episode, we dive into what she’s lea…

1
Permission to find joy OFFLINE (and an update) 21:03

26d ago21:03

21:03

The Unleash Your Voice podcast is a podcast that aims to help you own what makes you unique in this world as a business owner or creative. I hope it brings you joy, helps you learn to lead with compassion, and gives you permission to flex your confidence muscle every single day! If you want more of my work you can find more educational videos on:- …

1
EP 096: This is for you if you want to start trusting your intution. Here are 3 important aspects of intuition & how to decode it. 20:51

1M ago20:51

20:51

Listen wherever you get your podcasts! FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM HERE HEAD TO MY WEBSITE HERE FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INTUITIVE PATH? EMAIL ME AT [email protected] Alexandra Marie Shelly

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The Ties That Bind: Ariel Anderssen on Cults to Kink 1:02:33

28d ago1:02:33

1:02:33

We’re bringing you a spicy one today on ALBC! Our guest is Ariel Anderssen, a professional BDSM model and sex-positive author. Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, Ariel grew up in a world where sexuality was strictly controlled, desire was equated with sin, and the end of the world was always just around the corner. But after leaving the faith, she emba…

1
#5: Resentment in relationships, raising children with agency, talking about sex, & feminism | Dominique Bain 1:51:22

1M ago1:51:22

1:51:22

Dominique joins me for this conversation about raising kids with a strong sense of agency, avoiding resentment in marriage and motherhood, and having honest conversations about sex. We get into the ways resentment can build in relationships and how to approach family life in a way that keeps frustration from piling up. We also talk about feminism, …

1
Surviving the IFB: Shelly Snow Pordea on Trauma, Healing, and Fiction 1:14:27

1M ago1:14:27

1:14:27

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. Novelist, screenwriter, and publishing consultant Shelly Snow Pordea grew up in the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church, an insular and oppressive religious environment that shaped her childhood. She survived religious trauma and abuse before finding her path to healing through storytelling.…

1
116. Women Making Medicine for Healing & Connection - Kami McBride

1M ago

—

My most beloved herbal elder and I talk about our favorite subject- women throughout time using plants for self care, family healing, and community connection. After nearly 4 decades as a practicing herbalist and teacher, and in an age of informational overabundance, Kami has seen what actually works when it comes to truly embodying herbal knowing.…

1
116. Women Making Medicine for Healing & Connection - Kami McBride 1:32:13

1M ago1:32:13

1:32:13

My most beloved herbal elder and I talk about our favorite subject- women throughout time using plants for self care, family healing, and community connection. After nearly 4 decades as a practicing herbalist and teacher, and in an age of informational overabundance, Kami has seen what actually works when it comes to truly embodying herbal knowing.…

1
#4: What DEI was really like in the workplace, anti-racism exposed, & our victimhood-obsessed society 1:36:42

1M ago1:36:42

1:36:42

An anonymous woman who worked in DEI in the corporate world joins me for this episode to discuss the negative impacts she felt it had on her company and how it got in the way of truly effective work being done. I tell the story of my time paying thousands of dollars for an anti-racist program and how terrible it was. We also talk about social progr…

1
Born and Razed in a Cult: Beth Granger on Surviving Grenville Christian College (Part 2) 36:26

1M ago36:26

36:26

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Beth Granger, who was born into Grenville Christian College and spent over 20 years trapped within its cult-like control. If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1, we recommend starting there to understand the full context of Beth’s powerful story. In this episode, Beth shares her long road to recovery after lea…

1
#3: Do we really want Islamic values running our world? A Jewish perspective on the past couple years 2:57:37

2M ago2:57:37

2:57:37

85-year-old Hannah Brown joins me for this conversation to discuss what it has been like to be a Jewish woman in a world swelling with anti-semitism. We discuss how Palestine has been taken under the arm of wokeness, with anyone questioning Hamas or Islam in general accused of being racist. Hannah has voted for the Canadian liberal party her entire…

1
EP 095: A deep dive into your authenticuty w/ Human Design Practitioner & Podcast Host, Nicole Guena 1:22:13

2M ago1:22:13

1:22:13

This is the perfect episode if you want a deeper dive into human design. This will help you understand the gates, which are unique and interchangeable within each profile. Nicole Guena is a Certified Level 1 & 2 Jenna Zoe Human Design practitioner, who is obsessed with helping you understand your authentic blueprint. She has this incredible warmth …

1
115. Nourishment Lost: in Culty Spaces, Self Induced, & Culturewide - Dr. Suuzi Hazen

2M ago

—

Suuzi and I continue the discussion sparked by my last episode about culty trends in the wellness space by talking about her past with Kundalini yoga- what drew her in and, eventually, how noticing the state of nourishment of those deepest into the cult precipitated her exit. We then catch listeners up on our midlife metabolic meltdown hEaLinG jOuR…

1
115. Nourishment Lost: in Culty Spaces, Self Induced, & Culturewide - Dr. Suuzi Hazen 1:53:08

2M ago1:53:08

1:53:08

Suuzi and I continue the discussion sparked by my last episode about culty trends in the wellness space by talking about her past with Kundalini yoga- what drew her in and, eventually, how noticing the state of nourishment of those deepest into the cult precipitated her exit. We then catch listeners up on our midlife metabolic meltdown hEaLinG jOuR…

1
Born and Razed in a Cult: Beth Granger on Surviving Grenville Christian College (Part 1) 47:30

2M ago47:30

47:30

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. Beth Granger was born into a nightmare disguised as an elite Christian boarding school. Raised within the walls of Grenville Christian College, she endured decades of coercion, public shaming, and physical abuse—hidden behind the institution’s polished reputation. As a child of staff members, she was…

1
Framed: Dr. C on Coercive Control and Family Court Trauma 1:03:13

2M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

Long-time listeners might remember Dr. Christine Cocchiola (aka Dr. C) from Season 5, where she shared how she and her kids survived her ex-husband’s coercive control and psychological abuse. This week, she’s back to dig deeper into the ways coercive control operates like a cult—through gaslighting, mind games, and manipulation—and how it impacts f…

1
#2: How to spot a cult — and why it's complicated 1:29:10

2M ago1:29:10

1:29:10

We hear the word "cult" thrown around all the time, but what actually makes something a cult? In this episode, I break down some of the common traits of cults, why people join them, and most significantly, why cult-like qualities aren’t always a bad thing. There’s a lot of nuance here—just because something has a few culty aspects doesn’t mean it’s…

1
114. German New Medicine: A Lot of Magical Thinking & A Little Bit Culty Too - Demetra Gray 1:38:28

2M ago1:38:28

1:38:28

GNM is an alt health trend that has grown in popularity in recent years. It is attractive to so many (including me and my guest, once) because it acknowledges the role that emotions and trauma play in physical health and symptom manifestation, something that mainstream medicine still somehow refuses to do. But just because some aspects of an ideolo…

1
114. German New Medicine: A Lot of Magical Thinking & A Little Bit Culty Too - Demetra Gray

2M ago

—

GNM is an alt health trend that has grown in popularity in recent years. It is attractive to so many (including me and my guest, once) because it acknowledges the role that emotions and trauma play in physical health and symptom manifestation, something that mainstream medicine still somehow refuses to do. But just because some aspects of an ideolo…

1
EP 094: Timeline shifts, tapping into "future self," & making authentic decisions w/ Shamanic Practitioner & Author, Leilani 1:00:42

2M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Ah! It’s a threads love story.. I found this gorgeous queen on threads through her INSANE post on timelines, and the rest is history. Leilani Mañulu is a modern shaman, author, podcaster, and speaker/storyteller specializing in activating Earth Angel leaders into their soul-led purposes. In this episode we talk about: undestanding timelines timelin…

1
Brandon Guffy: Coercive Control and Sextortion 56:51

2M ago56:51

56:51

Online sextortion scams are on the rise, targeting young victims—especially teen boys—by coercing them into sharing explicit images, then blackmailing them into silence. These predators use fear, humiliation, and intimidation to trap their victims, often with devastating consequences. Our guest today, South Carolina Representative Brandon Guffey, k…

1
CeeLo Green's Controversial Downfall | Shattered Idols 1:42:47

2M ago1:42:47

1:42:47

Send us a text Rate the show so they don't harvest my organs. CeeLo Green was responsible for some of the biggest music movements of the late 90s and the 2000s. He's also responsible for making many of my headaches worse and more of my nights sleepless because of his dreadfully catchy songs. Songs that, when they first came out, captured the attent…

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Corruption in the Hare Krishna Movement: A Survivor’s Story with Nori Muster 54:14

2M ago54:14

54:14

This week we continue to explore corruption within the Hare Krishna movement, this time through the eyes of former member Nori Muster. From 1978 to 1988, Nori worked in the movement’s PR and media department, where she was tasked with spinning headlines and managing ISKCON's public image. However, what began as a spiritual refuge soon revealed a da…

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#1: The last thing I want is an “equitable” marriage: an alternative to scorekeeping for household chores 1:16:01

3M ago1:16:01

1:16:01

There is a popular book called "Fair Play" that is a feminist perspective on dividing up household chores so you have an equitable marriage. I read the book and hated it, so for this episode my husband Jordan joins me to discuss the concept of an "equitable" marriage. We talk about why we dislike this approach to marriage so much, how feminism is r…

1
Monkey on a Stick: Corruption within the Hare Krishna Movement with Jason Lapeyre 59:14

3M ago59:14

59:14

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/CULTY to get started today. Remember the Hare Krishnas? The ones with the shaved heads and orange robes who used to chant and panhandle at airports? What started as a movement promoting inner peace and material detachment descended into chaos, corruption, and crime. In this week’s episod…

1
EP 093: My dating portal; what I'm doing different, what I'm learning, how I'm navigating triggers, all the goods. 29:10

3M ago29:10

29:10

I like to call this my dating portal, because it's my initiation into meeting my soulmate. I know the process is triggering and uncomfortable at times, but I want to do everything I can to also squeeze every drop out of this process. In this episode, I talk about: Why I'm in the 'dating portal' Soulmate union (EP 089) How I'm handling when triggers…

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Captain Beefheart's Culty Downfall | Shattered Idols 1:55:49

3M ago1:55:49

1:55:49

Send us a text Rate the show so I can be let out of this box On this week's episode of Shattered Idols, Alex brings us the peculiar story of a one Captain Beefheart. A real artist's artist who made music that, at times, was so avant garde that it couldn't be listened to. He ran in the same circles as many more recognized musicians of the 70s psyche…

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F*ck This, I’m Out: Remembering Mike Rinder 1:22:53

3M ago1:22:53

1:22:53

This week, we’re honoring the life and legacy of our dear friend and hero, Mike Rinder. Mike was a pivotal figure in the fight against cultic abuse, and his courage and compassion set the gold standard for turning a difficult past into a powerful force for good. To celebrate his incredible contributions, we’re re-releasing this conversation from Ma…

1
EP 092: The Return of Rachel White, The Skeptic Shaman: spiritual integrity, how to spot & not be a "culty" spiritual practitioner 1:04:48

3M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

Rachel White is back baby!!! In this episode, we talk about: Safe practitioners Culty practitioners Spiritual integrity Spirituality should feel good When spiritual practices are unsafe How do to know if you feel safe with a practitioner Rachel White Bio: Rachel isn’t your typical shaman—she’s a former corporate powerhouse turned spiritual guide fo…

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113. Elemental Inheritance: Minerals & Metals in Modern Life - Niecia Nelson

3M ago

—

What metabolic patterns did you inherit from your parents, and what may you have passed down to your own children? Many behavioral issues, and even what are usually considered personality traits (like that of high sensitivity), can be linked to mineral imbalances and overall health. Heavy metals often accumulate in individuals due to stress, compro…

1
113. Elemental Inheritance: Minerals & Metals in Modern Life - Niecia Nelson 1:35:22

3M ago1:35:22

1:35:22

What metabolic patterns did you inherit from your parents, and what may you have passed down to your own children? Many behavioral issues, and even what are usually considered personality traits (like that of high sensitivity), can be linked to mineral imbalances and overall health. Heavy metals often accumulate in individuals due to stress, compro…

1
For the record: Jonathan Hirsch on Cult Story Telling (Part 2) 43:55

3M ago43:55

43:55

This show/episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/CULTY to get started today. This is the second part of a 2 part interview with Jonathan Hirsch. Listen to Part 1 Here. Jonathan Hirsch is an award-winning podcaster and journalist who grew up in the Adidam hippie cult. His podcast, “Dear Franklin Jones”, is about that experience. To…

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