Sounds Like A Cult

Latest Episodes:

The Cult of Ikea Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

hej!

don’t forget to grab a blue bag upon stepping off the escalator, you’ll need it for the culty keepsakes you collect throughout this week’s no-assembly-required episode. a longtime staple for those in ~transitory~ periods in life (college students, recent singles, the elderly), Ingvar Kamprad’s furniture emporium turned community gathering hub and meatball mecca known simply as *cue the heavenly choir* IKEA has captivated the living rooms, tastebuds, and wallets of countless shoppers worldwide since 1943. Whether it was an outing for a reliable Kallax shelf, a trendy set of Alex drawers, or a classic Pöang chair you truly never forget your Ikea indoctrination. Getting lost in everyone’s fav iconic maze-like showroom with Amanda and Reese today is Morgan Absher (⁠@morgsyabsher⁠) of Two Hot Takes (⁠@twohottakes⁠)! Cozy up with a complimentary hot drink (exclusively for Family Members of course) and get ready to delve into the shockingly culty world of IKEA.

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The Cult of Horse Girls Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

We are thrilled to be lovingly feeding you this episode as if it were a delightful sugar cube, and you our noble thoroughbred. If you haven’t yet gotten the memo, (via the pony express? ) this week we are covering the beloved cult of horse girls. Along this trot we found that there are almost as many delineations of horse girl as there are breeds of horse, so along for the ride to help Amanda and Reese is IRL jesus/horse camp-alumn turned comedian Jamie Loftus! We had a blast visiting as many stalls in the stable as we could, from haughty Charlotte York Equestrianism right down to the curious world of hobbyhorsing… Saddle up, culties, and get to listening! Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth ;)

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Are Dating Apps Right or Wrong? | Link Below for I'm Right You're Wrong! Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Listen to I'M RIGHT YOU'RE WRONG Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Cult of Playboy Apr 15, 2025

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Playboy sold the world a fantasy of luxury and sexual liberation, but behind the velvet curtains, the reality was far more complex. This week, Amanda, Chelsea, and special guest Amy Rose Spiegel (@verymuchso) dive into the Playboy phenomenon…not just as a magazine, but as a carefully curated world built on power, control, and illusion. From the mystique of the Playboy Mansion and its exclusive parties to the troubling stories from former Playmates, we’re exploring how Hugh Hefner crafted an empire that blurred the line between empowerment and exploitation. Was Playboy truly a symbol of freedom, or just another gilded cage? And how does nostalgia shape the way we view its legacy today? Join us as we unravel the cult-like influence of Playboy and the contradictions that made it both iconic and insidious.

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The Cult of Kundalini Yoga Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

There’s a chance you’ve brushed paths with this week’s cult in a West Coast farmers market or while scrolling through #yogainspiration, or as of late, your HBOMax recommended page. Kundalini yoga promises spiritual awakening, cosmic energy, and a path to your highest self. But behind the flowing white turbans and chanting in sat nam, there’s a darker story—one of control, secrecy, and not one but TWO gurus with highly questionable pasts. This week, we’re unraveling the culty underbelly of Kundalini, its infamous founder Yogi Bhajan, and his 20-teens girlbossified equivalent, Katie Griggs. From Instagram livestreams at millennial haven RaMa Studios to the militarized "3HO" organization (Healthy, Happy, Holy—or is it?), we’re asking: When does devotion cross the line into dogma? Strap in for a deep dive with Hayley Phelan (@hayleyphelan), journalist behind the article that powered HBO Max's Breath of Fire docuseries, and spiritual/sexual abuse lawyer Carol Merchasin, as Amanda and Reese discover why so many former followers say this spiritual practice left them anything but zen.

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The Cult of The Duggars Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Wowowow, today’s episode, which originally aired in December of 2023, features Jill and Derick Dillard, whom you might recognize from TLC’s 19 Kids & Counting!!! Imagine this: You’re born into a family that’s already a little ~abnormal~ because your parents are super religious and you have 200 siblings or whatever, then a reality television network comes knocking with promises of money and glory, slaps your whole clan of loved ones into a giant pair of golden handcuffs, a bunch of exploitation ensues, and one day you wake up and realize you’ve spent your childhood in an insane f*cking cult??? The “cult” of reality TV families, focused on The Duggars, is today’s subject of discussion, and what a juicy convo it was. Of all the reality TV family shows, which do YOU think is the cultiest??

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Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:

https://mutualaidla.org/

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The Cult of Strip Clubs Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Strip clubs sell the dream of financial freedom, empowerment, and an intoxicating nightlife, but behind the flashing lights and VIP rooms, the reality is far more complicated. This week, Amanda and Chelsea are joined by special guest Luna Sofia Miranda (@luna_sofia_miranda), actress in Anora and dancer, to dive into the world of strip clubs, not just as spaces of entertainment, but as intricate ecosystems built on power, control, and illusion. Are dancers truly their own bosses? How do societal stigma and club culture shape the way we perceive this multi-billion-dollar industry? Join us as we unravel the cult-like influence of strip clubs and the contradictions that make them both liberating and entrapping.

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Bachelorette Parties: Right or Wrong? Link Below for Full Ep! Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Listen to I'M RIGHT YOU'RE WRONG Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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The Cult of Raves Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

The bass pounds in your chest. Multicolored strobe lights flicker across your eyes so fast you can’t see straight. There are glittery people EVERYWHERE and they are ALL in neon spandex. For a chosen few, this warehouse full of artificial fog and intoxicated dancing bodies is the promised land. Raves have been a favorite pastime of counterculture youth since their inception in the 1980s, but nowadays they’re bigger than ever, literally and figuratively (even Elon’s in on it🥴). As rave culture makes its way into the mainstream, we here at SLAC can’t help but wonder if there isn’t some cultish activity lurking just behind the pashminas and kandi. This week, listener, raver, and EDM journalist Federica Brandi (@the.roving.raver) is acting as our loving “rave mom,”guiding hosts Amanda and Reese into the wonderful and wacky world of raves. 🎶🎉💡🌈🔆🪩🍾🕺🏼

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The Cult of Leonardo DiCaprio Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

From ‘90s teen heartthrob to yacht-hopping, model-dating, climate-crusading enigma, Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t just an actor—he’s an institution. But at what point does the behavior of this Oscar-winning icon cross into something a little more… cultish? This week, Amanda is joined by Caitlin Durante of The Bechdel Cast to take a deep dive into the Church of Leo, unpacking the eerie loyalty of his fans, the oddly specific habits of his inner circle (no one over 25 shall pass), and the ways in which his environmental activism is both inspiring and contradictory. Why does Hollywood treat Leo like the last true movie star? Is he just an A-lister with a type, or is there something deeper (and maybe a little weirder) going on in his revolving door of Victoria’s Secret protégées? And most importantly—are we in the cult of DiCaprio just by watching Titanic for the 100th time? Tune in as we break down the mythology, the memes, and the man in the iron mask. 🚢🌍🔥

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Thank you to our sponsors!

Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT
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Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT

Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:

https://mutualaidla.org/

https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout

https://shorturl.at/SGW9w

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