A missive has arrived in your mailbox, dear cultie!  What’s this? An invitation to an exclusive, mystical, and splendidly nerdy episode of Sounds Like A Cult that’s only a short ride from King’s Cross station away!  YES, your most British, nostalgia-packed dreams have been realized because this week Amanda and Reese are hopping aboard the Hogwarts Express to every 90s baby’s starter cult, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!    Joined by the hilarious and wise podcasters Sequoia of Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them and Mike of Potterless, Reese and Amanda are drinking the butterbeer and covering everything from Hogwarts houses to Snapewives. Follow us as we attempt to dissect the undeniably world-shifting franchise, fandom, and capitalist dreamscape that might have more mommy issues than Harry Potter himself… 

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Thank you to our sponsors!

• Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://LIQUIDIV.COM and use code CULT at checkout.
• Visit https://BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.

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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Calling all beauty ~insiders~ 💄👽 Prep your prayer, ahem, swatching hands and scrounge together your hard-earned points, because we are kicking off 2025 with one of society's most glamorous everyday cults: Sephora. From 6th graders worshiping at the altar of retinol to 35-year-olds going to inexplicable lengths to maintain their VIB status, Sephora followers are undoubtedly held in the vice grip of this cosmetics boutique-turned-billion-dollar beauty mecca. Sephora’s black-and-white walls provide a sanctuary for makeup and skincare fanatics, but look between the fruity-scented snail goop and $50 eyeshadow duos, and you might just find some unexpectedly sinister influence at work 👀 Tune in as all 3 of your favorite beauty queens, Amanda, Chelsea, and Reese, ~unbox~ one of our favorite cult analyses yet!

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Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

• Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
• Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code 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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Listen and subscribe on Spotify Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow the podcast @imrighturwrongpodcast and the host @isaamedinaa <3 ok love you bye! 

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Buy tickets to The Big Magical Cult Show in Vancouver, Canada on February 21, 2025!

Time for Part 2! Father Craigo helps us wrap up 2024 with the rest of his brain-tangling life story in the cult that inspired this whole dang pod, Synanon. This week, he's answering unfiltered listener Qs, sharing the harrowing tale of Synanon's downfall, and leaving us all with some takeaways for how to stay culty but not too culty in 2025. We simply cannot WAIT for next year, when your shameless cult leader trio Amanda, Chelsea, and Reese return to cover a slew of long-awaited topics, including a certain cult-followed beauty retailer, a book series that's turned into a full-blown religion, a freakishly ritualistic education system, a "nonprofit" "performance troupe" run by a "new religious movement," and more! Thank you so much for tuning into another fanatical year, culties. See you in the next evolutionary level above human!!!

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Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell @reesaronii @chelseaxcharles

Thank you to our sponsors! 

• Go to squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
• Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to joinbilt.com/CULT
• Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LiquidIV.com and use code CULT at checkout.
• Visit BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.

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Buy tickets to The Big Magical Cult Show in Vancouver, Canada on February 21, 2025!

Father is back!!! No, not Father Algorithm, but *actual* Father. Indeed, Amanda's sweetie dad, Craig Montell, returns to the pod after his featurette on last year's cult of Military Wives episode, for an extra-special end-of-year, two-part deep dive into the cult that he survived and that inspired this entire show: Synanon. Craigo brings his dad charm and cult experience to break down exactly how this well-intentioned drug rehabilitation program spiraled into a full-on '70s compound complete with paranoia, hypocrisy, and some very strange hairstyling choices. This "classic cult" discussion may not be typical SLAC fodder, but the story is actually more relevant than ever. Craig is here not just to divulge his shocking past, but also to scrutinize how Synanon’s same rituals and methods of manipulation are alive and well in today's society, from our politics to our social media feeds. Cozy in for some culty parental wisdom, and stay tuned for Part 2 next week to hear the end of the tale!

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Thank you to our sponsors! 

• Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/cult. 
• Shop the SKIMS Holiday Shop at skims.com/cult. 
• Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/cult. 
• Visit BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.

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It's officially Countdown to Cultmas! Make yourself a falalatte and keep your expectations for plot continuity ho-ho-low because this week, Chelsea, Reese, and Amanda are uniting for a guffaw-worthy 'sode on the escapist seasonal "cult" that is Hallmark Christmas Movies. These cheesy made-for-TV treats may look utterly innocent on the outside, but when you unpack the extreme parasocial idol worship of Hallmark's recurring stars, its tent revival-esque conventions, nostalgic-to-a-fault themes, and problematic practices that have led to major legal trouble, that egg nog starts to taste a little more like Kool-Aid (can we say that?). Tune in for lols and analysis as your hosts attempt to figure out if this jingle-jangly franchise is high-key sinister, or if we're just being dramatic. 🎄📺🍪🌟🎁

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~A cosmic new episode of Sounds Like a Cult lies in your near future, Virgo~ No? Capricorn? Pisces, maybe? Whatever your sign is, today’s episode is sure to deliver all of the celestial wisdom you’ve been seeking straight from the comfort of your mobile device, much like today’s cult of discush, astrology apps! The astrologically inclined have fully infiltrated Silicon Valley (thanks, Elon), leaving in their data-farming path a vast plethora of galactic apps to suit whatever flavor of push notification strikes your fancy. Truly a product of the 21st century, astrology apps provide a dystopian look into the spiritual sects of our future, (which, spoiler alert, might not even have human leaders?!), giving us reason to question what “cults” might be lying right beyond our grubby screen protectors. Here to help Amanda and Reese navigate the digital cosmos is astrologer and astrology app co-founder Aliza Kelly, host of the Horoscope Weekly Podcast. Calibrate your sundials, clear up some iCloud storage, and suit up for a light-speed cruise through this astral listen!

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell @reesaronii @chelseaxcharles

Watch the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!

Thank you to our sponsors! 

• Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/cult. 
• Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/CULT.
• Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LiquidIV.com and use code CULT at checkout.
• Shop the SKIMS Holiday Shop at skims.com/cult. 

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Brew yourself a giant pot of Luke's coffee because we’re diving deep into the fast-talking world of Stars Hollow. That’s right, the cult Gilmore Girls. We know what you're thinking! It's just a TV show! It'a not a cult! Relax! But hear us out: From the intense rituals (hello, annual re-watch), patron saints (looking at you, Luke Danes), and fan behaviors that border on worship, your favorite mother-daughter duo has evolved from a quaint fictional series into a full-fledged lifestyle and pseudo-religion. To help us take a closer look at how Lorelai and Rory have become the unofficial God and Jesus of fall, Tara & Haley of the Gilmore To Say Podcast join the pod. Whether you're Team Jess, Team Logan, Team Dean (really?), or don't even care because you think Rory is actually just the worst, we hope you enjoy this cozy episode. Oy with the poodles already!!

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell @reesaronii @chelseaxcharles

Watch the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!

To subscribe to Amanda's new Magical Overthinkers podcast, click here :)

Thank you to our sponsors! 

• Go to squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
• Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/cult. 
• Go to joinbilt.com/CULT to start earning points on your rent.
• Get up to $100 off Litter-Robot bundles and an additional $50 off when you go to stopscooping.com/SLAC.

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Munch on some ice chips and PUSHHHHH (sorry) play on this week's episode, in which we dare to apply our culty analysis to the ever-polarizing "free birther" community. Free birthing is a controversial catch-all term in and of itself, generally describing a style of medically unassisted birth that has turned into not just a movement but possibly a cult—why? Because this is America, and if something has the potential to turn culty, then it probably will! Doula (and loyal listener of the pod) Hehe Stewart joins for a discussion of power dynamics, misinformation, and why so-called free birthers have been pitted against the traditional medical establishment in a way that puts everyoneeee in danger. Trying our best to bring both cheekiness and empathy to this very casual and low-stakes discussion (joke). Love you culties!!!

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell @reesaronii @chelseaxcharles

Watch the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!

To subscribe to Amanda's new Magical Overthinkers podcast, click here :)

Further reading:

• Listen to the Whispers before They Become Screams: Addressing Black Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States
• Racism During Pregnancy and Birthing: Experiences from Asian and Pacific Islander, Black, Latina, and Middle Eastern Women
• When Giving Birth, Opting to Go It Alone
• Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparison
• Born Free: Unassisted Childbirth in North America
• Just ‘birth’: the phenomenon of birth without a healthcare professional
• She Wanted a ‘Freebirth’ at Home. When the Baby Died, the Attacks Began

Thank you to our sponsors! 

• Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
• Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use code CULT. 
• Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/CULT.
• Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/cult.

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BOO! ‘tis the spookiest time of the year, dear culties, and this year we’ve whipped out our cauldrons to cook you an up episode on one of the scariest topics we could think of… complex emotions?! That is only half a joke, because this week Reese is equally embarrassed and excited to bring Amanda into the weird and wacky world of reborn dolls with the help of Corrine Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga from Two Girls One Ghost. The "Reborners" community serves a wide range of acolytes, from grieving parents seeking therapeutic tools to fantasy lovers looking to adopt the most finely crafted infant abominable snowmen money can buy (no judgement!). This week, we’re sitting down to investigate exactly why people make, buy, and most cultily, wholeheartedly OBSESS over these fantastical silicone babies. No matter if you’ve been a loyal Britton Rose follower for years, or have never heard the words "reborn doll" in your life, this mystical Halloween-flavored episode of Sounds Like A Cult is full of tricks and treats just for you ;)

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @reesaronii @chelseaxcharles @amanda_montell 

Subscribe to the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!

To order Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, click here. To subscribe to Amanda's new Magical Overthinkers podcast, click here :)

Thank you to our sponsors! 

• Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
• Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to joinbilt.com/CULT.
• Go to stopscooping.com/SLAC and enter promocode SLAC to save an EXTRA $50 on any Litter-Robot bundle.  
• Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LiquidIV.com and use code CULT at checkout

Further reading:

Effect of Doll Therapy in Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review

Inside the hyper-realistic world of baby doll collecting

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Grab your trusty #2 and find the desk with your name tag on it, because class is in session this week at Sounds Like a Cult! Our /pedagogically inclined/ episodes are always RIPE with juicy insight, and today’s topic is no different. Be it Hogwarts or Pacific Coast Academy, boarding schools have long shrouded themselves in an air of mystery and exclusivity that has most recently led to a culture-wide obsession with the Dark Academia genre. But is this intrigue secretly supporting a sinister institution? What culty rituals and traditions lie behind the plaid and ivy? Let’s find out! Amanda and Chelsea are thrilled to be joined by the wonderful Ceara O’Sullivan from the Petty Crimes podcast to discover what lurks within boarding schools' hallowed (culty) halls.

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell @chelseaxcharles @reesaronii

Watch the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!

To order Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, click here. To subscribe to Amanda's new Magical Overthinkers podcast, click here :)

Thank you to our sponsors! 

• Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/cult. 
• Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use code CULT. 
• Visit BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month.
• Shop the SKIMS bras at skims.com/cult. After you place your order, select "Sounds Like A Cult" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows.

Further reading:

• Psychopathology and Dissociation among Boarding School Students in Eastern Turkey
• National Museum of the American Indian: Boarding Schools
• Time for America to Get Over Our Ivy League Obsession
• A Brief History of Boarding-School Scandals

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