The Common Cult

Its back to school time which means it's the perfect time to do a show that's been in our back pocket for a while: high school cliques! Whether you loved or hated high school, the friend groups you were associated with likely shaped your experience. What it is about high school cliques that can feel a little culty? Listen in as we chat about it and spill about our own high school experiences.

In a world where people can be absolutely certain about absolutely everything, we think the culty characteristic of holding tight to certainty is one worthy of discussion. It's time for another "Culty Characteristics" show and this week we are talking about what absolutely certainty means, why it's a culty characteristics, and where it shows up in everyday life and culture.

Join us this week for a very special conversation with author and podcaster, Sarah Bragg. We talk about Sarah's new book, the cult of motherhood, what it means to raise yourself, finding your security and confidence in motherhood, minimizing polling when making decisions, and so much more. We hope you enjoy this special treat of a conversation!

Is Burning Man a cult? What even IS Burning Man? What compels people to go out into the dessert and abandon their sense of reality and self? Listen in this week as we break down Burning Man for you. We share the facts, the hilarity, and decide whether or not this debaucherous festival is a cult. CONTENT WARNING: while there is no explicit language in this episode, there is lots of talk about sex, nudity and drugs so consider yourself warned!

This topic has had documentaries and books written about it's culty activity!  You may or may not have heard of WeWork (and you probably have not heard of Church of the Master Angels), so join Heather and Eryn as they deep dive both in an old episode of their Patreon show Cult Watch!  Heather & Eryn will be back soon with new common cult and true cult content after a couple weeks break!  See you August 5 or join them at www.patreon.com/commoncultpod

Is cancel culture a real issue? What's the difference between cancel culture and holding someone accountable? What does it even MEAN to cancel someone? What's the venn diagram between  cancel culture and common cults? Listen in this week as we work it out.

Today we are chatting with author, blogger, and podcaster Laura Tremaine! In today's conversation we talk about her new book Share Your Stuff, I'll Go First. We talk about the cult of bookstagram and book people and we share books we've read with a cult-like following. We discuss whether or not they were worth the hype. Then, in true Laura Tremaine style, we end our conversation with a list: 10 culty things we've done. This conversation was SO much fun.  Enjoy!

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When you think about something that is not technically a cult but a lot like a cult, fraternities and sororities are right up there in things that light up our cult-o-meters. Full disclosure: we were both a part of sorority! Listen this week as we check our biases and talk about some of the nuance and seriousness of the problematic parts of these organizations. Are fraternities and sororities borderline cults? Listen in and decide!

Is it just us, or does it seems like in our culture entrepreneurship is touted as THE pathway to riches, happiness, and freedom? Listen in this week as we discuss this and the intersection of cults and the glorification of entrepreneurship.

Big Tech has often been accused of promoting a cult like mentality in it's work force, but is it true? On this week's episode we dissect the culty characteristics of the likes of Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook and more. They may have cereal bars and bring your teddy bear to work day, but is it worth it? Listen in as we discuss!

This week we're talking about another characteristic of a cult; mind altering behavior.  What do you think of when you hear that term?  Brain washing? Mushrooms?  While it's true that those are some of the methods true cults have used to alter members mental states, mind control and mind altering methods are more prevalent than you may think.  

Are you with me PELOTON!!?? So what IS the deal with Peloton? Is it worth the hype? What is Peloton's secret sauce? Who are the favorites among Peloton's top instructors? Why can't Heather stop laughing at Cody Rigsby and why did Eryn get bleeped more than three times in this episode? Find out all this and more in this week's super fun epode!

What is the intersection between self help and cults?  Why does it seem like personal development is required reading for many MLMs? How does one balance the desire for personal evolution and the nagging feeling that you are not enough when consuming self help? We tackle all these questions and more in today's episode!

Does influencer culture rub you the wrong way, and you can't quite put your finger on why?  Does the fan-girling culture around influencers feel a little culty to you? What is the intersection between influencer culture and cults if any? Are instagram bots taking over the world?  Why is our generation immune to marketing but then we fall under the influence of social media celebrities? These are the questions we're tackling in today's episode!

Friend of the show Leigh Ann Hearn is back with us again to talk group fitness crazes with cult like followings. Listen in as we discuss why Richard Simmons is missing, how Bikram came to popularity and why he fled the county, and whether or not Les Mills has cults within the larger organization. If anything this episode may make you want to get up and move!  

Time for another culty characteristics episode!  Nearly all cults or cult like groups cause shame and guilt either consciously or unconsciously.  Listen in as we unpack this and how shame and guilt shows up in so many facets of life.  

Plant People! Some of the kindest people on the internet and in real life, this niche of enthusiastic hobbyist definitely have their own culture. Join us with week as we chat with Maria from Bloom and Grow Radio about how plant people culture, using plants to reconnect with others in real life, and letting plants help us disconnect from screens.

Welcome to a special episode of Cultwatch, a feature normally reserved for our Patreon members. Today we are giving you an exclusive look into what we do on Cultwatch. Today we are discussing where cults intersect with Rachel Hollis and girl boss culture, the College Admission scandal, Q-aMom and more.

Life Coaching: helpful or harmful? Will it change your life or mess you up? Why do certain types of life coaching feel kind of culty? Listen in this week as we talk to Life Coach professional Kristiina Craven about her journey into this business and why she loved life coaching but sometimes jokes that she is in a cult.