Sounds Like A Cult

• The Cult of Kundalini Yoga

  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.     Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! 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 Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH! Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/CULT to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:38:58
• The Cult of The Duggars

  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?? Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.  Thank you to our sponsors! Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH! For your next trip, treat yourself to the luxe upgrades you deserve from Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/slac for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:06:14
• The Cult of Strip Clubs

  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.  Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.  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 Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH! Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:01:48
• Bachelorette Parties: Right or Wrong? Link Below for Full Ep!

  Listen to I'M RIGHT YOU'RE WRONG Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:34
• The Cult of Raves

  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. 🎶🎉💡🌈🔆🪩🍾🕺🏼 Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! 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 As a special offer to listeners of the show, go to https://stopscooping.com/SLAC and use promo code SLAC to save an ADDITIONAL $50 on any Litter-Robot bundle. Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH! Take a look at https://adamandeve.com/cult to see what 4 sex toys will be yours for just $20 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:00:20

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