~Join us~ as Isa and Amanda unpack the "cult" of the Peace Corps—its peculiar rituals of initiation, close-knit camaraderie that borders on religious obsession, unwavering devotion to a higher cause, and (wait a second) abuse and murder?? Thanks to insightful listener call-ins, we reveal the eerie similarities that make this hallowed American organization an uncanny mirror to cult-like communities. 

To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, see Isa's live comedy,buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish, or visit our website, click here!

Or follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod@isaamedinaa@amanda_montell

Thank you to our sponsors!

Head to stitchfix.com/cult and you'll get 25% off when you keep everything in your Fix

Go to Kosas.com/CULT for 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more plus FREE shipping

Go to betterhelp.com/cult to get 10% off your first month

Dipsea is offering our listeners a 30 day free trial when you go to dipseastories.com/cult

~Join us~ as Isa and Amanda unpack the "cult" of the Peace Corps—its peculiar rituals of initiation, close-knit camaraderie that borders on religious obsession, unwavering devotion to a higher cause, and (wait a second) abuse and murder?? Thanks to insightful listener call-ins, we reveal the eerie similarities that make this hallowed American organization an uncanny mirror to cult-like communities. 
To support Sounds Like A Cult on Patreon, keep up with our live show dates, <a href="http://www.isacomedy.com">see Isa's live comedy,</a> <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/cultish-the-language-of-fanaticism-amanda-montell/16290306?ean=9780062993151">buy a copy of Amanda's book Cultish</a>, or visit our website, <a href="https://linktr.ee/soundslikeacult?fbclid=PAAaYBgao1sr5jTUWCOpwlTgX1J64B8_4zYo2lLhfmEzdbVMEpDqKbo7WC-EI">click here</a>!
Or follow us on IG <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soundslikeacultpod/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/soundslikeacultpod/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688761189042000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1OxWz88AUSmKXPLp3uSYOC">@soundslikeacultpod</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/isaamedinaa/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/isaamedinaa/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688761189042000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3tfl2iCT_7MpRpiZWjU2Zw">@isaamedinaa</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688761189042000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0b7SuXcyo2mn_hYATO93Mc">@amanda_montell</a>
Thank you to our sponsors!
Head to<a href="stitchfix.com/cult"> stitchfix.com/cult </a>and you'll get 25% off when you keep everything in your Fix
Go to <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/sounds-like-a-cult/Kosas.com/CULT">Kosas.com/CULT</a> for 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more plus FREE shipping
Go to betterhelp.com/cult to get 10% off your first month
Dipsea is offering our listeners a 30 day free trial when you go to <a href="dipseastories.com/cult">dipseastories.com/cult</a>

A podcast about the modern-day “cults” we all follow. Each episode asks the culty questions we’re all wondering… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about Elon Musk stans? Or the Royal Family? What about spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? Sounds Like A Cult, hosted by Amanda Montell, author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, analyzes a different zeitgeisty group every week to try and answer the big question: This group sounds like a cult, but is it really? And if so, how bad is it? 

Follow Us:

Podcast Instagram - @soundslikeacultpod

Host Amanda Montell - @amanda_montell (Preorder her new book!)

A podcast about the modern-day “cults” we all follow. Each episode asks the culty questions we’re all wondering… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about Elon Musk stans? Or the Royal Family? What about spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? Sounds Like A Cult, hosted by Amanda Montell, author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, analyzes a different zeitgeisty group every week to try and answer the big question: This group sounds like a cult, but is it really? And if so, how bad is it? 
Follow Us:
Podcast Instagram - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soundslikeacultpod">@soundslikeacultpod</a> 
Host Amanda Montell - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell">@amanda_montell</a> (<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976">Preorder her new book!</a>)

A show about the modern day "cults" we all follow.

Sounds Like A Cult

A podcast about the modern day "cults" we all follow. Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about Elon Musk stans? Or the Royal Family? What about spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? We’re Sounds Like a Cult, a podcast that analyzes a different zeitgeisty group every week to try and answer the big question: This group sounds like a cult, but is it really? And if so... how bad is it?

The Cult of The Peace Corps

Lace yourselves up for this haunting and twinkle-toed episode covering one of our most consistently requested topics: Ballet! Despite the tutus and baby pink palette, this ruthlessly competitive industry often seems less like a dainty art form and more like a doggone cult. Think about it: Why do we audience members just blindly accept and support an industry helmed by power abusive men, who have absolutely no problem taking little girls away from their families, working them to the bone, and literally starving them, all in pursuit of so-called greatness? Orrrrrr is that take a bit dramatic? To help us figure it out, podcast producer and former ballerina Erika Lantz, host of THE TURNING, joins the pod for a deep discush of how culty the ballet world is really. 

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell

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

Thank you to our sponsors, who make this show possible:
Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/cult. 
Go to Zocdoc.com/CULT and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.
Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use code CULT.
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.

Lace yourselves up for this haunting and twinkle-toed episode covering one of our most consistently requested topics: Ballet! Despite the tutus and baby pink palette, this ruthlessly competitive industry often seems less like a dainty art form and more like a doggone cult. Think about it: Why do we audience members just blindly accept and support an industry helmed by power abusive men, who have absolutely no problem taking little girls away from their families, working them to the bone, and literally starving them, all in pursuit of so-called greatness? Orrrrrr is that take a bit dramatic? To help us figure it out, podcast producer and former ballerina <a href="https://www.erikalantz.com/">Erika Lantz, host of THE TURNING, </a>joins the pod for a deep discush of how culty the ballet world is really. 
Follow us on IG<a href="https://www.instagram.com/soundslikeacultpod/"> @soundslikeacultpod</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell/"> @amanda_montell</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/isaamedinaa"> </a>
To order Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality,<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976"> click here</a> :) To subscribe to her new Magical Overthinkers podcast <a href="https://bio.site/magicaloverthinkers">click here!</a>
Thank you to our sponsors, who make this show possible:
<ul>
<li>Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to <a href="https://www.dipseastories.com/subscribe/?promo=cult&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=paid&amp;utm_campaign=cult">DipseaStories.com/cult</a>. </li>
<li>Go to <a href="https://www.zocdoc.com/?utm_medium=audiopodcast&amp;utm_campaign=cult">Zocdoc.com/CULT</a> and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.</li>
<li>Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use code CULT.</li>
<li>Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/?channel=Podcast&amp;subchannel=atc&amp;source=soundslikeacult">https://www.squarespace.com/CULT</a> to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.</li>
</ul>

The Cult of Ballet

Introducing the Magical Overthinkers podcast, a show for thought spiralers, exploring the subjects we can't stop overthinking about. Host Amanda is elated to share her latest audio project, based on her New York Times-bestselling book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality. Magical Overthinkers is out this week on all major podcast platforms (as well as YouTube)! Links below.  


Subscribe on Spotify


Subscribe on Apple


Subscribe on YouTube

Here is a look at episode 1, "Overthinking About Narcissism." Episode description below!

Is it just us, or does American culture have narcissismfever? Between 2004 and 2016, the volume of Google searches for the word “narcissist” grew exponentially. Thanks to factors like the rise of therapyspeak, TikTok mental health diagnoses, and badly behaving reality stars-turned-world leaders, discourse about this buzzy, yet poorly understood phenomenon has exploded. Are we as a society becoming more narcissistic? Or are we now over-using and misusing this term to the point of meaninglessness? Wait, is obsessing about other people's narcissism its own kind of narcissism?? In an effort to soothe these thought spirals, host Amanda (@amanda_montell) settled in for an illuminating chat with her debut guest, psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula (@doctorramani), author of the New York Times bestseller "It's Not You" and one of the world's foremost narcissism experts. Tune in for a relatable, brain-tingling, and clarifying discussion about this confounding topic, complete with questions submitted by the "Magical Overthinkers Club" and bits of wisdom to help us overthinkers get out of our own heads. 
Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers.
To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack.
Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook.
Sources: 
What Is Narcissism? Science Confronts a Widely Misunderstood Phenomenon
Time grows on trees: The effect of nature settings on time perception
Therapist Aisha's Instagram

Introducing the Magical Overthinkers podcast, a show for thought spiralers, exploring the subjects we can't stop overthinking about. Host Amanda is elated to share her latest audio project, based on her New York Times-bestselling book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality. Magical Overthinkers is out this week on all major podcast platforms (as well as YouTube)! Links below.  
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7fhsqxhe3lcvbPEoQrFuQj">Subscribe on Spotify</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://bit.ly/MagicalOverthinkersApple">Subscribe on Apple</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://bit.ly/MagicalOverthinkersYouTube">Subscribe on YouTube</a>
</li>
</ul>
Here is a look at episode 1, "Overthinking About Narcissism." Episode description below!
Is it just us, or does American culture have narcissism fever? Between 2004 and 2016, the volume of Google searches for the word “narcissist” grew exponentially. Thanks to factors like the rise of therapyspeak, TikTok mental health diagnoses, and badly behaving reality stars-turned-world leaders, discourse about this buzzy, yet poorly understood phenomenon has exploded. Are we as a society becoming more narcissistic? Or are we now over-using and misusing this term to the point of meaninglessness? Wait, is obsessing about other people's narcissism its own kind of narcissism?? In an effort to soothe these thought spirals, host Amanda (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw29xuVtMmcKrQljyewr22NW">@amanda_montell</a>) settled in for an illuminating chat with her debut guest, psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/doctorramani/?hl=en" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/doctorramani/?hl%3Den&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0SNQGDzJuygGZcUEXTeT1G">@doctorramani</a>), author of the New York Times bestseller <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710202/its-not-you-by-ramani-durvasula-phd/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710202/its-not-you-by-ramani-durvasula-phd/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Mv5WZFLzfAdWJg-pDSq2T">"It's Not You"</a> and one of the world's foremost narcissism experts. Tune in for a relatable, brain-tingling, and clarifying discussion about this confounding topic, complete with questions submitted by the "Magical Overthinkers Club" and bits of wisdom to help us overthinkers get out of our own heads. 
<ul>
<li>Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/magicaloverthinkers" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/magicaloverthinkers&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3KIBg-ne3eQUyiwnTuuRx4">@magicaloverthinkers.</a></li>
<li>To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the <a href="https://amandamontell.substack.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amandamontell.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjGYnoDSyZ9IAcDWWXFIs">Magical Overthinkers Substack</a>.</li>
<li>Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2W41XLrTzJSkmJez7mvyOK">The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality</a>, or listen to the <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781797175577" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781797175577&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw09Dr0_F8JwmWVh2dIZ3deA">audiobook</a>.</li>
<li>Sources:  <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-narcissism-science-confronts-a-widely-misunderstood-phenomenon1/#:~:text=And%20although%20most%20people%20are,and%20fluctuations%20in%20self%2Desteem." data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-narcissism-science-confronts-a-widely-misunderstood-phenomenon1/%23:~:text%3DAnd%2520although%2520most%2520people%2520are,and%2520fluctuations%2520in%2520self%252Desteem.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw03b2oaKLXZdr47BLgJSy_s">What Is Narcissism? Science Confronts a Widely Misunderstood Phenomenon</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494417301081#:~:text=Time%20spent%20on%20a%20walk,than%20in%20man%2Dmade%20settings." data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494417301081%23:~:text%3DTime%2520spent%2520on%2520a%2520walk,than%2520in%2520man%252Dmade%2520settings.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07ED6ByTucS5ufs1yPBCvS">Time grows on trees: The effect of nature settings on time perception</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/next.action.counseling" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/next.action.counseling&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715619347206000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1hYYlIkzqShLEeQXgT6UEe">Therapist Aisha's Instagram</a></li>
</ul>

The Cult of Narcissism

For our ~true followers~, behold a wee bonus episode to tide you over during our mid-season break, while host Amanda is on book tour and in production for the new MAGICAL OVERTHINKERS podcast (coming May 15)! Nostalgia is a warm-and-fuzzy coping mechanism for when the present feels painful, BUT it's also a key ingredient in sooooo many modern-day "cults," from Disney Adults to tradwives. How dangerous a weapon is nostalgia, really? That's what this episode, featuring an audio excerpt from Amanda's new book The Age of Magical Overthinking (an instant New York Times bestseller!) aims to find out. Regularly scheduled SLAC episodes will return Tuesday, May 21—thanks for sticking around til then! 💫

Get The Age of Magical Overthinking audiobook here!

Purchase the book in hardback.

Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from THE AGE OF MAGICAL OVERTHINKING by Amanda Montell, read by the author. Copyright © 2024 by Amanda Montell. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Catch Amanda on book tour!

May 9: Portland, OR — Live Wire Radio Festival (tickets here)

May 11:Columbia, MD — Books in Bloom Festival (free, RSVP here)

June 11: Mill Valley, CA — Mill Valley Public Library Author Talk (free, register here)

For our ~true followers~, behold a wee bonus episode to tide you over during our mid-season break, while host Amanda is on book tour and in production for the new <a href="https://www.instagram.com/magicaloverthinkers">MAGICAL OVERTHINKERS podcast</a> (coming May 15)! Nostalgia is a warm-and-fuzzy coping mechanism for when the present feels painful, BUT it's also a key ingredient in sooooo many modern-day "cults," from Disney Adults to tradwives. How dangerous a weapon is nostalgia, really? That's what this episode, featuring an audio excerpt from Amanda's new book The Age of Magical Overthinking (an instant New York Times bestseller!) aims to find out. Regularly scheduled SLAC episodes will return Tuesday, May 21—thanks for sticking around til then! 💫
<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781797175577?utm_source=author_outlet&amp;utm_medium=audio_author_outlet&amp;utm_content=audio_buy_link&amp;utm_campaign=theageofmagicaloverthinking_amandamontell_audio#buy-from">Get The Age of Magical Overthinking audiobook here!</a>
<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976">Purchase the book in hardback.</a>
Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon &amp; Schuster Audio from THE AGE OF MAGICAL OVERTHINKING by Amanda Montell, read by the author. Copyright © 2024 by Amanda Montell. Used with permission of Simon &amp; Schuster, Inc.
Catch Amanda on book tour!
May 9: <a href="https://www.livewireradio.org/live-shows/05092024">Portland, OR — Live Wire Radio Festival (tickets here)</a>
May 11: <a href="https://www.eventeny.com/events/books-in-bloom-md-10905/">Columbia, MD — Books in Bloom Festival (free, RSVP here)</a>
June 11: <a href="https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/12339353">Mill Valley, CA — Mill Valley Public Library Author Talk</a> (free, <a href="https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/12339353">register here</a>)

The Cult of The Peace Corps

In 1 playlist(s)

Sounds Like A Cult

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips