When you hear the word 'cult', you probably picture white robes and remote compounds. But in 2026, the reality is much more ordinary.

From wellness communities to 'coaching' gurus and high-control religious groups, a new wave of organisations is recruiting young people who are searching for certainty in an unstable, post-pandemic world.

As the Victorian Parliament conducts a landmark inquiry into the recruitment methods of these fringe groups, we investigate how the traditional cult has morphed into something far more sanitised and harder to spot.

🗞️ HEADLINES

• Public schools in Victoria & Tasmania impacted by teacher's strikes today
• Trump says deal with Iran coming soon to settle the war
• The pilots of an Air Canada flight have died in a crash with a fire truck at NY's La Guardia airport
• Sarah Ferguson denies she planned to clone the Queen's corgis

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🎙️ CREDITS

Hosts: Taylah Strano & Claire Murphy

Guests:

• Dominique Bayens, ABC Reporter & Host of Expanse: The Nannup Four
• Anke Richter, Journalist, Author of Cult Trip & Head of DeCult
• Clare Heath-McIvor, Cult survivor, Co-runner of the Victorian Cult Survivors Network  

Audio Producer: Lu Hill

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

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Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.