Cult or Just Weird

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---

Freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices. - Theodor Adorno

Chris tries to land this Ayn Rand plane in an objectively satisfying manner.

---

*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Common interest / Fandom

---

*Topic Spoiler*

Objectivism & Ayn Rand

---

*Further Reading*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand_Institute

https://ari.aynrand.org/

https://courses.aynrand.org/campus-courses/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ayn-Rand

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ayn-Rand/The-Collective-and-the-Nathaniel-Branden-Institute

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ayn-rand/

http://aynrandlexicon.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is%E2%80%93ought_problem

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://www.atlassociety.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_Society

https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2020-04-18/ty-article-magazine/.premium/i-visited-the-secret-lair-of-the-ayn-rand-cult/0000017f-ef06-ddba-a37f-ef6e2c740000

https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/the-unlikeliest-cult-in-history/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/3kyxvv/nxivm-jordan-peterson-and-the-reincarnation-of-ayn-rands-cult

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ayn_Rand_Cult

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/primate-diaries/ayn-rand-on-human-nature/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Branden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaron_Brook

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peikoff

https://www.conservapedia.com/Objectivism

http://michaelprescott.freeservers.com/romancing-the-stone-cold.html

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595267335/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_argument

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ominous_Parallels

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

https://www.atlassociety.org/post/frank-lloyd-wright-and-ayn-rand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XysDgbp9uo4

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Hanna

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Anjuli, Noelle Hoover, Tesa Hamilton

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

Who is Ayn Rand?

Chris and Kayla try to answer this ocean of a question, exploring the many rivers and tributaries that feed it.

---

*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Common interest / Fandom

---

*Topic Spoiler*

Objectivism & Ayn Rand

---

*Further Reading*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand_Institute

https://ari.aynrand.org/

https://courses.aynrand.org/campus-courses/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ayn-Rand

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ayn-Rand/The-Collective-and-the-Nathaniel-Branden-Institute

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ayn-rand/

http://aynrandlexicon.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is%E2%80%93ought_problem

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://www.atlassociety.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_Society

https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2020-04-18/ty-article-magazine/.premium/i-visited-the-secret-lair-of-the-ayn-rand-cult/0000017f-ef06-ddba-a37f-ef6e2c740000

https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/the-unlikeliest-cult-in-history/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/3kyxvv/nxivm-jordan-peterson-and-the-reincarnation-of-ayn-rands-cult

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ayn_Rand_Cult

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/primate-diaries/ayn-rand-on-human-nature/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Branden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaron_Brook

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peikoff

https://www.conservapedia.com/Objectivism

http://michaelprescott.freeservers.com/romancing-the-stone-cold.html

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595267335/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_argument

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ominous_Parallels

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

https://www.atlassociety.org/post/frank-lloyd-wright-and-ayn-rand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XysDgbp9uo4

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Hanna

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Anjuli, pernille aspestrand, Noelle Hoover, Tesa Hamilton

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

I am evolving and it's so damn beautiful. -Anonymous

Chris ponders the philosophical orb with Kayla, and finally comes out as a cultist himself. Objectively speaking.

---

*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Common interest / Fandom

---

*Topic Spoiler*

Objectivism & Ayn Rand

---

*Further Reading*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand_Institute

https://ari.aynrand.org/

https://courses.aynrand.org/campus-courses/

http://aynrandlexicon.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is%E2%80%93ought_problem

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://www.atlassociety.org/

https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2020-04-18/ty-article-magazine/.premium/i-visited-the-secret-lair-of-the-ayn-rand-cult/0000017f-ef06-ddba-a37f-ef6e2c740000

https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/the-unlikeliest-cult-in-history/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/3kyxvv/nxivm-jordan-peterson-and-the-reincarnation-of-ayn-rands-cult

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ayn_Rand_Cult

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/primate-diaries/ayn-rand-on-human-nature/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Branden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaron_Brook

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peikoff

https://www.conservapedia.com/Objectivism

http://michaelprescott.freeservers.com/romancing-the-stone-cold.html

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595267335/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XysDgbp9uo4

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Anjuli, pernille aspestrand

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

The body says what words cannot.

--Martha Graham

Kayla and Chris explore the roots of human bonding...set to music.

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*Search Categories*

Anthropological; New Religious Movement; Common interest / Fandom

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*Topic Spoiler*

Ecstatic Dance

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*Further Reading*

Professor Chill Spotify

Electric Sufi Spotify

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecstatic_dance

https://archive.org/details/exploringreligio0000unse_q7d1/page/168/mode/2up?view=theater

https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/persons/professor-chill

https://www.ecstaticdancela.com/

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Liz T, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Anjuli, pernille aspestrand

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

Experience is the teacher of all things. - Julius Caesar

Kayla and Chris kick off Season 5 by going to a cult within a cult... culturducken.

---

*Search Categories*

New Age; New Religious Movement

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*Topic Spoiler*

The Source Family

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*Further Reading*

http://martinostimemachine.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-source-restaurant.html

https://la.eater.com/2013/5/13/6435783/the-source-las-first-spiritual-vegetarian-restaurant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Yod#:~:text=Father%20Yod%20(pronounced%20Y%C5%8Dde)%2C,Sunset%20Strip%20in%20Los%20Angeles.

https://fatheryod.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&Itemid=282#.ZC4NqezMJp8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Source_Family

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/source-family-cult-interview-isis-aquarian-b2093111.html

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Liz T, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying. - Arthur C. Clarke

Kayla and Chris end the season on a topic with a twist unlike many others covered on this show.

---

*Search Categories*

New Age; New Religious Movement

---

*Topic Spoiler*

The Aetherius Society

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*Further Reading*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjG-Wz2aZME

https://www.aetherius.org/locations/los-angeles/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aetherius_Society

https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/vice-the-alien-worshippers/59a81ccbaf5f97fc5813445f

​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWjl5CDk2vs

https://www.aetherius.org/the-extraterrestrial-message/cosmic-masters/

https://www.aetherius.org/the-extraterrestrial-message/six-adepts/

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Liz T, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

"Correlation doesn't imply causation, but it does waggle its eyebrows suggestively and gesture furtively while mouthing 'look over there.'" - Randall Munroe

Keep an eye on this one- Chris talks to Kayla about a particular type of therapy that has been gaining in popularity in the last few years.

---

*Search Categories*

Science / Pseudoscience; Alt Medicine / Wellness

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*Topic Spoiler*

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

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*Further Reading*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_movement_desensitization_and_reprocessing

https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/emdr-taking-a-closer-look/

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/emdr-and-acupuncture-selling-non-specific-effects/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=EMDR

https://www.jneurology.com/articles/scientific-evaluation-of-emdr-psychotherapy-for-the-treatment-of-psychological-trauma-summary-scientific-evaluation-of-emdr-psycho.html

https://www.insider.com/nxivm-used-real-psychology-to-fetishize-vulnerability-manipulate-2020-9

https://www.reddit.com/r/scientology/comments/mrssez/emdr_and_scientology/

https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emdr-therapy-is-this-just-scientology-or-what/470281/8

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences."

-Audre Lorde

Kayla & Chris have a healing conversation about a topic that weighs heavily on all of us.

---

*Search Categories*

Destructive; Science / Pseudoscience; Alt Medicine / Wellness

---

*Topic Spoiler*

Fat Liberation & Fat Acceptance

---

*Further Reading*

https://denariigrace.com/

https://nyupress.org/9781479886753/fearing-the-black-body/

https://naafa.org/

https://asdah.org/

https://unsolicitedftb.libsyn.com/

https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/

https://dashaunharrison.com/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/104805/marilyn-wann/#:~:text=Marilyn%20Wann%20is%20a%20fat,She%20later%20published%20the%20FAT!

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781315603285/queering-fat-embodiment-cat-paus%C3%A9-jackie-wykes-samantha-murray

http://www.radiancemagazine.com/issues/1998/winter_98/fat_underground.html

https://www.virgietovar.com/

https://www.marquiselemercedes.com/

https://www.caleb-luna.com/

https://www.instagram.com/blackqueeriroh/?hl=en

https://www.jordanunderwood.com/

https://antidietriotclub.co.uk/

https://www.yourfatfriend.com/fat-reading-list

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

Sometimes you want pain to be acknowledged and not whitewashed- or erased by some exceptionalist point of view.

-Ari Aster

Chris & Kayla mix things up a bit by analyzing a cult that doesn't even exist.

---

*Search Categories*

Internet Culture; Common interest/Fandom; Anthropological

---

*Topic Spoiler*

the film Midsommar's Harga community

---

*Further Reading*

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772262/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsommar

https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/5/20681187/midsommar-spoilers-cult-harga-ari-aster

https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/midsommar-is-harga-real

https://screenrant.com/midsommar-movie-harga-cult-customs-explained/

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Kelly Smith Upton, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out?

Come join us on discord!

---

The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food. -Dean Ornish

Kayla & Chris explore a much-maligned fandom on the internet, and learn a little bit about themselves and humanity along the way.

---

*Search Categories*

Internet Culture; Common interest/Fandom; Anthropological

---

*Topic Spoiler*

The Furry Fandom (Furries)

---

*Further Reading*

https://furscience.com/

https://furscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fur-Science-Final-pdf-for-Website_2017_10_18.pdf

https://twitter.com/furscience/

https://en.wikifur.com/wiki/WikiFur_Furry_Central

https://www.reddit.com/r/furry/

https://www.furaffinity.net/

https://www.thefandomfilm.com/

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown

>>

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Kelly Smith Upton, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith