In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Scot Loyd and Daniella Mestyanek Young unpack Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's recent dystopian-sounding address to military leadership, examining it through the lens of cult psychology, gendered standards, and authoritarian control.

Daniella dissects how "standards" and "professionalism" in the military are tools to maintain patriarchal and racial hierarchies, using examples like grooming policies and "gender-neutral" male standards. She argues that rhetoric like Hegseth's is part of a broader movement toward Christian nationalism and toxic militarized masculinity, dubbing it the "Mojo Dojo Casa Military."

Together, they explore whether the U.S. military could ever be used against American citizens, why cult-like obedience structures are dangerous, and how individual ethics, diversity, and generational change make full-scale authoritarian control unlikely.

The conversation then shifts toward Scot's new book, The God That I Was Given: Looking for Faith After Losing My Religion. Daniella and Scot discuss faith deconstruction, privilege, and how to hold space for both pride in one's past and critical honesty about harm. They reflect on storytelling, accountability, and how both military and religious institutions reward conformity and punish introspection.

Daniella's Links:

You can read all about my story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here. https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured

For more info on me:

Patreon: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding

Cult book Clubs (Advanced AND Memoirs) Annual Membership: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding

Get an autographed copy of my book, Uncultured: https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured

Get my book, Uncultured, from Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4g1Ufw8

Daniella's Tiktok: Knitting Cult Lady

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4ePAOFK / daniellamyoung_

Unamerican video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/YTVideoBook

Secret Practice video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/3ZswGY8

Other Podcasts

Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women

Scot's Socials

TikTok: @thescotloyd

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd

Haley's Tiktok

@nuancedmasculinities

🔑 Key Takeaways

• "Standards" are culturally constructed — often used to uphold existing power structures under the guise of objectivity.

• "Gender neutral" usually means "male" — erasing femininity and reinforcing patriarchal norms.

• Hegseth's rhetoric reflects toxic masculinity, racial dog whistles, and authoritarian nostalgia for a "Department of War."

• Military culture mirrors cult structures, but its guiding "cult" is loyalty to the Constitution — not to any single leader.

• Younger service members (Millennials & Gen Z) are reshaping the culture toward diversity, empathy, and critical thinking.

• Brainwashing tactics from abusive systems and cults were deliberately baked into modern military training.

• Deconstruction is not destruction — you can be proud of aspects of your experience while acknowledging systemic harm.

• Both hosts connect cult dynamics across institutions — religion, the military, and politics all rely on controlling narratives.

• Writing memoirs like Uncultured and The God That I Was Given provides a model for honest reflection that includes both pride and pain.

• Truth-telling invites criticism, but it's vital for cultural healing and understanding.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 00:53 Military Standards and Gender Equality 03:43 Rhetoric and Leadership in the Military 06:29 Concerns Over Military Use Against Citizens 09:21 Basic Training and Military Culture 12:08 The Role of Experience in Military Leadership 14:54 Political Rhetoric and Military Professionalism 17:51 Diversity in the Military and Its Implications 20:39 Public Perception and Military Loyalty 23:23 Historical Context of Military Orders 26:09 Conclusion and Future Implications 28:18 Generational Perspectives in the Military 32:50 The Culting of America: A Deeper Dive 37:16 Navigating Privilege and Perspective 41:48 The Complexity of Faith and Deconstruction 47:06 The Power of Storytelling and Truth 54:22 Closing Thoughts on Diversity and Listening

Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann