This week, Sounds Like A Cult is revisiting one of the most ritualistic, emotionally charged, and absurdly expensive cults of them all: The Cult of Weddings. We’re sharing (and offering a culty update) to Amanda’s Magical Overthinkers conversation with writer Allison Raskin, (@allisonraskin) author of I Do (I Think), about how weddings have transformed into a cult of consumerism, misogyny (comparing women with opinions to oversized mythical lizards???), and the illusion of perfection. From industrial-sized bridal expectations to the patriarchal rituals, we're sparing no criticism of how an alleged celebration of partnership became a capitalistic rite of passage.

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lace up your cleats, because we’re about to tackle one of the most competitive, emotionally charged, and cult-ish communities in modern sports culture: The Cult of Fantasy Football. This week, Chelsea is joined by NFL host and analyst Kimmi Chex (@kimmichex) to break down how a simple hobby turned millions of casual fans into full-blown believers. From office leagues to dynasty drafts, Fantasy Football isn’t just a game… It's a belief system built on stats, superstitions, and Sunday rituals. We unpack the sermons of sleeper picks, the sacred relics of draft boards, and the emotional highs and lows that rival any religion. Whether you’re a casual observer or a card-carrying commissioner, this episode dissects the community, the camaraderie, and the chaos that make Fantasy Football one of the most worshiped cults in sports.

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT

Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good. Go to https://Quince.com/slac

EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/soundslikeacult-podcast

Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/st3nalv7 #CashAppPod 

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Amanda and Reese are being initiated into the high-drama, low-stakes universe of the Bravoholics. Joined by Steve, certified Bravoholic and owner of @facesbybravo, we’re breaking down the sacred texts (from Real Housewives reunions to Vanderpump Rules scandals), the high priests (Andy Cohen), and the ritualistic weekly watch parties that lead only the most devoted viewers to the mecca of BravoCon. Whether you’re a casual Summer House viewer or have a housewives franchise for every night of the week, we’re sure you’d agree Bravo has had the girls, gays, and theys in a CHOKEHOLD since 2003, and we’re here to get to the bottom of it. Are we in a parasocial relationship with a network? Is "who gon' check me, boo?" a mantra for the modern age? Grab your skinny margarita and join the congregation as we ask: when does a fandom become a faith?

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is the definition of the word "cult" anyway, according to Sounds Like A Cult??? This week, for the first time ever, host Amanda Montell takes the mic to read from her New York Times bestseller Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, the book that inspired this entire pod. It’s a behind-the-scenes listen into the language of persuasion, belonging, and belief infiltrates everything from religious movements to self-help brands to our favorite podcasts. So relax and take a listen to the source material for all our juicy, culty lore.

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Is it evil… or just excellent branding? This week, Amanda & Reese are joined by writer and podcaster Sarah Marshall (You’re Wrong About) to descend into The Cult of Satanism: The spooky, sexy, misunderstood belief system that terrified suburban moms everywhere.

We’re talking devilish imagery, political theater, and the delicious irony of a religion that doesn’t actually believe in the Devil. From Anton LaVey’s campy theatrics to the Wayfair trafficking conspiracy, we’re unpacking how Satanism became the perfect scapegoat for America’s moral panic and how the real horror show was the Satanic Panic itself. So light your black candles, clutch your pearls, and prepare to sell your soul (metaphorically, of course). Because when it comes to culty influence, the devil’s in the details. 😈🔥📜

Listen to The Devil You Know wherever you get podcasts! https://link.mgln.ai/Eg9XvP 

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the low, low price of $19.99, you too can manifest love, money, or maybe just a little chaos. On this Halloween flavored episode of Sounds Like A Cult, we are diving broom first into The Cult of Etsy Witches, the booming online marketplace where spirituality meets capitalism and hexes come with free shipping. From TikTok witchfluencers to hexed baseball teams to real life political curses, host Amanda Montell explores how witchcraft became one of the internet’s most aesthetic and suspiciously profitable belief systems. Joined by practicing witch and author Mya Spalter (@mya.spalter), we’re unpacking what the Cult of Etsy Witches reveals about our craving for magic, meaning, and maybe a bit of manipulation

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen on Spotify Podcasts, Listen on Apple Podcasts, Listen wherever!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bow down, because we're about to cover one of the most powerful, mysterious, and meticulously choreographed cults in modern pop culture: The Cult of Beyoncé. This week, Chelsea is joined by journalist and cultural critic Kathleen Newman Bremang (@kathleennb), to help break down how the Beyhive became less of a fandom and more of a faith. From the Church of Lemonade to the gospel of Renaissance, Beyoncé has crafted not just a career but a belief system, complete with rituals, relics, and sermons that make you cry in formation. But how did one woman become both artist and ideology? And when does admiration turn into devotion? Whether you’re a casual listener or a card carrying member of the Hive, this episode unpacks the genius, the grandeur, and the glorious groupthink of pop’s most divine following. 👑🐝

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 
Thank you to our sponsors!

Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to https://joinbilt.com/culty

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether it’s the sweat-drenched ten-hour rehearsals, the spine-tingling halftime shows, or the communal showers and gym floor sleepovers… marching bands aren’t just extracurriculars…they’re high-control communities with ritual, hierarchy, and loyalty that rivals religion. In this episode, Amanda & Chelsea are joined by listener Chelsea McFarland, a music educator, marching band alum, and band director, for a deep dive into the glittering, horn-blasting world of band culture. From high school field shows to the cultier-than-thou universe of Drum Corps International (DCI), we ask: is it all just school spirit… or something a little more orchestrated?

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Please consider donating to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Team SLAC are donating to the PCRF, a nonprofit organization providing vital medical care, food, and humanitarian aid to children and families in need.

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s not just a chicken sandwich, it’s a ca-ca-calling 

This week, host Amanda and special guest Carys Kolb (⁠@carys.avooca⁠), former employee and the pod's very own sister-in-law, dig into the waffle-fried, lemonade-sweetened, suspiciously polite world of Chick-fil-A. It's the fast-food chain that’s managed to turn fried chicken into both a lifestyle brand and a moral battleground. From the addictive sauce and cult-like customer service to the company’s controversial history of funding anti-LGBTQ+ causes, Chick-fil-A devotees don’t just crave the food… they defend the brand like it’s a religion (and it is???). What makes devotees line up around the block for a sandwich closed on Sundays? And how do you reconcile nuggets with nationalism? Grab your waffle fries and your cognitive dissonance, we’re serving up a saucy dip into one of America’s tastiest cults. Our pleasure!!!

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Go to ⁠https://Quince.com/slac⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. 

Go to ⁠https://Headspace.com/SOUNDSLIKE⁠ to unlock all of Headspace FREE for 60 days.

Please consider donating to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Team SLAC are donating to the PCRF, a nonprofit organization providing vital medical care, food, and humanitarian aid to children and families in need.

London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices