YDS is supported by ⁠⁠Microcosm Coaching. ⁠

What makes a diet become a cult? From Kellogg's sanitarium to modern wellness retreats, the line between "lifestyle" and "indoctrination" is thinner than you'd think. Restrictive eating communities share surprising similarities with high-control groups: charismatic leaders, us-vs-them thinking, purity rituals, and the promise that following the rules will make you special.

In this episode, Kylee and Zoë explore the psychology of why diet communities can feel so consuming—and why leaving them can feel like losing your identity. We trace the history of food-based moral systems, examine the tactics that keep people loyal to restrictive eating patterns, and offer tools for recognizing when "wellness" has crossed into something more controlling.

If you've ever felt like your diet had become your whole personality—or watched someone you love disappear into a food ideology—this episode is for you.