41:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 43:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 44:I[29721,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"ShareButton"] 45:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 46:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"SignupCTA"] 3a:["$","h1",null,{"className":"max-w-[22ch] font-display text-[clamp(32px,4.5vw,48px)] font-medium leading-[1.05] tracking-[-0.02em] text-[color:var(--fg-1)] text-balance","children":"The Best Of Our Cult Episodes"}] 3b:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-1 font-mono text-[12px] uppercase tracking-[0.1em] text-[color:var(--fg-3)]","children":[["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-07-21T09:00:00.000Z","children":"July 21, 2026"}],["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"children":"01:00:09"}],false]}] 42:T474,

Six cults. One episode. And for the first time ever, we let Dr. John skip the green room and join us right at the top — no donuts, no punchki, no waiting his turn.

In this special Best Of, we're revisiting the cult stories you loved most: the Duggars and IBLP in Shiny Happy People, Warren Jeffs and the FLDS in Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, spiritual influencer Teal Swan in The Deep End, Harvey Weisberger's journey out of an ultra-Orthodox sect, the tantric nightmare of Twisted Yoga, and the one that started it all — Gwen Shamblin and The Way Down. From weight-loss churches to sex cults to prophets running the show from prison, Stacey and Dori bring the outrage and the laughs while Dr. John Mayer brings the diagnosis — psychological murder, sublimation, grooming, narcissism, and why any of us could get pulled in.

Content warning: this episode includes discussion of sexual abuse, child abuse, and other sensitive topics. Please listen with care.

New here? This is the perfect place to start. Longtime Candy? Consider it your greatest-hits reel.