Sounds Like A Cult – The Cult of Audiobooks (CULTISH, Amanda's Version)

Host: Amanda Montell
Released: November 4, 2025
Podcast: Sounds Like A Cult (Studio71)
Theme: “Putting the cult in culture” – Analyzing modern groups and movements through the lens of cultish behaviors, focusing today on the language of fanaticism.

Episode Overview

This is a unique episode of Sounds Like A Cult: rather than the usual deep dive into groups like SoulCycle or the Royal Family, host Amanda Montell reads the first part of her book, Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism – specifically “Amanda’s Version” of the audiobook, which she hadn’t been able to create during the book’s initial pandemic-era release.

Purpose:

• Offer foundational context on the meaning of "cult" and “cultish”
• Explore how the language we use to discuss groups shapes our understanding of their influence
• Set the stage for how Sounds Like A Cult analyzes groups by cult criteria

Amanda uses real-life stories and social commentary to build her argument that cultish dynamics operate not only in religious groups, but in fitness communities, brands, and daily life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining “Cult” & “Cultish”

• Amanda acknowledges the lack of a fixed definition of “cult.” Instead, the meaning shifts with context, culture, and intent.
• The importance of examining "the language we use to talk about cults" (07:16) rather than only the groups themselves.
• The term “cultish” is preferred for describing the spectrum of behaviors and language found in groups beyond classic cults (see 30:10+).

Notable Explanation (09:52):

“I've found that cult has become one of those terms that can mean something totally different depending on the context of the conversation and the attitudes of the speaker.”
— Amanda Montell

• Amanda distinguishes between:
  • Literal cults (high control, high consequence)
  • Metaphorical use (as in a "cult favorite" beauty product)
  • The gray area in-between ("cultish" fitness studios, fandoms, etc.)

2. Real-World Examples: Cultish Influence Through Language

• Two parallel stories introduce the role of language in exerting group control and creating belonging:
  • Tasha Samar: Drawn as a teen to the 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy) Kundalini yoga organization
  • Alyssa Clark: Immersed in CrossFit’s private language and rituals
• Both Tasha and Alyssa find themselves “not even speaking recognizable English anymore” (14:07) as language signals in-group status, sets behavioral expectations, and propagates doctrine.

Notable Quote (15:40):

“What Tasha Samar and Alyssa Clark irrefutably share is that one day they woke up… and realized they were in so deep, they weren’t even speaking recognizable English anymore.”
— Amanda, on cultish language

• The language (mantras, names, acronyms) is central to group identity and control—sometimes leading to serious harm, sometimes just too many pairs of leggings.

3. Society’s Obsession with Cults

• Recaps pop culture fascination:
  • The Girls, Midsommar, Wild Wild Country, The Vow, etc. (22:00)
• Notes that our binge-watching of cult media isn’t just “morbid curiosity,” but reflects a search for answers:
  • “Is everyone susceptible to cultish influence? Could it happen to you? Could it happen to me? And if so, how?” (23:48)
• Points out “brainwashing” is a nebulous, oft-used but not always accepted term (25:30)
• It's language—not charismatic garb or physical separation—that underlies all cultish influence.

Notable Quote (25:15):

“The real answer all comes down to words. Delivery. From the crafty redefinition of existing words and the invention of new ones… language is the key means by which all degrees of cult-like influence occur.”
— Amanda

4. Cultishness as a Human Social Urge

• Explores the human tendency toward groups and meaning-making, especially as traditional institutions break down (34:10)
• Growing numbers of "nones" or "remixed" spiritual seekers find identity in alternative communities—fitness, wellness, fandoms.
• Language grants structure and reduces life’s overwhelming choices (Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag priest quote, 36:30).

Notable Societal Analogy (38:44):

“Just being able to say, ‘I’m a Glossier girl’ or ‘I follow Joe Dispenza’ softens the burden and responsibility of having to make so many independent choices about what you think and who you are.”
— Amanda

• Cults thrive during times of societal turbulence—modern America, with its fraying trust in institutions, is the perfect breeding ground.

5. History and Etymology of “Cult”

• Early use of "cult" was innocuous: worship, cultivation of faith
• Gained its dark meaning post-Manson, Jonestown, and media focus on criminal groups (47:30+)
• Now sometimes more an accusation than a scholarly term, lacking consistent academic definition.

Troubling Effect of Labels (53:30):

Amanda cites experts on the dangers of labeling a group a cult, from stigma to justifying violence (the Waco tragedy and Branch Davidians as examples).

“Religion is a constitutionally protected category, and the identification of Waco’s Branch Davidians as a cult places them outside the protections of the state.” — Amanda, summarizing scholar Katherine Wessinger (54:18)

6. “Cultish” Language—Everyday and Extreme

• Amanda’s personal family history: her father was a member of Synanon, a notorious cult/commune in California (58:00), highlighting how language served as both password and policing mechanism.
• Language is often the first, easiest thing to change when entering a group and the last to revert once leaving (01:07:54).
• Examples from Alcoholics Anonymous, where a friend’s use of phrases like “future tripping” and “caught a resentment” flagged her deep immersion.

Language’s Lasting Effect (1:10:03):

“Cultish language works so efficiently and invisibly to mold our worldview in the shape of the guru’s that once it’s embedded, it sticks.”

• The book, and by extension the podcast, is about teaching listeners to recognize these cues—whether for protection or understanding.

7. The Influence Continuum

• Not all “cults” are destructive; there’s a spectrum (“influence continuum” per Stephen Hassan, 42:40), with ethical groups upfront about beliefs and little real penalty for leaving.
• Even the most benign-seeming groups can operate cultishly through insider language and behavioral scripts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On cult language’s subtle power:

  “It makes you feel special, like you’re in the know because you have this other language to communicate with.” — Ex-Scientologist (29:48)

• On society’s “remixed” search for meaning:

  “It gives you what religion gives you, which is the feeling that your life matters.” — Chani, a SoulCycle devotee (33:56)

• On labels and their consequences:

  “As soon as someone says it, we know as readers, listeners or individuals exactly what we should think about that particular group.” (51:20)

• Summing up the book’s mission:

  “The words we hear and use every day can provide clues to help us determine which groups are healthy, which are toxic and which are a little bit of both, and to what extent we wish to engage with them.” (1:19:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 02:10 | Amanda explains episode’s special structure | | 07:16 | Introduces “cultish” language and definitions | | 14:07 | Tasha and Alyssa’s parallel group experiences | | 22:00 | Cultural/entertainment obsession with cults | | 25:15 | Language as key to cultish influence | | 30:10 | On the semantic spectrum of “cult” and “cultish” | | 34:10 | Human nature, belonging, and group psychology | | 36:30 | “Fleabag” quote; structure in chaos | | 42:40 | Ethics and “influence continuum” explained | | 47:30 | The historical/linguistic shift in “cult” meaning | | 53:30–54:18 | Dangers of labeling; consequences (Waco, dehumanization) | | 58:00 | Amanda’s family’s Synanon story | | 1:07:54 | Language’s lingering effect post-departure | | 1:10:03 | Recognizing cultish language in daily life | | 1:19:36 | Book/podcast purpose statement |

Episode Tone & Style

Amanda’s signature voice is wry, informed, and empathetic. She’s both critical and keenly aware of the complexities, speaking with respect for interviewees and an eye for the darkly funny or ironic. The episode is language-focused, with personal stories, references to pop culture, and analytic but accessible explanations.

Summary & Takeaway

For listeners new and returning, this episode lays the foundation for understanding Sounds Like A Cult’s whole project:

• “Cultishness” is a spectrum found everywhere—from yoga studios to fandoms to tech startups.
• The most reliable red flag is often not robes or rituals, but specialized language that marks insiders and commands behavior.
• Amanda’s book and these episodes invite listeners to question how language shapes belonging, allegiance, and authority in modern life.

Final advice, echoing the show’s tagline:
“Stay culty, but not too culty.”