Podcast Summary: Sounds Like a Cult

Episode: The Cult of Satanism

Hosts: Amanda Montell, Reese Oliver
Guest Interview: Sarah Marshall (host of “You're Wrong About” and “The Devil You Know”)
Release Date: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the "Cult of Satanism" – both as a cultural boogeyman and as a real, if misunderstood, belief system. Amanda and Reese explore how Satanism has been weaponized rhetorically, how it became the axis for multiple waves of “Satanic Panic,” and why this archetype remains captivating and divisive. Special guest Sarah Marshall lends historical context, explains the persistence of the Satanic Panic, and draws surprising connections to current conspiracy culture.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Rhetoric of Satanism in American Culture

• Modern polarization encourages people to divide everything into “good” and “evil,” with “Satanic” as a catch-all for threats (01:37–02:31).
  • Amanda: "Anything you don't like you can just condemn as satanic." (01:51)
• The temptation to use Satan as a rhetorical device—both for fun and for fear—is discussed.
  • Reese: "There's something...so freeing about just looking at something you don't like or that scares you and going, Satan, that's the devil." (05:29)

2. Pop-Cultural Reclamation & the Binary of Satan

• Cultural figures like Lil Nas X reclaim Satanic imagery as resistance. Embracing “Satan” becomes a kind of empowerment when tagged by others as “evil.” (07:13–07:33)
• The archetype of Satan predates Christianity, rooted in ancient struggles between chaos and order (Zoroastrianism), and was gradually appropriated by Judeo-Christian tradition (09:07–10:29).
  • Amanda: "The archetype of Satan actually predates Christianity." (09:12)

3. The Church of Satan: History & Principles

• Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan in 1966 as a reaction against Christian moralism—emphasizing radical individualism, indulgence, and unapologetic self-interest. (11:17–15:41)
  • Reese: “To the onlookers...the Church of Satan looks...like a trolling effort...campy glam rock theatrical middle finger to organized religion.” (14:00)
• The Nine Satanic Statements (16:22–19:42):
  • Indulgence over abstinence
  • Vital existence over spiritual pipe dreams
  • Undefiled wisdom over self-deceit
  • Kindness to those who deserve it, not wasted on ingrates
  • Vengeance over turning the other cheek, etc.
  • Quote: “Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates.” (17:42)
• Criticism: LaVey’s emphasis on hierarchy and strength has (wrongly) drawn ideological comparisons to darker movements; the church repudiates these connections. (19:55–20:35)

4. The Satanic Panic: Cultural and Psychological Dynamics

• Sparked by 1980's "Michelle Remembers" and fueled by media, the Satanic Panic was both a reaction to genuine cult disasters (Manson, Jonestown) and a tool for repressing nonconformity. (24:27–27:51)
• Real-life consequences included wrongful convictions (e.g., the West Memphis Three) and public ostracism of anyone considered “deviant” (D&D players, heavy metal fans, etc.) (26:32, 27:51)
• Parallels to current conspiracy culture: panic is often a way of making ambiguous societal fears more concrete by blaming outsiders. (28:33–31:11)
  • Amanda: “It reminds me so much of...anti-vax thinking that we find nowadays. People claim that they’re protecting their children, but really they're just suppressing critical thinking...” (27:59)

5. Modern Incarnations: QAnon, Wayfair, and Beyond

• Contemporary conspiracy theories like QAnon's Wayfair hoax directly stem from the logic and tactics of the Satanic Panic. (29:06–32:30)
  • Amanda: “It’s really part of the same cultural impulse...that will probably always spring up during broader times of crisis.” (31:11)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Rhetorical Power:
  • Amanda: “Anything you don't like, you can just condemn as satanic.” (01:51)
  • Reese: “To call your sister’s shirt ugly is so last Tuesday. But like, satanic—it does make you feel important.” (02:00)
• On Satanism’s Appeal:
  • Reese: “We love a bad boy. Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’...gave Satan kind of a makeover in the form of a persuasive and rebellious voice.” (10:29–11:07)
• On LaVey’s Satanism:
  • Amanda: “It was not about worshipping evil...It was more of a reaction against what he saw as the moral hypocrisy of Christianity and its followers.” (13:12)
  • Reese: “It’s word salad on par with Keith Raniere.” (18:46)
• On Binary Thinking:
  • Amanda: “God, humans love a binary. We are so dumb.” (13:57)
• On the Social Function of "Panics":
  • Reese: “If we can find or create something to point our finger at, then we can feel better.” (08:55)
• On Enduring Hysteria:
  • Sarah Marshall: “I don’t think that [the Satanic Panic] ever went away. I think we were given a period where we could believe that it went away...and then, like in Stephen King’s ‘It,’ we all started getting phone calls about it.” (45:06)
  • Sarah Marshall: “Trump is not a religious man, but I think he understands the power of religion to control other people.” (45:48)
• On Conspiracy Logic:
  • Amanda: “A conspiracy theory is just a sense-making narrative...and when people are experiencing pain and chaos globally...conspiracy theories feel really satisfying.” (31:11)
• On the Cultishness of the Panic Itself:
  • Sarah Marshall: “The Satanic panic itself absolutely functioned like the kind of cult that it was trying to find and destroy.” (48:48)
• On Real-World Harm:
  • Sarah Marshall: “It did so much damage it can never be undone. Put people in prison for years, for decades...The therapy actually is often what I think of first, beyond even the legal problems.” (63:06)

Guest Interview: Sarah Marshall (32:55–74:47)

Why Study Satanic Panic? (33:01)

• Sarah’s fascination began with the wrongful convictions in the West Memphis Three case and continues due to its persistent relevance.
  • Sarah: “I was deeply scandalized by that and have never stopped finding layers of the story that make me more scandalized. And I’ve grown up with it, and now it’s back.” (33:29)

Main Architects & How It Spread (34:55–38:54)

• Conservative Christian writers like Hal Lindsey (“Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth”) planted ideas that youth rebellion was a Satanic plot.
• “Michelle Remembers” became police and social services training material, cementing panic in institutions.
  • Sarah: “[The book] was used to educate social workers and police officers...to look for these Satanists who to the book we’re supposed to number in the hundreds, to the thousands...” (37:17)

The Ever-Shifting Goalposts of Panic (39:22–43:51)

• Conspiracies adapt: “...the argument can change whenever you want...The ever-shifting goal posts...” (39:22)
• Testimonials (“I was satanically abused!”) offer emotional but unsubstantiated evidence. These create a "red herring" that diverts attention from real abuses and enables new scapegoats.

Lasting Cultural Effects & Current Parallels (44:42–48:18)

• The panic set the template for newer moral panics, culture war tropes, and political maneuvering (e.g., “your gender is satanic”). (46:16)

Therapeutic Fads and Group Psychology (48:18–54:10)

• “Recovered memory” therapies harmed countless women, pushing them to adopt trauma narratives unrelated to their lives.
• The Panic operated as a cult itself—rituals, in-groups, group-think, and mutual escalation (folie à deux).

Who Was the “Them” Targeted by Panic? (55:09–57:00)

• Initially “real” Satanists, but soon encompassing anyone who didn’t fit conservative norms: “you, I think, were marking yourself as a member of an out group or a defender of an out group.” (57:47)
• The mechanics are similar to coded homophobia and broader social intolerance.

Who Profited? (59:22–61:17)

• Media platforms/campaigns (Oprah, Geraldo) thrived on the hysteria’s ratings draw, but few individuals directly enriched themselves outside the spotlight—most faith leaders and therapists acted from a mix of idealism, status-seeking, and control.

Greatest Harms & Lingering Effects (63:06–66:19)

• Legal: Wrongful convictions, ruined lives.
• Therapeutic: Emotional devastation from false memories and cultish therapy groups.
• Social: The institutionalization of punishment, the scapegoating of nonconformity—especially for women seeking help.

Cultural Reflections & Modern Connections

• “Learning as an act of treason” (68:29): Sarah notes some remain stuck in the 80s, refusing to update beliefs.
• Pop cultural targets endure (Taylor Swift as the “new Zena LaVey”; the Travis Scott concert panic). Accusations of “Satanism” adapt to fit contemporary anxieties (69:26–71:34).

Cult Verdict (72:23–73:52)

Which category does Satanism fall into?

• Reese: “Live your life”—Modern Satanists keep to themselves; most harm comes from “panickers.”
• Amanda: “Watch your back” for the philosophy; “Get the fuck out” for the derivatives (like QAnon, panic-driven conspiracy), which start with conclusions, suppress dissent, and fracture communities.

Structural Flow & Tone

The hosts foster an irreverent, cheeky vibe even as they discuss heavy material. Amanda balances skepticism and curiosity (“Humans love a binary, we are so dumb.” (13:57)), while Reese adds relatable asides. Sarah Marshall brings depth, frustration, and dark humor (“...the Satanic panic itself absolutely functioned like the kind of cult that it was trying to find and destroy.” (48:48)). Notable moments include dissecting the absurdity of panic logic, shared pop culture references (Black Phillip from The Witch, Taylor Swift), and the ethos that it’s not Satanists but moral panics that are truly cultish.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:37] — Introduction to Satanic rhetoric and power
• [06:57] — Hosts’ personal history with Satanism in pop culture
• [11:17] — Anton LaVey and the birth of Church of Satan
• [16:22] — The Nine Satanic Statements
• [24:27] — Origins and spread of Satanic Panic
• [32:30] — Lead-in to Sarah Marshall interview
• [32:55] — Sarah Marshall on her connection to the Panic
• [34:55] — Key figures of the Satanic Panic
• [44:42] — Enduring effects of the Panic on mainstream culture
• [48:48] — Panic as a self-perpetuating cult
• [55:09] — Who was actually targeted?
• [63:06] — The real world harms
• [72:23] — Final verdict: Cult category

To Sum Up

This episode uncovers Satanism’s rhetorical and religious history, unpacks the lasting damage of the Satanic Panic, and exposes how moral panics become self-sustaining cults. Expertly blending history, humor, and incisive analysis, “Sounds Like a Cult” asks listeners not just “Is this a cult?” but “Why is society so desperate for one?”