Videos

“Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair.” - Mariame Kaba With the tragic June 24th reversal of Roe v Wade, Chris & Kayla eschew the usual format and lean hard into talking about helpers. --- *Search Categories* Destructive --- *Topic Spoiler* Abortion Justice & Access --- *Further…

"The worm is not to be trusted" - William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra Chris & Kayla "dig in" to an unlikely but prolific Ponzi scheme in this week's episode. --- *Search Categories* Business; MLM --- *Topic Spoiler* B&B Worm Farm Ponzi scheme --- *Further Reading* https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/06/30/crawling-with-trouble https://www.thedailyscoop.com/news/agricultures-darkest-fraud-hidden-under-dirt-and-lies https://www.wave3.com/story/1296095/out-of-town-company-leaves-ky-worm-farmers-hanging/ https://www.agweb.com/news/machinery/100-ideas/ags-darkest-fraud-hidden-dirt https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2003/04/15/state-brings-lawsuit-against-worm-grower/62048417007/…

"We use Halloween to scare the kids and bankers to scare the adults. - Anthony T. Hincks" Chris and Kayla revisit a past guest to explore a new topic - and take a look at our own biases. Special thanks to returning friend of the show, Mike Rothschild! @rothschildmd on…

We here at Cult or Just Weird like to call ourselves a family. Kayla & Chris deep dive into a recent article outlining the cult-like criteria present in an area of life where most of us toil away. --- *Search Categories* Business --- *Topic Spoiler* "Company or Cult?" article from…

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. -Jack Kornfield Chris & Kayla tap into their trust network- all the previous guests of the show- to help them build a toolbox of self care strategies. --- *Search Categories* Alt Medicine/Wellness --- *Topic Spoiler* Self care ideas from COJW…

"A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter. -Mary Lou Heiss" You might want to put that cup of tea down while Kayla spills some of her own tea about a certain producer of such products. Warning: Eugenics :( --- *Search Categories* New Age; Business; Destructive; Alt…

Information is abundant. Your attention is priceless. Chris & Kayla kick off S4 of Cult or Just Weird by finding a pretty darn good helper, who has some advice all of us stand to benefit from. --- *Search Categories* Anthropological; Internet culture; Conspiracy Theory --- *Topic Spoiler* Interview w/ Mike…

Chris & Kayla interview Stephanie McNeal, Senior Buzzfeed culture reporter, and author of the article on LuLaRoe: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/lularoe-millennial-women-entrepreneurship-lawsuits Rise & Fall of LuLaRoe Discovery+ documentary featuring Ms McNeal: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16125656/ *** This episode was originally published to Cult or Just Weird patrons (https://www.patreon.com/cultorjustweird) on 12/21/2021.

Every step is on the path. (Lao Tzu) Chris & Kayla reflect on their journey producing three seasons of Cult or Just Weird, and discuss what lies in store for the future. Happy Holidays & may your 2022 bring peace and happiness. --- *Search Categories* Common Interest/Fandom --- *Topic Spoiler*…

The tree of spiritual munificence must be refreshed from time to time. Chris gets to learn all about the Amish from someone whose story has been featured on a previous episode. (thanks to Lizzie Hershberger, co-author of Behind Blue Curtains, for her time & insights!) --- *Search Categories* Anthropological; Destructive…

"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water." -Loren Eiseley Chris revisits a previous topic but widens the scope by deep diving into the (sometimes violent) religious shards of context. --- *Search Categories* New Religious Movement; Anthropological --- *Topic Spoiler* Amish (Anabaptist origins) --- *Further Reading*…

Every November comes with a kaleidoscope of changing leaves, the aroma of pumpkin spice, and doesn't come with other things. Kayla goes hard on a nutty topic and comes up with some deep insights and penetrating analysis. --- *Search Categories* Internet Culture; Common Interest/Fandom; Alt Medicine/Wellness --- *Topic Spoiler* No…

We must cultivate our garden. Chris gets to talk to a scientist of mammoth significance, clarifying and context-ifying a topic from 4 episodes ago. Special thanks to Nikita Zimov, Director of Pleistocene Park, for his time & insights for this episode! Twitter: https://twitter.com/PleistocenePark --- *Search Categories* Science; Anthropological --- *Topic…

It can poison your soul. Chris and Kayla talk with one of their favorite conspiracy theory/spirituality/cultic studies writer & podcaster - and dive deep into bodily fascism, the yoga community, and what conspiritualists get right. Special thanks to Matthew Remski for his time & (incredibly clarifying) insights for this episode!…

“Separate text from context and all that remains is a con.” - Stewart Stafford Kayla takes a break from watching TikToks to give us a bunch of context and info about a pretty weird trend she's noticed on TikTok. --- *Search Categories* New Age; Science/Pseudoscience; Internet culture; Destructive; Alt Medicine/Wellness…

All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again. Chris & Kayla seek an expert to help deliver an update on one of last season's very timely topics. Special thanks to guest Travis View (@travis_view on Twitter) from the QAnonAnonymous podcast for his time and insights for…

Small steppes can have Mammoth effects. Chris takes us on a journey to the far reaches of the Earth to find some unintuitive science and some unlikely helpers in the fight to save civilization from our changing climate. --- *Search Categories* Science/Pseudoscience; Anthropological --- *Topic Spoiler* Pleistocene Park --- *Further…

I don't want to believe. I want to know. -Carl Sagan Kayla sciences even harder on the Self Realization Fellowship: their beliefs, their organizational structures & rules, and the veracity of some of Paramahansa Yogananda's claims (don't hold your breath). --- *Search Categories* New Religious Movement; New Age; Science/Pseudoscience; Alt…

There are disciples who seek a guru made in their own image. -Paramahansa Yogananda Kayla enlightens Chris about an influential organization, stretching across America, started by a chain of gurus. --- *Search Categories* New Religious Movement; New Age; Science/Pseudoscience; Anthropological; Alt Medicine/Wellness --- *Topic Spoiler* Self Realization Fellowship --- *Further…

Abusive systems rely on guilt, gaslighting, and isolation. You need not be perfect. You are not crazy. And you aren't alone. Chris & Kayla talk to trauma-informed writer & survivor activist, Molly Maeve Eagan (mollymaeve.com), co-author of true crime memoir "Behind Blue Curtains" (https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Blue-Curtains-Survival-Pursuit-ebook/dp/B0925CBPKZ) --- *Search Categories* Anthropological; Destructive ---…

Out of an abundance of caution, we are making this podcast. Chris doesn't hesitate to take us on the longest CoJW episode journey yet, into the movement(s) that oppose all that science we set up in the previous episode. Search Categories --- Science / Pseudoscience; Anthropological; Destructive; Conspiracy Theory; Alt…

We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us. Chris takes us on a journey to a land that is simultaneously far away, yet near, ancient, yet brand new. **many thanks to Zach Mortice (www.zachmortice.com) for lending his energy & insights for this episode!** Search Categories --- Anthropological; Common Interest/Fandom; Conspiracy…

Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors. In the first episode of CoJW's third season, Chris sets up the science and history behind a movement that has been in the global conversation lately. Search Categories --- Science / Pseudoscience; Anthropological; Destructive; Conspiracy Theory; Alt Medicine / Wellness Topic Spoiler…

What is the truth of pink? Chris & Kayla decide it's high time to interview some experts on the show. There are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Special thanks to Nancy Carlson, and Tracy Coenen of http://www.pinktruth.com/ for…