A few weeks ago, I was listening to A Little Bit Culty, and the episode was about Twin Flames Universe (TFU), a high-pressure group I'd never heard of before. The guest was Keely Griffin, a former member of the group. I've heard of the concept of "twin flames," but I had no idea there was a whole culty organization centered on the idea. A few days later I heard an advertisement for a new Wondery show called Twin Flames that explores and exposes the group, and I immediately downloaded the first two episodes.
Read moreYA Book Club: Those Who Prey
Mary: WELCOME TO YA BOOK CLUB! This time around we have Susan joining us, because we know that Susan loves a good cult book. We read Those Who Prey (see what they did there??) by Jennifer Moffett. It follows Emily, a student at BU hailing from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as she becomes embroiled in a dangerous cult, eventually traveling to Italy on a mission trip. Things get wild fast once Emily leaves the country, stuck with an unenthusiastic mentor that seems to be hiding something.
Emily: I’m really disturbed by the fact that this person’s name is Emily. Oh, and before we get started, since Susan picked out the book for us this time, I wanted to ask her a little bit about why she picked it. Like, yes, it’s a cult book. But what made you excited about this specific cult book, Susan?
Susan: Of course, the cult was the first thing that got my attention, but I also love books set in or around schools. I thought the college setting would make for a fun way into the cult plot line. I also don’t read a lot of YA and wanted to mix things up a little with this one!
Spoilers for Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett to follow.
Read moreThe Wild Ride of The Way Down
The culty content keeps coming with HBO's The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin, a new docuseries that investigates the Remnant Fellowship Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, and its strange leader. The "church" evolves from a weight loss-focused workshop to an evangelical Christian spinoff to an full-fledged cult. The Way Down traces the rise and fall of Gwen Shamblin, the cult's body-obsessed leader, as she transforms Remnant Fellowship into the dangerous high-control group that it still is today. Some spoilers for The Way Down to follow.
Read more5 Compelling Books About Cults
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People are gripped by tales of the weirdest and most extreme things that happen in cults, but for me, the most fascinating aspect of these groups isn’t always the salacious stuff. What interests me most is exploring why people join cults in the first place, and learning how manipulation over time can lead to extremism. While we might think we’re “safe” from influence, cult survivor stories—and even fictional cult stories—show us just how vulnerable we all are to coercion when it’s disguised as something positive, whether that be religious salvation, self-improvement, or an alternative lifestyle. These five books will satisfy your cult curiosity, make you think, and remind you that we’re all human.
Read moreSusan's #PodSquad: Escaping NXIVM
Image: CBC Radio
Hold tight, #PodSquad-ers, because this one’s a doozy.
In addition to my love of true crime stories, I have an almost-equal fascination with cult stories. Sometimes the stars align and these interests overlap because, as we well know – ahem, Jonestown – cults and crime often go hand-in-hand.
At the intersection of cult and crime, I present to you: Uncover: Escaping NXIVM.
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