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The air is thick with cultiness these days.
Theres all the stuff with Trumpism, Qanon, and other such prominent political ideologies that trend toward extremism.
It also doesnt help that I live in Idaho.
Joining Montell on the project, Medina brings production acumen, along with a more cult-curious sensibility.
We asked ourselves,How are we making an actual productive contribution to this stuff?
Montell:Well, I grew up with a cult survivor in the family.
My dad spent his teenage years in a pretty notorious cult calledSynanon.
My dad was immediately very skeptical.
I grew up on the stories of the rituals, conformity, and everything that went on there.
(We just did an episodeon the cult of theater kids.)
I was in a sorority in college.
We didour pilot episode on SoulCyclewhile I was going to outdoor SoulCycle classes every week during the pandemic.
I think that comes from feeling like I never really fit in anywhere.
Im Latina, Im queer, Im bisexual, Im an immigrant.
Its thatthird culture kidthing.
So theres always a sense of balancing between worlds.
I also dont like to be put in boxes, so I like to try everything.
What do you think your listeners are drawn to?
Medina:Part of it is probably just the times.
Weve been coming out of a period thats frankly pretty dark: Its a pandemic, people are struggling.
Montell:I think its also that awareness of cultishness within our culture has really spiked.
Cults tend to thrive during times of sociopolitical tumult, right?
So people are turning to these alternative, often-online cultish communities for fill the voids.
I think were all noticing that.
As skeptical as we can be, were also fundamentally optimistic.
We often end up sitting between categories, and we remind our listeners that these are just our opinions.
you’re able to feel however you want to feel.
Montell:Also, the definition of a cult is so subjective.
Its so loaded with judgment.
Its important to acknowledge that subjectivity.
How would you describe the framework you use?
Montell:Yeah, so, that was the challenge when we started putting this show together.
Everything can be cultish, so how do we get more defined and nuanced about it?
If only one was present, its more of a Live Your Life sorta phenomenon.
But that just felt too cumbersome.
Still, theres a rubric in the back of our minds.
Is there an us versus them mentality?
An ends justify the means philosophy?
Is there one unifying charismatic leader?
Are there supernatural beliefs?
Are we talking about financial exploitation?
Whats the worst-case scenario here?
Montell:A lot of it has to do with unchecked power.
But intuition is not always enough when assessing a group.
We come with our own biases.
So we want to call attention to the idea that there are different takes on this stuff.
But unchecked power abuse?
Our point is not to create a sense of sensationalism or alarmism.
Its more that cultiness is something that shows up in places you might not otherwise think to look.
Im still thinking about your comment earlier about cultiness becoming more prominent during tumultuous periods.
So that makes sense about the Obama era.
Sure, our culture is becoming more secular.
Were moving away from the organized religions we all grew up on.
But were not becoming less spiritual or community-focused.
Were going to change the world and do it together.
Could your podcast itself be a cult?
Medina:[Laughs.]
We made that joke the other day on the podcast.
We were like, Who would ever follow someone around willingly and pay for their friendship?
Montell:I think if we start saying that were not cult leaders, were probably a cult.
Its likethat monologue inFleabag: I want someone to tell me what to wear in the morning.
I was literally thinking about that scene throughout this entire conversation.
Montell:Thats so it, right?
But we emphasize constantly that this is just our opinion.
