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Cult or Just Weird

Cult or Just Weird

Cult Or Just Weird

Join Chris & Kayla on their journeys of humor, discovery, and the absurd as they try to answer the question... is it a cult, or just weird?

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Top 10 Cult or Just Weird Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Cult or Just Weird episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Cult or Just Weird for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Cult or Just Weird episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Cult or Just Weird - S1E5 - The Catalyst (Teal Swan)
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05/14/19 • 86 min

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---

Did it really happen the way you remember?

In CoJW's first two parter, Kayla and Chris tackle a surprisingly huge topic - and peel back the many layers to try to understand an interesting but dark persona made famous on the internet.

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*Search Categories*

New Age; Business; Internet Culture; Destructive

---

*Topic Spoiler*

Teal Swan, pt1

---

*Further Reading*

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE:

1-800-273-8255

CRISIS TEXT LINE

Teal Swan Youtube

Teal Swan website

Wayback Machine

The Gateway Podcast

Oh No, Ross & Carrie Podcast (check their episodes "Synchronize with Teal")

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Cult or Just Weird - S5E11 - The Full Circle (Death Cafes)
play

11/21/23 • 107 min

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---

There is but one freedom, to put oneself right with death. After that everything is possible.

-Albert Camus

Chris and Kayla contemplate that one thing that joins us all.

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*Search Categories*

Common interest / Fandom

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*Topic Spoiler*

Death Cafes

---

*Further Reading*

https://deathcafe.com/

https://www.talkdeath.com/what-is-death-cafe-my-experience-studying-participating-hosting-death-cafes/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Cafe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Crettaz

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/-sociologist-of-death--bernard-crettaz-dies/48095070

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/47104/take-me-to-the-death-cafe

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/22/death-cafe-talk-about-dying

https://seniorsathome.jfcs.org/what-is-a-death-cafe/

https://www.npr.org/2013/03/08/173808940/death-cafes-breathe-life-into-conversations-about-dying

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Niklas Brock

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Noelle Hoover, Tesa Hamilton, Nicole Carter, Paige, Brian Lancaster, tiny

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Cult or Just Weird - S5E8 - The Chanters (Hare Krishnas, pt 1)
play

09/26/23 • 118 min

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---

"Repetition not for monotony but the ecstasy it induces." - Martha Graham

Chris and Kayla go to a restaurant. Kind of. Don't worry, we'll repeat ourselves.

---

*Search Categories*

New Religious Movement; Anthropological

---

*Topic Spoiler*

The Hare Krishnas / ISKCON

---

*Further Reading*

https://iskconla.com/Home.aspx

https://www.iskcon.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Society_for_Krishna_Consciousness

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._C._Bhaktivedanta_Swami_Prabhupada

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sweet_Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04v-SdKeEpE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMgEupff-E

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12236-can-cultic-groups-change-.html

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12247-can-it-be-that-the-hare-krishnas-are-not-hindu-.html

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12198-where-have-all-the-krishnas-gone.html

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12228-group-battles-airport-limits-on-solicitors-.htm

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12230-hare-krishna-solicitors-are-again-being-restricted-at-los-angeles-international-airport.html

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12239-at-uf-theres-no-free-lunch.html

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12245-can-hare-krishna-chant-cure-depression.html

https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Hare_Krishna

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Niklas Brock

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Noelle Hoover, Tesa Hamilton, Nicole Carter, Paige

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Cult or Just Weird - S3E17 - The Contest (No Nut November)
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11/16/21 • 85 min

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---

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.

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*Search Categories*

Internet Culture; Common Interest/Fandom; Alt Medicine/Wellness

---

*Topic Spoiler*

No Nut November (and NoFap)

---

*Further Reading*

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Annika Ramen, Zero...

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Freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices. - Theodor Adorno

Chris tries to land this Ayn Rand plane in an objectively satisfying manner.

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*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Common interest / Fandom

---

*Topic Spoiler*

Objectivism & Ayn Rand

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*Further Reading*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand_Institute

https://ari.aynrand.org/

https://courses.aynrand.org/campus-courses/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ayn-Rand

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ayn-Rand/The-Collective-and-the-Nathaniel-Branden-Institute

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ayn-rand/

http://aynrandlexicon.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is%E2%80%93ought_problem

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Objectivism

https://www.atlassociety.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_Society

https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2020-04-18/ty-article-magazine/.premium/i-visited-the-secret-lair-of-the-ayn-rand-cult/0000017f-ef06-ddba-a37f-ef6e2c740000

https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/the-unlikeliest-cult-in-history/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/3kyxvv/nxivm-jordan-peterson-and-the-reincarnation-of-ayn-rands-cult

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ayn_Rand_Cult

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/primate-diaries/ayn-rand-on-human-nature/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Branden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaron_Brook

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peikoff

https://www.conservapedia.com/Objectivism

http://michaelprescott.freeservers.com/romancing-the-stone-cold.html

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595267335/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_argument

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ominous_Parallels

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

https://www.atlassociety.org/post/frank-lloyd-wright-and-ayn-rand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XysDgbp9uo4

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Hanna

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Ke...

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---

It's hard to detect good luck--it looks so much like something you've earned. - Frank A. Clark

Chris and Kayla visit a liquor store to try and resurrect the American dream.

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*Search Categories*

Anthropological; Destructive

---

*Topic Spoiler*

The American State-run Lottery System

---

*Further Reading*

https://www.amazon.com/Dollar-Dream-Lotteries-Modern-America/dp/0197604889

https://www.jonathandcohen.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotteries_in_the_United_States

https://www.calottery.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology

https://www.praywithme.com/prayer-to-win-lottery.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/15/california-powerball-winner-named

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritocracy

https://www.vox.com/conversations/2016/11/22/13652860/income-inequality-meritocracy-robert-frank-success-luck-ethics

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Niklas Brock

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Noelle Hoover, Tesa Hamilton, Nicole Carter

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Cult or Just Weird - S4E18 - The Heavy Weight (Fat Liberation & Acceptance)
play

11/29/22 • 86 min

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---

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

-Audre Lorde

Kayla & Chris have a healing conversation about a topic that weighs heavily on all of us.

---

*Search Categories*

Destructive; Science / Pseudoscience; Alt Medicine / Wellness

---

*Topic Spoiler*

Fat Liberation & Fat Acceptance

---

*Further Reading*

https://denariigrace.com/

https://nyupress.org/9781479886753/fearing-the-black-body/

https://naafa.org/

https://asdah.org/

https://unsolicitedftb.libsyn.com/

https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/

https://dashaunharrison.com/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/104805/marilyn-wann/#:~:text=Marilyn%20Wann%20is%20a%20fat,She%20later%20published%20the%20FAT!

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781315603285/queering-fat-embodiment-cat-paus%C3%A9-jackie-wykes-samantha-murray

http://www.radiancemagazine.com/issues/1998/winter_98/fat_underground.html

https://www.virgietovar.com/

https://www.marquiselemercedes.com/

https://www.caleb-luna.com/

https://www.instagram.com/blackqueeriroh/?hl=en

https://www.jordanunderwood.com/

https://antidietriotclub.co.uk/

https://www.yourfatfriend.com/fat-reading-list

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin

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Cult or Just Weird - S5E9 - The Criminals (Hare Krishnas, pt2)
play

10/10/23 • 91 min

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---

"It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible."

-David Brin

Chris and Kayla explore the nature of power and learn some shocking stories about the group du jour in this part two.

---

*Search Categories*

New Religious Movement; Anthropological

---

*Topic Spoiler*

The Hare Krishnas / ISKCON

---

*Further Reading*

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07B4TLHNG/allbooks

http://www.henrydoktorski.com/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1990/05/26/hare-krishna-leader-tied-to-murder-plot/5308aa16-44f7-459d-b62e-4c3acc4e1a4f/

https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/29/us/ex-hare-krishna-leader-gets-20-year-sentence.html

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-28-me-4819-story.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Vrindaban

https://gbc.iskcon.org/

​​http://www.henrydoktorski.com/Killing4Krishna/2018_Memorial_Service.html

https://thecinemaholic.com/charles-st-denis-and-stephen-bryant-murders-is-kirtanananda-swami-dead-or-alive/

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/02/archives/california-slaying-case-involves-exmafia-figures-and-krishnas.html

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12236-can-cultic-groups-change-.html

https://culteducation.com/group/1016-iskcon/12198-where-have-all-the-krishnas-gone.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/16/archives/swami-prabhupada-hare-krishna-head-founder-of-movement-81-came-to.html

https://ffl.org/

https://iscowp.org/

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Patrick St-Onge, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Niklas Brock

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Benevolent Loki, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Noelle Hoover, Tesa Hamilton, Nicole Carter, Paige, Brian Lancaster

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Cult or Just Weird - S5-and-a-half: Patreon Discussion of Season 5
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02/25/24 • 25 min

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---

Chris & Kayla recap the experience of experiencing things for Season 5 of Cult or Just Weird.

(previously published on CoJW's patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/season-5-bonus-95443966)

---

*Patreon Credits*

Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy sarah marshall, Martina Dobson, Eillie Anzilotti, Lewis Brown, Kelly Smith Upton, Wild Hunt Alex, Niklas Brock

Jenny Lamb, Matthew Walden, Rebecca Kirsch, Pam Westergard, Ryan Quinn, Paul Sweeney, Erin Bratu, Liz T, Lianne Cole, Samantha Bayliff, Katie Larimer, Fio H, Jessica Senk, Proper Gander, Nancy Carlson, Carly Westergard-Dobson, banana, Megan Blackburn, Instantly Joy, Athena of CaveSystem, John Grelish, Rose Kerchinske, Annika Ramen, Alicia Smith, Kevin, Velm, Dan Malmud, tiny, Dom, Tribe Label - Panda - Austin, Noelle Hoover, Tesa Hamilton, Nicole Carter, Paige, Brian Lancaster, tiny

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Cult or Just Weird - Slight Delay on S2 Finale!

Slight Delay on S2 Finale!

Cult or Just Weird

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12/22/20 • 0 min

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FAQ

How many episodes does Cult or Just Weird have?

Cult or Just Weird currently has 118 episodes available.

What topics does Cult or Just Weird cover?

The podcast is about Learning, Society & Culture, Comedy, Podcasts, Truecrime and Cult.

What is the most popular episode on Cult or Just Weird?

The episode title 'S1E5 - The Catalyst (Teal Swan)' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Cult or Just Weird?

The average episode length on Cult or Just Weird is 91 minutes.

How often are episodes of Cult or Just Weird released?

Episodes of Cult or Just Weird are typically released every 14 days.

When was the first episode of Cult or Just Weird?

The first episode of Cult or Just Weird was released on Apr 1, 2019.

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