You don’t have to join a cult to get manipulated—just log onto the internet.

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we’re diving into the marketing matrix with Dr. Mara Einstein, professor, media critic, and author of Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults. From influencer culture and MLMs to “brand cults” and rage farming, Mara breaks down how modern marketing preys on fear, insecurity, and our need to belong.

She joins Sarah and Nippy for a deep-dive into the culty parallels between conversion funnels and recruitment tactics, why brands like Apple and Lululemon are more community than commerce, and how social media algorithms corral us into echo chambers where we become both the audience and the product.

If you’ve ever felt like your phone is reading your mind, or like the coaching industry is selling more promises than progress, this one’s for you.

This is Part 1 of a two-part convo. Stay tuned next week for more!
To learn more about Dr. Einstein and her work, visit drmaraeinstein.com.

Also… let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

Check out our lovely sponsors

Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

Support the pod and smash this link

Cult awareness and recovery resources

Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

This episode is sponsored in part by BetterHelp.

New Age isn’t just sage bundles and Instagram affirmations. It can also be a fast track to conspiracy-laced belief systems, grifty gurus, and straight-up cults. In this episode, we’re joined by journalist and podcaster Leah Sottile, whose new book Blazing Eye Sees All takes a sharp look at how New Age spirituality has seeped into American culture, and not always in ways that sparkle.

We dig into the strange and disturbing world of Love Has Won, a New Age cult led by self-proclaimed deity Amy Carlson, aka Mother God, who gained infamy for turning blue from drinking colloidal silver. (Yes, really.) Leah breaks down how Carlson built a loyal following online, why her followers believed she channeled Robin Williams, and how the group continued after her death.

We also talk about the deeper issues hiding behind the crystal curtains—like why women are often drawn to New Age ideologies, the patriarchal dynamics hidden in so-called matriarchal cults, and the troubling rise of antisemitism in these belief systems.

This one is equal parts fascinating and horrifying. Come for the blue lady, stay for the sharp insight.

You can find more of Leah and her work on her website https://leahsottile.com/, on her blog, and on Instagram @leah.sottile

Also… let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

Check out our lovely sponsors

Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

Support the pod and smash this link

Cult awareness and recovery resources

Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

Alcoholics Anonymous has become a household name. You’ve probably heard of the 12 steps, sponsors, and sobriety chips. At its best, AA can be life-changing. But in some chapters, things can take a darker turn, and when they do, there’s no centralized structure to step in.

In this episode, we’re talking with April McLean—a blogger and former member of AA who found herself deep in a high-control group that looked a lot like a cult. April bravely walks us through her journey across three different AA groups, where love bombing, spiritual shaming, and manipulation were passed off as “tough love.” What started as a path to recovery became a minefield of emotional abuse, gaslighting, and coercive control.

We explore what happens when sponsors exploit their position of power, how AA’s decentralized model leaves members vulnerable, and why it’s so important to listen to your gut when something feels off, even in a space that’s supposed to help you heal.

Trigger warning for addiction and alcohol abuse.

Note: We’re not here to bash AA as a whole—it’s helped a lot of people. But as April’s story shows, it’s possible for helpful frameworks to become harmful when the wrong people are in charge. If you’re struggling with substance abuse or any mental health crisis, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. And if you're feeling trapped in a culty or coercive environment, visit our resource page for support.

To read more of April’s story, check out her blog: substack.com/@aprilmclean

Also… let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

Check out our lovely sponsors

Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

Support the pod and smash this link

Cult awareness and recovery resources

Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin