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Look, I’ll be the first to admit: cults are downright fascinating, and I am a little bit obsessed. Clearly I am since I consume an absurd amount of cult media.
But hey, that just makes me weirdly qualified to suggest all the best podcasts about cults you need to download STAT!
Whether you’re interested in a deep dive into one cult, unexpectedly cultish behaviour, or discussion with former members, I promise you’ll find something lurking within this cult podcasts list.
I definitely skew more towards podcasts that cover one specific cult since general cult podcasts can get repetitive and it’s more down to the hosts themselves.
Yes, you will likely find some titles on here you’ve already heard of if you’re a fellow cult enthusiast. After all, if cults are your jam, you’ve probably done some research already.
But hopefully you will still find a new favourite podcast about cults amongst the lot!
How to listen: I’ve linked directly to the podcast website where possible. For those that don’t have their own websites, or the website is not kept up-to-date, I’ve just picked a platform (normally iTunes as it’s what I use). But many of these podcasts can be found across multiple platforms, so if you have a different podcast platform that you use, definitely check it out. Phew, that was a lot of ‘platforms.’
Best Podcasts About Specific Cults
You Must Remember Manson (2015)
It’s hard to imagine a list of podcasts about cults that doesn’t include something about Manson. And yes, there are several options, but You Must Remember Manson is an easy choice.
You Must Remember Manson was originally a chapter in You Must Remember This a podcast by Karina Longworth dedicated to unknown 20th century Hollywood history. If you’re already familiar with Manson, you’ll understand the connection, and if not, you’re in for a treat. But don’t worry, if you’ve already read, watched or listened to everything you can find on Manson, Karina still puts her own Hollywood spin on the story, making it captivating for even the most obsessed.
I’ll be honest, Manson has never been my cup of tea, but there was so much to like about this podcast, that I wound up bingeing the entire thing.
Listen to You Must Remember Manson
End of Days (2018)
After the tragedy that unfolded in Waco, Texas, the Branch Davidians have become one of the most famous and well known cults in the world. Their leader, David Koresh, is the embodiment of a charismatic cult leader.
But what many don’t know about Waco is that amongst the dead were 24 Britons, and that over 30 Britons actually left their home to join the Branch Davidians. In fact, the cult specifically recruited on the streets of three major English cities: London, Manchester and Nottingham.
In this BBC podcast the host, Chris Warburton, travels from London to Manchester and Nottingham to interview family members and survivors, trying to understand what persuaded them to leave behind their homes and families. He then heads to Waco to learn more about the cult itself and just what transpired at Waco.
RELATED: The Best Historical TV Series for Dark Tourists
Bundyville (& Bundyville: The Remnant) (2018)
For anyone who doesn’t believe that right wing anti-government fundamentalism is alive and well in the USA, Bundyville will shake you to your core. For the rest of us, this is just a fascinating and unsettling look into the Bundy family and the alarmingly cultish behaviour of their followers.
Bundyville is hosted by investigative journalist Leah Sottile as she tries to understand what caused Cliven Bundy and his supporters to lead an armed standoff against the US government in Nevada in 2014. As Leah digs further into the story, it’s clear nothing here is entirely clear cut or what it seems.
This is easily one of the most engrossing and best podcasts about cults and how they may just be hiding in plain sight. Season 1 focuses on Cliven and his immediate family, while season 2 (The Remnant) continues to explore the Bundys’ vast web of influence – including connections to terrorists, politicians and other religious cult leaders..
Heaven’s Gate (2017)
If you’ve only heard of one cult, there is about a strong chance that it is Heaven’s Gate, a UFO religious cult based near San Diego in the 1970s. In fact, nearly every single podcast about cults that doesn’t focus on one specific group has an episode on Heaven’s Gate (and if they don’t, I promise you it’s on the cards to do eventually).
And it’s completely understandable that people are so obsessed with Heaven’s Gate since the cult came to a tragic end in 1997 when 39 people committed mass suicide in hopes of ascending to a higher plane of existence.
The Heaven’s Gate cult podcast is hosted by Glynn Washington, who was raised in the apocalyptic religious cult, the Worldwide Church of God (now called Grace Communion International). He weaves his own experiences into the storytelling, as well as interviews and audio clips from family members of deceased former members. Glynn is a captivating host and will drag you into the world of Heaven’s Gate, drown you in and and leave you obsessing for months to follow.
Cult Talk with Erin Martin (2018)
This is easily one of the best podcasts about cults out there that NO ONE is talking about, and it NEEDS to be on more peoples’ radars.
Erin Martin grew up in the relatively unknown cult of the Church of Bible Understanding (COBU), a “communal organisation” in Pennsylvania that preaches its own brand of evangelicalism. The group was founded by Stewart Trail, who coincidentally died just before the podcast was released.
There is honestly so little about this cult available on the internet that it’s hard not to be totally enraptured by Erin’s story (her podcast is “a conversation, not an investigation”). She talks about her own experiences, and also interviews other former members, including her mom, who discuss why they joined, why they stayed, and why the eventually left.
Sadly there is only one season (17 episodes) of Cult Talk with Erin Martin, and shows no sign of coming back for more. But that doesn’t mean you can’t become obsessed with the episodes already out there!
Listen to Cult Talk With Erin Martin
Uncover: Escaping NXIVM (2018)
In 2018, several high profile arrests took the world by storm, as news of a horrific MLM-scheme-turned-cult spread like wildfire. But unlike many cults, it wasn’t the creepy, yet charismatic leader, Keith Raniere, that everyone was talking about… It was his co-conspirator, Allison Mack, former star of the TV show Smallville.
And yeah, as a cult enthusiast – and someone who watched the entirety of Smallville as a teen – I was no different. After all, as more and more horrific details about the NXIVM cult came out, it became impossible to ignore, and it was continuously brought up on many of the other podcasts I was listening to. So when the CBC released Escaping NXIVM, I was all in.
Josh Bloch, the host of season 1, was pulled into this story when he ran into a childhood friend who had been involved with NXIVM. For those who prefer podcasts about cults that focus on one specific cult, this is a must because you will NOT be able to stop bingeing Escaping NXIVM.
While season 1 is so far the only one to focus on an actual cult, season 6 is about the Satanic Panic, and honestly all of the Uncover seasons are about totally gripping topics. The hosts change each season, so if you don’t get on with one, but are interested in other topics, it’s worth giving it a try.
And if you’re fascinated by MLMs (or similar scams), you might want to check out some of these con artist podcasts.
Listen to Uncover: Escaping NXIVM
Before After Aum (2020)
Aum Shinrikyo was a Japanese-based doomsday cult that remains one of the most infamous cults in history due to their terrorist attacks on the Tokyo metro. They were responsible for two attacks in which they released sarin into the air, killing 28 people and injuring over 6000.
One of the hosts of Before After Aum, Atsushi Sakahara survived the second attack in 1995. Now he is a filmmaker, and he made a documentary called Me and the Cult Leader to come to terms with the traumatic event. Sadly, getting the podcast into the film circuit hit a snag when the coronavirus pandemic kicked off.
So, Atsushi and his co-host, Pearl Chan, decided to start Before After Aum in which they talk about how the attack altered his life, the history of Aum Shinrikyo, its members, and religion in Japan and, of course, they discuss his film.
While many podcasts about cults do an episode covering Aum Shinrikyo, none of them compare to this podcast. If this is a cult of particular interest to you, then you need to download Before After Aum immediately.
Dear Franklin Jones (2018)
Ever wonder it was like to grow up in a cult? That was the reality for Dear Franklin Jones host Jonathan L. Hirsch whose parents were followers of the New Age spiritual guru Adi Da Samraj (born born Franklin Jones in 1939).
Dear Franklin Jones, delves into Jonathan’s childhood to try and understand what exactly drew people to Adi Da, and to cult leaders in general. The podcast is in part an exploration of who Franklin Jones was, but it’s also just as much about Hirsch trying to understand who he is and if he did, in fact, grow up in a cult.
In addition to being one of the best podcasts about cults, this is also a good intro to the genre because the episodes are considerably shorter than many of the others on this list AND it’s only seven episodes long. So if you’re not sure if podcasts about cults is your thing, you’ll know after listening to Dear Franklin Jones.
INCEL (2019)
Incels, or Involuntary Celibates are a subculture born of toxic masculinity that breeds radicalism. From these online forums have spawned murders and even domestic terrorists. Although there isn’t always a designated leader, these groups are most certainly cults, operating outside the norm of society, and expressing a belief in a system that doesn’t always seem based in reality.
This incredible podcast is hosted by Naama Kates, an investigative journalist who dove in headfirst to this sordid sect of our society after receiving a DM from an Incel on Twitter.
Naama does not set out to demonise Incels. Instead, she allows her interviewees to say their peace, even when she does not disagree. What she discovered through the men she met in these Incel groups was that while some were capable of terrible things, most of them didn’t fit her assume stereotype. But when it comes to Incels is there more nuance than many of us have come to believe?
Building Utopia (2018)
Did you watch Wild Wild Country and immediately need MORE Osho and Rajneeshpuram in your life? If so, I’ve got great news for you. Building Utopia takes that story even further, diving further down the rabbit hole and uncovering more unsettling truths.
But you don’t need to have seen Wild Wild Country to enjoy this podcast since it retraces the basics without being too repetitive for those who already know them. Rusty King is an engaging host dedicated to providing a top quality cult podcast. Since he’s currently working on a book about Rajneeshpuram it’s safe to say he knows his stuff. Oh, and he wrote most of the music featured in the show, which is pretty cool.
The ONE downside to this show is that it’s currently under hiatus and he’s only part way through the story! He has promised the end is coming, though.
RELATED: Addictive TV Shows About Cults
American Utopia (2018)
This enlightening podcast about cults is all about the Oneida Community, a 19th century perfectionist utopian society in upstate New York. It eventually dissolved and became the Oneida Limited silverware company.
Host Dan Greenstone takes us on a journey through the crazy history of their leader, John Humphrey Noyes, and how the Oneida Community came into being. This is such an unknown, but fascinating part of US history, and great for anyone interested in podcasts about cults from further back in history. Dan does a great job of putting their unorthodox beliefs into the context of what was happening in society at the time.
Conviction: American Panic (2020)
American Panic, the second season of Conviction tells the story of John Quinney who, at the age of ten, was coerced into believing that his father, Melvin, was the homicidal leader of a dangerous satanic cult during the Satanic Panic of the 1980s in the USA.
The host, Saki Knafo, interviews John and others swept up in the Panic to try and understand what exactly happened. This podcast is dark, and touches on uncomfortable topics like sexual abuse of minors, but if you can handle that, it’s worth the listen to learn more about this bizarre chapter in US history.
So yes, teeeeechnically speaking this doesn’t count as a podcast about cults because the cult in question didn’t exist. But given the outrageous level of manipulation that happened during the Satanic Panic, and the fact that the general rise of cults contributed to the phenomenon, I think it definitely counts. This a great edition for anyone interested in finding more podcasts about cults and cult mentality to add to their rotation.
The Gateway: Teal Swan (2018)
The goal for many is to become YouTube famous, and Teal Swan made it, successfully becoming an internet spiritual guru. Or, as many former followers call her, a cult leader.
Her videos – and books – cover a wide array of topics, all designed to help you live your best life and overcome mental health issues. Except that some former followers have died, and others have accused Swan of encouraging their suicides.
The Gateway is a 6-part investigative podcast from reporter Jennings Brown that seeks to understand Teal Swan, her teachings and the behind the scenes of her inner circle.
Best Podcasts About All the Cults
Cults (2017)
The Parcast Network are a powerhouse when it comes to podcasts, and they cover some of my favourite dark topics (serial killers, survival, mythology). So it’s no surprise that one of the first – and best – podcasts about cults that I discovered was this one.
If you like conversational podcasts, this one won’t be for you, but I often prefer Cults because there’s absolutely no fluff to these episodes. However, the all-business approach won’t work for everyone.
Cults kicks off with some heavy hitters like Heaven’s Gate, Aum Shinrikyo and FLDS, but they cover many lesser known cults, as well. The vast majority of the cults are covered in depth over two episodes typically 40-60 minutes each. However in 2020 they started doing more single episode cults and a whole string of extra short episodes (under 10 minutes) to get out more content and help a bit with morale.
If you like Cults, you might also enjoy the Parcast podcast Secret Societies. Although not considered cults, many of these secret societies definitely have some overlaps in terms of member behaviour and radicalism.
RELATED: Best Dark History Podcasts
Let’s Talk About Sects (2017)
Don’t lie, you were drawn in by the name. It’s okay, I was too!
And you’ve made the right call, because host Sarah Steel has put together one of the best podcasts about cults. In addition to hosting, Sarah produces and writes all episodes. And each episode is meticulously researched, utilising quotes, clips and interviews where available in order to enhance the stories she is telling.
Fittingly, Sarah kicks off Let’s Talk About Sects talking about one of her home country of Australia’s most notorious cults, The Family. Although many other episodes also focus on equally famous cults, like Children of God or NXIVM, I particularly love the episodes about lesser known cults, such as Chung Moo Quan or The Move.
Listen to Let’s Talk About Sects
That’s a Cult? (2017)
That’s a Cult? host, Helen McCarthy, examines various internet communities that might, from the outside, appear cultish, and tries to determine if they are in fact cults, or just misunderstood.
So I first discovered this podcast because it starts things off with an episode about childfree people. As a voluntarily childfree person, this piqued my interest as it is a topic that plays a large role in my life and my relationships with others. Granted, I am not actually a part of any childfree online communities, but I can understand why a small community going against the norm might seem “out there” to those not involved.
I braced myself to be insulted for 40 minutes, but it was just an unbiased deep dive into the community. And while I didn’t learn anything in particular about that community, it was still interesting and encouraged me to listen to other episodes.
There are only 12 episodes available for That’s a Cult? and, unfortunately, Helen confirmed in 2020 that there would be no more episodes in the future. While it might not be a podcast about cults, per se, it is one of the best podcasts about cultish behaviour, and one I hope more people give a listen to. From influencers to anti-vaxxers, I was fascinated by every episode.
Zealot (2017)
Do your knees go wobbly over Aussie accents? Well, let me make your day and introduce you to Zealot, a comedy podcast about cults hosted by journalist Jo Thornely. Jo, like me (and you, presumably) is obsessed with cults, and each episode she brings on a fellow enthusiast (normally an Aussie) to discuss different cults.
A lot of comedy cult podcasts don’t hit right for me, but this one does. It says a lot that I personally don’t love Australian accents, but I binged this for hours when I first discovered Zealot, including episodes about cults I’m already well acquainted with.
She often keeps it topical, with 2020 seeing episodes on Trump and Doc Antle, and I have this podcast to thank for introducing me to Paul Verhoeven and his dad’s true crime podcast Loose Units.
You can even pick up Jo’s book, also called Zealot.
IndoctriNation (2018)
IndoctriNation host Rachel Bernstein is a licensed marriage family therapist (LMFT), and has worked with victims of cults and emotional abusers for over 25 years. Because of her professional background, Rachel brings an expertise to the table that many of these other podcasts about cults just don’t have. This is especially true when examining the psychology behind members and leaders.
But don’t worry, despite her vast professional knowledge on cults, IndoctriNation is totally accessible to everyone. And it is meant to be, as one intent of the podcast is to teach people about systems of control so that they can avoid them.
Many episodes impart practical steps and advice, such as the episode on QAnon where she gives advice on speaking to and coping with friends and family ‘lost’ to QAnon. In other episodes, Rachel interviews other cult experts and former members in order to give the full picture of why people join cults, and the emotional fallout for those who get out.
Generation Cult (2018)
Generation Cult is a two season podcast that specifically focuses on people who grew up in cults. The host of the podcast, Dhyana Levey, herself grew up in a cult (The United Lodge of Theosophists or ULT) and wanted to better understand the effect these upbringings have on people who don’t choose this life.
In addition to discussing her own story, Dhyana talks with other children of cults about their childhoods and how they adjusted back into society after leaving the cult.
This is of course one of the best podcasts about cults for anyone curious about what it’s like to grow up as a cult member and how indoctrination can change the entire trajectory of your life.
Shunned (2017)
Many cults practice shunning former members, and do so deliberately to persuade people from leaving the fold. Shunning is serious business, and often results in families being torn apart as parents can no longer speak to their children (and vice versa) once someone leaves the faith. Siblings, friends, cousins, everyone you’ve ever known is now forbidden from speaking to you. It’s not surprising that this leads many people to rejoin.
Shunned is dedicated specifically to telling the stories of those who left their cults and communities, and were shunned for doing so. The stories are overwhelmingly from Jehovah’s Witnesses, but there are other groups covered, as well. Despite so many stories coming from the same religion, they never get repetitive, even when similar themes and journeys are covered. Although other shows sometimes talk to former members, this is definitely one of the best podcasts about cults if you’re interested in the effects of shunning.
Earlier episodes are one person telling their own story (they are conducted as interviews, but the host strips his own audio out), but after a while the format did change to become actual interviews/discussions instead. While I understand the initial choice, I think the new format works better. The host has himself also gone through this process (and initially shared his own story in the 9 part series This JW Life).
Cult Podcast (2017)
A lot of these podcasts are pretty serious, and I’m down with that – cults are serious. But if you prefer heavy topics to be presented in a fun, lighthearted way, Cult Podcast is the podcast about cults for you.
Like all self-respecting podcasts about cults, they’ve covered household names like Charles Manson, Rajneeshpuram and the Branch Davidians, but they also dive into much more obscure groups, as well. Each episode is 45 – 90 minutes, and there is a good mixture of multi-part stories and single episode stories. If you don’t want to start at the beginning, their series of Trump episodes is a great starting place.
I will say that in my opinion some of the episodes drag a bit more, especially the intros, but that is not unusual [for me] with conversational podcasts. However, the hosts (Paige Wesley, Armando Torres, and Andrea Guzzetta) have clearly done their research and always bring something new to the discussion… once they properly dive into the topic.