Best Nippy Podcasts (2026)

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Cults to Consciousness: Shelise Ann Sola on Post-Mormon Podcast Life (Part 1) 42:47

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1d ago42:47

42:47

In the first part of our conversation, artist, podcaster, and former Mormon Shelise Ann Sola joins us to talk about growing up in a devout Latter-day Saint (LDS) family. She internalized “perfect girl” expectations and slowly deconstructed the high-demand beliefs that shaped her identity and relationships. Shelise shares how modesty culture, purity…

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Setting Healthy Boundaries: Elicia Ybarra on Red Flags in Martial Arts (Part 2) 37:00

5d ago37:00

37:00

In Part 2 of our conversation with Elicia Ybarra, she unpacks her path to healing through EMDR trauma therapy. She realized how buried triggers from years of grooming and abuse sabotaged her marriage and self-defense curriculum development, leading to a near-separation and inability to be touched even by her son. She broke down her "Pretty Hands, H…

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Setting Healthy Boundaries: Elicia Ybarra on Red Flags in Martial Arts (Part 1) 46:21

8d ago46:21

46:21

In Part 1 of our conversation with martial artist and empowerment self-defense instructor Elicia Ybarra, we trace how a childhood love of ninja turtles and karate turned into a 30-year journey through grooming, coercive control, and abuse in multiple martial arts settings, and how she eventually turned all of it into a curriculum to help other wome…

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A Little Bit Extra: A Casual Xmas Chat, AMA, and Listener Voicemails 36:34

12d ago36:34

36:34

Ring the sleigh bells for this A Little Bit Extra Thursday Christmas bonus. We navigate thorny territory around recent NXIVM-adjacent podcasts we legally can't discuss yet. Trust us, we have thoughts, and Sarah spills her feelings about all the drama on her hour-long debrief with Mark Vicente. We reflect on our favorite episodes from 2025—ones that…

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Twin Flames Universe Took My Niece: Cheryl Tuppa Speaks Out 57:15

15d ago57:15

57:15

In this episode, Cheryl Tuppa joins the pod to tell the story of her niece Briana’s seven-year entanglement with Twin Flames Universe—from a late-night Google search about soulmates to a full-blown high-control group that nearly swallowed her life and savings. A longtime cybersecurity specialist, Cheryl walks us through how a close, resourceful New…

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Love Has Won: Andrew-Ryan Profaci on His Time with Mother God (Part 2) 32:16

19d ago32:16

32:16

In Part 2 of our conversation with Andrew-Ryan Profaci, we pick up right where things get extra bananas: the “quantum hoax,” the moment he pulled back the curtain on Love Has Won’s manufactured enemies, fake spiritual threats, and collective delusion. Andrew-Ryan realized the whole thing was a miniature version of the way abusive systems run in the…

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Love Has Won: Andrew-Ryan Profaci on His Time with Mother God (Part 1) 45:45

22d ago45:45

45:45

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. In the first of this two-part episode, we finally go inside Love Has Won with someone who was actually there, and who tried to stop it from the inside out. We talk with Andrew-Ryan Profaci about how a lonely, spiritually curious guy dealing with addiction recovery, job loss, and a rabbit hole of conspiracies…

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Amanda Montell: Cultish and Coded Language, Revisited (Part 2) 35:34

26d ago35:34

35:34

Amanda Montell returns for round two, diving into what she's learned since Cultish dropped: Instagram comment wars as tribal battlegrounds, "platforming" as a thought-terminating cliché, and why understanding opposing views could get you canceled. We bonded over podcast economics, navigated controversy around Sounds Like a Cult episodes on Waldorf …

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Amanda Montell: Cultish and Coded Language, Revisited (Part 1) 35:31

29d ago35:31

35:31

Amanda Montell—author, linguist, and our reigning three-time champion guest—returns in studio to talk about the newly released paperback edition of Cultish, the book that launched a thousand cult-discourse hot takes and made us all think twice about our SoulCycle memberships. We dove into what it's like to write a cult book when you're 27, watch it…

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A Little Bit Extra: Post-Thanksgiving Word Salad and Listener Voicemails 27:02

1M ago27:02

27:02

We’re back for A Little Bit Extra Thursday filled with Thanksgiving word salads and gallows humor. We chat about the last few truly bonkers weeks, share a long-awaited update on the book (spoiler: it’s actually finished and with our copy editor!), and talk about why we can’t publicly comment on certain NXIVM-adjacent podcasts just yet. We listen to…

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Anthia Gillick on OneTaste: Strokes, Sex, and Shame 54:00

1M ago54:00

54:00

When does sexual empowerment cross the line into cult control? Following Ellen Huet’s OneTaste expose, we sat with Anthia Gillick—former OneTaste “insider,” survivor, and truth-teller—for a deep dive into the mechanics of manipulation inside one of the most controversial so-called “wellness” groups of the last decade. Anthia shares her journey from…

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Real Housewife and Bad Mormon: Heather Gay on Surviving Mormonism (Part 2) 39:03

1M ago39:03

39:03

We’re back with the second half of our conversation with the unstoppable Heather Gay: housewife, truth-teller, and newly minted slayer of Mormon silence. Heather gets real (and really funny) about what she’s gained since stepping away from the church: self-discovery, creative freedom, and the kind of joy 10-year-old her would’ve fainted over. We di…

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Real Housewife and Bad Mormon: Heather Gay on Surviving Mormonism (Part 1) 38:08

1M ago38:08

38:08

Heather Gay, Real Housewife, “Bad Mormon,” and faith deconstruction trailblazer, joined us to talk about her journey from devout church girl to outspoken survivor. She shares what made Mormonism so magnetic, how family, secrets, and ritual shaped her upbringing, and the pivotal moments that cracked her certainty wide open, including appearing on pa…

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Empire of Orgasm: Ellen Huet on the Different Strokes of OneTaste (Part 2) 46:42

2M ago46:42

46:42

We dive even deeper in Part two with Ellen Huet to unpack what drove OneTaste’s inner circle, its culty sales playbook, and the strange tangle of power, personal growth, and manipulation. Ellen reveals the hidden pressures—financial, sexual, emotional—that kept members tied to the group (and often hemorrhaging money), and explains how buzzwords lik…

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Empire of Orgasm: Ellen Huet on the Different Strokes of OneTaste (Part 1) 41:22

2M ago41:22

41:22

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. What happens when the pursuit of female pleasure blurs into high-pressure sales, psychological control, and a federal criminal trial? In this two-part episode, we’re joined by journalist Ellen Huet for a candid dive into the rise and fall of OneTaste and the controversial practice of orgasmic meditation. Ell…

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My Cult Your Cult: Sean Prophet on the Church Universal and Triumphant (Part 2) 44:04

2M ago44:04

44:04

What actually happens when the world doesn’t end, the “shelf” breaks, and the self-proclaimed prince of a doomsday empire is left standing amid the fallout? In this powerful follow-up, Sean Prophet takes us through the final years of apocalyptic shelter drills, shattered prophecies, and how an edict about near-beer triggered a total loss of faith i…

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My Cult Your Cult: Sean Prophet on the Church Universal and Triumphant (Part 1) 44:58

2M ago44:58

44:58

What’s it like to grow up the so-called “prince” inside one of America’s most notorious new religious movements—where your mother is a celebrated channeler, your father founds a church, and the end of the world is just another family discussion over dinner? In the first of this two-part episode, we’re joined by Sean Prophet, author of My Cult, Your…

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BONUS: Pluribus S1E1&2 "We Is Us" & "Pirate Lady" 1:11:55

2M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

Hey all, here’s another bonus episode, this time on the crazy new Apple TV show, Pluribus. Pluribus is the latest show from Breaking Bad creator, Vince Gilligan, who in our book is one of the all-time great TV creators. His writing is intelligent, meticulous, unexpected, and wry, and this show is wild. It’s very Twilight Zone-y. Creepy, thought pro…

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Checkmate: Chess Master Danny Rensch on Leaving the Church of Immortal Consciousness (Part 2) 54:37

2M ago54:37

54:37

What happens when your purpose gets weaponized, relationships are rewritten by group doctrine, and chess becomes both sanctuary and battleground? In this powerful second part of our convo with Danny Rensch, we return to unpack life after his “purpose ordainment,” and the heartbreak of being separated from his mother by cult coercion. With raw hones…

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Checkmate: Chess Master Danny Rensch on Leaving the Church of Immortal Consciousness (Part 1) 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. How do you go from barefoot kid to international chess master and co-founder of Chess.com? In this epic first installment, we sat with Danny Rensch to peel back the curtain on his wild journey growing up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness—a high-control Arizona collective commune led by a self-proclaime…

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Dr. Ingrid Clayton and Fawn Stars: The Hidden Cost of People Pleasing (Part 2) 44:16

2M ago44:16

44:16

How do you actually stop fawning, and what does healing look like in real life? In Part 2 of our convo with Dr. Ingrid Clayton, we dove into boundaries, agency, and what it really takes to step out of survival mode. Ingrid shared her go-to body-based tools—like orienting with the senses, making nature your therapist, building a “pillow palace” like…

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Dr. Ingrid Clayton and Fawn Stars: The Hidden Cost of People Pleasing (Part 1) 56:25

2M ago56:25

56:25

What if the thing you’ve been calling “people-pleasing” is actually your nervous system doing a full-blown survival routine? In this episode, we welcomed Dr. Ingrid Clayton, clinical psychologist, trauma therapist, and author of Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves--and How to Find Our Way Back. Part memoir, part emotional mic-dr…

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Joshua Paddison: Unraveling America’s First Sex Cult Scandal (Part 2) 43:03

3M ago43:03

43:03

Think cult scandal is just a modern phenomenon? Think again. In Part 2, historian Joshua Paddison unpacks America’s original sex cult, Fountain Grove—complete with group bathing, soulmate mysticism, financial abuse, and a scandal that turned “cult” from a neutral word into a headline-grabbing accusation. Josh guides us through all the weirdness: th…

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Joshua Paddison: Unraveling America’s First Sex Cult Scandal (Part 1) 38:47

3M ago38:47

38:47

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Today’s guest is Joshua Paddison, a US historian, author, and bona fide expert in the wild world of American cults, spiritualist communes, and utopian experiments. Josh spent years hunting down primary sources and unearthing the surprising connections between 19th-century scandal, religious innovation, and t…

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A Little Bit Extra: Diddy’s Sentence, Sarma’s Salads, & Listener Voicemails 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

In this A Little Bit Extra ep, Sarah dishes all about her recent trip to New York City—think walks on The High Line, big shroom feels, and some serious kitchen magic courtesy of Sarma Melngailis. What happens when two culty survivors share homemade meals and chat about upcoming guest Dr. Ingrid Clayton’s Fawning? You get a new club: “Fawn Stars”—an…

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"Holy Disruptor" Amy Duggar King: Healing Beyond the Spotlight 58:10

3M ago58:10

58:10

What’s it like to survive chaos at home, culty control next door, and a national TV spotlight that labels you “crazy cousin”—all before breakfast? In this episode, we sat down with Amy Duggar King to talk about finally telling her real story after years of reality TV, IBLP dogma, and generational trauma behind the Duggar family empire. Amy gets can…

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Inside Cult Intervention: Lessons from Joe Szimhart (Part 2) 38:27

3M ago38:27

38:27

In the second part of this conversation, Joe Szimhart delves into the intricate preparations and challenges of conducting cult interventions. He discusses the importance of understanding individual situations and the role of family dynamics in intervention success. Through vivid anecdotes, Joe explains the historical and sociological aspects of cul…

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Inside Cult Intervention: Lessons from Joe Szimhart (Part 1) 35:53

3M ago35:53

35:53

In this gripping episode of 'A Little Bit Culty,' hosts welcome Joe Szimhart, a veteran cult interventionist with over 40 years of experience. Joe delves into the history and evolution of cult deprogramming, sharing intricate details of his personal journey from an art student to an expert in cult interventions. The conversation covers key figures …

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Child Labor, Tom Cruise, and Space Erotica: Marc Headley on Escaping Scientology (Part 2) 59:52

3M ago59:52

59:52

In this follow-up episode, Marc Headley shares his extraordinary experiences within Scientology and the Sea Organization. He recounts being recruited into the Sea Org, working under extreme conditions in Los Angeles, and eventually being promoted to the international headquarters. Marc reveals the demanding nature of life in the Sea Org, including …

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Child Labor, Tom Cruise, and Space Erotica: Marc Headley on Escaping Scientology (Part 1) 42:55

3M ago42:55

42:55

This episode is a conversation between a former member of the Sea Organization, an elite group within the Church of Scientology, and a host, Marc Headley. Part 1 of this discussion covers the former member's experiences in Scientology, including his family's involvement, the numerous relocations during his childhood, and working at Scientology's in…

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Who's Your Granddaddy? Stefan Kolesar on Amway and World Wide Group (Part 2) 35:41

3M ago35:41

35:41

Ready for the breaking point? In Part 2, we continue Stefan Kolesar’s deep dive into the world of Amway—where all those red flags on the shelf finally came crashing down. From mounting disillusionment and classic gaslighting to the pain of leaving behind loyal friends and an imagined future, Stefan shares the raw reality of waking up, grieving, and…

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Who's Your Granddaddy? Stefan Kolesar on Amway and World Wide Group (Part 1) 37:16

4M ago37:16

37:16

What happens when the “American Dream” turns out to be more like the “Amway Nightmare”? On this episode of A Little Bit Culty, we sit down with Stefan Kolesar to dig into his 13 years inside the OG of all MLMs—the so-called “granddaddy” that’s even entangled with NXIVM history. From coffee shop pitches and overpriced toothpaste to the hidden “tools…

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Inside the Pyramid: Bridget Read on the History & Hype of MLMs (Part 2) 36:20

4M ago36:20

36:20

In Part 2 with Bridget Read, we explore the complexities and legal nuances that allow multi-level marketing (MLM) companies to operate as legitimate businesses, despite the similarities to illegal pyramid schemes. With historical context and references to key legal cases like Amway and the Koscot test, the script dives into how MLMs managed to skir…

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Inside the Pyramid: Bridget Read on the History & Hype of MLMs (Part 1) 37:24

4M ago37:24

37:24

In Part 1 of this much-anticipated interview, journalist and New York Magazine reporter Bridget Read discusses the pervasive and nuanced issues surrounding multi-level marketing (MLM) companies. Read explains her journey from writing a short article to diving into the complex history, politics, and ideology of MLMs, culminating in a comprehensive b…

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A Little Bit Extra: Fanny Packs, Volleyball, and Hazing 20:14

4M ago20:14

20:14

Buckle up, cultiverse: it’s our bonus round, where we give you a little bit extra. In this episode, we eavesdrop on the spicy, kooky, and downright cathartic voicemails waiting in our inbox from listeners who are ready to dish out their “a little more culty” revelations, rants, and burning questions. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinion…

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The Dark Side of Influence: Chico Felitti on Kat Torres 41:59

4M ago41:59

41:59

What does it take to unravel the sinister side of internet fame—and how do influencers become a little bit culty? In this episode, we sit down with BuzzFeed journalist and chronic digital deepdiver Chico Felitti, whose reporting on influencer Kat Torres inspired Season 2 of Wondery’s hit Guru series, “Don’t Cross Kat.” Chico shares how seemingly gl…

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You're Not My Daddy: Veena Dinavahi Survives “The True Happiness Company” (Part 2) 34:48

4M ago34:48

34:48

In part two of our revealing conversation with Veena Dinavahi, we dig deeper into the tangled web of coercion, isolation, and control she experienced inside the manipulative “true happiness” community. Veena opened up about the crushing mental health struggles that pushed her to the edge—and how that intersected with “Bob”, the coercive leader of t…

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You're Not My Daddy: Veena Dinavahi Survives “The True Happiness Company” (Part 1) 46:03

4M ago46:03

46:03

What happens when the story you thought you were living collides with a reality you can’t ignore? Kicking off Season 8 of A Little Bit Culty, we sit down with author, mother of three, and fashion writer Veena Dinavahi for part one of a powerful conversation about growing up in a white American suburb with a high suicide rate. Veena shared her journ…

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Welcome to Season 8 of A Little Bit Culty! 1:28

4M ago1:28

1:28

Hey culty listeners! Season 8 is loading…and we’re not even gonna pretend this is chill. It’s BIG. Like, two-new-episodes-every-week big. Fresh culty convos, enough snark to keep your brain buzzing, and if you’ve been obedient, maybe some spicy word salads from Nippy. We’re back in your ears Monday for Season 8—so buckle up, buttercup. Also… let it…

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Bron & Denai Johnson on Life Inside NXIVM’s Vancouver Center (Part 2) 1:12:52

4M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

In Part 2, the Hot Johnsons go from self-help wins to DOS-level WTF real quick. Denai opens up about what happened when DOS came knocking, from the first ask for “collateral” to the gut-check moment that made her walk away. Along the way, the Johnsons (and your favorite culty hosts) revisit the red flags that somehow got normalized — like “masters”…

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True Crime Meets Cults: Derrick Levasseur on Solving the “University of Cosmic Intelligence” Mystery 45:32

4M ago45:32

45:32

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we’re stepping into the crossover world of cults and true crime with Derrick Levasseur—former undercover detective, private investigator, and host of Crime Weekly and Detective Perspective. You may also know him from Big Brother or America’s Most Wanted: Missing Persons, where he and Sarah recently worked together o…

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Protecting Kids from Cults and Traffickers with Robin Boyle-Laisure (Part 2) 40:08

5M ago40:08

40:08

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. In Part 2 of our conversation with Professor Robin Boyle-Laisure—St. John’s University School of Law faculty, ICSA board member, and author of Taken No More: Protect Your Children Against Traffickers and Cults—we dig into the courtroom turning points that changed the way cult leaders are prosecuted. …

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Protecting Kids from Cults and Traffickers with Robin Boyle-Laisure (Part 1) 43:45

5M ago43:45

43:45

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. What happens when a street-corner “religious” pitch nearly ropes in a teenage girl—only for her to dodge the hook and spend the next three decades dismantling the playbook that tried to claim her? In Part 1 of our conversation with Professor Robin Boyle-Laisure—St. John’s University School of Law fac…

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BONUS: Introducing Wax Episodic — Alien: Earth S1E1&2 2:22:21

5M ago2:22:21

2:22:21

Bonus Episode: Introducing Wax Episodic Hi, Jason here. This is a special bonus episode reposted from my new podcast, Wax Episodic, where I cover top-tier, story-rich TV shows one season at a time with different co-hosts. We’re kicking things off with Alien: Earth, and I wanted to share the first episode here so you can check it out. If you like it…

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Bonus Drop: Bron & Denai Johnson on Life Inside NXIVM’s Vancouver Center (Part 1) 47:14

5M ago47:14

47:14

This conversation with former NXIVM members Bron and Denai Johnson was such a hit when we first dropped it here last year that we’re doing it again (and yes, Patreon gets it first this time, too). In Part 1, the Johnsons open up about their early days in NXIVM’s Vancouver center — from the “too-perfect” community vibes that drew them in, to the per…

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God Said Obey: Katherine Spearing on the Brainwashing Power of Spiritual Abuse 1:05:27

5M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

Katherine Spearing is back—and she’s not pulling any punches. A trauma recovery practitioner and founder of Tears of Eden, Kat grew up in the Christian Patriarchy Movement, where obedience was godly, women were walking wombs, and joy was suspicious at best. In this episode, we dive deep into what spiritual abuse actually looks like: body control, p…

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From Veil to Voice: Jasmin Faulk’s Rebellion Against Fundamentalist Islam (Part 2) 1:05:18

5M ago1:05:18

1:05:18

In Part 2 of our conversation, Jasmin opens up about life after escaping Saudi Arabia—landing in Wyoming, rediscovering autonomy, and slowly unlearning the rules that once governed every part of her existence. She shares how nature, therapy, and motherhood helped her begin to heal, and how writing her memoir The Last Sandstorm gave her the language…

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From Veil to Voice: Jasmin Faulk’s Rebellion Against Fundamentalist Islam (Part 1) 50:29

5M ago50:29

50:29

This week’s guest is Jasmin Faulk, an author and advocate who risked everything to reclaim her freedom. Born to a Saudi father and Italian mother, Jasmin grew up in a country where girls were silenced, veiled, and made invisible. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Jasmin takes us inside the dark realities of growing up under fundamentalist Is…

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BONUS: NXIVM, Life Issues & the Sisterhood of Survivors (Part 2) 49:00

5M ago49:00

49:00

We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with Lauren and Aaliyah—two former NXIVM coaches and co-hosts of This Juicy Life—as we dig deeper into the tangled mix of growth, gaslighting, and gut-checks they experienced inside (and outside) the cult. This episode unpacks what comes after the escape: the emotional fallout, the tricky process of reconn…

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Politics, Power & Performative Diversity: Celina Caesar-Chavannes Speaks Out 1:18:51

5M ago1:18:51

1:18:51

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we’re diving into the deceptively polite world of Canadian politics—where the optics are polished, but the manipulation runs deep. Our guest is Celina Caesar-Chavannes, a former Member of Parliament and once a rising star in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party. She served as his parliamentary secretary bef…