Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 65 | The Children of AA
Cults and the Culting of America
Content warnings: discussion of child abuse, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, trauma, recovery culture, substance abuse, and high-control groups. In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella and Scot are joined by Violet, a writer and creator who grew up immersed in 12-step programs from infancy. Violet shares her lived experience of being raised in Alcoholics Anonymous, examining how recovery culture, often treated as sacred and beyond critique, can function as a high-control system, particularly for children. The conversation explores themes of indoctrination,...
info_outline
Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 64 | Power Coalition and Getting Involved
Cults and the Culting of America
In this special edition of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella speaks with Ashley Shelton, founder of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana, about organizing, democracy, and what it actually means to fight authoritarianism in real life. Ashley draws on her background in philanthropy, disaster recovery, and voter engagement to explain how Black and Brown communities—particularly in Louisiana—have long relied on mutual aid and organizing because government support has historically been absent or extractive. The conversation connects current political threats,...
info_outline
Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 63 | NA vs Opportunity
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd are joined by hip-hop artist, author, and activist Spryte the Emcee, who shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and eventual deconstruction from Narcotics Anonymous. Spryte recounts a childhood shaped by trauma, loss, and instability, followed by immersion in NA after a near-fatal overdose. While the program initially provided safety and structure, it later became increasingly coercive and controlling, particularly when Spryte pursued higher education and personal growth. The...
info_outline
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 62 | Cognitive Dissonance Fact Check
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella sits down with political scientist Thomas Kelly to revisit one of the most foundational ideas in cult studies: cognitive dissonance. Their conversation centers on Leon Festinger’s famous book When Prophecy Fails, which is often cited to explain why cult members double down on beliefs after predictions don’t come true. Thomas walks through his research uncovering serious methodological and ethical problems with that original study, arguing that the historical record actually shows the opposite of what Festinger claimed....
info_outline
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Dr. Scot Loyd | 61 | Jewish Black Supremacy Cult
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode, guest Ara Jade shares her seven-year experience inside a high-control religious group adjacent to the Hebrew Israelite movement, known as the Israel of God. She recounts how she was drawn in through family influence, biblical study practices, and a strong sense of community, only to later encounter manipulation, racism-based doctrine, misogyny, surveillance, fear tactics, and emotional control. Ara describes specific red flags, including purity rules for women, the weaponization of Black identity, pressure to obey male authority, and her arranged-like marriage. She explains...
info_outline
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 60 | Christian Science
Cults and the Culting of America
This episode of Cults and the Culting of America features guest Emily Hulen, a massage therapist and trauma coach who grew up in Christian Science and later navigated additional cult-like environments. Emily describes the core beliefs of Christian Science — including the denial of physical reality, rejection of medical care, and heavy reliance on prayer as a means of erasing mortal experience. She shares harrowing examples of untreated medical issues in her family and her own childhood injuries and illnesses that went unaddressed. Emily traces her early cognitive dissonance, beginning around...
info_outline
Cults & the Culting of America Podcast w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 59 | MAHA vs. Fertility Treatment
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Brown discusses her journey in women's health and fertility, emphasizing the importance of understanding these topics beyond conventional medicine. The conversation explores the Maha movement and its impact on women's health, cultural perspectives on pregnancy and motherhood, and the dangers of extreme birthing practices. The discussion also touches on the romanticization of pain in motherhood, the need for community support in parenting, and the intersection of gender and medical care. Dr. Brown highlights the boy crisis and the influence of cult mentality on...
info_outline
Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 58 | America Branded Fascism
Cults and the Culting of America
Content Warnings: Sexual assault and child sexual abuse Sex trafficking and the Epstein list Cult dynamics, coercive control, and brainwashing White supremacy, racism, xenophobia, and fascism Historical violence, genocide, Nazism, U.S. colonial atrocities, police violence Political extremism, MAGA, Trump administration actions Death, including anticipated death of a political figure Domestic extremism, ICE raids, and militarized responses Cult-related childhood trauma and labor camp environments In this episode Daniella (“Knitting Cult Lady”) and historian Amanda...
info_outline
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 57 | Born and Razed
Cults and the Culting of America
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of religious and institutional abuse, child abuse, disordered eating, family estrangement, mental illness, trauma recovery, and medication withdrawal. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Dr. Scot Loyd and Daniella Mestyanek Young speak with Beth Granger, author of Born and RAZED: Surviving the Cult Was Only Half the Battle. Beth shares her experience growing up at Grenville Christian College, a Canadian boarding school later revealed to be a religious cult connected to the Community of...
info_outline
Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 56 | Brazilian Dictatorship and Resilience
Cults and the Culting of America
In this special episode, Daniella Mestyanek Young (“Knitting Cult Lady”) speaks with Dr. Bryan Pitts, Assistant Director of UCLA’s Latin American Institute, about the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964–1985) and how studying Brazil’s political history can help Americans understand current threats to democracy. They compare U.S. and Brazilian political systems, the cultural myths that obscure inequality (the “American Dream” vs. Brazil’s “racial democracy”), and the interplay between religion, class, and authoritarianism. The discussion explores how political elites,...
info_outlineIn this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Scot Loyd and Daniella Mesteneck Young engage in a profound conversation with Jack about the complexities of masculinity, the cultural constructs surrounding gender identity, and the emotional struggles faced by men in contemporary society. Jack shares his personal journey from a troubled upbringing to his work in men's circles, emphasizing the need for vulnerability, community, and a redefinition of masculinity that moves away from harmful stereotypes. The discussion explores the impact of societal expectations, the illusion of male superiority, and the importance of emotional expression and connection among men.
Jack's Links:
Website: https://healthecycle.com/
TikTok: @watchfulcayote
Youtube (His podcast is here) : @WatchfulCayote
Daniella's Links:
You can read all about my story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here. https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured
For more info on me:
Patreon: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding
Cult book Clubs (Advanced AND Memoirs) Annual Membership: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding
Get an autographed copy of my book, Uncultured: https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured
Get my book, Uncultured, from Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4g1Ufw8
Daniella’s Tiktok: https://bit.ly/4bwvNC0
Instagram: https://bit.ly/4ePAOFK / daniellamyoung_
Unamerican video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/YTVideoBook
Secret Practice video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/3ZswGY8
Other Podcasts
Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women
Scot's TikTok
Takeaways
- Masculinity is often defined by societal constructs rather than biological factors.
- There is a significant difference between sex (male) and gender (man).
- Cultural influences shape our understanding of gender from a very young age.
- Parenting plays a crucial role in shaping children's perceptions of gender.
- Communication styles differ between boys and girls, often influenced by societal norms.
- The cult of masculinity imposes harmful expectations on men.
- Anger among men often stems from unmet societal promises and expectations.
- The narrative of male superiority is a damaging myth.
- Men often sacrifice their emotional health for societal expectations.
- Building healthy male communities is essential for emotional well-being.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Cult of Masculinity
02:11 Jack's Journey: From Trauma to Men's Work
04:03 Defining Masculinity: Sex vs. Gender
08:02 Cultural Influences on Gender Identity
11:34 Communication Styles: Boys vs. Girls
16:10 The Impact of Gendered Expectations
20:02 Navigating Masculinity in Modern Relationships
23:09 The Cult of Masculinity: Ideals and Influences
26:45 Angry White Male America: A Cultural Analysis
31:18 The Intersection of Politics and Masculinity
36:26 Understanding Privilege and Its Misconceptions
38:44 The Cult of Patriarchy and Its Promises
40:26 The Impact of White Supremacy on All Men
43:02 The Cost of Self-Sacrifice in Masculinity
50:11 Isolation and the Need for Male Community
Produced by Haley Phillips