Episode 38 | Starbucks and Corporate Cults
Cults and the Culting of America
Release Date: 05/13/2025
Cults & The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Loyd | ep 48 | Troubled Teens
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Scot Loyd and Daniella Mestyanek Young engage in a profound conversation with Elizabeth Abeysekera, who shares her harrowing experiences in the troubled teen industry. The discussion delves into the impact of cults on children, the complexities of trauma, and the importance of communication in parenting. Elizabeth's journey highlights the need for better support systems for troubled teens and offers valuable insights for parents seeking help for their children. The episode emphasizes the significance of understanding family dynamics...
info_outline
Cults and The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Lloyd | Episode 47 | The Cultiness of Nursing
Cults and the Culting of America
This episode of Cults and the Culting of America features guest Jess M. (aka White Mess Express), a former nurse, alongside hosts Daniella Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd. The conversation explores how the U.S. healthcare system—particularly nursing—resembles a cult in its culture, practices, and systemic issues. Jess describes the hierarchical "rite of passage" culture in nursing (e.g., new nurses being called “baby nurses” and forced through hazing-like experiences). They highlight systemic contradictions: nurses are told to always be learning but punished for questioning authority,...
info_outline
Cults and The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Lloyd | Episode 46 | The God I Was Given book coming out soon!
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Scot Loyd joins Haley while Daniela is away on her book tour. The conversation centers on Scot’s forthcoming memoir The God I Was Given: Looking for Faith After Losing My Religion, which blends personal memoir with philosophical and scholarly reflections on growing up in the United Pentecostal Church (UPC). Scot discusses the creative and emotional risks of releasing such a personal work, particularly the fear of being misunderstood or dismissed by current UPC members. He shares vivid stories from his childhood in rural Arkansas, shaped by...
info_outline
Cults and The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Lloyd | Episode 45 | Sunday Brunch: The Musical
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode, Scott Loyd interviews the creators and a performer from Sunday Brunch: The Musical, a new theatrical work that humorously explores cult dynamics through a family brunch gone spectacularly wrong. While cult expert and regular host Daniella Mestyanek Young is absent due to technical difficulties, she sends in praise for the team’s viral “cult song,” noting how deeply it resonated with survivor experiences. Guests Ernie Bird (composer/co-writer), Rachel Abramon (lyricist/co-writer), and Gabrielle Filloux (performer) delve into the creative origins, songwriting process, and...
info_outline
Episode 44 | The Cult of Capitalism
Cults and the Culting of America
This episode of Cults and the Culting of America features guest Kelvin, a political scientist and community organizer, in a deep dive on whether capitalism functions as a cult and how overlapping systems like patriarchy, white supremacy, and religion have historically reinforced each other. The hosts, Scot and Daniella, explore the evolution of these frameworks—from European colonialism and the doctrine of discovery to modern American politics—and discuss how these systemic beliefs sustain cult-like behaviors in society. The conversation covers the historical hijacking of Christianity,...
info_outline
Episode 42 | "Not My Church": Plausible Deniability in High-Control Systems
Cults and the Culting of America
In this revealing and emotionally rich episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Cynthia Williams joins hosts Scot Loyd and Daniella Mestyanek Young to unpack her journey through—and out of—the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). Cynthia shares how, like many others, she once believed that her local church was different. The rules were strict, yes, but they felt spiritually justified—until the cracks began to show. As Cynthia puts it, the realization came slowly: “I think it's probably just in the last two years… that I finally was like, wait a minute, I think I was in...
info_outline
Episode 41 | Decolonizing Yourself with Hilary Giovale
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, host Scot Loyd and Daniella Mestyanek-Young (KnittingCultLady) sit down with Hilary Giovale—a ninth-generation settler living among Indigenous communities in Northern Arizona. Hilary opens up about her journey from segregation to engaging deeply with Native communities, emphasizing how re-education and personal healing can unravel the lasting wounds of colonialism. Hilary discusses the trauma inflicted by Indigenous boarding schools and the persistent impact of white supremacy on both marginalized communities and white culture. By...
info_outline
Episode 40 | Scot wrote a book!
Cults and the Culting of America
This week on Cults and the Culting of America, we’re turning the mic toward someone you all know well—our beloved cohost, Scot Loyd. With no guest this episode, Daniella takes the opportunity to spotlight Scot’s powerful personal journey and upcoming book, The God That I Was Given. In an open and layered conversation, Scot reflects on his years inside the United Pentecostal Church, his rise to leadership, and what it meant to deconstruct the faith and ideologies that shaped him. He and Daniella discuss the gendered nature of cult experiences, the silence often expected of men, and how...
info_outline
Episode 39 | "Satanic Panic" Facts and Fiction
Cults and the Culting of America
Summary In this episode, the hosts delve into the complex world of cults, focusing on the Satanic Panic and the influence of charismatic leaders like Franklin Jones. They explore the historical context of cults, the role of fear and control, and the lasting impact of cult experiences on individuals. Through personal stories and reflections, the conversation highlights the intricate dynamics of cults and their cultural significance. In this conversation, the participants explore the complexities of growing up in cult-like environments, the challenges of healing from trauma, and the nuances of...
info_outline
Episode 38 | Starbucks and Corporate Cults
Cults and the Culting of America
In this conversation, Daniella and Kasi explore the cult-like aspects of Starbucks, discussing Kasi's personal journey from barista to store manager and the emotional and psychological dynamics at play within the corporate structure. They delve into themes of recruitment, vulnerability, the illusion of family, leadership programs, and the impact of corporate culture on mental health. The discussion highlights the emotional manipulation and control exerted by organizations, drawing parallels to cult behavior and the sacrifices individuals make for their jobs. Daniella's Links: You can read...
info_outlineIn this conversation, Daniella and Kasi explore the cult-like aspects of Starbucks, discussing Kasi's personal journey from barista to store manager and the emotional and psychological dynamics at play within the corporate structure. They delve into themes of recruitment, vulnerability, the illusion of family, leadership programs, and the impact of corporate culture on mental health. The discussion highlights the emotional manipulation and control exerted by organizations, drawing parallels to cult behavior and the sacrifices individuals make for their jobs.
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
Haley's Tiktok
Takeaways
- Starbucks had a significant impact on Kasi's formative years.
- Young adults are particularly vulnerable to corporate recruitment tactics.
- The fun environment at Starbucks was a major draw for Kasi.
- The concept of 'family' in corporations can be misleading.
- Leadership programs often serve the organization's needs more than the individual's.
- Emotional manipulation is prevalent in corporate events and culture.
- Mental health struggles can arise from high-demand work environments.
- Self-sabotage can occur when trying to maintain a positive image in a toxic environment.
- The deification of leaders can create a cult-like atmosphere in companies.
- Mourning the loss of belief in a caring organization is a common experience.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Starbucks Cultiness
02:31 Kasi's Journey with Starbucks
05:41 Recruitment and Vulnerability in Young Adults
10:56 The Illusion of Family and Loyalty
13:59 Leadership Programs and Organizational Control
19:46 The Echo Chamber of Corporate Culture
25:37 Influence of Recommended Reading and Ideology
27:54 The Cult of Education and Gratitude
29:46 Emotional Manipulation in High-Demand Organizations
32:20 Trauma and Recovery in Cult-like Environments
36:27 The Illusion of Trust and Loyalty
41:36 The Role of Emotional Evocation in Corporate Culture
45:26 The Cost of Self-Sacrifice in the Workplace
50:05 The Breaking Point: Mental Health and Organizational Pressure
55:35 Mourning the Loss of Belief in Organizations
Produced by Haley Phillips