Cults Like Us: Jane Borden on Puritans, Power & American Exceptionalism (Part 1)
A Little Bit Culty9 Kesä 2025

Cults Like Us: Jane Borden on Puritans, Power & American Exceptionalism (Part 1)

Were the Puritans America’s first cult? Our guest this week makes a compelling case for yes.

Jane Borden is a journalist and the author of Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, she joins us to unpack how Puritan beliefs—think apocalypse prepping, chosen nation syndrome, and the worship of wealth—laid the groundwork for the kind of culty thinking that still thrives in America today.

We dig into the legacy of American exceptionalism, the allure of authoritarian leaders, and the ways our pop culture heroes reflect Puritan values more than we realize. Jane also walks us through the tragic case of the Love Has Won cult and explains how power warps empathy, especially when paired with a doomsday mindset.

It’s a wild ride through history, psychology, and politics, with heavy cult undertones.

Check out Jane’s book Cults Like Us and more of her work at janeborden.com, and stay tuned for Part 2 next week.

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.

**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here 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

Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Writer: Kristen Reiter

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(318)

Ashtanga Yoga After Pattabhi Jois: Magnolia Zuniga on Consent, Adjustment, and Real Healing (Part 2)

Ashtanga Yoga After Pattabhi Jois: Magnolia Zuniga on Consent, Adjustment, and Real Healing (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our conversation, Magnolia Zuniga goes deeper into how the Ashtanga world responded—or failed to respond—to decades of sexual abuse by Pattabhi Jois and what that reveals about belonging,...

12 Maalis 39min

Ashtanga Yoga After Pattabhi Jois: Magnolia Zuniga on Consent, Adjustment, and Real Healing (Part 1)

Ashtanga Yoga After Pattabhi Jois: Magnolia Zuniga on Consent, Adjustment, and Real Healing (Part 1)

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.In Part 1 of this two‑episode conversation, Magnolia Zuniga—one of only about 20 certified Ashtanga teachers worldwide as of 2015—joins us to unpack how a pract...

9 Maalis 56min

Through the NXIVM Lens: Bjorn Bolinder on V-Week, Branding, and Seeing the Light (Part 2)

Through the NXIVM Lens: Bjorn Bolinder on V-Week, Branding, and Seeing the Light (Part 2)

Welcome back for Part 2 with Bjorn Bolinder: dancer, photographer, and the guy whose heart was screaming “GET OUT!” louder than any cult alarm system we've ever heard. We pick up in 2016 as Bjorn sign...

5 Maalis 43min

Through the NXIVM Lens: Photographer Bjorn Bolinder on V-Week, Branding, and Seeing the Light (Part 1)

Through the NXIVM Lens: Photographer Bjorn Bolinder on V-Week, Branding, and Seeing the Light (Part 1)

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.Bjorn Bolinder—photographer, NXIVM insider, and the guy on the ladder in The Vow Episode 3—finally tells his story. For NXIVM nerds, this is the episode you've ...

2 Maalis 37min

PATREON REPLAY: "Zenu Is My Homeboy" - Marc Headley on Scientology

PATREON REPLAY: "Zenu Is My Homeboy" - Marc Headley on Scientology

In this bonus Q&A episode from our Patreon vault, Marc Headley broke down how Scientology actually works on the inside: from Sea Org recruitment scripts and billion‑year contracts to what really goes ...

26 Helmi 59min

The Lost Boy: Unpacking Corey Feldman Vs. The World with Marcie Hume

The Lost Boy: Unpacking Corey Feldman Vs. The World with Marcie Hume

Following last week’s conversations with ex-Corey’s Angels musicians Margot Lane and Jezebel Sweet, director Marcie Hume joins us to talk about making Corey Feldman Vs. The World, the cinéma vérité do...

23 Helmi 1h

Sex, Power, and Music: Jezebel Sweet & Margot Lane Expose Corey Feldman (Part 2)

Sex, Power, and Music: Jezebel Sweet & Margot Lane Expose Corey Feldman (Part 2)

In Part 2 with Margot Lane and Jezebel Sweet, we dive more into the spectacle of Corey’s Angels and the documentary Corey Feldman Vs. the World and what happens after you walk away from someone else’s...

19 Helmi 41min

Sex, Power, and Music: Jezebel Sweet & Margot Lane Expose Corey Feldman (Part 1)

Sex, Power, and Music: Jezebel Sweet & Margot Lane Expose Corey Feldman (Part 1)

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.In this episode, we’re joined by Margot Lane and Jezebel Sweet, former members of Corey’s Angels, the all‑female band and “angel” entourage formed and led by ac...

16 Helmi 50min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
adhd-podi
rss-rahamania
rss-narsisti
aamukahvilla
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
psykologia
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rahapuhetta
kesken
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-valo-minussa-2
uskonnon-pitka-oppimaara
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
mielipaivakirja
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
rss-koira-haudattuna