Cults and the Culting of America

In this episode, Addison shares their experience working at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, where they supported transitional-aged youth in both a shelter and drop-in setting. While drawn to the role through a deep personal connection and desire to help others, Addison quickly encountered unsafe working conditions, lack of labor protections, and a culture of self-sacrifice that blurred the line between meaningful work and exploitation.
The conversation explores how mission-driven organizations can unintentionally replicate harmful dynamics, including burnout, emotional overextension, and resistance to worker advocacy. Addison recounts their role in organizing a union, the challenges of pushing for change within the organization, and the mixed responses from leadership. The episode ultimately highlights the importance of worker boundaries, collective action, and recognizing that care-based professions must also care for their workers.
CONNECT WITH DANIELLA
• Order Culting of America: knittingcultlady.com
• Autographed book: uncultureyourself.com
• Bookshop.org: (Culting of America listing)
• Patreon: patreon.com/GroupBehaviorGal
• TikTok: bit.ly/4muxbu6 (@knittingcultladychat)
• YouTube: (Daniella's channel)
• Instagram: daniellamyoung_
• Hey White Women Podcast: tr.ee/2gWVBFaYnp
• Cults and the Culting of America Podcast: sites.libsyn.com/534892/site
• White Women Get Ready: mistresssyndrome.com/book
CONNECT WITH SCOT
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotloyd
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Mission-driven organizations can unintentionally create exploitative environments through cultures of self-sacrifice
• Workers in helping professions are often expected to overextend themselves emotionally and physically
• Lack of basic labor protections, like breaks, can become normalized when tied to a "greater cause"
• Unionizing can provide structure, accountability, and legal backing for worker advocacy
• Leadership may frame systemic issues as individual boundary problems rather than organizational failures
• Shared identity between workers and those they serve can deepen both care and vulnerability to burnout
• Advocacy efforts are often supported by peers but resisted or minimized by management
• Burnout can become normalized as part of workplace culture rather than treated as a warning sign
• There are multiple ways to contribute to social good outside of formal nonprofit employment
• Clear personal boundaries are essential for sustainability in emotionally demanding work
CHAPTERS
 
00:00 Introduction to Addison's Experience
03:05 Working at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center
07:25 The Culture of Self-Sacrifice in Nonprofits
11:02 The Shift in Responsibilities and Realizations
16:17 Identifying Red Flags in the Organization
20:34 The Journey to Unionization
25:39 Management's Response to Unionization
26:57 Burnout and Leaving the Organization
32:12 The Importance of Supporting Trans Youth
37:08 Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned
 
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann

In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella and Scot speak with Dr. Cheyenne Gunn, a social media strategist and former member of the online activist network Operation Olive Branch. Cheyenne shares how she was recruited into the group after launching a viral fiber arts fundraiser following the October 7, 2023 Israel–Palestine escalation. What began as a mission driven online community quickly developed into a high control environment that demanded massive unpaid labor, enforced ideological conformity, and gradually isolated members through private channels and inner leadership circles.
Cheyenne describes how cult dynamics can develop entirely online, including love bombing, hierarchical access levels, secrecy around leadership, and the suppression of dissent. She reflects on the psychological impact of leaving the group, including a severe mental health crisis and psychosis that followed whistleblowing against the organization. The conversation explores how algorithms, influencer culture, and online outrage cycles create fertile ground for manipulation.
The episode concludes with a discussion about ethical content creation, the difference between experts and influencers, and how people can protect themselves when participating in online communities. Cheyenne also shares what helped her begin recovering after leaving the group and why finding healthier communities has been an important part of that process.
CONNECT WITH DANIELLA
• Order Culting of America (knittingcultlady.com)
• Autographed book (uncultureyourself.com)
• Bookshop.org link for the book
• Daniella's Patreon: patreon.com/GroupBehaviorGal
• Daniella's TikTok: bit.ly/4muxbu6 (@knittingcultladychat)
• Daniella's YouTube channel
• Daniella's Instagram stories: @daniellamyoung_
• Hey White Women Podcast: tr.ee/2gWVBFaYnp
• Cults and the Culting of America Podcast: sites.libsyn.com/534892/site
• White Women Get Ready: mistresssyndrome.com/book
CONNECT WITH SCOT
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotloyd
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Online communities can develop cult dynamics even without physical proximity, including isolation, secrecy, and hierarchical inner circles.
• High control groups often move members from public platforms into increasingly private communication channels such as Discord or Telegram.
• Cult recruitment frequently targets capable, highly motivated individuals who are eager to contribute to meaningful causes.
• Love bombing and status rewards can be used to keep members invested while suppressing dissent.
• Algorithms amplify outrage and polarization, which can create conditions where manipulation and groupthink thrive online.
• The transition from open communities to private leadership spaces can be a major red flag in online movements.
• High control groups may weaponize secrecy and anonymity in leadership structures to prevent accountability.
• Ethical problems can emerge when nonprofit or activist leaders hold personal relationships with the people they are supposed to be helping.
• Leaving an online cult can be psychologically destabilizing because the group often becomes intertwined with a person's identity and daily life.
• Recovery may require stepping away from social media, reconnecting with offline support systems, and rebuilding a sense of reality and personal agency.
• Healthy communities allow disagreement, boundaries, and participation without demanding total commitment or identity fusion.
Chapters
 
00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation
01:27 Cheyenne's Journey Out of the Cult
03:57 The Nature of Online Cults and Recruitment
06:42 The Psychological Impact of Cult Involvement
09:37 Navigating Social Media and Ethical Pitfalls
12:19 Understanding Influencers vs. Experts
15:16 The Dangers of Online Isolation and Manipulation
17:59 Recognizing Red Flags in Online Communities
27:52 The Psychological Impact of Cult Involvement
29:27 Ethical Dilemmas in Cult Leadership
32:41 Red Flags in Relationships Within Cults
34:35 Recognizing Red Flags in Retrospect
36:32 Online Cult Dynamics and Dissent Suppression
39:36 The Dangers of Secrecy in Cults
43:08 The Journey of Recovery from Cult Trauma
46:18 Finding Healthy Community After Cults
49:04 Identifying Positive Online Communities
51:07 Exiting Negative Online Environments
 
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann

Edward Francis joins Daniella and Scot to explore the cult-like dynamics inside drum corps and competitive marching arts. A former performer, judge, and designer deeply embedded in the activity for 25 years, Edward unpacks how high-control structures, financial exploitation, touring models, deification of leaders, and unpaid labor create systemic harm. The conversation examines how children and young adults are groomed into sacrificing time, money, and autonomy for promised prestige and advancement. Daniella connects drum corps dynamics to total institutions, LGAT structures, evangelical markets, the military, and other performance-driven systems that blur the line between passion and exploitation.
CONNECT WITH DANIELLA
• Order Culting of America – knittingcultlady.com
• Autographed book – uncultureyourself.com
• Bookshop.org link
• Daniella's Patreon – patreon.com/GroupBehaviorGal
• Daniella's TikTok – bit.ly/4muxbu6 (@knittingcultladychat)
• YouTube channel
• Instagram stories – daniellamyoung_
• Hey White Women Podcast – tr.ee/2gWVBFaYnp
• Cults and the Culting of America Podcast – sites.libsyn.com/534892/site
• White Women Get Ready – mistresssyndrome.com/book
CONNECT WITH SCOT
• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
• TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotloyd
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Drum corps mirrors cult structures through milieu control, hierarchy, and deification of leaders
• Touring models function as total institutions that intensify control and reduce outside perspective
• Members often pay thousands to participate while generating revenue for executives and sponsors
• Unpaid labor and "do it for exposure" dynamics normalize exploitation
• Internal policing without independent oversight is a major red flag
• Love bombing recruits followed by withdrawal of support reinforces compliance
• Advancement structures resemble LGAT tier systems and promise unattainable perfection
• Loaded language such as "the activity" reinforces insider identity
• Blacklisting functions as exit cost for dissenters
• Corporate sponsorship creates a backdoor showroom model where participants become unpaid brand ambassadors
• Sexual coercion and abuse occur within both membership and staff hierarchies
• Conflict resolution structures lack transparency and protection
• Exposure to only positive narratives increases recruitment vulnerability
• Healthy alternatives prioritize regional engagement and reduced immersion
• If you must sign a contract without being paid, that is a red flag
• Listen to both positive and negative accounts before joining high-demand organizations
• Skills gained in high-control systems can be reclaimed without romanticizing the harm
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to the Cult of Performance
04:04 The Promise of Fame in Performance Arts
07:16 Personal Journeys: From High Control Families to Drum Corps
11:07 The Deification of Leaders in Performance Groups
14:41 Exploitation and Labor in the Arts
18:13 Conflict Resolution and Safety in Performance Groups
22:01 The Touring Model: A Cultic Structure
25:14 The Aftermath: Speaking Out and Blacklisting
27:06 Degradation Ceremonies and Their Impact
28:20 The Role of Corporate Sponsorship in Performance Arts
31:28 Navigating Opportunities in Performing Arts
35:08 Advice for Young Talents and Their Parents
42:46 Recognizing Red Flags in Group Involvement
 
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann

In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella speaks with Allison Powell, a longtime election judge from Illinois who has worked elections for nearly three decades. Allison explains how local elections actually function behind the scenes, including how ballots are handled, the responsibilities of election judges, and the multiple safeguards built into the system. The conversation explores common fears about election interference and explains why many of those concerns misunderstand how decentralized American elections are.
Daniella and Allison also discuss civic engagement, the importance of local political participation, and how ordinary citizens help maintain democratic processes. Their conversation expands into broader topics including women's labor in civic life, changing cultural expectations around marriage and independence, and the role of grassroots activism in strengthening democratic institutions.
CONNECT WITH DANIELLA
• Order The Culting of America: knittingcultlady.com
• Autographed book: uncultureyourself.com
• Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org
• Daniella's Patreon: patreon.com/GroupBehaviorGal
• Daniella's TikTok: https://bit.ly/4muxbu6 (@knittingcultladychat)
• Daniella's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@knittingcultlady
• Daniella's Instagram Stories: https://www.instagram.com/daniellamyoung_/
• Hey White Women Podcast: https://tr.ee/2gWVBFaYnp
• Cults and the Culting of America Podcast: https://sites.libsyn.com/534892/site
• White Women Get Ready: mistresssyndrome.com/book
CONNECT WITH SCOT
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotloyd
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Local election systems in the United States are highly decentralized, making it extremely difficult for any single person or federal authority to control or stop elections nationwide.
• Election judges are everyday citizens who oversee polling places, verify voter registration lists, enforce election rules, and ensure ballots are securely handled and transported.
• Voting machines used in many jurisdictions are intentionally simple and often not connected to networks, which reduces the possibility of remote interference.
• Multiple layers of oversight exist during elections, including bipartisan poll workers, physical ballots, credentialed poll watchers, and secure transport procedures.
• Civic engagement often begins locally, through roles such as poll workers, election judges, campaign volunteers, and local advocacy groups.
• Women frequently perform significant invisible civic labor, from community organizing to maintaining social and political networks.
• Cultural attitudes toward marriage, independence, and women's roles are shifting, with more women choosing autonomy and fulfillment outside traditional relationship expectations.
• Political systems rely heavily on ordinary citizens performing small but essential roles that collectively maintain democratic institutions.
• Voter participation, research into candidates, and early or secure ballot submission are practical ways citizens can support the electoral process.
• Grassroots civic action and local engagement remain critical tools for addressing political challenges and strengthening democratic systems.
 
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Election Judging and Civic Engagement
02:43 The Importance of Political Education
05:29 Local Politics and Community Impact
08:29 Understanding the Role of an Election Judge
11:12 Election Integrity and Security
13:41 Checks and Balances in Elections
16:41 The Role of the National Guard in Elections
19:30 Women in Politics and Civic Engagement
22:22 Personal Experiences with Gender Roles and Relationships
25:37 Empowerment Through Independence
27:55 The Legacy of Strong Women
30:01 Raising Empowered Children
31:29 Engaging in Local Politics
38:13 The Importance of Civic Engagement
45:44 Navigating Voting Challenges
 
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann

CONTENT WARNINGS: Political extremism, fascism, authoritarianism, military force, war, January 6th, detention centers, corruption, sexual misconduct references (Epstein), strong language.
 
In this special unscripted episode, Daniella speaks with fellow veteran creator Angry Male Vet, a 23-year Air Force veteran who has become a prominent online voice pushing back against authoritarianism and misinformation about the U.S. military. Together, they discuss the stereotype of the "Trump voter veteran," the politicization of the armed forces, and why they believe the U.S. military is not a tool for fascism despite public fears.
They explore women in combat roles, diversity in the military, the education and moral framework of senior military leaders, and why authoritarian movements underestimate the integrity of service members. The conversation also touches on veteran political trends, misinformation, protest movements, and the role of creators in shaping cultural resistance.
Ultimately, this episode centers on hope: the belief that veterans and civilians alike are capable of defending democratic norms and building a stronger future.
CONNECT WITH DANIELLA
• Order Culting of America: https://knittingcultlady.com/products/the-culting-of-america
• Autographed copy of Uncultured: https://uncultureyourself.com/pages/uncultured-autographed
• From Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/104058/9781250280114
• Daniella's Patreon: https://patreon.com/GroupBehaviorGal
• Daniella's TikTok: https://bit.ly/4muxbu6 (@knittingcultladychat)
• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@knittingcultlady
• Instagram stories: https://www.instagram.com/daniellamyoung_
• Hey White Women Podcast: https://tr.ee/2gWVBFaYnp
• Cults and the Culting of America Podcast: https://sites.libsyn.com/534892/site
• White Women Get Ready: https://mistresssyndrome.com/book
 
CONNECT WITH SCOT
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotloyd
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• The U.S. military is far more educated, diverse, and ethically structured than common stereotypes suggest
• Many veterans feel a responsibility to publicly counter misinformation about military loyalty and fascism
• Authoritarian leaders often attempt to create fear of the military as a control tactic
• Diversity strengthens military effectiveness rather than weakening it
• Senior military leaders undergo extensive ethical and legal training that constrains unlawful action
• Veterans represent a significant political force outside active duty ranks
• Education within the armed forces is a deliberate strategic investment
• Cultural narratives about "who looks like a veteran" are deeply inaccurate
• Public fear of the military is understandable but not supported by observable behavior
• Resistance movements are strengthened by community networks and independent creators
• Historical attempts to restrict freedom often lead to stronger redefinitions of freedom
• Dreaming about the future is a survival tactic during political instability
 
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Unscripted Discussions
01:04 The Journey of Angry MaleVet
06:13 The Role of Veterans in Political Discourse
11:17 Addressing Misogyny and Gender Roles in the Military
18:25 Stereotypes and Diversity in the Military
26:54 The Impact of Stereotypes on Military Perception
31:00 Military Trust and Autocracy
32:33 Understanding Military Dynamics
34:18 Loyalty vs. Integrity in the Military
36:12 Misunderstanding Military Values
37:46 Military Leadership and Education
40:07 Veterans as a Fifth Estate
42:04 Fear and Misconceptions about the Military
44:06 Military Morality and Decision-Making
45:53 Motivation and the All-Volunteer Force
47:55 Education and Military Competence
49:14 The Evolving Military Culture
51:29 Military as a Political Tool
53:34 The Future of Military Engagement
56:28 Hope and Resilience in Challenging Times
 
Produced by Haley Phillips