Let's Talk About Sects Podcast Por Sarah Steel arte de portada

Let's Talk About Sects

Let's Talk About Sects

De: Sarah Steel
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Let's Talk About Sects is an award-winning monthly podcast focusing on a different cult each episode. Sarah takes a storytelling, deep dive approach, looking at the history of a sect's leaders, the recruitment of members, their experiences, psychological aspects, and notable incidents during its existence.

You can support us on Patreon, with a one-off donation, or grab some merch. Sarah Steel's debut book Do As I Say is available now.

“A fascinating and well-researched look into cults and the charismatic leaders behind them.” Peter Wells, The Sydney Morning Herald

“A fantastic examination of sects, cults, and religion… a fact-based program that’ll hook you in and keep you coming back for more.” Zach Johnston, Uproxx

“Cleverly named, meticulously researched.” Elena Nicolaou, Refinery29

“The best podcast of its kind – I can’t wait for another episode!” Apple Podcasts review from a US listener

“I study cults and sects and for this reason listen to many podcasts on these subjects. This one is by far the best.” Apple Podcasts review from a US listener

“Best podcast about cults I’ve found.” Apple Podcasts review from an Australian listener

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Steel Biografías y Memorias Ciencias Sociales Crímenes Reales Espiritualidad
Episodios
  • Orgsm: A Memoir and a OneTaste update with Ruwan Meepagala

    Orgsm: A Memoir and a OneTaste update with Ruwan Meepagala
    Apr 5 2026

    The sentences just came down for OneTaste’s founder Nicole Daedone and her second-in-command Rachel Cherwitz – if you're unfamiliar with OneTaste you can listen to Let's Talk About Sects' deep dive in November 2020. From that episode, you may remember Ruwan Meepagala. When he spoke with LTAS five years ago, Ruwan had already been working on his memoir, which he finished writing and released last year. It’s called ORGSM: A Memoir. The sentencing was the perfect opportunity to revisit Ruwan's story and find out how his perspective has shifted over the intervening years.


    Credits:

    Written and hosted by Sarah Steel

    Music by Joe Gould


    Links

    • Founder of ‘orgasmic meditation’ company gets nine years in prison in forced labor conspiracy — Associated Press, The Guardian, 31 March 2026
    • ORGSM: A Memoir — by Ruwan Meepagala, Subversalist Publishing, October 2025
    • Ruwando.com — Ruwan Meepagala's website


    You can support Let's Talk About Sects here. If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via www.icsahome.com). Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here. With thanks to Money Saver Home Loans, supporting partner for this episode of Let's Talk About Sects.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Más Menos
    58 m
  • The Nannup Four with Dominique Bayens

    The Nannup Four with Dominique Bayens
    Mar 22 2026

    Expanse is the ABC’s internationally award-winning podcast exploring big stories from across Australia, and it’s sixth season sees host Dominique Bayens investigate the unsettling circumstances surrounding the 2007 disappearance of four people from the town of Nannup in Western Australia: Chantelle and Leila McDougall, Tony Popic, and a man known as Simon Kadwill. Simon espoused a doomsday belief system in online forums and through his book, Servers of the Divine Plan. And when it came to his relationship with the much younger Chantelle, many close to her had noticed his controlling behaviours.


    Links

    • Expanse: The Nannup Four — Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2026
    • The curious case of the Nannup Four — by Dominique Bayens for the Expanse podcast, ABC, 7 March 2026


    You can support Let's Talk About Sects here. If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via www.icsahome.com). Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here. With thanks to Money Saver Home Loans, supporting partner for this episode of Let's Talk About Sects.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Más Menos
    36 m
  • Nephew of the Universe: Sri Chinmoy with Harry Rob Bruner

    Nephew of the Universe: Sri Chinmoy with Harry Rob Bruner
    Dec 16 2025

    Harry Robert Bruner was brought into Sri Chinmoy as a child, joining the organisation run by Chinmoy Kumar Ghose at the age of 12. Chinmoy claimed he lifted weights totalling 7063¾ pounds (or over 3,200kg) with one arm on 30 January 1987. He also faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with female devotees. Harry left at the age of 30, and wrote and performed a solo show about this experiences in Sri Chinmoy called ‘Nephew of the Universe’. Through Creative Exit Coaching he now helps others disentangle from destructive beliefs, reclaim their voice, and tell their own stories.


    Links

    • Creative Exit Counselling — Harry's work assisting survivors to reclaim their creativity after leaving a high-control group
    • I Was in a Cult. Leaving Wasn’t the Hardest Part — by Harry Rob Bruner, Medium, 16 August 2025
    • The Media’s Love Affair With Alleged Sex Criminal Sri Chinmoy — by Edwin Lyngar, Salon, 9 May 2014
    • New York Times Crossword — 10 December 2025


    If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via www.icsahome.com). Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here. With thanks to Money Saver Home Loans, supporting partner for this episode of Let's Talk About Sects.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Más Menos
    1 h y 5 m

Featured Article: Delve into the Darker Side of Human Nature with the 15 Best Podcasts About Cults


Cults are fascinating. There’s something curiosity-inducing about stories of ordinary people who get wrapped up in groupthink that quickly veers into dangerous territory. Part of the appeal is because we think it could never happen to us, even though we suspect, deep down, that it absolutely could. These listens explore the nature of cults, the figures who lead them, and the followers who have been lured into their orbits.

Featured Article Delve into the Darker Side of Human Nature with the 15 Best Podcasts About Cults
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Más relevante
Great narration, clear and to the point. Never disengaged or obtuse. This is a very focused and educational podcast.

informative

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This podcast is a refreshingly empathetic view of the, very nuanced, subject of high demand groups and cults. The research is clearly conducted with special aims toward accuracy, and the interviews are held with so much empathy for survivors. I've always had an interest in the terms of indoctrination, and the vantage point in this podcast does a fantastic job of discussing cultic behavior, without leaning into sensationalism or pushing survivors to overshare sordid details of their experience.

very well written and researched

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Obsessed and learning about cults I’ve never heard of. I’m hooked and listening to all from the beginning.

I’m obsessed

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The stories are obviously interesting, but the performance is mind-numbing. Very monotone, to say the least!

Interesting, but...

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