{"podcast":{"title":"Sounds Like A Cult","slug":"sounds-like-a-cult-3798336","podcast_index_feed_id":3798336,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soundslikeacult","website_url":"https://www.soundslikeacult.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/03799cba-bf30-11ef-bf8e-e3714d41411a/image/baca8fec6e9ed51eda6138497bbffee0.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Studio71","episode_count":227,"summary":"Putting the “cult” in culture… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about the Royal Family? What about Disney Adults? Or spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? We’re Sounds Like A Cult, an iHeart Radio Award-winning podcast that analyzes a different fanatical group every week to try and answer the big question: This ~sounds~ like a cult, but is it really? Created and hosted by New York Times-bestselling author Amanda Montell, co-hosted and produced by Chelsea Charles, Reese Oliver, and Iman Hariri Kia. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com We want to make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy ","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T16:17:22.805307+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sounds-like-a-cult-3798336"},"episode":{"title":"The Cult of Charity Scams","slug":"the-cult-of-charity-scams","published_at":"2026-07-21T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sounds-like-a-cult-3798336/the-cult-of-charity-scams","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sounds-like-a-cult-3798336","url":"https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU4657467375.mp3","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU4657467375.mp3","summary":"If you've ever donated to a GoFundMe after reading one heartbreaking Instagram caption... this episode is for you. This week, Chelsea and Iman are joined by bestselling author, speaker, and advocate Molly Burke (@mollyburkeofficial) to unpack The Cult of Charity Scams, where good intentions become the perfect recruiting tool. From fake fundraisers and disaster relief grifts to organizations that promise to change the world while exploiting the people behind the scenes, we're following the money and asking why doing good has become such good business. Molly shares her firsthand experience working for a charity that quickly turned from nonprofit to cult, complete with charismatic leadership, staff housing, company slogans, loyalty tests, and yes... workplace B12 butt shots. So before you Venmo, donate, or click \"monthly recurring gift,\" give this episode a listen. Your wallet may thank you! Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia.  Pre-order Iman's new book, Once in a Timeline, here! Your pre-order helps make more books possible! Thank you to our sponsors! To Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain, Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT⁠⁠⁠⁠ If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Use code PODCAST15 for fifteen percent off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/3OdtU5X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices","meta_description":"If you've ever donated to a GoFundMe after reading one heartbreaking Instagram caption... this episode is for you. This week, Chelsea and Iman are joined…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3760,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sounds-like-a-cult-3798336/episodes/the-cult-of-charity-scams/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sounds-like-a-cult-3798336/the-cult-of-charity-scams.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}