To hear more from Dr. Janja Lalich, watch our latest video where she compares online conspiracy groups and cults >> kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lbihgchmrtjUgGw.html

A cult with just two people is called an abusive relationship.

"When are we ever gonna get a cult leader who's a good guy"? -somebody who's VERY susceptible to being brought into a cult

I love how WIRED combines very interesting questions with absolute dumbest questions I've ever seen

I grew up in a church that basically devolved into a cult. After my family got out, i was so legitimately shocked to find how kind and accepting other churches were in comparison

Ending a cult by democratically voting out the dictator like leader is a surprisingly heartwarming story.

As a person born in a cult, don't forget that some people are born into cults! It's often not a choice. The "average person" can get roped into a cult, too.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Janja Lalich. I was once in a cult” crazy opening

5:23 "maybe your neighbors aren't starting a cult, they just don't like you" 😂💯 SAVAGE AF wow

I love that she calls Manson 'Charles' like his disapproving grandmother.

"Cult leaders are not gonna be chill." seems fair.

As someone currently trying leave a cult (held back by parents), I appreciate all the different point of view with all these questions

10:48 I'm definitely not an expert, but I know people who'se family or themselves were part of a cult, and something she didn't point out is that some cults persuade you to join, not by offering you to change the world or a greater purpose, they simply grant you something they know you need with urgency. This initial offer may come in the form of financial aid, housing, a job, or just a general sense of safety and stability, at least in the beginning. This generates a sense of gratitude, debt or even reverence pretty quickly. That is part of the reason why some people have a hard time leaving, they are attached to the first impression of the cult being the generous benefactor/savior that helped them out of a tough situation or that they have a pending debt with them that they will never finish to pay.

"Maybe they just don't like you" the way she said this is just pure gold LMAOO

Get this woman a PODCAST

This content is both cathartic and deeply triggering for me. I was in a small, private cult for 10 years. So many of us have nameless experiences that never hit the mainstream and suffered in secret. It's important that content like this teaches other people what to look for and to help identify vulnerable people in a way to reach out to them before the cult does.

What scares me about cults is that I recognize my own susceptibility to them. Like, I'm not saying I am going to join a cult tonight, but my humanity makes me vulnerable. Like, come five years down the road, I've lost my job, my partner has left, my finances are a mess and life has got me beat down. Here comes some narcissist that promises me heaven. How tempting would their offer of deliverance be? The reality is that I don't know, and that scares me, and should scare all of us. It's easy to make fun of cults, but we are not so different after all.

I love her completely logical life progression. I left a cult… now I’m a sociologist specializing in cults.

Such an intelligent woman, she tells it like it is, but she’s never condescending

I love how she alludes to Scientology soooo many times throughout this video without actually naming Scientology. That Joaquin Phoenix film is about L.R. Hubbard and Scientology, as well.

I was in a cult for 8 years. I'm still in the thick of my spiritual battle but I'm grateful I was rescued. 🙏❤️

"Not every religion becomes a cult, and not every cult becomes a religion." I like that she said that.

My dad grew up in a very strict religious cult and managed to escape - but he also is an extremely manipulative narcissist. When she said that cults could be just two people.... everything clicked. He literally created his own cult within our family where everything revolved around what he wanted or felt and I imagine growing up in a cult and never knowing how to interact normally only made this worse. Every dinner was a sob story to get us to feel bad for him and his childhood (yes every dinner) and we had to praise him for his kindness and generosity or cooking skills or profound intelligence etc. even when it wasn't really the case. Now I know why I felt like I escaped just as much as he had. wow.

I was in a very small abusive cult my mom was brainwashed within one week. I was a kid so what mom said went. Starvation, sleep deprivation, constant monologs... will get to anyone.

I remember reading in “Cultish” (by Amanda Martell) that the reason Heaven Gate’s followers wore Nike was because the leader got a good deal on bulk sneakers. No cap.

I do wish more people would realize that it's a lot easier for the "average" person to get roped into a cult than they might believe. People aren't stupid or gullible for joining cults; they've likely been preyed upon by charismatic people who have an agenda and saw a person who was very vulnerable. In a manner of speaking, it could happen to anyone given the circumstances.

Please bring this woman back. She is fascinating!

I left a cult that I was a part of for 20+ years. The leader is a high level martial arts master who uses his charisma and his status as the "soke" of his system to manipulate people. Seeing as he and his members are highly trained martial artists, I have my friends Smith and Wesson with me everywhere I go.

I escaped a religious/family cult (Southern Baptist extremists) the day after I turned eighteen with the help of my then boyfriend. We planned it for four months, and to this day I think it's probably the scariest thing I've ever done. I didn't sleep for that entire summer leading up to it. My dad desperately wanted to recreate his own Waco. The shelf broke the day he threatened to lock me in a closet until I turned eighteen, feed me nothing but bread and water, and dump me in downtown Portland alone, with nothing, on my eighteenth birthday. Having grown up socially isolated and homeschooled, we both knew that might just get me killed. They lost me forever that day.

I remember learning in sociology about a cult researcher who investigated the Moonies and actually ended up joining them. That really shows how persuasive a cult can be to the most skeptical person.

"Why are the neighbors baricading themselves away?" "Maybe they don't like you." Absolutely killer line. I love this woman

About the question about is cult members are already insane when they join: I HIGHLY recommend Dianne Lake’s book “member of the family”. She joined the Manson family at 14 and was EXTREMELY vulnerable. Her parents had become hippies and gave her lsd/weed at 12. She was put in compromising positions that NO child should ever be put in (older men taking inappropriate pictures of her, etc). She didn’t really have a chance at the time. Luckily she was able to get on a better path after the murders

I love this expert. She really gave me a perspective of more compassion for cult members. The point that intimate partner violence or dv is just a cult of 2 is really insightful.

Yeah, when I heard that "Why can't a leader of a cult just be a nice person?" question I was thinking, if they were a nice person the group they'd be leading wouldn't be a cult. It'd be a charitable organization, or a fan club, or a philosophy or a religion.

Wow, she’s very charismatic. Does she have some sort of group we could join?

I had a friend who joined the Rajaneeshis with her boyfriend back in 1979 or 1980, and I still wonder what became of her and wish I could see her again.

As someone who was in a 3 year long abusive relationship, I did things I never thought I’d do and tolerate things that literally seem crazy.

I almost dieddddd when the question "why the Nike shoes...." came up and she said "There was a complete lack of individuality", that was an epic fashion roast without even meaning to be.

This woman is fascinating. She explains things in such a smart, but human way. I want more!

I hope she introduces herself to new people as "HI! I used to be in a cult!" honestly she's so charming and informative.

I have friends in a cult, but they don’t believe that it is one. It’s so depressing to witness and feel so helpless as they give so much of their time, energy, and money to this organization that is so harmful to so many people.

As someone who grew up in a cult (Scientology), I appreciate you for speaking out.

A comparison I’ve heard for getting into a cult is that it’s like an abusive relationship. Nobody wants to be in an abusive relationship, nobody signs up to join an abusive relationship, and you don’t realize until you are leaving or have left that it was actually an abusive relationship. The human mind is very weak and easy to manipulate so literally anybody could join a cult, just like anyone could get into an abusive relationship. Idk how accurate this is but it really helped me understand how someone could join a cult… plain and simply, it doesn’t seem like a cult when you start. Just like an abusive relationship doesn’t look like an abusive relationship when you start.

This is so educating. This woman is well-spoken and interesting.

Best description of NXIUM/Keith Rainiere I've heard yet. This incredible sociologist's summarization skills are unmet

I escaped a cult four years ago. It completely altered my life. And it wasn't a Jonestown or a Waco. The destructiveness of cults hinges on a dozen psychological variables, and often isn't provocative enough for a Netflix documentary.

She would be an amazing teacher, she corrects people without any condescension and explains things so well and in an engaging manner. I could listen to her all day

I think anybody who's been close to a narcissist at some point in their lives will understand how easy it is to get sucked in. Cult Leaders are just particularly skilled narcissists with a franchise.

Never underestimate the power of a cult to play on even the most sane person's strengths and weaknesses. Any one of us can be a potential victim.

The more you learn about cults, the more you realize anything can be a cult, and anyone could be caught in one. It's such a fascinating study of human nature.

Wired never fails to bring in the most charismatic and engaging speakers out there for us.

Rule of thumb: the people who get into cults and/or abuse relationships are the people who don't believe they could. The predators go after unexpecting victims, and when you say "That would never be me." that's their dinner bell. It's only when that illusion dissipates that you have some level of protection.

I grew up in the 70s and remember these so well. I remember being shocked at people just up & leaving everything they knew. But it was so real.

As an ex cult member I can’t thank Dr. Janja Lalich enough. Her books helped me understand the harmful and dangerous environment I was raised in. Really glad to see her spreading awareness about cults as many don’t understand how pervasive and damaging they can be. As well as how easily someone can get sucked up in them.

Kudos for her patience with some of these questions - having outside people say 'I could never be brainwashed' lowkey irritates me cos it's so insensitive towards the people that actually went through it. It's not as hard as it looks lakjsda

"Maybe they just don't like you." LOL so hilarious! Thanks Dr. Lalich. Learned something important today.

I love this lady. She is so good at explaining things and seems very kind. I'm glad you got out of the situation you were in, and used your experience to help others. Bless.

I like that she’s straight foreword with her answers, but not condescending about it and that she not ashamed to talk about her past with a cult. I wouldn’t blame her if she never wanted to talk about it.

I liked her charisma. It was hysterical to hear "Maybe they just don't like you!" or "Who would follow a weirdo?"

absolutely hollering at the casual usage of the phrase "Daddy Bush" in ref to GWBush Sr @6:06 💀💀🤣 thats how yall be calling him???

The best one of these types of videos - I could’ve listen for another two hours.

Her story how she dissolved a whole cult like wow props to her and the members for standing up to the leader. It's not easy to get yourself out let alone dissolve the whole cult that's amazing in its own right.

I love her compassionate and matter-of-fact delivery. Her point about online cults is so relevant, too. I think we're in a moment of political instability and upset similar to the 1970's, and with the increasing popularity of alternative spiritual practices and stuff on TikTok and other sites, I worry that we could be in for another cult wellspring! Really good to give a platform to these kinds of speakers

I could listen to her talking for hours! 💕 I love the way she explain things, directly and easily understandable!

I grew up in a town with a cult (FLDS) right beside it, I grew up with girls who were in it and heard stories about escaping and what it was like, it’s insane. A lot more people have left now and it’s slowly dying in my town, but there’s still a few super believers around.

"Cult leaders are not going to be chill" - something a real person had to say

You should really get this Janja lady back. She's well spoken, well educated, and she's got enough dry snark to be funny but not mean. She corrects people but in a firm yet nice way and on top of having a soothing voice to listen to she never stutters or has to stop and think about what she's going to say. I would definitely watch another video with her.

Man, it was wild watching this and realising just how much my former abuser is a wannabe cult leader. He would try to indoctrinate me into being his worshipper, and that was the main core of our abusive dynamic. A few months back, he got into streaming on KZfaq, and you should hear the way he talked to me about it before i blocked him for my own personal wellbeing. A lot of very worrying "It feels so good having people tell me how right i am, and paying rapt attention to me like this" type comments. I wouldn't be surprised to see a news headline about him show up in my feed some day.

Wow, I was hoping the video would never end, I could listen to her for hours

It's easy to say "I'd never get into a cult or an abusive relationship" when you look at these when they're at their 100, but people forget both cults and abusive relationship's start with a 1.

My mom was in the people’s temple with my grandpa (her dad). They only survived because my grandmother wouldn’t let my mom go to Guyana, so my grandpa stayed behind with his daughter. Thank God!! They dodged a HUGE bullet.

Awesome, well-informed, sypathetic lecturer! I love that Dr. Lalich makes it very, very clear that _logically_ , cults are looking for well-functioning, productive people because one of the main purposes of the cult is really to allow the leader to do noting but a bit of speechifying and otherwise lazing around.

“Maybe they don’t like you.” Savage honesty. Love it.

"Cult leaders are not gonna be chill." 😂👌 Her delivery of that line, is just...lol

“Maybe they just don’t like you” Savage.

It's pretty dangerous to see cult members as crazy or stupid or dysfunctional, because it might lead you to believe that you can't fall victim to one. But anyone, no matter how smart, educated, or well adjusted, can get sucked into one.

That was awesome and very helpful. Thank you!

For those who are confused as to why multilevel marketing is referenced in some of these questions (LuLaRoe by name and what I assume to be Monat by implication), it is because these companies often use cult-like tactics for recruiting and maintaining members/"distributors". They often prey on people who are very vulnerable or lonely (i.e. new mothers, broke college students, people who just moved to a new town). They love-bomb the indoctrinated and often encourage their members to cut people out of their lives if they are skeptical, labelling them as "toxic" or "not supportive". This usually ends up leaving a lot of victims isolated with few outside connections to turn to. They typically have a (completely made up) hierarchy with labels that give "status", which motivate members to invest more time, money, and effort into climbing up the food chain. As for robbing them of their individuality, their online social presence is usually completely taken over by the sheer amount of advertising they are required to do to keep up sales/recruiting. They also have other things that encourage conformity: if it's a diet MLM, they all eat the same powders and vitamins. If it's a clothing MLM, they all wear the brand they sell. If it's a hair care MLM, they all wear stupid hats to cover their scalp burns and damaged hair. It can also be incredibly difficult to get out of an MLM, as it would be with any cult. Typically, members are scared of being labeled a failure or being ostracized by their friends within the MLM; there's a lot of love-bombing and social pressure to stay. Some have gone deep into financial hardship because of their involvement with MLMs and with no lifeline to the world outside of their company, many end up with nowhere to turn .

This lady should host a nextflix documentary series about cults.

Got chills the way she spoke!!

Thank you for getting the flavor aid detail correct

She needs a podcast or something. The way she explains it all is so straight forward and in a way that's easy to understand and digest.

She's SO fascinating to listen to. Looks like studying sociology really paid off!

"Maybe they don't like youuuuu". So trueeee. Just stay in your business unless they get in yours. I love this woman already!

“Cults aren’t going to take care of you. You’re there to take care of the cult!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Maybe they just don't like you." I love this woman, a true straight shooter.

"People really be letting themselves be brainwashed like that?" Man, it felt like she held an exasperated sigh when she read that.

"Cult leaders are power hungry individuals, who are typically narcissistic and believe the world revolves around them"... That sounds like 6 year old me 🫠

It's crazy to me, living in the US where the majority would never vote for an atheist for president, that people still find cults confusing.

Some of these questions are so condescending but she handled them so well I absolutely love her!

This is the most calming, interesting, fascinating ever. I hope we'll see her again.

Nice open discussion. I like and appreciate for details clarification. Thanks for sharing...

This summer I went to visit my aunt who lives in Irvington, NY. We were taking a walk and she told me about the Moonies, since the leader and his family actually lived in that town. She said that his wife would make my aunt sushi and that the oldest daughter played soccer with my cousins before being completely isolated. The thought of a cult and its members actually having contacts with people that i know it's actually so weird

It’s really obnoxious for people to judge those who get pulled into cults, especially cults of previous decades before technology was easily accessible. We also didn’t know much about cults, there wasn’t a lot of information. You can’t act like these people had all the same information that you do at the time they were lovebombed, that’s not fair. It’s also unfair to the children who were born into cults and didn’t choose that lifestyle. I had a friend who was a child when his parents were pulled into a cult, he didn’t like to talk about it but they got out & it scarred him for life - he was just a kid. Don’t be quick to judge.

My hat off to this woman and every people who managed to leave a cult after they got their claws on them. I can't even imagine the strength and courage it requires.

The reason no cult leader is a "chill guy" is because manipulation is a trait that helps define a cult. It's a characteristic that is needed to categorize a group as a cult. See, what I think is the most concerning thing is that most people think themselves to be "too smart" to join a cult. That they're not gonna get roped in because of a false aura of confidence. It's easier than people realize, especially when we're living in such a devisive world that is hard to live in. It's basic psychology that people are not immune to. You can be tempted. And that's why it's important to recognize the signs. Awareness is the only way to protect yourself.

I would listen to a show/ podcast with this lady SO HARD I LOVE HER

Isn't another warning sign of cults the encouragement to break ties with anyone outside the cult, except in recruiting? As an outside, to me that would seem like the biggest red flag.

“cult leaders are generally pretty lazy, they want members with lots of money and connections who keep the show going” So basically working for a corporation

I appreciate this because I want to include cults in stories I'm writing, but I want to be respectful and well-researched. Glad that Janja is doing better.