This week on Between the States, Dan, Noel, and Jared take a darkly funny look at modern cults, how they operate, and why intelligent people can still get pulled into high-control groups. The guys break down the warning signs of a cult, including authoritarian leaders, isolation from friends and family, information control, emotional manipulation, financial exploitation, forced labor, and the demand for unquestioning loyalty. They also design their own competing sun, moon, and eclipse cults, complete with recruitment strategies, sacred minivans, pyramid schemes, crop labor, and an alarming amount of violence. Then they examine several real groups operating in the United States, including Twin Flames Universe, the Twelve Tribes and its Yellow Deli restaurants, the secretive Two by Twos movement, and OneTaste’s practice of orgasmic meditation. They discuss expensive spiritual coaching packages, communal living, religious manipulation, child labor allegations, forced labor convictions, sexual coercion, free Airbnb disguised as Christianity, and the thin line between a strange community and a full-blown cult. Could you recognize that you were in a cult before it was too late? Which cult would you join if you had no choice? And at what point does a religion, lifestyle group, self-help program, business, or government begin checking a few too many boxes? It is part cult documentary discussion, part comedy roast, and part deeply questionable brainstorming session from three friends who probably should not be allowed to start their own religion. If you enjoy cult documentaries, dark comedy, true crime, strange religions, high-control groups, Twin Flames Universe, Twelve Tribes, Two by Twos, OneTaste, spiritual scams, and chaotic podcast conversations, this episode is for you. If you or someone you know may be involved in a high-control group, resources for education and support are available through People Leave Cults, Freedom of Mind, I Got Out, and the Cult Education Institute. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Episodes available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetweenTheStates Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Between-The-States/61574045351917/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthestatespod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betweenthestates BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/betweenthestates.bsky.social Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetweenTheStates/ Comments, questions, or suggestions can be sent to: Podcast@BetweenTheStates.com Best way to support the show: https://www.patreon.com/BetweentheStates
