Cults

Cults from Parcast (now Spotify Studios) is one of the biggest cult-focused podcasts in existence, with over 320 episodes and more than 12,600 ratings on Apple Podcasts at 4.5 stars. Hosts Greg Polcyn and Vanessa Richardson take a narrative-driven approach, walking through the history of various cults in multi-part episode series that cover the group’s origins, rise, and eventual fall. The show handles everything from Jonestown to the Unification Church, Waco to Heaven’s Gate, and its structured format makes it easy to pick the topics that interest you without needing to start from episode one. The production follows Parcast’s reliable formula: scripted narration, clean audio, and a consistent episode structure that alternates between the psychology of the leaders and the experiences of the followers. That formula is both the show’s strength and its limitation. Some listeners find the delivery style a bit rigid, with reviews occasionally mentioning that the hosts sound too scripted. But the research is thorough, and the multi-episode deep dives on individual groups are genuinely educational. For NXIVM listeners, the value here is context. Understanding how NXIVM fits into the broader history of cult movements makes the specific NXIVM story land differently. And at over 300 episodes, there is plenty of material to keep you busy.