How Do Cults Fashion Themselves? with Sarah C. Byrd

How Do Cults Fashion Themselves? with Sarah C. Byrd

Author: Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness October 19, 2022 Duration: 1:06:47
Let’s say you pass a group of people dressed identically. Are they a) following a trend, b) wearing uniforms, or c)  in a cult? And who’s to say the answer can’t be all of the above? This week, we’re diving fabric first into the world of American cults, communes, and alternative communities with fashion historian and archivist Sarah C. Byrd. Listen in as she and Jonathan discuss how these groups have historically expressed themselves through style—and why the definition of “cult fashion” might be more expansive than we think. Sarah C. Byrd is a fashion historian, archivist, & educator based in New York. Her independent research focuses on the history of clothing within American “cults” and alternative communities, as well as the role of museums in fashion design education. She is also passionate about creating space to engage in learning outside of institutional programs. You can connect with Sarah via her website: sarahcbyrd.com. Still curious after listening to this episode? Sarah has suggested a handful of resources, and places to learn and visit, for each of the communities featured in the episode. All of these resources are linked in the episode entry on jonathanvanness.com: The Shakers: Shaker Museum Collection (New Lebanon, NY) Hancock Shaker Village (Hancock, MA) Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community (Sabbathday Lake, ME)   The Oneida Community: Oneida Community Archive Collection (Syracuse University Library) Oneida Community Mansion House (Oneida, NY)  FLDS: A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women's Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870 (Book by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich) Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (Netflix) Prophet's Prey (Showtime) The Source Family: The Source Family (Documentary) The Source: The Untold Story of Father Yod, YaHoWha 13, and The Source Family (Book by Isis Aquarian & Electricity Aquarian) Heaven’s Gate: Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults (HBO) Heaven’s Gate (Witness Docs podcast, hosted by Glynn Washington) General: America and the Utopian Dream (Yale University Beinecke Library) American Messiahs: False Prophets of a Damned Nation (Book by Adam Morris)   Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.   Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.   Our executive producer is Erica Getto. Our associate producer is Zahra Crim. Our editor is Andrew Carson.   Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know that feeling when you’re just trying to figure it all out, and you need a guide who’s equal parts insightful and hilarious? That’s the space where Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness lives. Hosted by the beloved Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye, this podcast turns genuine curiosity into a powerful engine for personal growth. Each episode feels like a vibrant conversation with a deeply empathetic friend who isn’t afraid to ask the big, awkward, or wonderfully silly questions. Jonathan sits down with a diverse array of experts, authors, and thinkers, weaving together discussions that are as enlightening as they are unexpectedly funny. The result is a unique blend of education, comedy, and culture that tackles everything from societal issues to the intimate details of self-improvement. You’ll find yourself laughing one moment and having a profound revelation the next, all while feeling less alone in the challenges of modern life. This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about the ongoing, messy, and beautiful process of understanding ourselves and the world. Produced in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, the podcast delivers consistently engaging audio experiences that are both a lifeline and a joy. Tune in for a weekly dose of warmth, wit, and the kind of conversations that leave you feeling genuinely better equipped to navigate your own path.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness
Podcast Episodes
When Setting Boundaries Means Going No Contact — with Melissa Urban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:07
Boundaries aren’t about being mean — they’re about being clear. This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down with Melissa Urban, founder of Whole30 and a leading voice on boundaries, to talk about how to set limits that ac…
How to Pivot Your Career Without Spiraling — with Adam Rippon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:00
Your worth is not tied to your results. This week, JVN is joined by Olympic Bronze Medalist - figure skater, author, and all-around icon Adam Rippon to talk about career pivots, personal reinvention, and why stepping int…
Trump v. Slaughter, Spotify Wrapped, Pantone's Color of the Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
This week, we’re talking: JVN’s Euro Hot & Healed Tour, English Breakfasts, Whole Foods hot bars, Simone Biles’ first figure skating lesson, Instagram Close Friends Stories, NSFW shaped lipstick, home renovation revelati…
Location Reveals on X, TikTok Karens, Advice for Mature Skincare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:15
This week, we’re talking: Thanksgiving recuperation, JVN Takes Europe, our continued Jennifer Welch obsession, attachment styles, TikTok hairstylist dramas, Crafty Slaughter LLC, Sami Sage (Betches)’s Incredible breakdow…
How To Spot BS — with Jennifer Welch from "I've Had It" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
Today, we’re refining our BS reader with one the BEST in the biz - Jennifer Welch - from “I’ve Had It”! Together, JVN and Jennifer dive into how to hold people accountable, discern the news we’re watching, and call out h…
How To Protect Your Peace - The Art of Self-Care with Heather McMahan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:33
Travel nightmares, cocktail jazz, & laughing gas…oh my! This week, JVN is joined by comedian and certified delight, Heather McMahan (host, Absolutely Not) They’re talking: baths vs. showers, jazz scatting, preferred ques…
Cynthia Erivo’s Reflexes, Hilary Duff’s Return, the Last Penny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:26
This week, we’re talking: JVN’s return to yoga, which comedian makes JVN pull an oblique & an intercostal muscle, the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen, the perils of ankles being in weird positions, “Going Up on A Tues…