On Belief: A Podcast About Cults

Hosted by Karen Geier, On Belief: A Podcast About Cults digs into the uncomfortable space where conviction meets coercion. This isn't just a catalog of strange beliefs or infamous leaders. Instead, it's a deep exploration of persuasion itself, asking why any of us might be drawn into systems that ultimately cause harm. The podcast operates from a compelling premise: if we were all truly rational and immune to influence, the world would look very different. Geier uses that starting point to frame intimate conversations with people who have firsthand experience inside harmful groups and sects. These guests share their personal stories of how they were initially seduced by promises of community or purpose, and the specific mechanisms-emotional, psychological, and social-that were used to keep them involved. Listening to this podcast, you'll hear nuanced discussions that span categories like religion, culture, and spirituality, reframing cults not as distant oddities but as extreme examples of social forces that touch all our lives. The conversations reveal how the very human desires for belonging, meaning, and answers can be expertly manipulated. Each episode is an act of forensic empathy, piecing together how belief is built, sustained, and sometimes, painfully dismantled. It’s a study in vulnerability that challenges the listener to reconsider their own assumptions about influence and free will. You can find On Belief: A Podcast About Cults wherever you listen.