The Cult of Mark Zuckerberg

What happens when a Harvard dropout builds a global empire on the idea of connection... and then becomes one of the most emotionally disconnected figures in tech? This week, Amanda and Chelsea are joined by Robert Evans of Behind the Bastards (@bastardspod) to unpack the cult-like control of Mark Zuckerberg, the boy wonder turned code-powered control freak.

From the chaos of Facemash to the calculated calm of Meta, we trace the evolution of Zuckerbergs’s leadership style and how his obsession with efficiency, rating systems, and surveillance shaped one of the most influential companies in the world. We’ll explore employee testimonies, bizarre office rituals, and the cognitive dissonance of a CEO preaching human connection while undermining it at every turn.

Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.

Thank you to our sponsors!

• Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT
• Find exactly what you’re booking for on https://Booking.com, Booking.YEAH!
• Head to

  Previous Episode

  

  The Cult of Ikea

  April 29, 2025

  •

  70m

  hej!

  don’t forget to grab a blue bag upon stepping off the escalator, you’ll need it for the culty keepsakes you collect throughout this week’s no-assembly-required episode. a longtime staple for those in ~transitory~ periods in life (college students, recent singles, the elderly), Ingvar Kamprad’s furniture emporium turned community gathering hub and meatball mecca known simply as *cue the heavenly choir* IKEA has captivated the living rooms, tastebuds, and wallets of countless shoppers worldwide since 1943. Whether it was an outing for a reliable Kallax shelf, a trendy set of Alex drawers, or a classic Pöang chair you truly never forget your Ikea indoctrination. Getting lost in everyone’s fav iconic maze-like showroom with Amanda and Reese today is Morgan Absher (⁠@morgsyabsher⁠) of Two Hot Takes (⁠@twohottakes⁠)! Cozy up with a complimentary hot drink (exclusively for Family Members of course) and get ready to delve into the shockingly culty world of IKEA.

  Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
  Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
  

  Thank you to our sponsors!

  • Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to
    
    PlaySave

  Next Episode

  

  The Cult of Plant Parents

  May 13, 2025

  •

  66m

  Although the thumbs typing this are decidedly *not* green, this week’s exploration has been nurtured into fruition with love just for our botanically inclined culties.

  Whether you spent quarantine scrolling through other people’s nurseries on #planstagram until your eyes glazed over green, or nobly undertook the task of cultivating an amateur jungle of your own leafy companions, in recent years it seems harder than ever to resist the allure of one of mankind’s oldest cohabitants: houseplants! But is the plant mommy life really the uber-zen, ultra-grounded, self-care-queen hobby we’ve been looking for, or just another tool of the algorithm to thwart the ~growth~ of our time, money, and IRL HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS?!? Melodramatic? At SLAC? Never! Here to help Reese and Amanda plant the seeds of healthy skepticism into this seemingly wholesome pastime is arbiter of plant wisdom in both audio and print format Maria Failla of Growing Joy with Plants (@growingjoywithmaria)!

  Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.

  Thank you to our sponsors!

  • This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/cult
  • Find exactly what you’re booking for on
    
    PlaySave