The podcast, Cults of Our Lives, delves into the crazy and bizarre world of cults. While examining over 50 different cults throughout the series, the podcast attempts to understand the minds of a multitude of cult members. Hosted by two women, Halle George and Stasie Sereda, both give their own personal take on what they found most captivating about the topic. Though they co-narrate, each woman provides a different outlook; Halle focusing on the hard-hitting, notable events while Stasie on the wacky, interesting side of cults. The podcast consists of three different segments, all focusing on different aspects of the cult ranging from beginning history, to crazy events, and then to current members. The episode begins with suspenseful music leading into an overview about themselves and the fascination they have behind cults.
The first episode, “Aum Shinrikyo”, is about a well-known doomsday cult based in Japan. They explain the origins of the cult, starting with a man named Shoko Asahara, who declared himself to be a reincarnated Christ. Unlike most cults, he gained a following full of highly skilled and highly intelligent people. This first segment, containing only background information, was presented in a very formal tone, seeming very scripted and as though Halle and Stasie were uncomfortable about adding any extra knowledge and commentary they had not predetermined. Throughout the continuation of the episode, they grow more relaxed and comfortable and it becomes a more of a casual conversation between two friends.
The next segment, “Notable Craziness”, involves them each explaining “about a particularly nuts event that this cult perpetrated”. Stasie and Halle both share one notable event, or in this case, attack, that Aum’s members committed. One against a lawyer and his family who were trying to sue current members, the other against random pedestrians in a subway using sarin gas. While each of them had their own topic and story they were sharing, they kept interrupting one another, adding more information they thought was important that the other had either forgotten or chosen to omit. In this part of the podcast, the conversation becomes more entertaining as they begin to go off on tangents, delving deeper into the discussion by adding extra information about the topic.
The final segment, “Where are the Now?”, is just what it sounds like. The hosts explain what happened to the cult and where its members are today. As for the cult, it is a recognized terrorist organization in a few countries and Asahara has been sentenced to death row. The podcast ends with direct quotes from former members, allowing Halle, Stasie, and the listener to truly attempt to understand what was going on in the minds of followers during this time. Readings these citations at the end leaves listeners thinking about the reasons members had for joining and staying with the cult and how they may have missed all the warning signs indicating trouble.
Overall, the narrators became much more comfortable as the podcast goes on and even more as the series continues, making it more engaging and entertaining. They talked louder, interrupted each other more, and added extra unscripted knowledge quite often. The organization was strong, laying the information out in an extremely detailed and chronological way, making it an easy listen. Suspenseful music between segments aided to this organization by signaling the switch from one segment to the next, but also kept up the intense feeling of such an extreme topic. Although the whole episode is only narrated by the two women with no interviews or extra guests, they do it in such a way that is so captivating and engaging and the episode flies by. They make an extra effort to keep every episode under 30 minutes so anyone who wants to, can find time to listen and enjoy. Though short, this podcast gives listeners a look into the confusing and misunderstood lives of those in cults, keeping them coming back for more.
Word Count: 655
The podcast, “Cults of Our Lives” seems to be very different from the podcast I listened to this week. Most obviously, there are two narrators in this podcast compared to the one narrator in the podcast that I listened to. I feel that there is an advantage in having multiple perspectives on a podcast because the podcast is able to relate to more listeners while also broadening listeners’ way of thinking. This can be done through multiple narrators or through interviews of people involved in what is being talked about. In the case of cults, the two narrators are able to bounce ideas off of each other and build momentum around the topics they’re discussing. With two narrators, more planning has to happen to ensure coordination. It’s important that one voice doesn’t dominate the conversation and that narrators respect and listen to each other while speaking.
They take the podcast one step further by integrating direct quotes from cult members. This is advantageous because listeners are able to make connections and to deeper understand the minds of cult members. In “Bear Brook” so far, it’s not possible to deeper understand the mind of the blue barrel killer because he/she hasn’t been revealed yet; that is the mystery of it all. Suspense builds from this mystery but I wonder how the podcast would be different if direct quotes from the unknown killer were inserted into various parts of the podcast. Speaking of suspense, it seems that both podcasts use music to further desired eerie feelings. Music is a powerful way to make listeners feel what you want them to feel from the message you’re trying to convey and I plan to make use of that in my podcast as well.
Word count: 290 words