Today’s podcast episode: I chat with author and cultural journalist, Jane Borden, about how cult-like thinking—from Pilgrims to MAGA—shapes America. We explore healthy skepticism vs. dangerous groupthink and how history repeats itself. @janeborden.bsky.social
😉😆😇
Thank you for reading!
Very honored to be long listed for the Carnegie Medal. Thank you, American Library Association. www.ala.org/news/2025/10...
In Episode 983 of the Otherppl with Brad Listi podcast, a conversation with Jane Borden, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine and the author of CULTS LIKE US: WHY DOOMSDAY THINKING DRIVES AMERICA (Atria Books). Available wherever you get your podcasts.
▶️ NOW PLAYING: @janeborden.bsky.social is a writer for @vanityfair.com and her new book is called CULTS LIKE US: WHY DOOMSDAY THINKING DRIVES AMERICA, available from @atriabooks.bsky.social.
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Oh yeah, that could definitely have been in chapter 5. Yikes.
Thank you for you're interest – and for getting a copy! I'm glad it's resonating with you.
Last night on TME, @janeborden.bsky.social joined @johnfugelsang.bsky.social to discuss her new book “Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America.”
🔊https://sxm.app.link/JohnFugelsang
Thank you for having me!
😭😭 this means more than you know
Thanks for reading and for sharing. I'm glad it resonated with you. Yesterday was a dark and sad day. But I still have hope for our nation.
Thank you for posting this!! it means more than you know.
Just started reading "Cults Like Us" by @janeborden.bsky.social and it's PHENOMENAL. I highly recommend this! If you want to know how we got here ... ALSO, would love to see Borden booked on some interview shows to share this information.
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cults-...
And thank you for your interest. If you end up reading the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
I haven't deep dived into Quaker history, so can't say with certainty whether there has been the kind of exploitation in their communities that we associate with cults. But generally speaking, both historically and now, I'd more readily describe them as activists. Eg: apnews.com/article/quak...
Thank you! Yes, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you for telling me. I certainly regret that error.
Thank you for reading and sharing – I'm so glad it resonated with you.
😆😆
It finally arrived! My intro to the comic side of @kibblesmith.com's brain. 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
You saw it coming!!
Looking forward to checking out Cults Like Us for summer break reading after hearing @janeborden.bsky.social on @bullseye.maximumfun.org pod this morning podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Thank you, I'm glad to hear it. Please share your thoughts when you read it!!
🥹 I'm literally crying. I can't tell you how much this means to me. Thank you for this shot in the arm. Truly. And I'm so glad it's resonating with you. If you read the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts. 🙏🏻
🥹🥹
Did American culture start as a doomsday cult?
@janeborden.bsky.social tells us how tracing modern political division led her back to the Puritans and their apocalyptic, black & white worldview that still echoes today.
Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/lbuaCVb06mg
Thank you for reading! And letting me know. And sharing this post. These responses make the five years of research, writing, and editing worth it. 🙏🏻
Oh my, "deleted post"!
