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January 17, 2019 36 mins

If you always wanted to start a cult, but didn't know how...this episode is for you! Claire and Wendy show you just how easy it is to:

  • Be a charismatic leader with a mystical origin story and really cool special powers
  • Make up a transcendent belief system so inviting that people will want to do stuff for you just to learn your secrets
  • Develop systems of control and influence to keep your cult thriving. Matching outfits! 

Claire and Wendy walk you through the process "as if" they were going to start their very own cult. Actually, they ended up each developing their own cult concept since Claire didn't like the idea of having a co-leader - which, in reality, was a great demonstration of the kind of fortitude a cult leader needs in order to be successful (even though Wendy's ideas were better). 

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