Cult Chat

About Cult Chat

Join Dr Caroline Ansley, Lindy Jacomb and Liz Gregory as they traverse the cultiverse. Journey with them as they unpack the cult playbook, talk to leavers of coercive and controlling groups in New Zealand, and share their stories. On “Cult Chat” our hosts talk with experts to gain greater understanding of cultishness and call for Kiwis to cult-proof their lives. "Cult Chat" is a home-grown Kiwi podcast where each of the hosts are uniquely positioned to host a survivor-centric podcast, bringing their individual experiences of high control groups to the conversation.

Publisher

Cult Chat

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jun 2023

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

105 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Episode 104 - From Cult Survivor to Law Reform - Ryan Carey on the Victorian Inquiry into Cults

   Cult Chat talks with Ryan Carey about Victoria’s groundbreaking Inquiry into the Recruitment Methods and Impacts of Cults and Organised Fringe Groups. It’s a lively, hopeful conversation about what could come next: bespoke laws targeting coercive behaviours, properly funded support for people leaving high-control groups, and education aimed at preventing harm before people become involved.

2. 

   8 Sept 2026

   Episode 103 - The Cult Assasin? Lawyer Carol Merchasin

   They call her the “Cult Assassin” - and for good reason. Attorney Carol Merchasin has helped take on powerful cult leaders through the courts, using legal remedies to expose abuse and force accountability. We talk about why coercive control is having a global moment, what stronger legislation could look like, and why lawyers, advocates, survivors and policymakers need to work together. Carol also shares what she hopes to achieve in her new role as Chair of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA).

3. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Episode 102 - Gems from ICSA - New Research & Thinking about Cults with Heidi Hewett & Maria Esguerra

   What makes someone become a cult leader? Do they deliberately set out to harm others, or can destructive leadership develop over time? And are some people more vulnerable to cult recruitment? Caz shares insights from the 2026 ICSA Conference, including conversations with Maria Esguerra, Heidi Hewett and others. We explore emerging research on cult leaders, recruitment, vulnerability, coercive control and accountability - plus encouraging developments in survivor advocacy and recognising cultic harm. Show notes: ICSA website: https://internationalculticstudies.org/

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

17,025

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

37 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

71

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

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