That's a Cult‪?‬ That's a Cult?

Wedding shaming is our new favourite internet-based hobby.

On two huge Facebook groups, tens of thousands of people regularly insult, laugh at, and argue about dodgy cakes, ill-fitting dresses, and themed engagement shoots. Their content frequently goes viral, whether they want it to or not.

Why are people really in these groups, and how harmful can stranger shaming be? Helen finds out.

Thanks to my contributors:
Jenn & Steven Van Elk - https://jennifervanelk.com/
Dr Cagle - https://twitter.com/lecagle
Emily Laidlaw - https://twitter.com/EmilyLaidlaw
Shell Robshaw-Bryan - http://www.thebohemianbride.co.uk/

You can listen to Jenn & Steven's podcast here http://www.weddedpod.com/. Or just search 'Wedded'.

Written and edited by - Helen McCarthy twitter.com/helenlmccarthy

Music by - Antti Luode www.anttismusic.blogspot.co.uk

Want to hear a deep dive into an internet community/potential cult? Email your suggestions, comments, and thoughts to thatsacult@gmail.com

The big work question used to be "Do you live to work, or work to live?" Now, it's "Can you ever work hard enough?"

In February 2019, Atlantic staff writer Derek Thompson wrote a viral article about workism - that "work has morphed into a religious identity—promising transcendence and community, but failing to deliver."

How widespread and cult-like has this become? Helen speaks to a workplace wellness expert, those trying to define success, and a 'workism reformist', to find out.

You can read the original Atlantic article by Derek Thompson here bit.ly/2SUfNEZ

Thanks to my contributors:
Professor Sir Cary Cooper - twitter.com/ProfCaryCooper
Max Maher - bit.ly/2GyIC1D
Josh Mackey - www.dailydriven.com
Anna Lundberg - www.annaselundberg.com
Sam Spurlin - www.samspurlin.com
Hannah Kass

Listen to Anna's podcast, Reimagining Success - apple.co/2Yo0MgA
Read Anne Helen Peterson's Buzzfeed article, How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation - bit.ly/2F8ONJA

Written and edited by - Helen McCarthy twitter.com/helenlmccarthy

Music by - Antti Luode www.anttismusic.blogspot.co.uk

Episode sources - https://thatsacult.tumblr.com/post/627526238301487104/the-big-work-question-used-to-be-do-you-live-to

Want to hear a deep dive into an internet community/potential cult? Email your suggestions, comments, and thoughts to thatsacult@gmail.com

Speak it into existence. Stay positive. Create the life you want.

The Law of Attraction might sound straightforward, but it's anything but. We've all heard of The Secret, but the Law of Attraction remains a bit of a cosmic mystery to most.

Helen hears the diverse perspectives of people who use it, and finds out if we need to understand it to believe in it at all.

Thanks to all the anonymous contributors.

Ginny Gane - ginnygane.com

Written and edited by: Helen McCarthy twitter.com/helenlmccarthy

Music by: Antti Luode www.anttismusic.blogspot.co.uk

All sources used (so you can do your own reading and research): https://thatsacult.tumblr.com/post/627412866971090944/speak-it-into-existence-stay-positive-create-the

Want to hear a deep dive into an internet community/potential cult? Email your suggestions, comments, and thoughts to thatsacult@gmail.com

The social media influencer industry has exploded so much, we can't scroll through our timelines without bumping into them. We've gone from seeing them as a relatively harmless novelty, to criticising and regulating them, in just a few years.

Are they misunderstood artists and curators, or too busy flogging their diet products to care about anything other than the numbers?

#spon #ad

Thanks to my contributors:
Eadaoin Fitzmaurice - instagram.com/bandeadd
Cameron Phillips - instagram.com/cameronphillips
Michelle Elman - instagram.com/scarrednotscared
Emily van der Nagel - twitter.com/emvdn

Written and edited by: Helen McCarthy twitter.com/helenlmccarthy

Music by: Antti Luode www.anttismusic.blogspot.co.uk

All sources used (so you can do your own reading and research): https://thatsacult.tumblr.com/post/626976155869888512/the-social-media-influencer-industry-has-exploded

Want to hear a deep dive into an internet community/potential cult? Email your suggestions to thatsacult@gmail.com

If there's something missing in your life, or you're struggling to achieve your goals, you could always spend a lot of money on a very loud motivational seminar. That should get you going.

The motivation industry is huge, but like the diet industry, it sells a big dream.

What do the motivational junkies who've tried it all actually think? And can we really trust the industry's leading speakers to give us what we need?

Thanks to my contributors:
Kevin Durham - kevindurham.co.uk
Samuel Leeds
Larissa Faw - twitter.com/larissafaw
Jason Connell - jasonconnell.co

Written and edited by: Helen McCarthy twitter.com/helenlmccarthy

Music by: Antti Luode www.anttismusic.blogspot.co.uk

All sources used (so you can do your own reading and research): https://thatsacult.tumblr.com/post/626974284365152256/if-theres-something-missing-in-your-life-or

Want to hear a deep dive into an internet community/potential cult? Email your suggestions to thatsacult@gmail.com

What do women want? According to pick-up, they want someone dominant and assertive who’ll come up to them in the street and ask for their number outright.

Pick-up clearly has a flawed methodology. That hasn’t stopped some ‘gurus’ making a fortune out of it, and attracting hundreds of thousands of followers.

Does evolutionary science really support their brash advice? And do the coaches actually think they’re doing men some good?

Thanks to my contributors:
Kezia Noble (https://www.kezia-noble.com/)
James Tusk (https://project-tusk.com/)
Jon Sefcek
Russ

Also thanks to Peter Jonason and Joanna Wincenciak.

Written and edited by: Helen McCarthy twitter.com/helenlmccarthy

Music by: Antti Luode www.anttismusic.blogspot.co.uk

All sources used (so you can do your own reading and research): https://thatsacult.tumblr.com/post/626786311168196608/what-do-women-want-according-to-pick-up-they

Want to hear a deep dive into an internet community/potential cult? Email your suggestions to thatsacult@gmail.com