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A Little Bit Culty

A Little Bit Culty

Auteur(s): Sarah Edmondson & Anthony “Nippy” Ames
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À propos de cet audio

 Think you might be in a cult? Want to know the signs? Join Sarah Edmondson and Anthony “Nippy” Ames to talk about things that are..a little bit culty. Or in their case: a whole bunch of culty. As whistleblowers documented in the critically-acclaimed HBO series “The Vow,” Sarah and Nippy have a lot to say about their experience, and burning questions to ask people with similar stories. They’re here to help people understand, heal from, and avoid abusive situations one little red flag at a time. Listen in as they share their stories, have frank and unscripted conversations with other survivors and cult experts, and do a deep dive on how devotion can turn to dysfunction.© © 2022 A Little Bit Culty Sciences sociales
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  • True Crime Meets Cults: Derrick Levasseur on Solving the “University of Cosmic Intelligence” Mystery

    True Crime Meets Cults: Derrick Levasseur on Solving the “University of Cosmic Intelligence” Mystery
    Aug 25 2025
    This week on A Little Bit Culty, we’re stepping into the crossover world of cults and true crime with Derrick Levasseur—former undercover detective, private investigator, and host of Crime Weekly and Detective Perspective. You may also know him from Big Brother or America’s Most Wanted: Missing Persons, where he and Sarah recently worked together on a harrowing case.That case? The mysterious disappearance of six people tied to the University of Cosmic Intelligence (UCI)—a fringe social-media-fueled cult led by self-proclaimed prophet Rashad Jamal. Among the missing: Naaman Williams (28), Gerielle German (26) and her 3-year-old son Ashton Mitchell, Mikayla Thompson (23), Ma’Kayla Wickerson (25), and her 3-year-old daughter Malaiyah Wickerson.From ritualistic chanting and “divine downloads” to bathroom-mirror graffiti scrawled with “I am that I am”, the UCI story reads like a mash-up of sci-fi fantasy and sovereign citizen ideology. But underneath the esoteric claims are real lives at risk—and children who need to be found. Derrick unpacks the law-enforcement challenges of cult cases, why coercive control is so hard to prosecute, and how everyday people can spot the warning signs.We also dive into Derrick’s fascinating career—from undercover ops to winning Big Brother, launching Criminal Coffee (a true crime-funded cold case project), and his take on why “every cult has a hook.”⚠️ If you have information about the missing members of UCI, contact your local law enforcement.Follow Derrick for more: IG @DerrickLevasseur • X @DerrickL • officialderrick.com. You can also check out his book The Undercover Edge and his PI firm, Break Investigative Group, where he continues to work cold cases.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    46 min
  • Protecting Kids from Cults and Traffickers with Robin Boyle-Laisure (Part 2)

    Protecting Kids from Cults and Traffickers with Robin Boyle-Laisure (Part 2)
    Aug 21 2025

    This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp.

    In Part 2 of our conversation with Professor Robin Boyle-Laisure—St. John’s University School of Law faculty, ICSA board member, and author of Taken No More: Protect Your Children Against Traffickers and Cults—we dig into the courtroom turning points that changed the way cult leaders are prosecuted. From Patty Hearst to NXIVM, Robin unpacks how sex-trafficking statutes reshaped the legal landscape, and why Keith Raniere’s 120-year sentence set a precedent that reverberates through cases like R. Kelly, Larry Ray, and Harvey Weinstein.

    We also bring the conversation home (literally). Robin shares practical tools for parents: how to raise independent thinkers, what “tricky adults” really look like, and why overly rigid household rules can prime kids for authoritarian groups later in life. She sounds the alarm on the rise of online grooming, sextortion, and predator tactics on gaming platforms, and explains what parents, educators, and law enforcement need to know right now.

    Catch Robin’s new book, Taken No More, this fall, and keep an eye on robinboylelaisure.com for updates. Follow Robin on Instagram (@robin.boyle / @robinboylelaisure) and Facebook (Robin Boyle). Learn more about ICSA at icsahome.com.

    Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual abuse, coercive control, grooming, trafficking, cult exploitation, and online child exploitation.


    Also… let it be known that:

    The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

    **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here

    Check out our lovely sponsors

    Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

    Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

    Support the pod and smash this link

    Cult awareness and recovery resources

    Watch Sarah's TEDTalk

    CREDITS:

    Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

    Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

    Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

    Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

    Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

    Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    40 min
  • Introducing: CONSPIRACY THEORIES, CULTS, AND CRIMES

    Introducing: CONSPIRACY THEORIES, CULTS, AND CRIMES
    Aug 19 2025

    From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate, to the Octopus Murders and the Waco Siege, the world is

    full of deception, manipulation, and destruction. Listen to Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and

    Crimes every Wednesday as we explore the real people at the center of the world’s most

    shocking secrets and nefarious organizations.


    Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes is a Crime House Original powered by PAVE Studios.


    Follow the show now so you don’t miss a single story.


    Listen and follow here: https://link.podtrac.com/bnw1ad3g

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    7 min
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I loved this episode. It gave strong insight into the experiences both during and after leaving the cults.

excellent!!

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