The Secret Language of Cults: Crash Course Lecture

Words hold tremendous power. Cult leaders know that all too well — but so do fitness instructors, celebrities, and corporate leaders. In our world today, we are increasingly exposed to, and influenced by, complicated mazes of buzzwords, mantras, euphemisms, clichés, and redefinitions: in short, language that’s just a little bit cultish. Social commentator and author Amanda Montell presents this Crash Course lecture about linguistics, culture, and belonging.

What’s a Crash Course Lecture?
While traditional Crash Courses on our channel break open an entire school subject, a Crash Course lecture tackles a single topic in-depth. Each lecture shares the perspective of a scholar, journalist, or thinker.

Introduction: A Story of Words 00:00
Cult-ish 1:22
Children of Synanon 3:33
The Cultish Past 7:22
The Cultish Present 12:55
Incantations 19:00
Eyes Wide Open 26:10
Under the Illusion 32:19
Exit Strategy 37:14
The Prestige 41:11

Sources:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xym1NqBi3DhRNwag0kmvtz3Cry4pMpRe8mAOJLSFY8M/edit?tab=t.0

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Post from Crash Course on September 16, 2025

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