Show notes
In this episode, Scott Loyd interviews the creators and a performer from Sunday Brunch: The Musical, a new theatrical work that humorously explores cult dynamics through a family brunch gone spectacularly wrong. While cult expert and regular host Daniella Mestyanek Young is absent due to technical difficulties, she sends in praise for the team's viral "cult song," noting how deeply it resonated with survivor experiences. Guests Ernie Bird (composer/co-writer), Rachel Abramon (lyricist/co-writer), and Gabrielle Filloux (performer) delve into the creative origins, songwriting process, and comedic construction of the show. Originally written during a jobless winter break as a fun project between friends, Sunday Brunch grew into a layered musical exploring dysfunction, privilege, and the absurdities of cult logic—all grounded in levity and genuine empathy. Their viral charm song features an escalating back-and-forth between two characters trying to one-up each other's trauma—with one repeatedly revealing that every family member is, in fact, in a cult. The group discusses the delicate balance of comedy and respect, how cult themes naturally wove into the narrative, and how they may expand the story into a larger universe featuring the three-headed bear deity and warring cults. The episode also explores broader insights into cult dynamics, including the "meta-cults" of capitalism, white supremacy, and toxic workplace culture. Each guest shares personal brushes with high-control environments, even if not officially in cults, reinforcing the pervasiveness of coercive systems in everyday life. Keep up with the Musical: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sundaybrunchthemusical/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erniebored Ernie's site: https://imerniebird.com Daniella's Links: You can read all about my story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here. https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured For more info on me: Patreon: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding Cult book Clubs (Advanced AND Memoirs) Annual Membership: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding Get an autographed copy of my book, Uncultured: https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured Get my book, Uncultured, from Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4g1Ufw8 Daniella's Tiktok: Knitting Cult Lady Instagram: https://bit.ly/4ePAOFK / daniellamyoung_ Unamerican video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/YTVideoBook Secret Practice video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/3ZswGY8 Other Podcasts Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women Scot's TikTok @thescotloyd Haley's Tiktok @nuancedmasculinities Key Takeaways 🥞 Sunday Brunch is about more than brunch: What began as a casual writing experiment became a thoughtful and absurdist musical that explores cult dynamics through comedy. 🎶 The "Cult Song" hit a nerve: The viral charm song resonated deeply with survivors—especially its honest portrayal of how absurd (and painful) cult logic can be when juxtaposed with "normal" life. 🎭 Comedy with respect: The team imposed structural rules (e.g., every chorus must mention the cult) that challenged them to find humor without mocking trauma—highlighting the difficulty and importance of "punching up." 🧠 Art can offer catharsis: Humor becomes a vehicle for emotional release, empathy, and representation of marginalized experiences—including those of cult survivors. 🐻 There's lore now?! The writers accidentally created rich backstory (e.g., cult wars, a three-headed bear god, a waitress married to a cult leader) and are considering a spin-off musical set fully inside the cult. 💬 Cult experiences exist on a spectrum: Even without direct cult involvement, all guests reflected on how systems—like oppressive workplaces or nationalist ideologies—can mimic cult behavior. ❤️ Creative partnerships matter: Ernie and Rachel's deep friendship and comedic trust allowed for bold, weird, and eventually impactful storytelling. 📢 Support artists: Follow Sunday Brunch: The Musical on Instagram and TikTok [@sundaybrunchthemusical], and look out for their official demos coming soon to Spotify. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sunday Brunch Musical 02:59 The Creative Process Behind Sunday Brunch 05:54 Character Development and Song Composition 08:56 Exploring Themes of Cults in the Musical 12:05 Comedy in Musical Theater 15:10 Personal Experiences with Cults 17:57 The Role of Art and Comedy in Society 21:09 Future Projects and Aspirations 24:01 Conclusion and Call to Action Produced by Haley Phillips