Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein
Episodes
Getting Out: Cult Recovery, Religious Trauma, and How to Help Someone Leave
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to cults–from MLM to MAGA–the question everyone wants answered is: how do I get my loved one out? In this episode, Dr. Mara Einstein...
Influencers, Algorithms, and the Business of Belief
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens to democracy, trust, and shared reality when influence is driven by engagement rather than truth—and belief itself becomes a business m...
Digital media changed the game
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Digital technologies have been fundamental to the proliferation and perpetuation of cults of all kinds. Joining Dr. Mara Einstein for an examination o...
The ultimate commercial cult
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Mara Einstein is joined by Julie Anderson, one of the most influential voices in the anti-MLM movement, for a deeply personal and...
What are brand cults?
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Mara Einstein sits down with Chris Kneeland, co-founder of Cult Collective and The Gathering, and anthropologist Ali Demos of Str...
A new kind of cult
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Dr. Mara Einstein follows the trail from Jonestown to Apple, to TikTok influencers, and MLMs, uncovering how cult psychology has...
The nitty gritty of cults
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Edmondson, co-host of A Little Bit Culty and NXIVM cult whistleblower, joins Dr. Mara Einstein to provide an insider’s perspective on cult tac...
What is a cult?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is a cult—and how is it different from religion?In this opening episode, Dr. Mara Einstein sits down with Kathryn Lofton, one of today’...
Welcome to Hoodwinked!
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your favorite brand—or your favorite influencer—used the same playbook as a cult? Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein unpacks how moder...