Amanda Montell (@amandamontell) is a language scholar and author of critically acclaimed Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. Her latest book is Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, which explores how cults co-opt the words we use in order to control us and affect our behavior. What We Discuss with Amanda Montell: How the uncertainty of current times drives people toward the solace of community — and the sights of aspiring cult leaders and con artists. What personal experience drew Amanda, a language scholar, to explore how language is one of the most powerful tools of manipulation cults use to exploit their victims? What thought-terminating cliches are and why they're so effective at shaping behavior. How MLMs operate like cults and who they predominately target with empty promises of wealth and prestige. How to tell if your language is being taken over by cultish manipulators. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/628 Miss our conversation with the American photographer who survived seven months under captivity by Al-Qaeda? Catch up with episode 217: Matthew Schrier | How to Survive in a Secret Syrian Terrorist Prison here! Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!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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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.