The Cult of Anti-Vaxxers

Sounds Like A Cult

Studio71

Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality, Education

3.9 • 4.4K Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2025

⏱️ 81 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, Amanda is joined by vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez and cultural critic Jane Borden (@janebordan) to unravel the misinformation machine and identity politics that keep this movement alive. Together, we break down not only how the anti-vax community functions like a high-control cult, with its own martyrs, prophets, and sacred texts (looking at you, “do your own research”), but also what vaccines actually are and how they work, cutting through the noise of pseudoscience and fearmongering. Why do some people reject mountains of evidence in favor of YouTube rabbit holes? How did “mommy Facebook groups” metastasize into a full-on political identity? And what can we do to push back against the dangerous myths fueling this movement? From myth-busting to meaning-making, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most harmful cults of our time. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles. Thank you to our sponsors! Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to https://joinbilt.com/CULT Head to ⁠https://www.squarespace.com/CULT⁠ to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CULT Please consider donating to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Team SLAC are donating to the PCRF, a nonprofit organization providing vital medical care, food, and humanitarian aid to children and families in need. The Big Magical Cult Show is coming to Just For Laughs Toronto on September 27th. Get your tickets before they sell out! London! Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE!! November 24th at Bush Hall. Get tickets before they're gone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, Coltys.
0:02.6	Sorry.
0:04.2	I was going to try to do this promo in a British accent, and I've just now decided against it.
0:08.9	Coltis is your host, Amanda Montel.
0:11.3	And despite my cold feet about the accent, I am so excited to announce that sounds like a cult live is coming to London.
0:19.9	A live version of this very podcast is coming to London's
0:23.3	gorgeous Bush Hall on November 24th. It's going to be a night of culty conversations,
0:29.2	of juicy special guests, unhinged PowerPoint slides, and yes, a live podcast recording
0:35.4	that you get to be a part of. There's also going to be a book signing, a meet and greet, an unfiltered Q&A, and I'll be doing a special live reading from my book, Cultish, the Language of Fanaticism. Tickets are on sale now, either at Sounds Like a Cult.com or AmandaMontal.com slash events. Grab yours before they disappear. And come join the little sounds like a cult cult
0:55.0	across the pond. Hope you follow me in London on November 24th. Look, I pay rent, some of you probably
1:01.6	pay rent. Built makes it worth it. By paying rent through built, you earn flexible points that can be
1:07.4	redeemed toward hundreds of hotels and airlines, a future rent payment,
1:11.4	your next lift ride, and more. But it doesn't stop there. Built is about making your entire
1:15.7	neighborhood more rewarding. You can dine at your favorite local restaurants and earn additional
1:20.0	points, get VIP treatment at certain fitness studios, and enjoy exclusive experiences that only
1:25.5	Bilt members can access.
1:28.1	Every month.
1:36.5	Built is turning an annoying monthly expense into an opportunity to earn rewards and discover the best that your neighborhood has to offer.
1:39.0	Your rent is finally working for you.
1:45.1	Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood wherever you call home by going to joinbuilt.com slash cult.
1:49.9	That's J-O-I-N-B-I-T dot com slash cult.
1:52.6	Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.
	...

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