The Cult of Fanfiction

Sounds Like A Cult

Studio71

Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality, Education

3.9 • 4.4K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2026

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Long before publishing executives "discovered" the internet, a very dedicated group of fans had already built their own literary universe complete with sacred terminology, power hierarchies, and enough drama to make the actual source material blush. This week, Reese and Iman sit down with the iconic Christina Lauren duo, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (@christinalauren), to dissect fanfiction's glow-up from AO3 comment sections to genuine big business. We're getting into the culty dialect (slash, ship AU, canon, OTP), the plagiarism scandals, the parasocial power trips, and the Fifty Shades pipeline that proved E.L. James wasn't the only one who could monetize her Twilight feelings. Press play, culties, your kudos await. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Thank you to our sponsors! Join the loyalty program for renters at https://joinbilt.com/cult Take 20% off your first purchase with code CULT at https://LIQUIDIV.COM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Oh, culties, it is 2026, and if you are still paying rent without Bilt, it is time to make a change.
0:08.0	Built is the loyalty program for renters that rewards you for your biggest, ugliest monthly expense, rent.
0:14.0	With Bilt, every single rent payment earns you points that can be used toward hotels, flights, lift rides, Amazon.com purchases, and so much more.
0:22.8	And now, built members can earn points on mortgage payments.
0:26.3	That means you can get rewarded wherever you live.
0:28.8	Personally, I'm out here trying to redeem my built points for some lift rides.
0:33.2	Paying rent is better with built.
0:35.2	Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbill.com slash cult. That's
0:39.2	J-O-I-N-B-I-T.com slash cult. Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.
0:45.3	This podcast is brought to you by Liquid Ivy. Culties, I struggle to hydrate myself. At least I did
0:51.1	before Liquid Ivy entered my cursed life. Now every time I travel when I'm going out with friends, I reach into my special little
0:59.2	drawer and I pull out the liquid IV.
1:01.3	And it is delicious.
1:03.1	I'm talking fancy flavors like cotton candy, pinia colada.
1:06.8	Me, I'm a long time fan of the raspberry.
1:08.6	Just one stick plus 16 ounces of water
1:10.8	hydrates faster than water alone.
1:12.8	Powered by LIV hydroscience,
1:15.3	which is a science-backed formula
1:17.1	containing electrolytes, essential vitamins,
1:19.3	and clinically tested nutrients
1:21.1	that turn ordinary water into extraordinary hydration.
	...

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