I was a listener when Zealot was ongoing and today when I was cleaning out my podcast feed I was reminded about how much joy it brought. It’s just all the best parts of what true crime was in its prime and almost none of the bad. I don’t know if you still see the reviews for this Jo, but you brought smiles to so many of our faces. Thank for all the fun.

I love Jo and I’m so sad this has ended. 😩 Still worth the listen!

Zealot and Jo got me through the Covid lockdown! It was great while it lasted!

But thankful for it while it lasted. Would gladly listen to Jo talk about anything.

I’m still new and working my way through, and at Ep. 3 I was thinking I wasn’t so keen on this podcast. But I kept listening, and it’s grown on me. (I had the same experience with another podcast that I now love - and where I heard about this podcast - “My Favorite Murder.”) It’s definitely in-depth and covers lesser-known cults, which is interesting (can anyone say Chilean Nazi cult?). I like that Jo has a different co-host each time, and that they choose the cult. My only big complaint is that there are snacks put out during the recording, and while they at least don’t chew or swallow into the mics, it is very obvious when someone is drinking, has their mouth full, or has just swallowed a bite of food. It’s distracting and a bit annoying.

But loved every minute. Thank you so much Jo and co! xoxo

Really enjoy Jo’s work! Binged them all and love them. We need the fictional T-shirts to be real! Hope there are more episodes soon.

Happy listen! Glad you have returned. Since the time you were away got approached for a “stress test,” and thanks to you knew enough to be polite without being sucked. As I walked away your jingle, “disillusioned” instantly came to mind. You are doing Self’s Work. (Smile)

I just discovered this podcast and haven’t been able to stop. The host is delightful, the guests are engaging, and I find myself singing along to the jingles every time. I look forward to more episodes!

Please come back Jo! I’m seriously going to join a cult if I don’t have your charming wit back in my ear holes!!

I laughed so hard I will likely get evicted. I hope one of you will take me in!

Clever, hilarious, irreverent but still respectful of the humans involved. A brilliant treat.

I would really like to know what y’all think of the bruderhof

Just found this podcast and I’m obsessed! Love the content, but also love how funny it is. Definitely going to binge the whole series.

Have no clue if this is a good podcast or not because less than a minute in on every episode I’m stunned by how awful the audio is... with so many people raving about the host I’m confident she won’t fix it so I’m out.

I absolutely LOVE this podcast. Jo’s rapport with guests is so enjoyable to listen to - I smile and chuckle my way through the episodes while learning about all of the odd things my fellow humans have been up to. It’s a good variety of well-known and under the radar groups. Added bonus for American listeners: delightful Australian accents! Also, great (fictitious) merch! Sometimes there are gaps between episodes (it’s once a month-ish, except when it’s not) but it is always a happy surprise to see this show pop up in my feed. Thanks for the laughs, Jo!

Fun and well researched about cults with a silly vibe. I truly wish I could join in on the cheese plate. I find myself humming the songs all the time and just genuinely enjoy my time with Jo and her guests.

...first time reviewer. Jo, I love this podcast with all of my heart, but please, for the love of God, make these recordings louder! SPEAK INTO THE HORN, JO! How will I know if I’m being lured into the next new cult all the young cool hot people are joining if I don’t know what to look for?! Signed, Hard of Hearing & Easily Influenced

Been listening for a while now, and this casual little podcast has come a long way😌. I love your humor and the variations of co hosts you have on the show. The jingles are always something I look forward to. XD Keep at it Jo! 💙

Such a great deep dive into every cult you’ve ever wanted to know about...and Jo is the best, most hilarious and irreverent host. A blast.

This show is actually hilarious! Great find!

This podcast makes me laugh out loud. Your sense of humor is the best!!! Please hurry back! I need a good laugh.

love this show! hilarious to me that jo can only see blue and yellow because i have blue yellow color blindness and they're the only colors i can’t see haha. jo and her hosts are always delightful!

Hard to get through an ep with this nonsense. They at least try so I give them 2 stars instead of 1.

Couldn’t have been more excited to see this popped up in my feed this morning.

Love this podcast, highly recommend!

I’m only a few episodes in, brought here from MFM and it’s fun and interesting, I just hate all the songs. They’re very brief though so I’ll keep listening through!

Love it! Makes me laugh. I would love to hear one on ISKCON

impossible not to get into this podcast— really witty humor, fantastic accents (hey from california), and unique aspects like the jingles that make it memorable!! somehow jo and her guests make some pretty terrible groups very interesting, and importantly, does it without over glorifying or victim blaming. reminds me a lot of my favorite murder!! all in all, 10/10 podcast 💯

Just get past the poor recording!!!

I wanted to like this podcast, but with the silly jokes and nonsense I couldn’t get through an episode. I tried two, just to see if the first was a fluke, but it’s too jokey and silly to be listened to from a historical perspective.

Really enjoying this podcast where I started from the beginning. Once the sound quality improved then even more! Hang in there - it is worth it : hilarious, human and perfectly delightful - thank you Jo, I will not join a cult unless you are in charge sporting many fancy hats ;)

It’s hard to say anything positive about this podcast that hasn’t been said already. So I will just give you my hot take: Dave and Alonso are the best cinema-related power couple since PTA and Maya Rudolph. Listen to the podcast. Just do it.

Found out about the podcast from Jo’s hometown on MFM forever ago. Took me a couple of episodes to appreciate the little jingles but I love the overall format. You Aussies are hysterical. The Jesus jingle is probably my favorite, love the party horn thing at the end 🤣

Thank you! Wonderful podcast & very unique way of explaining Cults!! It’s hilarious 😆

I love their spin on cults and the cute little rhymes (tell me your stupid name... etc). Sound quality is poor at times. Wish it was louder. Hard to listen to if you aren’t wearing headphones.

This podcast makes me laugh on a long commute and learn a lot about cults. With imaginary shirt slogans and fancy tunes Jo makes cults a comedic journey down memory lane. She gives trigger warnings before talking about some especially bad things that cults have done. But she also discusses cults that are hilarious and *Australian accent* absolutely bonkers!

I couldn't make it through the first episode, because I found the pretentious, judgmental attitude of the hosts abrasive. One of them just couldn't help but insult Americans in general, but I found comments from both abrasive and off putting. You wouldn't think it would be difficult to build a bonding sense of comradery during a discussion about the absurdity of such a universally hated cult, but these walking clichés of stereotypical British condescension just couldn't manage it.

Jo is great! I found out about her on My Favorite Murder. I love her little songs and I think she is so funny! Great content! I love cults and I love her sense of humor.

I’ve really appreciated this podcast for a while, and today finished the best episode thus far. With recently spending time with my sisters and listening to l episode 17 has made me appreciate this podcast more than most. ❤️ thank you for everything- and reminding me how much you need your sisters in your life.

So annoying- after my ears started hurt from the screaming laughter for nothing funny I turned it off. Horrible.

It’s fun but I hate the songs

If you’re complaining about the sound quality send Jo some equipment and pay for her sound engineer as well! As I didn’t just come here to be salty let me add: this is an exceptional, hilarious, smart, quirky podcast that dives deep without leaving you breathless except from laughter. Ms Thornley is a gem when it comes to navigating the most difficult themes of our short little humanity, bless her.

Such an interesting and funny podcast. I love the subject matter, guests, and host. I hope that the sound quality is eventually improved. It’s pretty fuzzy sounding and the only reason for 4 stars rather than 5.

That’s all.

I was recommended this podcast by a close friend last week and I’ve been bingeing it ever since! This podcast DEFINITELY grows on you in the best way.

So I wish there were more episodes cuz I binged them all so fast. I love the wit and sarcasm. Hilarious!! I find myself laughing so much. Love it!!! Keep those episodes coming pls.

After host Jo Thornley provided a thoroughly delightful Hometown Murder at a live My Favorite Murder show recorded in Melbourne, I was hooked by her super storytelling skills. I have listened through all available episodes of this podcast twice and laughed, then groaned in not-so-surprised horror at some truly awful cult antics, then laughed again at Jo’s wit. Her guests are just as pithy and snarky, and if you are a proper Murderino, you MUST listen to this! Finally, Jo sealed my adoration of her obsession with cults by penning a phenomenal book of the same title and put icing on that cake by reading it for Audible in her usual smashingly brilliant delivery. The only bad thing about this is there aren’t more episodes - yet!

So many words not saying much.

I love this podcast and hope lots of people will listen so it will last indefinitely. Some other reviewers mentioned that the sound quality distracted them- I didnt notice that— I recommend this podcast to anyone who loves wild tales and laughing outloud while wearing headphones