Cults (Parcast)
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"Cults is the most comprehensive audio survey of destructive movements ever assembled — if you want to understand how cults work from the inside, this is the definitive starting point."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode
- ✓Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +Episodic format — great for both casual listeners and committed fans, start anywhere
About this podcast
Parcast's long-running series devoting multiple episodes to each cult in its catalogue — examining the psychology, ideology, and methods of control behind infamous groups from the People's Temple and Heaven's Gate to NXIVM and The Family, with particular attention to how ordinary people were recruited and kept.
Best episode to start with
The Jim Jones/Peoples Temple episodes or the Heaven's Gate episodes are among the most compelling starting points
Episodic format — episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order
Rate this podcast
Community reviews
0 reviewsWrite a quick review
No reviews yet. Be the first!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cults (Parcast)
What is Cults (Parcast) about?
Parcast's long-running series devoting multiple episodes to each cult in its catalogue — examining the psychology, ideology, and methods of control behind infamous groups from the People's Temple and Heaven's Gate to NXIVM and The Family, with particular attention to how ordinary people were recruited and kept.
Is Cults (Parcast) worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 4/10 on binge factor. True crime fans interested in psychology, religion, and how destructive movements are built; people who want to understand cult mechanics from the inside out.
Who is Cults (Parcast) for?
Cults (Parcast) is ideal for: Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode; Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories.
What is the best episode of Cults (Parcast) to start with?
We recommend starting with The Jim Jones/Peoples Temple episodes or the Heaven's Gate episodes are among the most compelling starting points. Episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order.
Where can I listen to Cults (Parcast)?
Cults (Parcast) is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Cults (Parcast)?
If you enjoy Cults (Parcast), you might also like: Happy Face, Last Podcast on the Left, Uncover (CBC), Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead. See our full "Podcasts Like Cults (Parcast)" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Episodic
- Host style
- Co-hosted
- Style
- Educational, dark, analytical
- Episode length
- ~45-60 min per episode; hundreds of episodes covering dozens of cults
- Binge factor
- 4/10
- Country
- United States
Listen on
Browse category
Newsletter
Get weekly recommendations
Curated picks, new reviews, hidden gems.
You can unsubscribe anytime.
If you liked this, try…
See all alternatives
Happy Face
True crime fans interested in the impact of crime on perpetrators' families; listeners who want to understand the psychology of survival and the ripple effects that extend far beyond the killers themselves.
Last Podcast on the Left
True crime fans who want depth alongside comedy; people who find straight true crime too grim; audiences who enjoy dark humour used purposefully rather than carelessly.
Uncover (CBC)
True crime fans interested in cults, coercive control, and how dangerous organisations hide in plain sight; those who want original reporting rather than documentary recaps.
Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead
BBC’s Olivia Graham revisits the 1986 Diane Sindall murder and the 2025 quashing of Peter Sullivan’s conviction. Sullivan quashed 13 May 2025; killer unknown.
Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
<p><em>Foggy</em> <em>gaslit</em> <em>streets.</em> <em>A</em> <em>quiet</em> <em>courtroom.</em> <em>And</em> <em>crimes</em> <em>that</em> <em>history</em> <em>tried</em> <em>to</em> <em>bury.</em><
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
Explore more in these categories: