How to Start a Cult

Inside of the world of coercion and control.

Why do even “smart people” join dangerous groups? As the line between community and coercion blurs, charisma becomes control in an age of influencers, conspiracy and algorithmic devotion.

Uncover the seductive mechanics of belonging, belief and manipulation. From wellness empires to political movements and spiritual leaders, this is an exploration of how cults operate, why people stay, and what these secret systems reveal about power and the human need for connection. Anke Richter is joined by Laura McConnell.

Anke Richter [GER/NZL]: an award-winning international journalist in Aotearoa New Zealand and author of the bestseller Cult Trip: Inside the World of Coercion & Control (HarperCollins, 2022). Founder and director of Decult, a grassroots charity that held the first cult awareness conference in Australasia.

Laura McConnell: a cult survivor advocate who survived the Truth 2x2s, working towards secular, LGBTQIA+ inclusive support for cult survivors.

Chaired by Sarah Steel: creator of the podcast Let's Talk About Sects and author of Do As I Say (Pan Macmillan, 2022).