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Description

Chris, a charismatic college stoner, starts a podcast with his best bud Dougie examining famous cults. As a joke, they invent their own: the Sacred Order of Chris, where enlightenment is achieved through “the Divine Chill,” aka smoking weed and listening to music. As the show goes unexpectedly viral and listeners start treating the jokes as gospel, Chris rides the wave of ironic fame until it snowballs into a real life movement with disastrous consequences.

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from How to Start a Cult podcast

Episode 7: The Schism

2026/10/08

Chris breaks down Rajneeshpuram, an absolutely wild one complete with political intrigue, mass poisonings, a shadowy puppetmaster, and coolest of all ZONING LAWS! Plus, the Sacred Order splits in two, and Dougie thinks Chris should pick a side. (00:00) - Future Chris Intro (00:42) - Main Episode (16:35) - Future Chris Interruption (17:59) - Main Episode (40:00) - Future Chris Outro

Episode 6: A Brief History of Fake Religion

2026/09/16

Chris breaks down Discordianism, the Church of the SubGenius, and Pastafarianism aka the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, three religions that started as a joke. Plus, Dougie declares the post ChrisCon "Silence" over, Chris gets thank-you calls, and someone leaves a gift basket at the door. (00:00) - Future Chris Intro (01:00) - Main Episode (32:50) - Future Chris Outro

Episode 5: ChrisCon

2026/09/02

No cult breakdown this week. Chris puts on a wig and goes undercover at ChrisCon, a 200+ person Sacred Order convention at the Holiday Inn Express. Recording entirely on the phone in his jacket pocket, Chris attends a debate, a support group, a cold brew baptism, and a mysterious evening service that isn’t on the schedule. (00:00) - Future Chris Intro (00:50) - Main Episode (28:00) - Future Chris Outro

Episode 4: Bee-lieve in Yourself

2026/07/22

Chris covers pyramid schemes and MLMs, the cults that recruit all your mom's friends. Plus, a few details emerge from the Sacred Order retreat, and Dougie has an exciting announcement. (00:00) - 30 Second Intro (01:18) - Main (25:34) - 30 Second Outro

Episode 3: The Apostle

2026/07/15

Chris breaks down Heaven's Gate, a super messed up UFO doomsday cult from the 90s. Plus, Mark the apostle shows up in person bringing gifts, and a Sacred Order retreat is happening with or without Chris. (00:00) - Future Chris Intro (00:47) - Main Episode (30:05) - Future Chris Outro

Episode 2: The First Chris-mas

2026/07/08

Chris breaks down Charles Manson and the Family, aka what happens when a guy doesn't get a record deal and thinks a Beatles song is a prophecy. Plus, Dougie celebrates Chris-mas, and a listener named Mark shaves his head and declares himself an Apostle. (00:00) - Future Chris Intro (00:43) - Main Episode (20:52) - Future Chris Outro

Episode 1: Stoner Jesus

2026/07/01

Chris breaks down the People’s Temple aka Jim Jones’ cult aka Jonestown. Plus, Dougie appoints himself High Priest of a fake stoner religion called the Sacred Order of Chris. (00:00) - Future Chris Intro (01:54) - Main Episode (18:46) - Future Chris Outro

Season 1 Trailer

2026/06/24

Episode 1 Coming July 1st… (00:00) - 30 Second Intro (00:30) - Main