Tell-Tale Signs That You Are in a Cult

Cults and high-control groups influence beliefs and fundamentally reshape identity, decision-making, and autonomy. In this episode, Dr. Phil Stieg sits down with sociologist and cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, Professor and author of Take Back Your Life , to explore the psychology behind cults. Drawing from decades of research as well as her own personal experience of spending a decade in a political cult, she discusses how indoctrination alters a person's sense of self, why anyone can become vulnerable under the right circumstances, and the road to recovery after leaving. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit

You can listen to Tell-Tale Signs That You Are in a Cult online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Tell-Tale Signs That You Are in a Cult is an episode from This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg by Dr. Phil Stieg.

This episode is 33:45 long.

This episode was published on Mar 6, 2026.

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