{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Hoodwinked by the Algorithm: Dr. Mara Einstein on Cult Tactics in Marketing (Part 1)","description":"You don\u2019t have to join a cult to get manipulated\u2014just log onto the internet. This week on A Little Bit Culty, we\u2019re diving into the marketing matrix with Dr. Mara Einstein, professor, media critic, and author of Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults. From influencer culture and MLMs to \u201cbrand cults\u201d and rage farming, Mara breaks down how modern marketing preys on fear, insecurity, and our need to belong. She joins Sarah and Nippy for a deep-dive into the culty parallels between conversion funnels and recruitment tactics, why brands like Apple and Lululemon are more community than commerce, and how social media algorithms corral us into echo chambers where we become both the audience and the product. If you\u2019ve ever felt like your phone is reading your mind, or like the coaching industry is selling more promises than progress, this one\u2019s for you. This is Part 1 of a two-part convo. Stay tuned next week for more! To learn more about Dr. Einstein and her work, visit drmaraeinstein.com. Also\u2026 let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody\u2019s mad at you, just don\u2019t be a culty fuckwad. Check out our lovely sponsors Join \u2018A Little Bit Culty\u2019 on Patreon Get poppin\u2019 fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah\u2019s TEDTalk CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media   Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: \u201cCultivated\u201d by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin   ","author_name":"A Little Bit Culty","author_url":"http:\/\/www.alittlebitculty.com","html":"