
About this episode
What happens when a church treats teenage hormones like a moral emergency… and then appoints its own therapists to fix it? This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by John Dehlin (@johndehlin) of the Mormon Stories podcast (@mormstories) to unpack the deeply culty world of Mormon Therapy, where normal human behavior gets pathologized and sexual shame is framed as “treatment.” Join us as we unpack how Mormon teachings around sex, purity, and control have led to widespread sexual dysfunction, guilt, and fear and how “therapists” trained to protect doctrine (not patients) can do real psychological harm. From compulsory confessions to the pipeline that produces figures like Jodi Hildebrandt, this episode traces how moral panic masquerades as mental health care. Also, fair warning: if you take a shot every time John says the word masturbate, you will absolutely need to lie down afterward.
Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Join the loyalty program for renters at https://joinbilt.com/CULT=
Order online or download the free 1-800 Contacts app today at Https://1800contacts.com
To save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Get every episode summarized
Each time Sounds Like A Cult publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Sounds Like A Cult

The Cult of Christian Nationalism
Sounds Like A Cult
Apr 14, 20261:19:19failed

The Cult of Kidfluencers
Sounds Like A Cult
Apr 7, 202657:20failed

The Cult of Pantone (the Color Conspiracy)
Sounds Like A Cult
Mar 31, 20261:01:37failed

The Cult of OneTaste, Creepy Church of Orgasms
Sounds Like A Cult
Mar 24, 20261:00:10failed