Jane Borden: Cults and the American Monomyth

About this episode

Caitlin Schiller interviews Jane Borden about the influence of cult-like thinking on American culture and history.

What if the United States wasn’t just influenced by cult-like thinking, but shaped by it from the very beginning? This week on Simplify, Caitlin Schiller speaks with journalist and author Jane Borden, whose book Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America explores how cult dynamics show up across U.S. history, politics, consumer culture, and self-help. From Puritan theology to superhero movies, Borden argues that cults aren’t fringe phenomena—they’re extreme versions of patterns baked so deep into American culture that they came over in the metaphorical sourdough starter brought over on the Mayflower. Together, Caitlin and Jane unpack why Americans are so drawn to comfort, certainty, and strongmen—and what it costs us when we give up agency in exchange for reassurance. You'll also hear about Caitlin's new least favorite figure in history (spoilers: it's the compunctionless Edward Bernays), dismantle the stories about power we're told, learn how the desire for comfort slowly erodes democracy, and where we should turn—if not to a singular outside "hero"—to save the day. Resources Cults Like Us by Jane Borden The American Monomyth by Robert Jewett & John Shelton Lawrence…

People in this episode

Host: Caitlin Schiller

Guest: Jane Borden

Topics covered

• cults
• American culture
• history
• politics
• consumer culture
• self-help
• democracy

Keywords

• cults
• American Monomyth
• Doomsday thinking
• comfort
• certainty
• democracy
• hero worship

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America, The American Monomyth, The Hardest Job in the World, Bowling Alone

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