Episode #205: Dr. Stephanie Alice Baker

In Episode #205, author Stephanie Baker joins Osi to explore the world of cults, from doomsday groups to self-help trends and celebrity followings. They discuss why these groups form, how they function, and why they are so pervasive in our interconnected world. Dr Stephanie Alice Baker currently serves as Deputy Head of the Department of Sociology and Criminology at City, University of London. Dr Baker’s research explores health and wellness cultures, with a focus on how influencers establish trust, intimacy and authority online. Much of her research has focused on the self-help and wellness industry. She has published several articles and books on these topics including, Lifestyle Gurus: constructing authority and influence online (Polity, 2019) and Wellness Culture: how the wellness movement has been used to empower, profit and misinform (Emerald, 2022). Dr Baker’s current research explores the role of new media technologies in amplifying false, misleading and harmful content online.