The Cult of Conversion Therapy

If you thought conversion therapy disappeared sometime around low-rise jeans and flip phones, you'd be very, very wrong. This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by Timothy S. Rodriguez (@timothy.s.rodriguez), author of Conversion Therapy Dropout, to expose one of the most dangerous cults we've ever covered. From church basements and megachurches to online forums and DIY "therapy," they unpack the shame, manipulation, isolation, and pseudoscience that continue to fuel an industry built on convincing LGBTQ+ people that who they are needs to be fixed. Tim shares his firsthand experience surviving conversion therapy, the long road to reclaiming his identity, and why this movement is still going strong. This one's heavy, but it's also one of the most important conversations we've had, where the only thing more disturbing than banning Britney is everything that came after. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia.  Pre-order Iman's new book, Once in a Timeline, here! Your pre-order helps make more books possible! Thank you to our sponsors! Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to https://LIQUIDIV.COM and get 20% off your first purchase with code CULT at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What this episode covers

If you thought conversion therapy disappeared sometime around low-rise jeans and flip phones, you'd be very, very wrong. This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by Timothy S. Rodriguez (@timothy.s.rodriguez), author of Conversion Therapy Dropout, to expose one of the most dangerous cults we've ever covered. From church basements and megachurches to online forums and DIY "therapy," they unpack the shame, manipulation, isolation, and pseudoscience that continue to fuel an industry built on convincing LGBTQ+ people that who they are needs to be fixed. Tim shares his firsthand experience surviving conversion therapy, the long road to reclaiming his identity, and why this movement is still going strong. This one's heavy, but it's also one of the most important conversations we've had, where the only thing more disturbing than banning Britney is everything that came after. Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia. Pre-order Iman's new book, Once in a Timeline, here! Your pre-order helps make more books possible! Thank you to our sponsors! Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to https://LIQUIDIV.COM and get 20% off your first purchase with code CULT at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This episode is 51 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 14, 2026.

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