The Cult of Duolingo

UPDATE: So, our Duolingo episode was recorded before the company’s AI controversy made major headlines but wow, I guess we found the scandal that could kneecap duo 👀🦉Not to mention our angelic guest quit the company just before this was released!!! WILD TIMES. Do you think Duo is a Live Your Life, Watch Your Back, or a GTFO? Comment below! (And then link a few stories)

Is it a free language learning app... or a feathered dictator in your pocket? In this episode, Amanda and Chelsea are joined by Zaria Parvez (@zariaparvez), the social media mastermind behind that chaotic green owl, to unpack the potentially culty world of Duolingo. We’re talking guilt-trippy push notifications, leaderboard anxiety, and the question on everyone’s mind: why does Duo feel more like a clingy ex than a study buddy? Whether you're on a 1-day streak or a 1,000-day emotional journey, this one’s for you.

👽 About Sounds Like A Cult Podcast 👽

Putting the “cult” in culture… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about the Royal Family? What about Disney Adults? Or spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? We’re Sounds Like A Cult, a podcast that analyzes a different fanatical group every week to try and answer the big question: This sounds like a cult, but is it really?

Sounds Like A Cult premiered in June of 2021 and has since been downloaded over 30 million times. It was named a best podcast of 2022 by Vulture, Esquire, Wired, Marie Claire, and others. The pod won the 2023 iHeart Radio “Best Emerging Podcast” Award and has been praised by The New York Times and other publications.

New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

✨Your Co-Hosts ✨

Amanda Montell

Chelsea CharlesMcClure

Reese Oliver

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