Dr. Mara Einstein
@drmaraeinstein.bsky.social
Cults • MLMs • higher ed • religion • deceptive marketing.
8X author inc. “Hoodwinked: How marketers use the same tactics as cults.” Netflix doc: “Buy Now!”
Ex- NBC, Ex-MTV, advertising refugee. CUNY professor.
SXSW 2025
Drmaraeinstein.com
8X author inc. “Hoodwinked: How marketers use the same tactics as cults.” Netflix doc: “Buy Now!”
Ex- NBC, Ex-MTV, advertising refugee. CUNY professor.
SXSW 2025
Drmaraeinstein.com
1) not a fan of Mr. Galloway (see photo), and 2) this will be on a level he has not imagined. If 7-12 million people (numbers who protested) don’t shop during the holiday—and truth is, lots of families simply can’t afford Xmas—it’s going to be a bleak holiday for businesses.
November 1, 2025 at 2:40 AM
1) not a fan of Mr. Galloway (see photo), and 2) this will be on a level he has not imagined. If 7-12 million people (numbers who protested) don’t shop during the holiday—and truth is, lots of families simply can’t afford Xmas—it’s going to be a bleak holiday for businesses.
In the first episode of Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein, I chat with Yale religion and history scholar Katie Lofton—a leading voice on religion and consumer culture—to unpack how our deepest systems of belief shape what we buy, who we follow, and how we build community online.
October 28, 2025 at 10:37 PM
In the first episode of Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein, I chat with Yale religion and history scholar Katie Lofton—a leading voice on religion and consumer culture—to unpack how our deepest systems of belief shape what we buy, who we follow, and how we build community online.
My new podcast, Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein launches October 30th.
We’re talking scams—consumer, religious, and political—with academics, ex-cult members, marketing practitioners, and more.
Check my website (drmaraeinstein.com) for updates.
We’re talking scams—consumer, religious, and political—with academics, ex-cult members, marketing practitioners, and more.
Check my website (drmaraeinstein.com) for updates.
October 14, 2025 at 8:45 AM
My new podcast, Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein launches October 30th.
We’re talking scams—consumer, religious, and political—with academics, ex-cult members, marketing practitioners, and more.
Check my website (drmaraeinstein.com) for updates.
We’re talking scams—consumer, religious, and political—with academics, ex-cult members, marketing practitioners, and more.
Check my website (drmaraeinstein.com) for updates.
This week, I’m on IndoctriNATION.
Cult recruitment and retention tactics, facilitated by digital media, are why the country is where it is now. I implore you to listen, and learn—not only how we got here—but how we could get out.
Cult recruitment and retention tactics, facilitated by digital media, are why the country is where it is now. I implore you to listen, and learn—not only how we got here—but how we could get out.
September 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This week, I’m on IndoctriNATION.
Cult recruitment and retention tactics, facilitated by digital media, are why the country is where it is now. I implore you to listen, and learn—not only how we got here—but how we could get out.
Cult recruitment and retention tactics, facilitated by digital media, are why the country is where it is now. I implore you to listen, and learn—not only how we got here—but how we could get out.
Some people are saying the American Eagle ad is simply an homage to Calvin Klein and Brooke Shields in the 80s.
Here’s the ad:
Here’s the ad:
July 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Some people are saying the American Eagle ad is simply an homage to Calvin Klein and Brooke Shields in the 80s.
Here’s the ad:
Here’s the ad:
Reporters are asking for comment on the ethics of filming public concerts.
That they are even asking this question means they’ve lost the plot.
That they are even asking this question means they’ve lost the plot.
July 21, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reporters are asking for comment on the ethics of filming public concerts.
That they are even asking this question means they’ve lost the plot.
That they are even asking this question means they’ve lost the plot.
This isn’t an ad. It is AI art and a brilliant condemnation of fast fashion.
What looks like a skirt is garbage, moving from billard to landfill in a single moment.
The artist is Emanuele Morelli.
What looks like a skirt is garbage, moving from billard to landfill in a single moment.
The artist is Emanuele Morelli.
July 21, 2025 at 11:10 AM
This isn’t an ad. It is AI art and a brilliant condemnation of fast fashion.
What looks like a skirt is garbage, moving from billard to landfill in a single moment.
The artist is Emanuele Morelli.
What looks like a skirt is garbage, moving from billard to landfill in a single moment.
The artist is Emanuele Morelli.
“Pertinent” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
July 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
“Pertinent” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
Who kicked Bill Ackman in the head?
I learned of Bill Ackman from the documentary “Betting on Zero.” The film is the story of how he tried to take down Herbalife, an MLM preying on minorities and the undocumented.
Fast forward and he is the DEI police and a Trump supporter.
So…
I learned of Bill Ackman from the documentary “Betting on Zero.” The film is the story of how he tried to take down Herbalife, an MLM preying on minorities and the undocumented.
Fast forward and he is the DEI police and a Trump supporter.
So…
June 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Who kicked Bill Ackman in the head?
I learned of Bill Ackman from the documentary “Betting on Zero.” The film is the story of how he tried to take down Herbalife, an MLM preying on minorities and the undocumented.
Fast forward and he is the DEI police and a Trump supporter.
So…
I learned of Bill Ackman from the documentary “Betting on Zero.” The film is the story of how he tried to take down Herbalife, an MLM preying on minorities and the undocumented.
Fast forward and he is the DEI police and a Trump supporter.
So…
Out of town on business, but taking time to protest.
Stay safe tomorrow.
Stay safe tomorrow.
June 14, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Out of town on business, but taking time to protest.
Stay safe tomorrow.
Stay safe tomorrow.
This is the intellectual level of the man who took a chainsaw to our government. He’s used X to broadcast vast conspiracies and lies for years, but just this once he thinks he can put this one back in the bottle.
#musktrumpfeud
#musktrumpfeud
June 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
This is the intellectual level of the man who took a chainsaw to our government. He’s used X to broadcast vast conspiracies and lies for years, but just this once he thinks he can put this one back in the bottle.
#musktrumpfeud
#musktrumpfeud
This week I got to talk about cults and brands in a Brooklyn beer garden thanks to @lecturesontap
The crowd was fantastic and I sold every last copy of “Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults.”
Can’t wait to do this again.
The crowd was fantastic and I sold every last copy of “Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults.”
Can’t wait to do this again.
June 8, 2025 at 3:54 PM
This week I got to talk about cults and brands in a Brooklyn beer garden thanks to @lecturesontap
The crowd was fantastic and I sold every last copy of “Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults.”
Can’t wait to do this again.
The crowd was fantastic and I sold every last copy of “Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults.”
Can’t wait to do this again.
It is rare to say smart college marketing but this is some of the best I’ve seen. Bravo to Harvard. For too long higher ed has let media drive the narrative around debt and the high cost of tuition. I hope this becomes a call for colleges to talk about the value we bring to society.
#academicsky
#academicsky
May 27, 2025 at 1:43 AM
It is rare to say smart college marketing but this is some of the best I’ve seen. Bravo to Harvard. For too long higher ed has let media drive the narrative around debt and the high cost of tuition. I hope this becomes a call for colleges to talk about the value we bring to society.
#academicsky
#academicsky
Digital media is designed for you to think fast (with emotion).
The message is designed to make you feel you are going to miss out if you don’t act quickly.
This “sale” saves you $4 on a $72 purchase.
Save yourself some real money and don’t fall for these tricks during the Memorial Day weekend.
The message is designed to make you feel you are going to miss out if you don’t act quickly.
This “sale” saves you $4 on a $72 purchase.
Save yourself some real money and don’t fall for these tricks during the Memorial Day weekend.
May 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Digital media is designed for you to think fast (with emotion).
The message is designed to make you feel you are going to miss out if you don’t act quickly.
This “sale” saves you $4 on a $72 purchase.
Save yourself some real money and don’t fall for these tricks during the Memorial Day weekend.
The message is designed to make you feel you are going to miss out if you don’t act quickly.
This “sale” saves you $4 on a $72 purchase.
Save yourself some real money and don’t fall for these tricks during the Memorial Day weekend.
New York folks, tickets will be available via EventBrite starting Monday. My understanding is they will sell out in a few hours so follow @lecturesontap.bsky.social for more info.
May 22, 2025 at 12:50 AM
New York folks, tickets will be available via EventBrite starting Monday. My understanding is they will sell out in a few hours so follow @lecturesontap.bsky.social for more info.
DHS has come back hard denying that Noem wants this to happen.
Even for this administration, this is dead in its tracks. While the producer says there will be numerous opportunities for commercial tie-ins, I can’t imagine a single brand wanting to connect themselves to this.
Even for this administration, this is dead in its tracks. While the producer says there will be numerous opportunities for commercial tie-ins, I can’t imagine a single brand wanting to connect themselves to this.
May 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
DHS has come back hard denying that Noem wants this to happen.
Even for this administration, this is dead in its tracks. While the producer says there will be numerous opportunities for commercial tie-ins, I can’t imagine a single brand wanting to connect themselves to this.
Even for this administration, this is dead in its tracks. While the producer says there will be numerous opportunities for commercial tie-ins, I can’t imagine a single brand wanting to connect themselves to this.
In today’s email…
If they got to the point in Hoodwink where I write about Trump being a cult, they had to have gotten pretty far into the book.
That said, this also proves the point: no one who’s in a cult wants to admit they are in a cult. The fact that they used TDS is a major tell.
If they got to the point in Hoodwink where I write about Trump being a cult, they had to have gotten pretty far into the book.
That said, this also proves the point: no one who’s in a cult wants to admit they are in a cult. The fact that they used TDS is a major tell.
May 13, 2025 at 12:09 PM
In today’s email…
If they got to the point in Hoodwink where I write about Trump being a cult, they had to have gotten pretty far into the book.
That said, this also proves the point: no one who’s in a cult wants to admit they are in a cult. The fact that they used TDS is a major tell.
If they got to the point in Hoodwink where I write about Trump being a cult, they had to have gotten pretty far into the book.
That said, this also proves the point: no one who’s in a cult wants to admit they are in a cult. The fact that they used TDS is a major tell.
In a few months—maybe sooner—people will have trouble getting pet food. Marketers have worked slavishly to get people to think of pets as family members, and we do. Wait till we can’t properly feed these family members.
May 5, 2025 at 7:47 AM
In a few months—maybe sooner—people will have trouble getting pet food. Marketers have worked slavishly to get people to think of pets as family members, and we do. Wait till we can’t properly feed these family members.
Frank Schaeffer make “Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults” the “it has to be read” book of the month.
If you don’t know Frank, he is an ex-vangelical and bestselling author. We met years ago when we both appeared in the documentary “American Jesus.”
If you don’t know Frank, he is an ex-vangelical and bestselling author. We met years ago when we both appeared in the documentary “American Jesus.”
May 2, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Frank Schaeffer make “Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults” the “it has to be read” book of the month.
If you don’t know Frank, he is an ex-vangelical and bestselling author. We met years ago when we both appeared in the documentary “American Jesus.”
If you don’t know Frank, he is an ex-vangelical and bestselling author. We met years ago when we both appeared in the documentary “American Jesus.”
In Part 2, we go deeper into cult tactics and specifically discuss how these apply to higher education.
This episode will be especially helpful for those about to make their college decisions.
This episode will be especially helpful for those about to make their college decisions.
April 29, 2025 at 5:41 AM
In Part 2, we go deeper into cult tactics and specifically discuss how these apply to higher education.
This episode will be especially helpful for those about to make their college decisions.
This episode will be especially helpful for those about to make their college decisions.
My PR advice to the Vatican. Don’t rush. Use this opportunity to explain that the faith JD Vance practices is not any kind of Catholicism that would be recognized by Rome.
April 21, 2025 at 12:52 PM
My PR advice to the Vatican. Don’t rush. Use this opportunity to explain that the faith JD Vance practices is not any kind of Catholicism that would be recognized by Rome.
If you are as fascinated by cults as much as I am, I know you know A Little Bit Culty.
So excited to be this week’s guest with Sarah & Nippy.
So excited to be this week’s guest with Sarah & Nippy.
April 21, 2025 at 12:55 AM
If you are as fascinated by cults as much as I am, I know you know A Little Bit Culty.
So excited to be this week’s guest with Sarah & Nippy.
So excited to be this week’s guest with Sarah & Nippy.