The Cult of The Biggest Loser

Dec 9, 2025
1h 8m

Episode Description

 It looked like feel-good weight loss… until Netflix told us the truth. This week, Amanda and Reese are joined by former contestant Tracey Yukich Lane (@traceyyuckichlane) to unpack how The Biggest Loser went from “inspirational reality show” to one of the most culty franchises in TV history. From weigh-in rituals and trainer worship to isolation, fear tactics, and nationwide public shaming, we’re diving into the behind the scenes world that had millions of viewers cheering for transformation while contestants were barely surviving it. Why did we believe this was healthy? How did it become so successful? And what happens when a show about losing weight starts demanding you lose yourself too? Grab your branded sweatband and your cognitive dissonance... this episode gets messy. 🏋🏻‍♂️📺🔥


Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!
Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod@amanda_montell@reesaronii@chelseaxcharles

Thank you to our sponsors!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See all episodes

Never lose your place, on any device

Create a free account to sync, back up, and get personal recommendations.