Hey, I'm Amanda

Amanda Montell is a writer, language scholar, and podcast host from Baltimore. She is the author of two critically acclaimed nonfiction books: Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism (HarperCollins, 2021) and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language (HarperCollins, 2019). Amanda's books have earned praise from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Kirkus Reviews, and more, and Amanda is currently developing Wordslut for television with FX Studios. Cultish is an indie bestseller, was named one of the best books of 2021 by NPR and other outlets, and was a Goodreads Choice Awards top 5 finalist. Amanda is also the creator and co-host of the podcast Sounds Like A Cult, which premiered in 2021 and peaked at #20 on Spotify's Top Podcasts in the USA.

As a reporter and essayist, Amanda's writing has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Refinery29, The Rumpus, and Who What Wear, where she formerly served as the Features & Beauty Editor. She holds a degree in linguistics from NYU and lives in Los Angeles with her partner, plants, and pets. Find her on Instagram @amanda_montell.