May 15: Cults, Crackpots and Swindlers
An intense night of storytelling
You know what’s really popular right now? Yes, true crime documentaries. But something different. Stories about cults.
What’s the appeal to hearing these seemingly outlandish tales? It’s a very similar reason why people are so drawn to true crime stories. It always feels unreal that it’s reality. And yet, it is. And the question many of us ask ourselves is, would I get sucked into a cult?
Not only that, but what is it like to be in a cult, and how do people get out of them? These are all endlessly fascinating questions. One that we hope to shed some light on at this month’s In a Nutshell storytelling show.
As the title of this month’s show suggests, it isn’t strictly about cults (Though that will be there). But the silimiarity in these stories has to do with how other people warp our realities, and the damaging effect that can have on our fragile souls.
The Storytellers
Glynn Washington
The host of the wildly popular show, Snap Judgment, Glynn Washington, grew up in the Worldwide Church of God, an apocalyptic, white supremacist religious cult. Holly Hell! There is an amazing story here
Holly James
Joining a charismatic religious group is all fun and games until reality bends to the point of breaking. Holly James has a lot to unpack at this upcoming show.
Johnny Taylor Jr.
What happens when your mother doesn’t have a solid grasp on reality? One thinks this might make dealing with the outside world…challenging. For Johnny, it led to him becoming one of our favorite storytellers/comedians.
JP Frary
JP Frary has lived many lives. But in one of them, he stole the image of a popular person in a different community to finally experience what it was like to be…popular. A bit of a cult of personality story
Host Keith “Not For Rehire” Jensen will be there guiding the night—and, as always, probably telling a story or two of his own along the way. Did you know he almost joined a cult when he was younger? We’re glad he didn’t!
The Night
📅 Friday, May 15, 2026
🕖 7pm (doors at 6pm)
📍 The Sofia, Sacramento
👥 Come alone, bring a friend, make it a night out. All are welcome!
If you’ve been to In a Nutshell before, you already know the rhythm: a room full of attentive humans, big laughs, reflective moments, and stories that don’t flatten life into easy lessons.
If you haven’t been yet, April is a great time to start.
🎟️ Tickets are available through The Sofia box office
(And yes, tickets are cheaper in advance than at the door.)
We can’t wait to see you in real life, humans!
xoxo,
Amy Bee
(and her two totally awesome co-workers, Keith & Aaron)
If you enjoy what we’re building here, one of the most helpful ways to support it is by becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. That support helps us pay storytellers, keep live shows going, and keep producing our podcast (now called The Nutshell True Story Hour), which is free for everyone to enjoy.
No pressure at all, but it truly does make a difference.
xoxo, Amy