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The Zeta Family
This entirely fictional (and entirely hilarious) immersive audio drama features performances by Kevin Nealon (Zeta Doug), Natasha Lyonne (Narrator), and Amy Goodmurphy (Katie).
Set on a large ranch in rural upstate New York, it’s early days for the eccentric group of people who call themselves The Zeta Family—quite possibly the next big cult phenomenon.
Our protagonist, Katie, is an aspiring reporter who has decided to infiltrate the compound, and her future success as a journalist depends entirely on her ability to win the confidence of Zeta Doug, the likable spiritual leader of the group.
He’s like a cross between Hunter S. Thompson and George R. R. Martin, with a little too much sci-fi in his head and acid in his blood stream. Like all good cult leaders, Doug is elusive and mysterious, and Katie quickly begins to wonder if this cult is truly just a gnarly collection of weirdos hanging out in the woods, or is there something else going on here?
Set on a large ranch in rural upstate New York, it’s early days for the eccentric group of people who call themselves The Zeta Family—quite possibly the next big cult phenomenon.
Our protagonist, Katie, is an aspiring reporter who has decided to infiltrate the compound, and her future success as a journalist depends entirely on her ability to win the confidence of Zeta Doug, the likable spiritual leader of the group.
He’s like a cross between Hunter S. Thompson and George R. R. Martin, with a little too much sci-fi in his head and acid in his blood stream. Like all good cult leaders, Doug is elusive and mysterious, and Katie quickly begins to wonder if this cult is truly just a gnarly collection of weirdos hanging out in the woods, or is there something else going on here?
3 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 14, 2019
5 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 2, 2021
“Did you know they have cameras in all the rooms?!”
“Uh, yeah. We’re in a cult, chief.”
“Uh, yeah. We’re in a cult, chief.”
September 20, 2020
I was in such a good mood after finishing this.
I loved this book!
It was hilarious, campy, well acted, engaging, perfectly paced and just a well rounded joy.
By the end of the book, I was in such a good mood and was smiling with how wholesome this ended up being.
Totally unexpectedly had a blast with this.
I loved this book!
It was hilarious, campy, well acted, engaging, perfectly paced and just a well rounded joy.
By the end of the book, I was in such a good mood and was smiling with how wholesome this ended up being.
Totally unexpectedly had a blast with this.
December 18, 2020
Quite an entertaining story but found some of the characters annoying.
November 28, 2019
Holy s@&t, I can talk to birds! 😂
January 3, 2020
Not for me. Basic characters with a cliché ending. An annoying narrator throughout that seems to add nothing to the story.
November 1, 2020
Katie is an aspiring journalist and she has a great idea for a breakout story. She will infiltrate the Zeta family, a new cult setting up on a ranch in New York.
She's read the teachings of Doug Zeta, the leader of the group and it's well ... insane. If she can write this story from the inside, she can demand where she wants to work. As she gets to know the members of the cult its soon clear that almost no-one on this ranch is a true believer.
Except for Doug Zeta, the man behind their suduko homework and nightly messages.
This is such a funny, silly book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narration is so well done and kept me giggling throughout.
She's read the teachings of Doug Zeta, the leader of the group and it's well ... insane. If she can write this story from the inside, she can demand where she wants to work. As she gets to know the members of the cult its soon clear that almost no-one on this ranch is a true believer.
Except for Doug Zeta, the man behind their suduko homework and nightly messages.
This is such a funny, silly book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narration is so well done and kept me giggling throughout.
March 30, 2021
Dope! I’m glad I checked out this fun little audible series. It was easy to listen to and while it wasn’t exactly laugh out loud funny, the humour was still definitely my kind of silly bad humour.
The premise of the story was cool and something different. I enjoyed the dumb confidence / awkwardness of the main character and the process of her joining this bizarre or actually not so bizarre cult. (I’ll say no more)
I do think it lost its spark a little around the middle as not much happened plot wise for a few of the days and a couple of the side characters were a little meh, but it picked back up as more discoveries were made and the finale was pretty cool.
My favourite parts were probably from the narrator in-between each day. The writing for her character was top notch, she needs her own audible series!
Finally, I was mostly impressed with the overall production. The audio design was wow, you could tell the scenes were properly acted out on a physical set which really helped to picture the actions and different environments that they were in. And each character was really well performed. Would have made a decent TV show!
The premise of the story was cool and something different. I enjoyed the dumb confidence / awkwardness of the main character and the process of her joining this bizarre or actually not so bizarre cult. (I’ll say no more)
I do think it lost its spark a little around the middle as not much happened plot wise for a few of the days and a couple of the side characters were a little meh, but it picked back up as more discoveries were made and the finale was pretty cool.
My favourite parts were probably from the narrator in-between each day. The writing for her character was top notch, she needs her own audible series!
Finally, I was mostly impressed with the overall production. The audio design was wow, you could tell the scenes were properly acted out on a physical set which really helped to picture the actions and different environments that they were in. And each character was really well performed. Would have made a decent TV show!
October 28, 2020
At times funny and entertaining. Sometimes sound effects were distracting. All in all the dramatization was reasonably acted. The story was strange in a good way at times and had more holes than Swiss cheese in my cheese drawer. Lots of tangents that were completely unrelated to the story and came across as filler. It’s like the author had a length requirement and had to stretch to reach it. The tangents could have been developed making them actually add to the story. Instead, the reader is left with something that feels quite incomplete.
January 18, 2022
This was completely hilarious. I laughed out loud for real. It was even strangely heartwarming in the end. The full cast narration was excellent and the music and sound effects were fun. I approve the Canadian content. Sometimes Audible gives us nice things for free and this is one of them.
December 10, 2020
Oh well... That was a happy ending, full of cliché characters.. but a happy ending after all.
Read
December 31, 2020MPAA ratings:
R for language
PG-13 for sexuality and sexual references
R for language
PG-13 for sexuality and sexual references
October 19, 2020
The main character Katie aspires to be a professional journalist and wants to write an insightful story uncovering some of the mystery surrounding The Zeta Family. She joins their cult and ends up discovering nothing is as it seems. After she leaves her life behind she realizes she is searching for a bit more than what she previously intended. She has used her light hearted nature and sarcasm as a buffer when she encounters any difficulties in her life and continues to do so in her interactions with some of the cult members. I found it refreshing and relatable to listen to a book with a strong willed female main character who is in their early thirties. Someone who has one goal they are clinging on to hoping that she can wing everything else along the way. She does not show an extreme amount of growth throughout the novel, but I didn't mind because it was true to her character. If you are looking to kill time for a few hours and listen to a comedic but simple adventure and have a few laughs. I highly recommend The Zeta Family. Natasha Lyonne was the narrator and provided clarification and comedic relief.
"You know I was just here as a disembodied narrator and I never thought I'd actually start developing feelings for these people.."
"You know I was just here as a disembodied narrator and I never thought I'd actually start developing feelings for these people.."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2021
Cute story, didn't call the ending, and I would listen to Natasha Lyonne read the phone book.
November 28, 2019
Wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did.
After a slow but interesting start with some pretty unlikeable characters, this show turns into something wonderful.
Enjoyed my time in the Zeta Family cult.
After a slow but interesting start with some pretty unlikeable characters, this show turns into something wonderful.
Enjoyed my time in the Zeta Family cult.
December 15, 2020
Fun story.
January 2, 2021
★★★☆☆ (3.5 / 5 stars)
Katie is looking for her big break as a freelance journalist. She thinks she has found the perfect scoop: infiltrating the Zeta Family compound and finding out the details of the cult. Yet, getting in is the easy part: as different individuals in the compound begin to foil her plans, Katie starts to worry that finding out the truth about Zeta Doug may be harder than she thought.
In a fun audio book-drama that takes us along for Katie’s wild ride, we’re thrust into the absurd world of the Zeta Family. No one seems to know much about their elusive leader, Zeta Doug, but everyone seems to rally around the common cause of finding their other selves across dimensions.
Sounds like nonsense, right?
Well, it doesn’t surprise Katie the type of individuals who are drawn to this cult. Each of these characters is unique and hilarious in their own way. In fact, despite her own quirks, Katie is probably the most “normal” of the bunch, especially compared to her family on the outside. This helps us delve deeper into the cult with her, even if we think her own quest of being a freelance journalist is half-baked.
I had a lot of fun listening to this audio drama though. Between all the different characters, the unique personalities, and the bizarre world of the Zeta Family, I truly wanted to believe that Zeta Doug had created something amazing. Perhaps he did: he brought a bunch of obscure individuals together, and gave them a family after they never really fit in anywhere. If that doesn’t warm your heart, I don’t know what will.
Yet, despite the silliness and excitement throughout the audio drama, it did grow a little cumbersome. The constant back and forth Katie had with her family, the narrator’s expositions, as well as trying to figure out the full situation with the Zeta Family, caused me to lose interest between chapters. Part of me had hoped, as well, for something a little more sci-fi oriented…instead of just a crazy cult. But those are personal preferences that tampered with my enjoyment and is in no way a critique of the overall story.
The Zeta Family is a fun, quick listen that is great to fill up time while working out or in a car ride! So if you want a cultish investigation that doesn’t end like you imagine, I encourage you to check it out!
Katie is looking for her big break as a freelance journalist. She thinks she has found the perfect scoop: infiltrating the Zeta Family compound and finding out the details of the cult. Yet, getting in is the easy part: as different individuals in the compound begin to foil her plans, Katie starts to worry that finding out the truth about Zeta Doug may be harder than she thought.
In a fun audio book-drama that takes us along for Katie’s wild ride, we’re thrust into the absurd world of the Zeta Family. No one seems to know much about their elusive leader, Zeta Doug, but everyone seems to rally around the common cause of finding their other selves across dimensions.
Sounds like nonsense, right?
Well, it doesn’t surprise Katie the type of individuals who are drawn to this cult. Each of these characters is unique and hilarious in their own way. In fact, despite her own quirks, Katie is probably the most “normal” of the bunch, especially compared to her family on the outside. This helps us delve deeper into the cult with her, even if we think her own quest of being a freelance journalist is half-baked.
I had a lot of fun listening to this audio drama though. Between all the different characters, the unique personalities, and the bizarre world of the Zeta Family, I truly wanted to believe that Zeta Doug had created something amazing. Perhaps he did: he brought a bunch of obscure individuals together, and gave them a family after they never really fit in anywhere. If that doesn’t warm your heart, I don’t know what will.
Yet, despite the silliness and excitement throughout the audio drama, it did grow a little cumbersome. The constant back and forth Katie had with her family, the narrator’s expositions, as well as trying to figure out the full situation with the Zeta Family, caused me to lose interest between chapters. Part of me had hoped, as well, for something a little more sci-fi oriented…instead of just a crazy cult. But those are personal preferences that tampered with my enjoyment and is in no way a critique of the overall story.
The Zeta Family is a fun, quick listen that is great to fill up time while working out or in a car ride! So if you want a cultish investigation that doesn’t end like you imagine, I encourage you to check it out!
March 22, 2021
3,5 stars. It was more of a 3 stars experience but I loved the ending.
The performance was good, not outstanding but more than ok. My biggest issue were all the impossibly stupid and selfish side charcaters. Too much to be believable and really difficult to tolerate after a while.
I thought the plot was also going to be predictable and silly, but on the contrary the ending was kind of original and sweet. Still not enough to redeem completely the side characters' problem..
Overall good because with audible uk it was free, but I wouldn't pay full price.
The performance was good, not outstanding but more than ok. My biggest issue were all the impossibly stupid and selfish side charcaters. Too much to be believable and really difficult to tolerate after a while.
I thought the plot was also going to be predictable and silly, but on the contrary the ending was kind of original and sweet. Still not enough to redeem completely the side characters' problem..
Overall good because with audible uk it was free, but I wouldn't pay full price.
October 22, 2025
I chose this because most every other audible original has been hilarious. The exception were the other offerings by Gretchen Enders. The Bedtime for Cynics duology was not my cup of tea. Humor is subjective and I am just not the author's target audience. This book bordered on irratating for me. I disliked all of the characters and the storyline was tedious.
The only reason I rated the performance this low was the tendency for the voice actors to talk over one another and for some voices to fade.
The only reason I rated the performance this low was the tendency for the voice actors to talk over one another and for some voices to fade.
September 3, 2022
Katie wants to become a journalist and she believes writing an article about the Zeta Family, a cult, will be her big breakthrough. However, the family turns out to be very different from what she expected.
I listened to this because of Natasha Lyonne, but she is just the narrator and doesn't participate much. It's an easy listen and there's some good moments but I admit I was expecting something funnier.
I listened to this because of Natasha Lyonne, but she is just the narrator and doesn't participate much. It's an easy listen and there's some good moments but I admit I was expecting something funnier.
January 28, 2020
Interesting book that pulled a somewhat interesting twist at the end. Sadly, took off stars due to a lot of annoying characters, especially the main character Katie. I felt bad for her at the beginning but realized the terrible and irresponsible people in her life we're honestly deserving of being in her circle. Hopefully, she matured at the end of her adventure but, I didn't really see it.
February 24, 2020
I went into this book expecting a fun & light-hearted read and that is exactly what I got.
Katie, the protagonist, is trying to break the story of a supposed cult in its early stages. The characters she meets in this cult are hilarious.
At 3 and a half hours, this is a quick read that can be completed in one sitting.
Katie, the protagonist, is trying to break the story of a supposed cult in its early stages. The characters she meets in this cult are hilarious.
At 3 and a half hours, this is a quick read that can be completed in one sitting.
April 23, 2020
Cults are always an interesting concept. This one left me wanting. It really wasn’t interesting and generally had no followers. I loved the ending, wouldn’t we all just love to drop everything we know, ignore the people we don’t like and just live the way we want. It would be amazing.
The acting was acceptable. But it really needed some more excitement
The acting was acceptable. But it really needed some more excitement
October 31, 2020
So I gave this a chance because it was shorter and I thought it would be a really interesting listen. While I’m not super impressed with how it ended, the voice actors did a really good job making the story interesting and engaging for anyone who listens. It’s a quick, laughable and an eye rolling story that most people with a dry sense of humor will enjoy.
October 3, 2020
THIS WAS THE BEST AUDIOBOOK EVER.
If you like:
comedy
weird characters
cults
found family trope
laughing out loud
friendship
This is the book for you.
It was so funny. I loved every second of it, every character. It was so strange and weird in a funny and unique way. LOVED IT.
If you like:
comedy
weird characters
cults
found family trope
laughing out loud
friendship
This is the book for you.
It was so funny. I loved every second of it, every character. It was so strange and weird in a funny and unique way. LOVED IT.
January 21, 2023
I picked this up because I liked Natasha Lyonne's performance in Space: 1969 and this seemed lighthearted, however it ended up being a let down. It was already a short listen and yet the narration felt dragged. The humor relied on stereotypes, overall meh.
March 8, 2023
Fun goofy story. Characters are ridiculous and kind of annoying on occasion but also charming no doubt do to the work of the cast. I believe it was a podcast series and it shows but isn’t distracting. Worth a listen
April 10, 2023
it was going to be a 2 star but the ending elevated it for me. Loved the full cast, disliked the female 'narrator' (this is personal cus I didn't like her voice or style of narrating and just generally thought she was annoying).
3 stars for a found family of mostly idiots 😘
3 stars for a found family of mostly idiots 😘
April 21, 2023
I needed a “Z” title for my 2023 A-Z challenge and this popped up on Audible as a short(and free) audiobook. There were funny moments, kind of like an SNL skit, but not enough character development to engage me.
July 13, 2025
This was such a fun story! I'm a sucker for a cult story in general, but I loved the twist of this one, and the characters really grew on me. I'd love for this to be the first season of a TV show, with all the later seasons just being a sitcom with the same cast and setting.
September 15, 2025
(4.75 rounded up) Hilarious and quirky, odd and mysterious, this audio production really tickled my fancy. The narration was top tier, the characters were irrational to the naked eye yet true to themselves and their individual mission, the mystery was absurd, the ending entirely endearing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews