Podcasts about cults

Christianity is broken into various denominations, and countless interpretations of them. Recently there's been an increase in claims about the supremacy of Orthodox Christianity. Attempts to acquire interviews with orthodox Christians have resulted in requests for money or insults. On this episode, we go to the source and explore the tenants of orthodox theology: the Trinity, Jesus as God, the resurrection, salvation, the scripture, the ancient church, the seven sacraments, the Eucharist, Mary as the bearer of God, the Saints being honored, the icons, and life after death. Objectively, what we find when examining these ideas is that they are evolutions -- for better or worse -- of far older and universal spiritual and religious concepts. The prehistory of such ideas is usually dismissed with aggression or attempted pseudo intellectual "got yas," with a mix of fallacy and circular logic. But what if we were to argue that the prehistory confirms the importance of such tenants; even if it also proves that they are not unique, nor are they the only answer to the issue of theosis.*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, subscribe below. 

It's Wayback Wednesday! We continue our Summer of Disclosure programs with a 2010 interview with the brilliant Paul and Philip Collins about the intelligence community's work to encourage the belief that we've been visited by ETs. First released July 11, 2010 FOLLOWING UP our discussion of ufology and “alien” theology last week, we continue to examine the alien gospel with Paul and Phillip Collins, authors of The Ascendancy of the Scientific Dictatorship: An Examination of Epistemic Autocracy, From the 19th to the 21st Century. The brothers Collins make the case that elements within the intelligence community have deliberately and systematically encouraged the belief that we've been visited by intelligent life from other worlds. Oddly, people who claim to have met these visitors say many of these uninvited guests are bringing the same message Adam and Eve heard in the Garden: “Ye shall be as gods.”

All hail! Princess Ariella is born to great fanfare and with an unexpected explosion of fluids!Get more of their cringey, awesome content at Patreon.com/realitytvcringeFollow us on IG https://instagram.com/realitytvcringeSubscribe to see our raccoon faces on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2CgqXLWjIEKV9PCtH3Kjw?sub_confirmation=1Leave a message for us on SpeakPipe: https://speakpipe.com/realitytvcringeSupport the pod by leaving a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Thank you so much.

Join Dawn and some very special guests - including her dear, sweet mom - and a live audience at Flappers Comedy Club (in beautiful Burbank, California). Hear the tragic tale of Jonestown, why you too could have fallen into the charm of Jim Jones, and the stories of hope and resilience among the bloodshed.

How does a nurse, a teacher, a software engineer end up participating in mass death? Shannon walks Cathy through the clinical pathway that turns ordinary people into killers using Heaven's Gate, the Zizians, and Jonestown to prove the same mechanism runs every single time.⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of mass suicide, murder, death by poisoning including the deaths of children, cult coercion and coercive control. Listener discretion is advised.Season 9 opens with the question that sits underneath every cult story ever told: how does a group turn ordinary people into killers?Not people who were always dangerous. A nurse. A teacher. A college student. A software engineer. Someone whose neighbors would describe them as quiet and kind.Shannon takes the lead on this one, and the argument is deliberately uncomfortable; the pathway from ordinary person to cult member to participant in mass death is not about weakness, mental illness, or stupidity. It's about psychology. And it runs the same way every single time, whether you're looking at a California mansion in 1997, a Silicon Valley rationalist community in 2025, or a settlement in the Guyanese jungle in 1978.Same process. Different costume.Three cases, deliberately chosen because they have nothing in common but the mechanism. Heaven's Gate believed human bodies were containers for extraterrestrial souls. The Zizians organized around AI existential risk and analytic philosophy. Peoples Temple organized around socialism and racial justice. Cosmic, rationalist, political; three completely incompatible belief systems, one identical psychological structure underneath.That structure is what Shannon and Cathy spend the episode taking apart. Robert Jay Lifton's eight criteria of thought reform. Margaret Singer's self-dissolution process. Erich Fromm on why freedom is psychologically expensive enough that people will trade it away. Jung's Mana Personality, which explains why a leader's word can override what you can see with your own eyes. And running through all of it, Albert Bandura's moral disengagement — the four specific mechanisms by which a person with an intact conscience does something monstrous and does not experience themselves as monstrous while doing it.The core argument, and where the episode lands:The most dangerous thing about a cult isn't the leader. It's the moment when the group becomes more real to you than your own perception. That isn't weakness. That's how human psychology works. And knowing that is the only protection.Heaven's Gate · Marshall Applewhite · Bonnie Nettles · Rancho Santa Fe, California · March 26, 1997 · 39 dead · the Next Level · "the Demonstration"The Zizians · Ziz LaSota · rationalist and effective altruism communities · AI existential risk · "undead" and "p-zombie" ideology · six deaths, 2025–2026Peoples Temple · Jim Jones · Jonestown, Guyana · November 18, 1978 · 918 dead, 304 of them children · White Night rehearsals · the largest mass death of American civilians before 9/11Clinical terms: thought reform · coercive control · moral disengagement · self-dissolution · cognitive dissonance · milieu control · dehumanization · DDD syndrome · the Mana Personality · the ShadowThis is Part 1 of a three-part Cults series. Part 2 goes into ritual violence. Part 3 goes deeper into contemporary casesUntil then... sleep safe.

Cults, spiritual movements, and other highly controlling groups make headlines time and again when it comes out how they abuse the trust of their members. Anke Richter is an award-winning journalist who has worked extensively on this topic. Here is an interesting experience report: - Sekten, spirituelle Bewegungen und andere hochgradig kontrollierende Gruppierungen kommen immer wieder in die Schlagzeilen, wenn rauskommt, wie sie das Vertrauen ihrer Mitglieder missbrauchen. Anke Richter ist eine preisgekrönte Journalistin, die sich ausführlich mit diesem Thema beschäftigt hat. Hier folgt ihr interessanter Erfahrungsbericht:

IS A.A. A CULT and WILL WE ALWAYS BE RECOVERING? In this episode, we answer the question, "Is A.A. a Cult?" We explore the debate around whether individuals in recovery can truly recover or if they are always in a state of recovery. We discuss spiritual, medical, and practical perspectives, emphasizing the importance of faith, personal responsibility, and ongoing growth. Closing Song: One Second Chance by Jeff Bates.Key Topics The difference between being in recovery and being recovered The role of spiritual awakening in recovery Definitions of cults and their relation to AA The importance of ongoing spiritual growth The impact of self-will and dependence on God The significance of the Big Book and biblical principles The concept of recovery as a process of transformation The dangers of identity with past behaviors The role of community and accountability in recovery The distinction between addiction and sin #recovery #alcoholic #twelvesteps #wedorecover #addiction 

Enjoy these back to back throwback episodes! Forbidden Knowledge Network https://forbiddenknowledge.news/ FKN Link Treehttps://linktr.ee/FKNlinksMake a Donation to Forbidden Knowledge News https://www.paypal.me/forbiddenknowledgenehttps://buymeacoffee.com/forbiddenFKN Merch!https://galactecfire.com/fkn/pGet C60 Power now!https://go.shopc60.com/3J67C/KMKS9/Code: FORBIDDEN10We are back on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@forbiddenknowledgenews?si=XQhXCjteMKYNUJSjBackup channelhttps://youtube.com/@fknshow1?si=tIoIjpUGeSoRNaEsDoors of Perception is available now on Amazon Prime!https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.8a60e6c7-678d-4502-b335-adfbb30697b8&ref_=atv_lp_share_mv&r=webDoors of Perception official trailerhttps://youtu.be/F-VJ01kMSII?si=Ee6xwtUONA18HNLZListen to Forbidden Knowledge News on clearair.fm every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 12:15pm CSThttps://clearair.fm/Pick up Independent Media Token herehttps://www.independentmediatoken.com/Be prepared for any emergency with Prep Starts Now!https://prepstartsnow.com/discount/FKNStart your microdosing journey with BrainsupremeGet 15% off your order here!!https://brainsupreme.co/FKN15Book a free consultation with Jennifer Halcame Emailjenniferhalcame@gmail.comFacebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561665957079&mibextid=ZbWKwLWatch The Forbidden Documentary: Occult Louisiana on Tubi: https://link.tubi.tv/pGXW6chxCJbJohnny Larson's artworkhttps://www.patreon.com/JohnnyLarsonSign up on Rokfin!https://rokfin.com/fknplusPodcastshttps://www.spreaker.com/show/forbiddenAvailable on all platforms Support FKN on Spreaker https://spreaker.page.link/KoPgfbEq8kcsR5oj9FKN ON Rumblehttps://rumble.com/c/FKNpGet Cory Hughes books!Lee Harvey Oswald In Black and White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJ2PQJRMA Warning From History Audio bookhttps://buymeacoffee.com/jfkbook/e/392579https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jfkbookhttps://www.amazon.com/Warning-History-Cory-Hughes/dp/B0CL14VQY6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=72HEFZQA7TAP&keywords=a+warning+from+history+cory+hughes&qid=1698861279&sprefix=a+warning+fro%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1https://coryhughes.org/Our Facebook pageshttps://www.facebook.com/forbiddenknowledgenewsconspiracy/https://www.facebook.com/FKNNetwork/Instagram @forbiddenknowledgenews1@forbiddenknowledgenetworkXhttps://x.com/ForbiddenKnow10?t=uO5AqEtDuHdF9fXYtCUtfw&s=09Email Forbidden Knowledge News forbiddenknowledgenews@gmail.comsome music thanks to:https://www.bensound.com/ULFAPO3OJSCGN8LDDGLBEYNSIXA6EMZJ5FUXWYNC6WJNJKRS8DH27IXE3D73E97DC6JMAFZLSZDGTWFIBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/forbidden-knowledge-news--3589233/support.

CULTS: How do you help someone ESCAPE a cult?Support the show

Two weeks in a row! Jen made it through a whole episode, mostly, and only got mad about the cruise she isn't going on. Trevor is one week from check-in, Tom did not post Flat Jen, and there are consequences coming for that.John Heald had to remind everyone on Facebook that crew members are not permitted to accept homemade food — sealed and packaged is fine, mystery Tupperware is not — and the crew debates whether this is a health-code thing or a those brownies were loaded thing. He also addressed the rumor about Guy's Burger Joint extending hours, which is currently a test on Carnival Conquest only. Princess is now charging for the Medallion to be mailed to you, though there's a free option at the terminal they'd prefer you forget. Carnival is partnering with Sneaker Impact to give the roughly 50,000 pairs of shoes guests leave behind each year to communities that need footwear — with worn-out pairs ground down and turned into yoga mats — which immediately becomes a plan to fill a backpack at Goodwill before the Jubilee.The hard news: a joint task force has removed dozens of crew members across multiple ships at U.S. ports of entry this year over child sexual abuse material found during device and quarter searches — 11 in Boston in August, 27 detained in San Diego earlier this year, and more in San Juan. Most were processed as immigration removals rather than federal charges, which raises real questions about how international crew are vetted through third-party labor agencies. We handle it straight.Also: a debarkation fight caught on what were almost certainly Meta glasses, filmed by someone simultaneously reading their credit card number aloud; guests stranded ashore in Cabo for three hours when a tropical storm shut down tendering; and a nine-day river cruise from Tulsa to Memphis launching in 2029 at $5,200 per person, which Trevor priced out at roughly five Carnival cruises.This week we also lost Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. Jen said it best.23 days to FRGC4. 124 days to the Panama Canal.

Today on The Gist, guest host Scott introduces a pair of interviews focused on the shifting identity of the Republican Party. First, Mike Pesca sits down with former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger to discuss his memoir Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country, exploring how his fundamentalist Christian upbringing shaped his aversion to political groupthink, his military service, and his decision to vote for impeachment and serve on the January 6th Select Committee. Then, Mike speaks with veteran Republican strategist Stuart Stevens about his satirical novel The Innocent Have Nothing to Fear, examining how the GOP abandoned its post-2012 demographic autopsy, embraced populist protectionism, and alienated key minority voting blocs. Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, the girls are joined by Laci Mosley, comedian, actress, and host of the Scam Goddess podcast and TV show (and author of Scam Goddess the book), to talk about the many types of frauds that are out there, from romance scams to financial fraud to Munchausen by proxy. She talks about what makes us susceptible to scams, and how much overlap there is between the way that scams and cults operate. Laci shares about the time she got scammed by a psychic in an airport, how even the most smart, successful people get swindled, and the lessons we can all take from scammers to be a little scammier–but like in a good way. SOURCES Scam GoddessSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Reese dives into The Cult of Celebrity Wellness Brands, where skincare, mental health, spirituality, supplements, and good old-fashioned celebrity worship have melted together into one extremely Instagrammable belief system. From Goop and Rhode to Rare Beauty, Kardashian supplements, children's skincare, and the spectacularly messy rise and fall of Selena Gomez's mental health startup Wondermind, Marketing critic and Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults author Dr. Mara Einstein (@drmaraeinstein) joins us to unpack parasocial trust, brand cults, wellness grifts, scarcity marketing, and why the most effective sales pitch is just convincing you that something is wrong with you first. Enlightenment is only a 12 step skincare routine, GLP-1-adjacent supplement, and celebrity approved app away. The Cut: What Happened at Wondermind by Angelina Chapman Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia.  Pre-order Iman's new book, Once in a Timeline, here! Your pre-order helps make more books possible! Sounds Like A Cult is coming to you LIVE from The Elysian in LA on October 15th! Get tickets at soundslikeacult.com! Thank you to our sponsors! Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://Quince.com/slac Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at https://MINTMOBILE.com/cult Download the Vinted app for free and start listing. With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn, https://www.vinted.com/ Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/SLAC #honeylovepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is surviving a crazy childhood, listener! Hannah Beck is a hilarious queer Chicago-based comedian and podcaster that's performing at the biggest venues across the city, but today she's in the apartment to escape the biggest CULTS in America. We discuss growing up in a crazy cult, escaping it through your gay bestie, the best ways to flirt as a lesbian, how to tell if you're on a date, and how dating men is a recession indicator. Against all odds — Ashley's Brazilian MILF arc continues… and it gets GILFy. Lizzy can definitely tell when it's not a date. FOLLOW HANNAH BECK: Listen to her podcast, “Cross My Heart,” wherever you listen: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qE6BxlVULLxWli5n6e2BL  Tour Dates: https://hannahbeckcomedy.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahbeckcomedy/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hannahbeckcomedy  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HannahBeckComedy  FOLLOW ASHLEY GAVIN @ashgavs TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashgavscomedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashgavs/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ashgavs Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashgavs Tour Dates & Newsletter: https://www.ashleygavin.com/#dates FOLLOW LIZZY CASSIDY @lizzycassidy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lizzycassidycomedy  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzycassidy/  Twitter: https://x.com/lizzaster  Tour Dates & Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/lizzycassidy  FOLLOW ALEX VRAHAS @alvrahas Mailing List: https://forms.gle/t48AUUEYzrNagU1B9  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alvrahas/   SUPPORT OUR PODCAST: Watch this UNCUT: https://www.patreon.com/WHGS Merch: https://shop.merchcentral.com/collections/ashley-gavin Watch on this YouTube: https://youtu.be/znV7URqtotU  ______________________________________________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: HERS: Get personalized & affordable treatment at www.forhers.com/gay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we open it up to all the recently posted 1 v 5 chaos bloodsports debate and the insane loons STILL melting down over being exposed as frauds using Ai in debates, acting like goblins and avoiding real debates - Superchats at any time here: https://streamlabs.com/jaydyer/tip Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/join Philosophy Course is here: https://marketplace.autonomyagora.com/philosophy101 Set up recurring Choq subscription with the discount code JAY60LIFE for 60% off now https://choq.com Subscribe to my site here: https://jaysanalysis.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ Music by Dr Evo the Producer, Jay Dyer and Amid the Ruins 1453 https://www.youtube.com/@amidtheruinsOVERHAUL Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/joinBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jay-sanalysis--1423846/support.

Superchats at any time here: https://streamlabs.com/jaydyer/tip Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/join Philosophy Course is here: https://marketplace.autonomyagora.com/philosophy101 Set up recurring Choq subscription with the discount code JAY60LIFE for 60% off now https://choq.com Subscribe to my site here: https://jaysanalysis.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ Music by Dr Evo the Producer, Jay Dyer and Amid the Ruins 1453 https://www.youtube.com/@amidtheruinsOVERHAUL Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/joinBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jay-sanalysis--1423846/support.

Why the AI conversation is bigger than functionality The hidden story underneath productivity and efficiency When accomplishment becomes a measure of human worth Why peace should be the source of work, not the reward for it Navigating religion when the rest of life is falling apart Spirituality as something that encompasses the whole person Signs that a religious system may be functioning like a cult The danger of institutions claiming exclusive access to God What healthy spiritual practice should actually produce Phoebe Bridgers and the power of familiar-yet-challenging art Why great artists invite rather than demand Art, friendship, and love as forces that meet us where we are and move us forward Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Cults of Personality and Heavy Lifting in Drew Buxton's Daytona Teddy RiggsOn the latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author Drew Buxton to discuss his debut novel, Daytona Teddy Riggs (Hub City Press). Set in mid-1990s Texas, the novel follows Teddy Riggs, a 24-year-old former high school football player striving to make a name for himself in the intense, niche world of strongman competitions and bodybuilding. Buxton revealed that the story originally began as a flash piece under 1,000 words featuring Teddy sneaking onto his old middle school field during a practice—a scene that sets the tone for a humorous, deeply eccentric character study. Written entirely in a distinct first-person voice, the novel captures Teddy's complex family dynamics, his extreme daily regimen of force-feeding thousands of calories, and his intense fixation on a Tony Robbins-style motivational speaker named Pat Dupree. Buxton reflects on his creative process, shifting from writing binges to a steady daily routine of writing at least 500 words while leaving "gas in the tank" for the next session. He and Kyler discuss the inspiration behind the novel's striking exploitation-film-style cover art, as well as Buxton's fascination with niche subcultures where dedicated individuals push themselves to physical extremes. While the book touches on themes of hypermasculinity and self-improvement culture, Buxton emphasized that he wanted to craft a genuine, multi-dimensional character rather than a simple satire. Readers can order Daytona Teddy Riggs through major booksellers or find more of the author's work at drewbuxton.com. ---Episode Links:Purchase Daytona Teddy RiggsDrewBuxton.com

Founded by Dwight York in New York. They eventually moved to Georgia. Who were/are the Nuwaubians? When is the UFO coming to take them away? Why is their leader in jail serving a life sentence?  Let's look into it, shall we?Email us at: downtherh@protonmail.com

Are your players tired of generic hooded villains who just want to be evil for the sake of it? Let's dive deep into the mechanics of cults, exploring how to craft antagonists that are active, isolationist (or even well-integrated), and genuinely dangerous. Discover how to transform faceless goons into compelling, campaign-level threats that will keep your players guessing—and maybe even looking over their shoulders.   #rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #cults Resources: Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast www.taking20podcast.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast  Episode 150 - Rovagug - https://www.taking20podcast.com/e/ep-150-rovagug/  Cult Generator:  https://old.reddit.com/r/rpg_generators/comments/1vk05gi/new_generator_secret_society_cults_and/

Jen's back from jury duty, which she insists was more important than this show (it was), and she has strong opinions about a burrito in downtown Stockton. In her absence, Trevor and Tom recorded an episode with seven guests — John Heald, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Dog the Bounty Hunter — and then refused to release it out of spite. You'll have to take their word for it.On the actual news desk: Princess is moving final payment on longer sailings from 90 days out to 120, with deposits climbing to $250 for standard staterooms ($500 per person on 10-plus-day sailings) and the cancellation schedule shifting so a 100% fee kicks in at 60 days instead of 30 — and the crew debates whether Carnival and Royal follow suit. Carnival's Elegant Night is being swapped for White Hot Night on select cruises of five days or less, which Tom explains and Trevor immediately makes weird. And on August 17th, Carnival Valor made an emergency maneuver on the Mississippi to avoid a cargo ship that had lost power in the channel — dumping water out of the pool at four in the morning and causing minor injuries. Unconfirmed reports suggest Vin Diesel was at the helm.Also discussed: a Miami jury finding Carnival 60% at fault and awarding $300,000 to a California nurse who was served 14 shots of tequila before falling down a staircase; the boys' weight loss check-in (22 pounds and 33 pounds, respectively); an office dog who became Trevor's best friend for the price of one piece of beef jerky; and Jesse's listener question about FRGC4 plans — cabanas at Celebration Key, and yes, embarkation day is Talk Like a Pirate Day, with the Galveston Pirate Festival the night before. Bring your colander.31 days to FRGC4. 379 days to FRGC5.

“We can have billionaires or we can have democracy. We cannot have both,” Gil Durán says. In this episode, Gil and Kelly discuss the bizarre fixations and political fantasies of tech billionaires like Peter Thiel, and how those ideas are being translated into real-world governance. Durán and Hayes also discuss Silicon Valley's Christian cosplay, and how traditional Christian ideas are being used as wrapping paper for the pursuit of AI-first, corporate fiefdoms. Music: Son Monarcas and Dusty Decks

Dawn is joined by Kat Perkins, one of her best friends (and the voice of the HILF theme song!) for a dive into the dark history of cults. From the strangest real-life rituals, to the made-up cults - and why it's important to know the difference.  --

This week on Eavesdroppin', hosts Geordie & Michelle look at celebrity cults…What happens when fame, influence and wellness collide? This episode dips into the unsettling world of celebrity cults and the stars who found themselves caught up in the orbit of charismatic leaders, unconventional belief systems and communities that demand absolute devotion. From Michelle Pfeiffer to Patricia Arquette and Glenn Close, we uncover the cults connected to some of Hollywood's biggest stars. But at the heart of the episode is the story of Game of Thrones star Hannah Murray.After a fellow castmate on the film Detroit recommended a wellness healer, Hannah gave it a go, but what initially seemed like a path to healing and self-discovery soon took a darker turn. As the healer's influence grew, so did the financial, emotional and psychological toll, until Hannah began to realise just how much energy, money and self-esteem was being spent. So grab a brown lemonade and settle in as the duo chat Devil's Breath, gardening and more more on Eavesdroppin'. And remember, wherever you are, whatever you do, just keep Eavesdroppin'!*Disclaimer: We don't claim to have any factual info about anything ever and our opinions are just opinions not fact, sooorrrryyy! Don't sue us!Please rate, review, tell your friends and subscribe in all the usual places – it really helps :) Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/eavesdroppinDo write in with your stories at hello@eavesdroppinpodcast.com or send us a Voice Note!Listen: http://www.eavesdroppinpodcast.comorhttps://podfollow.com/eavesdroppinYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqcuzv-EXizUo4emmt9PgfwFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eavesdroppinpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enrolled?  What is the message?  Why do so many follow the teachings?  Let's look into it!Email us at: downtherh@protonmail.com

When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez laughed off Woke 1.0, she attempted to distance herself from a movement she not only helped build but also led. Because the DSA is ascendant, they're hoping to pivot to kitchen table issues just long enough to trick otherwise sane people into voting for them.Hasan Piker started wearing suits. Abdul El-Sayed is attempting to draw in Trump supporters by showcasing his white grandparents.And out in Texas, James Talarico is making ads with his Paw Paw. They're just regular folks, like you and me. Well, except that they want to tear America down to the studs and rebuild it as a woked-up socialist paradise. But shsh. Nothing to see here, move along, move along.Woke 1.0 wasn't just some silly thing that happened to them one time. It is a deeply held belief system that has been passed on through the generations and mandates conformity across all institutions and culture. It is not an ideology so much as the biggest cult in American history.As we've watched their power weaken after Trump's second win, we see them now more clearly than ever trying to cling to it. Calling white people racist gets louder. Ordering women to obey the rules of language, like the refusal to use the word “cis” or whether or not dating bisexual men, makes you homophobic. Cults must always control the women, separate them from their children. True for Charles Manson, Jim Jones, or Scientology. It's so bad on the Left now that the only right women fight for now is the right to kill their own babies.From White Fragility to protecting women in sports or locker rooms, not to mention children, the once and former feminists are MIA. Many of them are so desperate to be led and dominated by men that they are becoming Muslim reverts:Back in the 1970s, women were also vulnerable and impressionable because the Counter Culture revolution was all about leaving traditional values, like family and religion, behind to “find yourself.” Women were suddenly free, yet all they seemed to want was to find someone to follow. All of those white college girls of privilege were either sucked into cults, moving into vans, or shooting up banks.Meanwhile, the black community was vulnerable, too, and that is how cult leaders like Jim Jones took advantage of them. He was selling things not that different from today's Left. The Origins of Woke 1.0I'll never forget May 25th of 2016. I decided to splurge for my daughter's 18th birthday by taking her to see Hamilton on Broadway, with nearly the entire original cast. The tickets, flight, and hotel were too expensive, but we'd never get this moment back, so why not? It was the same year my daughter would visit the NYU campus, have her prom, and I would be doing everything I could to elect Hillary Clinton as the first female President of the United States, with the doomed hashtag #imwithher.I was part of a generation of parents who wanted to not just be better but to perfect ourselves, our children, and our world. I can't pinpoint exactly when we transformed from anti-establishment Gen-Xers to helicopter parents. But I know it had to do with the therapy culture of the 1990s, capped off by Columbine in 1999, 9/11, and the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that followed. Something was wrong, not just with all of us, but with our country too.The person elected to heal us from all of this collective, multi-generational trauma was Barack Obama, who became our spiritual leader and our male role model. 2012 was the moment Obama and the millennial do-gooder establishment that surrounded him sought to make our country better through indoctrination in public schools and universities.Hillary Clinton was chosen as the torchbearer, but she lacked Obama's charisma and had nothing to sell the public that they wanted except one thing: identity politics. It wasn't enough. Our cult over-reacted to Trump's win, as though it was the FBI showing up outside the Koresh compound. It was Doomsday and that dark cloud would cover everything we controlled, from Hollywood to the legacy media to book publishing to fashion to influencer culture. We drew a line, and if you wanted in, you could not cross it. If you wanted out, all you had to do was question authority.But it was what we weren't watching that would be our biggest problem later. We weren't watching the kids. Teenage WastelandWhat happened to the nation's young people, having been indoctrinated in the oppressor/oppressed mindset, where they saw racism, homophobia, transphobia, and Islamophobia everywhere they looked, even before Trump won, kicked into motion an apocalyptic fantasy that would justify everything they did, from protests to violence to assassinations. The internet was their fantasy world, which gave many of them absolute power. This was true whether it was social justice warriors who ultimately led the transgender contagion among young girls, or the boys who gravitated to 4-chan and would eventually lead to the rise of the mass shooter influencer, like Tyler Robinson, Matthew David Crooks, or Luigi Mangione. The first real sign of trouble happened nine years ago at Evergreen College. When I first saw this story, I was already pulling away from the cult, but even then, I was afraid to put it on social media because I knew it would be seen as “racist.” And yet, by burying this story, the Left set itself up for much worse down the road.Violence showed up as early as 2015 during Woke 1.0, when Trump supporters were often beaten, kicked, and spat on. The protests at Trump's inauguration seemed to be a natural extension of the mass hysteria that consumed the Left in 2016. It would only get worse.The violence we're seeing on the Left only escalated, culminating in a full-blown revolution on the streets in 2020, a mob demanding diners raise their fist for Black Lives Matter, and authoritarianism rising from a generation raised to believe they have the right to tear down what they didn't build and make the whole country pay because of it.That put power briefly back in the hands of Joe Biden, who pandered to the mob. They believed the false narratives around January 6th, decided MAGA was the cult, and walked away from this story. They barely even talk about it now.The entire Democratic Party became the administrators at Evergreen, too crippled by white guilt to provide the necessary leadership and discipline these kids needed before they graduated and joined the workforce. But even still, the most dangerous legacy Woke 1.0 leaves behind isn't what it's done to kids or to culture, to our sense of history or to our unity as a country. No, in dividing us into the oppressed and the oppressor, it opened the door to America's enemies to exploit the sitting ducks on the Left and name Islam as the most oppressed and thus hand it the most power.Then the enemy walked through the door we left open.Woke 2.0My daughter was three when the planes hit the towers. I remember waking up to the news. Imagine the days before we all had cell phones, or even social media. I had to call my friend and tell her to turn on the news. This was the first time America had been attacked on this level since Pearl Harbor.But terrorism accomplished very little for Islam. It turned the US and the world against them. They were feared and even hated. Our country would transform into a surveillance state, and there's an argument to be made that everything we're living through now is not because of COVID but because of 9/11.Changing hearts and minds would be the way the Islamic world would rise from the ashes. Before long, there was a new word that controlled our thought and speech: Islamophobia.I didn't realize how deep it all went until 2017, the same year as Evergreen. Wonder Woman had come out. My daughter really loved it, but she was afraid to say so online. Why? Because Gal Gadot was an Israeli who trained with the IDF.I was as shocked by this development as I was when she told me her friend was becoming a “he” and wanted “top surgery.” What on earth were they teaching our kids? Idiot liberals like me had no idea. And by the time many of us figured it out, it was too late.Palestine joined the wheel of oppression and took its place in the hierarchy long before October 7th. Hamas attacked Israel, and Putin invaded Ukraine with Joe Biden in power. They clearly saw him as a weak and addled president who would not be able to manage these wars, so what better time to test the hearts and minds campaigns and the way our enemies had begun to destroy us from within.October 7th wasn't a random attack. It was an act of such extreme violence that Israel would have no choice but to go to war, and in so doing, a worldwide campaign to defend the oppressed in Palestine could turn the entire world against Israel. But it wasn't until the rise of Zohran Mamdani, Hasan Piker, and now Abdul El-Sayed and the entire DSA that we could see how fruitful the decades-long hearts-and-minds campaign really was. The Holocaust, to these young people, barely matters. They have no idea what Stalin did, what Mao did, or even really what Hitler did. And they know better than to criticize Islam because that would make them a racist. There was only one place left to go.Just like the leap from World War I to World War II, so too would the jump from Woke 1.0 to Woke 2.0 land on the eternal scapegoat: the Jews. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. Islam and Socialism. Islam and Black Lives Matter. Islam and Medicare for all. These two movements have so much in common, from controlling thought and speech to controlling women and children. But really, it's all about their shared enemies, Israel and the US.Woke 2.0 isn't just the Left, however. It's also a large portion of the Right who have named Israel as the ultimate evil as well, so much so that they are following Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson down the rabbit hole to deflate any offense against the rising radicalism — terrorism - on the Left.Both Nick Fuentes and Hasan Piker have chimed in to declare Candace is helping to defeat the Right and absolve the Left. They can't believe their luck. What unites all of them is their conclusion that Israel and the Jews are the problem.China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea know us better than we know ourselves. Who needs bombs when you have white fragility? Who needs censorship when you have cancel culture? But Islam that wants more. They seek to overtake and convert the United States the way we once feared the Communists might. With the oppressor/oppressed ideology and the rise of Islamo-Marxism, there is no stopping them now. A TikTok user quoting Sharifa Alkhateeb and an Iranian.They just needed the right script, and they found it with helpless resistance libs who have run out of options and Gen-Z, raised on convenience culture who are lured in by the promise of free stuff. Who needs suicide vests and box cutters when you have TikTok?We would start two failed wars after 9/11 called the “War on Terror.” People like me were convinced we were wrong. Now, just as with Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare, considering how it all turned out, I have to wonder. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sashastone.com/subscribe

What is a cult anyway? Friend of the Pod Al Grigg returns to discuss a love story disguised as elevated horror, drinking Jesus's blood and that time he and Shag were groomed by a priest (to become priests). Follow Spooko on Insta: @_spooko_Join the Feel Bad Club on our discord: https://discord.gg/mJAJYCChGyAnd if you're keen for more Peach and Shag, check out our OTHER pod (it's about Gordon Ramsay): @peachandshagsnightmaremethodOh, and pls drop a review if you've been listening for a while!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I discuss Operation Round River and the irrefutable proof of the Russia line leading up to the 2020 stolen election; The existence of Trans Cults and the death of William Evens in Ohio; A case of child abuse from school children and officials in Oregon; and the disability-rate hike is no coincidence. Substack:  https://theamericanclassroom.substack.com/p/homeschool-now   Book Websites: HERE and HERE. https://www.moneytreepublishing.com/shop PROMO CODE: “AEFM” for 10% OFF, or https://armreg.co.uk PROMO CODE: "americaneducationfm" for 15% off all books and products. (I receive no kickbacks).  https://www.thriftbooks.com/ Q posts book: https://drive.proton.me/urls/JJ78RV1QP8#yCO0wENuJQPH

Two people were killed in a Fort Hood helicopter crash, Trump claims the U.S. now has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, Wisconsin and Minnesota have primary results, the Lakers have new owners, and Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House.Fort Hood-via AP NewsUpdate: Iran-via CBS NewsWisconsin Elections-via NY TimesLakers Are Sold-via NBC NewsLeavitt Leaves It-via AxiosColombia Help-Direct Relief Donations for ColombiaVenezuela Help-Project Hope-GoFundMe: I Love Venezuela FoundationTake the pledge to be a voter at raisingvoters.org/beavoterDecember. on AmazonSubscribe to the Substack: kimmoffat.substack.comAll episodes can be found at: kimmoffat.com/thenewsAs always, you can find me on Instagram/Twitter/Bluesky @kimmoffat and TikTok @kimmoffatishere

This week we have an update on Flock cameras and then take a look at Pew Pews. Laws, stories, anecdotes and Cults. Plus, we throw in Weird News for good measure.Sasandpals@pm.me 

The Rizzuto Show has been waiting since January for the moment humanity would supposedly lose gravity for eight glorious seconds, and now the big day has arrived. Do we float? Do we fly? Do we immediately jump out a window based on something we heard on the internet? Thankfully, only one of those ideas gets discussed with any enthusiasm.Episode 26 kicks off with the crew preparing for the alleged gravity event and quickly asking the much more important question: where is the gravity cult? Because if the internet promises a supernatural event, somebody somewhere has probably already purchased matching tracksuits and appointed himself Supreme Gravity Commander. Thus, the Gravitonians are born, Idaho and Arkansas get dragged into the investigation, and a completely reasonable conversation becomes exactly the kind of funny podcast chaos you'd expect from The Rizzuto Show.From there, somehow, things get even stranger.The conversation tumbles into Heaven's Gate, Jonestown, Marshall Applewhite, Nike Decades, purple shrouds, Flavor Aid getting absolutely robbed of its historical brand recognition, and the crew trying to remember which unsettling cult detail belongs to which unsettling cult. This is less of a history lesson and more four people opening the same mental junk drawer at once. Eventually the crew becomes especially fascinated by Heaven's Gate's sneaker selection, because apparently even impending extraterrestrial departure requires a respectable shoe game.Then somebody wisely decides it's time to stop talking about cults and play trivia.This turns out to be only marginally safer.The Rizz Quiz returns with contestants getting 45 seconds to answer as many questions as possible—but one wrong answer immediately ends the run. No passing. No mercy. No blaming the educational system afterward. Questions cover everything from Roman numerals and the Grand Canyon to Nutella, Winnie the Pooh, human anatomy, Peter Pan, baseball, Garfield and the horrifying mathematics of nickels.Chris starts things off before the Colorado River causes problems. Diego gets ambushed by the number of years in a century. Brad suddenly turns into the final boss with a seven-answer run featuring hazelnuts, Rhode Island, Africa, Piglet, club sandwiches and Canada. Jared tries to chase him down until the “white part of an egg” becomes an intellectual brick wall.Then Round Two arrives.Brando tears through Jefferson City, football fields, Cookie Monster and Dr Pepper before the human skeleton ruins his streak. Cameron learns that lions have a pride, not a pack. Aaron encounters a fairy named “Tinder Bell,” which frankly deserves its own dating app. Finally, Brian gets Garfield's least-favorite day correct before informing all of St. Louis that there are 50 nickels in a dollar.There are 20.We checked.Probably twice after this episode.It's another funny podcast packed with daily humor, sarcastic commentary, weird stories, St. Louis radio chaos and the beautiful sound of confident people discovering they are confidently incorrect. If you enjoy comedy podcasts where celebrity gossip and weird news can suddenly give way to a serious debate over cult sneakers and elementary-school trivia, welcome home. Expectations were already low, and somehow we found a basement.Come for the eight seconds without gravity. Stay for the contestants losing their grip on arithmetic.This funny podcast episode proves once again that The Rizzuto Show can turn a ridiculous internet claim, an uncomfortable history detour and a handful of trivia questions into a complete collapse of civilized morning radio.Follow The Rizzuto Show → linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → 1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This video is a clip from my stream "From Ancient to the Middle Ages: The ULTIMATE Overview of Gnostic Heresies" If you would like to watch the entire stream please click the following link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRCLc86Mlpc

Chapter 7 in this book discusses Scientology--its beliefs and how it contrasts with Christianity. Book: The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions by Ron Rhodes Purchase book here NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book. I'm Gary Zacharias, a professor of English, avid reader, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. This podcast is for anyone curious about the intellectual foundation of the Christian faith. Each episode, I feature a key book on topics like the existence of God, the historical evidence for Jesus, science and Christianity, or the reliability of the Bible. These are the books that have earned a permanent place on my apologetics bookshelf—and I want to share them with you. Contact me: theapologistsbookshelf@gmail.com

What happens when self-declared prophets, alien messengers, and doomsday fanatics build secret empires in plain sight — and convince others to follow them to the end of the world?EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/cultsREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/utz5hrfdSOURCES and RESOURCES:New York Post - “Inside Manhattan's secret ‘cult'”. *** News.com.au - “Congregation for the Light: Inside New York's ‘cult next door'” *** Sinisterhood Podcast - Episode 16: “Congregation for the Light” *** The Commentator - “The Cult Around the Corner” *** Brooklyn Magazine - “Murray Hill Has A Secret Homophobic Aryan Doomsday Cult” *** https://yucommentator.org/2018/10/cult-stern-35th-the-light *** https://nypost.com/2014/11/02/the-secret-society-cult-that-operates-out-of-murray-hill/ ***https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381978851_Raelism_An_Unconventional_Religious_Pathway_to_Transhumanism*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%ABlism *** https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/raelism *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonaid *** https://www.bota.org/ ***https://www.botaineurope.org/ *** https://articles.skeptics.nz/2023/04/24/builders-of-the-adytum-the-tarot-cards-and-qabalah-in-naenae *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Builders_of_the_Adytum *** https://ilovehistory.utah.gov/1847-1904-lds-practice-of-polygamy/ *** https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/fldsprofile.pdf ***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-Day_Saints *** https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Hai ***https://www.godsdirectcontact.org/spiritualpractice/Master_Ching_Hai.htm *** https://suprememastertv.com/en1/v/211271952624.html *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Hai *** https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Hai *** https://nypost.com/2018/01/11/the-cult-leader-behind-the-worlds-fast-growing-vegan-chain/ ***https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubccommunityandpartnerspublicati/52387/items/1.0385823 *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Science *** https://eng.the-liberty.com/2016/6323/ *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness_Realization_Party *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryuho_Okawa *** https://www.cdamm.org/articles/cut-tsl *** https://summitlighthouse.org/aboutus/church-universal-and-triumphant/ *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Universal_and_Triumphant ***https://articles1.icsahome.com/articles/denouement-of-the-prophets--cult-the-church-universal-and-triumphant-in-decline *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Clare_Prophet *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities *** https://people.com/adam-arthur-rosenthal-twelve-tribes-religious-sect-accused-murder-8753907 *** https://nypost.com/2018/06/05/religious-cult-probed-for-child-labor-after-factory-expose/ *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles_of_Infinite_Love *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Gaston_Tremblay *** https://ktxs.com/news/big-country/ktxs-special-report-mystery-still-surrounds-house-of-yahweh-*** https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/houseofyahwehprofile.pdf ***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfulfilled_Watch_Tower_Society_predictions *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Yahweh *** https://www.apologeticsindex.org/316-house-of-yahweh *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuwaubian_Nation *** https://people.com/crime/story-behind-united-nuwaubian-nation-moors-georgia-cult *** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_York *** https://www.adl.org/resources/news/leader-anti-government-sect-sentenced-135-years *** https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/nuwaubian-nation-moors/ *** https://billygraham.org/answers/how-is-christianity-different-from-other-religions(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: March 28, 2025Weird Darkness host Darren Marlar pulls back the curtain on modern cults hiding in plain sight, from city apartments to desert compounds to Montana doomsday bunkers. This episode profiles more than a dozen secretive groups, including Manhattan's Congregation for the Light, the alien-worshipping Raëlian Movement and its Clonaid cloning claims, the polygamist FLDS led by imprisoned prophet Warren Jeffs, Supreme Master Ching Hai, Japan's Happy Science, Eckankar, Elizabeth Clare Prophet's Church Universal and Triumphant, the Twelve Tribes, the House of Yahweh, and the pyramid-building Nuwaubian Nation of Malachi Z. York. Along the way, Darren digs into why people get drawn in, the warning signs of a dangerous group, and what sets biblical Christianity apart from them all.

Howie Kurtz on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez freezing her eggs while teasing a potential presidential or Senate run, a federal appeals court ruling President Trump's White House ballroom project illegal without congressional approval, and President Trump dropping key claims in his $10 billion BBC defamation suit to protect financial records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chet Hardin exposed NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere in his book “The Program: Inside the Mind of Keith Raniere” (written with Toni Natalie). Now Hardin returns with his new book “The Vampire's Cult” in which he tells the real story of his time exposing the cult of Aubrey Trail and his trial for the murder of Sydney Loofe. In this episode, Hardin discusses what motivates these cult leaders, why women follow dangerous men and why we find cults so fascinating.Get “The Vampire's Cult” by Chet Hardin here - https://a.co/d/0aBdF5pMShow Notes:KLKNTV "Update Trial Adjourned..." - https://youtu.be/EBtvdDI6wVQ?si=6sfyunb1-MOi3TpV KMTV3 "Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell Surveillence Footage" - https://youtu.be/EBtvdDI6wVQ?si=6sfyunb1-MOi3TpVGet access to exclusive content & support the podcast by a Patron today! https://patreon.com/robertaglasstruecrimereportThrow a tip in the tip jar! https://buymeacoffee.com/robertaglassSupport Roberta by sending a donation via Venmo. https://venmo.com/robertaglassBecome a chanel member for custom Emojis, first looks and exclusive streams here: https://youtube.com/@robertaglass/joinThank you Patrons!Beth, Shelley Safford, Carol Mumumeci, Therese Tunks, JC, Lizzy D, Elizabeth Drake, Texas Mimi, Barb, Deborah Shults, Ratliff, Stephanie Lamberson, Maryellen Sudol, Mona, Karen Pacini, Jen Buell, Marie Horton, ER, Rosie Grace, B. Rabbit, Sally Merrick, Amanda D, Mary B, Mrs Jones, Amy Gill, Eileen, Wesley Loves Octoberfest, Erin (Kitties1993), Anna Quint, Cici Guteriez, Sandra Loves GatsbyHannna, Christy, Jen Buell, Elle Solari, Carol Cardella, Jennifer Harmon, DoxieMama65, Carol Holderman, Joan Mahon, Marcie Denton, Rosanne Aponte, Johnny Jay, Jude Barnes, JenTheRN, Victoria Devenish, Jeri Falk, Kimberly Lovelace, Penni Miller, Jil, Janet Gardner, Jayne Wallace (JaynesWhirled), Pat Brooks, Jennifer Klearman, Judy Brown, Linda Lazzaro, Suzanne Kniffin, Susan Hicks, Jeff Meadors, D Samlam, Pat Brooks, Cythnia, Bonnie Schoeneman-Dilley, Diane Larsen, Mary, Kimberly Philipson, Cat Stewart, Cindy Pochesci, Kevin Crecy, Renee Chavez, Melba Pourteau, Julie K Thomas, Mia Wallace, Stark Stuff, Kayce Taylor, Alice, Dean, GiGi5, Jennifer Crum, Dana Natale, Bewildered Beauty, Pepper, Joan Chakonas, Blythe, Pat Dell, Lorraine Reid, T.B., Melissa, Victoria Gray Bross, Toni Woodland, Danbrit, Kenny Haines and Toni Natalie.

Coined in the 1940s, the term "cargo cults" was used to label movements of Pacific people, but it was much more complicated than worshipping western goods arriving by plane.

Ask and you shall receive divas!

Cults are scary. Which is why we're talking about cult horror movies that stressed us out!Want More Time In The Blerdy Atmosphere?Check out https://linktr.ee/blerdymassacre to link up with Blerdy Massacre on Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. It'll also lead you to our merch store and Patreon.You can also follow your hosts at @xghorror and @misssharai on Instagram and Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Scientologist Chris Shelton spent thousands of hours using the e-meter to "audit" fellow members of the Church—but what does the device actually measure, and why do Scientologists trust it as an infallible guide to the truth? Chris takes us inside a typical auditing session, explaining the personal questions auditors ask, the needle movements they watch for, and what they believe those reactions reveal. We compare the e-meter with the polygraph, explore how relentless questioning can produce false memories and confessions, and examine how auditors can sincerely believe they are helping even when their methods become coercive or abusive. If you're interested in Scientology, interrogation, or behavior reading, this is a fascinating look at how a simple machine can acquire enormous power through belief. For more on this topic, check out Chris's podcast Speaking of Cults. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the United States was never immune to cult thinking, but was built on it? Journalist Jane Borden joins Gwendolyn and Rudy to unpack her book Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America, tracing a direct line from Puritan doomsday belief to modern conspiracy theories, self-help culture, and our national obsession with strongmen and influencers. We dig into how to actually define a cult (without being hyperbolic about it), the surprising overlap between cults and conspiracy theories, why doomsday predictions are so effective for cult leaders, and what role the justice system plays when belief crosses into control. We also explore why cult stories captivate us the way true crime does and, most importantly, what actually happens in the moment someone's critical thinking finally breaks through the isolation a cult creates. A conversation about American history, critical thinking skills, and the psychology of belief that might change how you see the news, your feed, and the country itself. Philosophy Resources, Jane Borden's book Cults Like Us, and Gifts for Book Lovers: GoodIsInTheDetails.com Join our Patreon, book club, and get exclusive behind-the-scenes: Patreon.com/GoodIsInTheDetails Learn more about Jane Borden's Work: https://www.janeborden.com Get your "In My Intellectual Curiosity Era" Tote Listen to Rudy Salo on the podcast Deliberations, season 4.

Former social justice warrior Keri Smith joins the Chicks on the Right to discuss her journey out of the woke movement, why ideological movements begin to resemble cults, and what finally changed her mind.The conversation dives into the psychology of political radicalization, social media echo chambers, Charlie Kirk's murder, Candace Owens' growing online movement, the dangers of conspiracy thinking, and why so many people struggle to leave ideological communities once they've become part of their identity.The episode also tackles the Tate brothers' latest legal troubles, influencer culture, and how internet personalities can build audiences through outrage and division.Topics include:Escaping woke ideologyWhy political movements become cultsCharlie Kirk's murder and public reactionCandace Owens' influence onlineSocial media radicalizationIsrael and conspiracy communitiesTate brothers' arrestModern conservative mediaFaith, identity, and finding purposeIf you enjoy conversations about politics, culture, media, and current events, be sure to subscribe and leave your thoughts in the comments below.Subscribe and stay tuned for new episodes every weekday!Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramTikTokXLocalsMore InfoWebsite

Originally aired as our 148th episode, this Best Of replay is a riveting one. Although the writer/producer grew up in Hawaii, his childhood was far from paradise; enduring a cornucopia of PTSD, leaving him wondering what is real and what isn't. He also shares his obsession with cults and the time he joined one to write about it and almost lost his mind.This episode is sponsored Quince. Go to www.Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.This episode is sponsored by Alma. Search their directory of over 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Go to www.HelloAlma.com/happyhourThis episode is sponsored by Timeline. Timeline's clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price . Mitopure now starts at $99, with the exact same science and formula and listeners can still get 20% off when they go to www.timeline.com/MENTALIf you're interested in seeing or buying the furniture that Paul designs and makes follow his IG @ShapedFurniture or visit the website www.shapedfurniture.comWAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCASTSubscribe via Apple Podcasts (or whatever player you use). It costs nothing. It's extremely helpful to have your subscription set to download all episodes automatically. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-illness-happy-hour/id427377900?mt=2Spread the word via social media. It costs nothing.Our website is www.mentalpod.com our FB is www.Facebook.com/mentalpod and our Twitter and Instagram are both @Mentalpod Become a much-needed Patreon monthly-donor (with occasional rewards) for as little as $1/month at www.Patreon.com/mentalpod Become a one-time or monthly donor via PayPal at https://mentalpod.com/donateYou can also donate via Zelle (make payment to mentalpod@gmail.com) To donate via Venmo make payment to @Mentalpod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kate discusses what to watch this week including My Grandfather Charles Manson (Hulu), A Toxic Love Story (Netflix), People Magazine Investigates: The Cult of the Soulful Journey (ID), and Real Housewives of London (Bravo). Reality Life with Kate Casey Summer Reading List: https://katecasey.substack.com/p/books-i-cant-stop-talking-about-this Vanity Fair Article: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/story/martha-moxleys-diary What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.