Podcast appearances and mentions of jennings brown

Investigative journalist Jennings Brown exposes the dark secrets of a mysterious sex cult and digital cults across the world. Join us as we dive deep into his explosive revelations, exploring the cult's manipulation tactics, psychological control, and the fight for justice. WELCOME TO CAMP!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Another day, another wellness guru preaching enlightenment on social media. Total snooze, right?! Unless said guru begins telling her followers to cut ties with their “family cults'' in order to save their children from a ruling class of evil reptilian creatures, the likes of which are responsible for creating the COVID-19 “scandemic” as a Luciferian tool to harvest innocent souls…that might spice things up a bit. Or a shit ton.  Such has been the case with Liana Shanti, a nymph-like online persona who's amassed thousands of predominantly female followers on Instagram, a platform she uses to share beliefs such as the one where the US government is going to put unvaccinated children into concentration camps, or that Florida is the only safe space and thus all her followers should move there. Suffice to say, Shanti's story is…truly a wild one. And luckily for us, we get to hear about it from none other than Jennings Brown, an investigative journalist and podcast/documentary producer who previously joined us to discuss The Teal Swan. This time, he's on ALBC to explain the woman hiding behind Shanti's online persona, her recent legal woes, and just how damaging her teachings have been to numerous families that now stand divided.  Check out Jennings Brown's website, Twitter, and Instagram.  You can also read one of his original articles about Liana Shanti here.  Please note, this series includes details of sexual abuse. Listener discretion is strongly advised. If you, or someone who know, is a survivor of sexual assault, abuse, grooming, child abuse, or human trafficking, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers support at 800.656.HOPE (4673). Also… Hear Ye, Hear Ye: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. Other Links: Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Producer: Will Retherford Senior Producer: Jess Tardy Writer: Holly Zadra Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Jennings Brown returns, this time with a guest who goes by Justice, to talk about a new internet cult leader named Liana Shanti and her social media presence, which targets women with wellness cleanses, women's empowerment, wild conspiracy theories, and grandiose claims about her supernatural powers. They discuss Shanti's followers' pattern of changing their names, accusing family members of abuse without evidence, and suddenly taking their children out of state. Plus, a house in Florida called Destiny Manor where a group of her followers have moved, how Justice's own loved one fell down the rabbit hole, and how survivors are banding together to stop Shanti. Trust Me is brought to you by Progressive Insurance! Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 29 million drivers who trust Progressive! Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com CHECK OUT OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch INSTAGRAM: @TrustMePodcast @oohlalola @meaganelizabeth11 TWITTER: @TrustMeCultPod @ohlalola @baberahamhicks TIKTOK: @TrustMeCultPodcast

In this heartfelt episode I sit down to chat with Nirvana. Nirvana was on call with me from the garden area of a psychiatric hospital that her child has been admitted to, following the fallout of their involvement with online guru and alleged cult leader Liana Shanti. During our conversation, Nirvana offers some insight into making impossible decisions in impossible situations and how she navigated a situation that was meticulously designed to isolate her child from her family, widen the divide between loved ones and strengthen allegiances to the leader all at the same time. I hope any loved ones with people inside destructive and toxic groups can take strength from Nirvana's story and know that you are not alone.Thank you Nirvana. Jennings Brown's work - https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/...https://www.thedailybeast.com/federal... https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-... . www.jenningsbrown.com Episode with Chris Shelton - • Sensibly Speaking... Get in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCult Vault Shop - cultvaultpodcast.com/shopCrimecon UK 2022 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com

In this heartfelt episode I sit down to chat with Nirvana. Nirvana was on call with me from the garden area of a psychiatric hospital that her child has been admitted to, following the fallout of their involvement with online guru and alleged cult leader Liana Shanti. During our conversation, Nirvana offers some insight into making impossible decisions in impossible situations and how she navigated a situation that was meticulously designed to isolate her child from her family, widen the divide between loved ones and strengthen allegiances to the leader all at the same time. I hope any loved ones with people inside destructive and toxic groups can take strength from Nirvana's story and know that you are not alone.Thank you Nirvana. Jennings Brown's work - https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/...https://www.thedailybeast.com/federal... https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-... . www.jenningsbrown.com Episode with Chris Shelton - • Sensibly Speaking... Get in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCult Vault Shop - cultvaultpodcast.com/shopCrimecon UK 2022 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com

In this heartfelt episode I sit down to chat with Nirvana. Nirvana was on call with me from the garden area of a psychiatric hospital that her child has been admitted to, following the fallout of their involvement with online guru and alleged cult leader Liana Shanti. During our conversation, Nirvana offers some insight into making impossible decisions in impossible situations and how she navigated a situation that was meticulously designed to isolate her child from her family, widen the divide between loved ones and strengthen allegiances to the leader all at the same time. I hope any loved ones with people inside destructive and toxic groups can take strength from Nirvana's story and know that you are not alone.Thank you Nirvana. Jennings Brown's work - https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/...https://www.thedailybeast.com/federal... https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-... . www.jenningsbrown.com Episode with Chris Shelton - • Sensibly Speaking... Get in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCult Vault Shop - cultvaultpodcast.com/shopCrimecon UK 2022 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com

Thanks to Matthew Remski at Conspirituality Podcast for the inspirational title name - Conspirituality Podcast — ConspiritualityI've been a long-time fan of Jennings Brown and his work in the cultiverse. I had the chance to sit and talk to him about all of it, including his most recent work on shady character Liana Shanti. Sources - https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/jennings-brown https://www.thedailybeast.com/federal-judge-grills-liana-shanti-mysterious-guru-accused-of-breaking-up-families https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-liana-shantis-lumerian-mystery-school https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/brief-unmasking-liana-shanti-jennings-brown www.jenningsbrown.comhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqmMiQbrWJ4&t=5235s&ab_channel=ChrisShelton%2CMSc

Jennings Brown is becoming the Dr. Who of cult journalism. Every few years he pops up on a very different planet in the cultiverse, and tries to repair the timeline.  These days he's deep into the story of a cult leader who seems to have no “presence” at all. Liana Shanti has managed to recruit about 180 women into her lucrative fever dream of Satanic Panic, recovered memories, starvation diets, and family destruction—all from behind a keyboard and a podcast microphone.  Who is Liana Shanti, and why isn't she Liane Wilson any more?  Show Notes Inside Liana Shanti's Lemurian Mystery School — Jennings Brown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you make a good cult leader? If not you, then you probably know someone who would. We're fascinated by cults. It seems like every day a new docuseries is dropped on some streaming service or podcast platform about yet another cult out there in the world taking people's time, energy, or money.  Jennings Brown is an investigative journalist with a penchant for investigating cults. He's reported on Teal Swan, the Fellowship of Friends, as well as a number of conspiracy theories, algorithm blackholes, scam artists, and assorted ways people prey on others. We have a discussion about what it takes to not only investigate cults and cult leaders but what it takes to simply be a journalist in the sociopolitical climate of 2022.  If you like this show and want to support it, there are a number of ways to help. Share it with your friends on social media. You can also like, rate the show 5-stars on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and leave a review. Reviews help recommend the show to other listeners like you. Help keep the show free and producing regularly by joining my Patreon on a monthly basis. Patrons receive additional audio and video content as well as archived episodes, a private Discord server, and a monthly book club! Sign up at Patreon.com/headonfirepod. Or if a one-time donation is more your speed, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/headonfirepod. Social links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headonfirepod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/headonfirepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headonfirepod   Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/headonfirepod

Our guest today, Jennings Brown, is a bright light in an increasingly chaotic cult-content economy. His 2018 podcast on Teal Swan, The Gateway, produced with Gizmodo, sets a high-watermark standard for research, fairness, and sensitivity. A lot has happened since that pod dropped: #MeToo, MAGA, QAnon, COVID, and now a post-reality Supreme Court in which Justice Thomas publishes a concurrence in which he states that COVID vaccines use the tissues of aborted fetuses. All of which is to say: we don't know how intensely the insanity of the era will escalate, but we do know that clear, ethical reporting on difficult issues is a very thin lifeline back to sanity, communication, and trying to do something. If you listened to episode 109 (if you haven't we encourage you to stop here and go there), you'll hear our criticisms of The Deep End docuseries about Teal Swan. You'll hear us interview the director, Jon Kasbe. We lean on him, maybe too gently, on the numerous integrity issues with his film. Bottom line: with deceptive edits and a vacuum of expert commentary and research, we feel that this project is a real setback for everyone trying to understand cultic dynamics in the online age. And as we'll report at the top of the show, before our interview with Brown, the story of this embedment is only getting messier. Our interview with Jennings steers clear of the muck, because what we really wanted to hear was all about his process, his editorial decisions, and the help he got from his producers. We were also very lucky to have him drop some previously unreported data into the mix. Spoiler alert: it's about the types of things that Swan used to write in her secret runic alien language. Show notes:Jennings Brown — About page with tip line contact infoEpisode 109: Who's Afraid of Teal Swan? w/ Jon KasbeJon Kasbe wishing Teal Swan happy birthdayBits Sola rapping Teal Swan happy birthdayGizmodo Launches 'The Gateway,' an Investigative Podcast About a Controversial Internet Spiritual GuruOpen Shadow — Paola MarinoPaola Marino on The Deep End (clip)Jennings Brown — Revelations

Known to her loyalists as the “spiritual catalyst” but to her critics as the “suicide catalyst,” New Age influencer Teal Swan is a controversial 30-something self-help guru who some say has saved lives and others say has ended them. Having launched a social media career in the mid-2000s (and still going strong), Swan doesn't post about beauty products and travel inspo but rather spiritual-meets-“scientific” teachings on a wide range of topics from addiction to chakras to vaccines to suicide. Some of her most committed adherents follow her down to Costa Rica to experience her shady self-actualization techniques IRL. Swan is the subject of the new Hulu docuseries The Deep End, based on the fascinating 2018 podcast The Gateway, which was created and hosted by this week's guest, Jennings Brown, who's here to talk with Amanda and Isa about the fanatical “cult” Swan has built online. Helix is offering up to 200 dollars off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at HelixSleep.com/cult. For listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30-day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/CULT. For listeners of the show, Everlywell is offering a special discount of 20% off an at-home lab test at Everlywell.com/CULT. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ross and Carrie welcome back friend of the pod(cast) Jennings Brown, who has been pretty busy since we last healed his body and mind (PERMANENTLY) at a faith healing ministry in Boston.  Jennings recently released a six-episode podcast series about a hedonistic doomsday group in Northern California. Jennings also served as development executive producer on the streaming series The Deep End (about spiritual leader Teal Swan), which was just released this month.For pics and videos, follow us on Facebook!

[Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide, mental illness, and sexual assault. Listener discretion advised.] And…we're back for an extra helping of conversation with investigative journalist Jennings Brown. If Part One's exploration of creepy AF Youtube spiritual guru Teal Swan didn't freak you out enough, there's more Teal talk for you in this episode. Be sure to watch The Deep End docuseries and binge The Gateway podcast to learn more about how each new layer of the Teal Tribe onion seems to be stankier than the last.. We recommend not listening or watching before bed, unless you really dig nightmares.Despite what Teal may think: She isn't the center of the universe. She's not even the center of the cultiverse. So we also use part 2 of our chat with Jennings to ramble from the dark corners of Utah's Swan country to sunny Yuba County, California where the organization at the center of his Revelations podcast appears to be hard at work making fine wine and disturbing cult headlines. The Fellowship of Friends has some serious issues, and we're still unpacking it all. Doomsday and rosé anyone? Support the ALBC Pod:We've made a link where you can support A Little Bit Culty with a one-time, weekly, or monthly contribution. Your support will be repaid in cosmic love and light. To make a contribution, smash this link.Check out our Linktree to sign up for our mailing list. We've got some fun things coming your way soon. It rhymes with “t-shirts.” Okay, it's t-shirts.CREDITS: Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Producers: Will Retherford & Jess TardyTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinHear Ye, Hear Ye:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

[Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide, mental illness, and sexual assault. Listener discretion advised.] Youtube spiritual guru Teal Swan says she saves lives. Others say she's dangerously death-obsessed. We say she's serving strong “9 Perfect Strangers” villain vibes with a side order of night terrors. But that's just us. We wanted an expert's perspective, so we called on investigative journalist Jennings Brown for this episode to help us understand more about Teal's world. As a senior reporter at Gizmodo, Jennings traveled to rural Utah, the forests of Costa Rica, and smack dab into the middle of Teal's inner circle to understand her teachings and investigate the deaths of some of her followers. His unprecedented access to her group is at the heart of a six part podcast called The Gateway - which we highly recommend as critical listening for anyone wanting to learn more about Teal's whole vibe from a safe distance. He joins us today to talk about the sharp edges woven into her carefully-curated, hypnotic image, and how spiritual hucksters are gaming the algorithm and manipulating people's most vulnerable moments. We also talk to him about his newest Spotify Original podcast series: Revelations which follows a California cult that combines doomsday prophecies and fine wine. And TBH, we get so carried away that we go into extra innings. Enjoy this first episode with Jennings - and we'll be back next week with part two. Support the ALBC Pod: We've made a link where you can support A Little Bit Culty with a one-time, weekly, or monthly contribution. Your support will be repaid in cosmic love and light. To make a contribution, smash this link.Check out our Linktree to sign up for our mailing list. We've got some fun things coming your way soon. It rhymes with “t-shirts.” Okay, it's t-shirts.CREDITS: Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Producers: Will Retherford & Jess TardyTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinHear Ye, Hear Ye: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jaimie and Abby chat with Jennings Brown, an investigative journalist, about his latest project in which he reports on a spiritual doomsday group known as the Fellowship of Friends. Jennings provides a behind-the-scenes perspective on his findings, all of which are documented in his Spotify podcast, Revelations. Prepare for some twists and turns. To learn more about Jennings and his work, find him on Instagram @tjenningsbrown or on Twitter @tjenningsbrown.

Jennings Brown, reporter and host of cult podcasts The Gateway and Revelations, discusses life on the lavish compound of the Fellowship of Friends leading up to their doomsday date, why people cling to their prophecies when they don't come true, allegations of sexual assault against the group's leader, and the orgy that was compared to a trip to the DMV. If you have your own story about cults, high-control groups, manipulation, or abuse of power, leave us a voicemail at 513-900-2955, OR shoot us an email at trustmepod@gmail.com. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @trustmepodcast @oohlalola @vibehigherbitch OR TWITTER: @trustmecultpod @ohlalola

As far-right efforts to “audit” the 2020 election fizzle, some of the movement's biggest names have accused each other of being communists, FBI informants, and “homewreckers.” Meanwhile, other right-wing figures have more pressing concerns: namely, how to launch their own airlines for pilots and passengers who refuse to be vaccinated. And hosts Kelly Weill and Will Sommer dish on the dumbest new t-shirt slogan that's about to take off with Trump fans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Goodbye forever! I’ve funded FULCRUM and some of the contributors for another six months — I don’t see anyone else covering the issues that matter, in the way we do. I’ve personally exited FULCRUM’s day-to-day and content creation. One day, it’s my hope the savvy public will realize and feel how super-slimy the failed coverup done by Jennings Brown, Joe Rogan, and a few others actually was — they tried to erase me by way of, well, literally erasing the episodes of Joe Rogan Experience I was on (7 episodes in all), and Jennings Brown’s hit piece on me is to this day one of the weakest and weirdest pieces of journalism ever penned in the English language. I’d encourage everyone read it, because it shows how threatened the mainstream press was by our groundbreaking coverage, back in those simpler days.The public will piece it all together one day. FULCRUM accomplished much and it’s our sincere hope the new generation of FULCRUM talent will take the site to the next level, in all the ways.Would have been nice if things had worked out different, it can be said in a wistful nostalgic way, but we’ll always have Bitcoin. My new book- https://www.amazon.com/Winner-Take-All-Bitcoin-Ether/dp/B08Z4CNTVN/

Series 3 of the One Zero One podcast continues our journey of exploring what tech leaders around the UK have been doing to manage and drive digital change and positive progress throughout a global pandemic.  Sooraj Shah, a technology-focused journalist (the BBC, The Independent, The Guardian, Business Insider & more) speaks to Eileen Jennings-Brown, Head of Technology at Wellcome Trust (https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-jennings-brown-mbcs-5508517/) in this episode to discuss the Digital Transformation journey the Wellcome Trust was on before the global pandemic forced organisations to become ‘digital-first’ remote-working environments overnight, and how that journey still doesn’t have a ‘hard stop’.   Eileen explains in this episode that the Wellcome Trust (https://wellcome.org/) had completed a significant amount of Digital Transformation prior to COVID-19 – however they still had a huge amount of work to undertake not only in terms of Digital Transformation, but in understanding and supporting a culture of remote-working for employees and managing the impact working from home has had on employees’ in terms of feeling isolated and under increased pressure working alongside partners, children, pets, etc.    Eileen Jennings-Brown has worked in the IT industry for over 23 years holding senior leadership roles for the past 11 years. She started life as an IT support analyst in 1997 and has progressed her career working for businesses across the UK and Europe in a range of different IT roles. She set up her first IT Consultancy business in 2014 and her second in 2017.  She is currently the Head of Technology at Wellcome Trust based in London. In 2020 she was voted one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in UK Technology. Tune into Eileen Jennings-Brown’s episode to receive valuable advice around being an effective IT leader, trusting employees to make decisions and how Digital Transformation should be a journey without a ‘hard stop’. This is a very lively discussion filled with unmissable insights, so don’t miss out! 

"How a Charlie Brown Christmas Almost Wasn't" by Jennings Brown, New York Magazine, November 16, 2016."Soldier's letters bring first world war Christmas truce to life" by Caroline Davies, The Guardian, December 23, 2015.

Give Black, part 19: Taylor Jennings-Brown Taylor Jennings-Brown is a senior journalism major in the University of South Carolina’s Honors College. From Durham, NC, she currently serves as a managing editor of Garnet & Black magazine, a partner organization in Garnet Media Group. The Give Black Podcast-a-Thon was originally recorded during a 12-hour event streamed live on Aug. 28 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Give Black benefitted USC’s One Creed, One Carolina campaign, which supports initiatives that elevate and encourage Black students, faculty and staff. Together, our 5 hosts and over 20 guests helped raise more than $10,000 for the campaign over 12 hours. Find more information on the podcast-a-thon and the link to donate at www.garnetmedia.org/giveblack. 1801 Live is a partnership between Garnet Media Group and the University of South Carolina's student government. To learn more, visit garnetmedia.org/1801live.

SUBJECTIVEIn episode 2, we talk about everyone's favorite mobile ICU from a galaxy far, far away. How does Darth Vader fit all of his medical equipment in his suit? How many backpacks or backpack droids does he have? Also, we talk a lot about poop. Everybody poops. Even Darth Vader.OBJECTIVEResources, Citations, and Mentions:The Last of the Iron Lungs by Jennings Brown, Gizmodo, Nov 2017Darth Vader's armor, WookieepediaDarth Vader armor schematic, (I think it's originally from Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection by Ryder Windham and illustrated by by Chris Trevas and Chris Reiff, published Aug 2008 — we found it on tumblr)Turning human waste into next generation biofuel from ScienceDaily, May 2016We were both right about human waste in space: Here Are Some Weird Facts About Pooping in Space by Amy Shira Teitel, Popular Science, Sep 2015; The Scoop on Space Poop: How Astronauts Go Potty by Megan Gannon, Space.com, Aug 2013Padme's death scene from Filmic Box (YouTube)Did Inadequate Women’s Healthcare Destroy Star Wars’ Old Republic? by Sarah Jeong, Vice Motherboard, Jan 2017ASSESSMENTThis was the very first episode we recorded! Which is why we called it our first episode at the end. Even though it's the second one...There was no rating at the end because this was before we started doing that.PLANSpecial thanks to Butterscotch Shenanigans for letting us use their podcast equipment! Check out their game dev comedy podcast Coffee with Butterscotch!Subscribe to our medical ramblings on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts! Rate, review, and tell your friends!Got a question or suggestion? Find us on Twitter @DocsWatchPod, or visit us at docswatchpod.com.Theme Music and SFX: Kevin MacLeod (CC BY) - RetroFuture Clean, Danse Macabre-Big Hit 2

Mary Payne is joined by tech reporter Jennings Brown, host of The Gateway podcast. This show is all about spiritual guru Teal Swan, who draws followers in through her hypnotic self-help videos aimed at people who struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. Some argue that she leads a cult, and even she admits she has the perfect recipe for one. Some say she just has influence thanks to modern social media, and Mary Payne and Jennings discuss her followers and her ability to maintain her hold on people through the internet. Mary Payne and Jennings explore whether Teal Swan and her "teaching" is responsible for the suicide of one or more of her followers. There is a trigger warning for this episode and The Gateway podcast overall, as it discusses suicide and the impacts it has on people. Podcast Recommendations Uncover:Escaping NXIVM The Dream Running From Cops Find Jennings Brown At: Instagram/Twitter: @tjenningsbrown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've heard our coverage of Teal Swan's synchronicity workshop. NOW hear Ross and Carrie's discussion with The Gateway's creator and host Jennings Brown. What got cut? What is Teal's real appeal? What would someone who truly loved themselves do?

We all know YouTube. YouTube is the biggest video platform on the planet, with about 400 hours of video uploaded to the service every second. But YouTube, of all the current content "platforms," is arguably the most fragmented. There's no newsfeed, so there's no central place where everyone -- or seemingly everyone -- is gathering. As a result, communities form on their own, typically around channels or personalities, and they tend to be pretty insular. One of these communities formed around someone named Teal Swan. Swan is what you might call a "spiritual healer" or at least someone who believes herself to be that. But it turns out she has some very controversial thoughts on many topics, including suicide, and a lot of people think her teachings are potentially damaging — and may have contributed to the suicide of someone who followed her closely. That's exactly what Jennings Brown, a senior reporter at Gizmodo, investigated in The Gateway, a six-part podcast that explores the world of Swan, and how self-described "gurus" can use today's digital tools and platforms to reach massive audiences, and sometimes vulnerable people. Brown came on Mashable's MashTalk podcast to talk about his investigation and what he learned. What are the responsibilities of the platforms here? What about communities and individuals? And is there something mainstream services can glean about how these personalities cultivate loyal audiences? And how can we help the vulnerable navigate an at-times unforgiving digital culture? We take on those tough questions and more. But if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

The Gateway is a six-part series about Teal Swan, a new brand of spiritual guru, who draws in followers with her hypnotic self-help YouTube videos aimed at people who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Some followers move to Teal’s healing center, a spiritual startup where they produce content and manage social media accounts. Teal insists her therapy saves lives, but her critics say Teal’s death-focused dogma is dangerous. Gizmodo reporter Jennings Brown traveled to rural Utah and to the forests of Costa Rica, with extensive access to Teal and her inner circle, to understand Teal’s teachings and investigate the deaths of some of her followers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teal Swan is an internet guru who finds followers largely online. She presents herself as a healer, but critics say she is playing with fire and has dangerous ideas about treating people who may be suicidal. She's the subject of Gizmodo's excellent The Gateway podcast. We're joined by host Jennings Brown and producer Jessica Glazer to talk about the trouble with Teal Swan. Check out The Gateway: https://gizmodo.com/weve-launched-an-investigative-podcast-about-a-controve-1826416613   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Upgrade would like to share with you a podcast our colleagues at Gizmodo have been working on called The Gateway. It's a six-part series about Teal Swan, a new brand of spiritual guru, who draws in followers with her hypnotic self-help YouTube videos aimed at people who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Some followers move to Teal's healing center, a spiritual startup where they produce content and manage social media accounts. Teal insists her therapy saves lives, but her critics say Teal's death-focused dogma is dangerous. Gizmodo reporter Jennings Brown traveled to rural Utah and to the forests of Costa Rica, with extensive access to Teal and her inner circle, to understand Teal's teachings and investigate the deaths of some of her followers. You can also listen to new episodes one week early and ad-free on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of listening, go to stitcherpremium.com/gateway and use promo code ‘GATEWAY'. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In April 2017 YouTube recommended reporter Jennings Brown watch a self-help video from Teal Swan, a spiritual guru with a global online following. He'd spend the next year trying to understand whether or not she's dangerous.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow Gizmodo reporter Jennings Brown as he investigates an internet spiritual guru, named Teal Swan, and the deaths of some of her followers. The Gateway premieres on May 30th. Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices