Cults show

Cults

Summary: Mystery. Manipulation. Murder. Cults are associated with all of these. But what really goes on inside a cult? More specifically, what goes on inside the minds of people who join cults and leaders who start them? Every Tuesday, Greg and Vanessa (co-hosts of the podcast Serial Killers) explore the history and psychology behind the most notorious cults. Cults is part of the Parcast Network and is a Cutler Media production. 

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Podcasts:

 E20: “The Peoples Temple” Pt. 2 - Jim Jones | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:00:34

Jim Jones was a farm boy who later turned into America’s deadliest cult leader. We take a deeper look into the cult’s followers as we try to comprehend why they allowed Jones to have complete control over their lives — control and power that ultimately led them to pay the ultimate sacrifice. Sponsors! Quip - Go to getquip.com/CULTS to get your first refill pack free with a Quip electric toothbrush. Paramount Network’s Waco - Waco premieres Wednesday, January 24th at 10 p.m. on Paramount Network.

 E19: “The Peoples Temple” - Jim Jones | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:56:40

Jim Jones controlled the most notorious American cult of all time — the Peoples Temple. In 1978, Jones’ leadership brought on the largest mass suicide and cult murder in modern history, where over 900 people died. We investigate how Jones and his idea of utopia led to such a devastating mass murder. Sponsors! Thrive Market - Visit thrivemarket.com/CULTS to get $60 in free, organic groceries, plus free shipping. Paramount Network’s Waco - Waco premieres Wednesday, January 24th at 10 p.m. on Paramount Network.

 E18: “The Branch Davidians” Pt. 2 - David Koresh | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:04:38

In 1993, The Branch Davidians—under David Koresh’s leadership—were raided by ATF agents just outside of Waco, Texas. Following the deadly raid, The Branch Davidians and the FBI underwent a 51-day stand-off that ended in the deaths of more than 70 Branch Davidians, including Koresh and about two dozen children. Sponsors! Haunted Places - Haunted Places, a Parcast Network podcast, can be found wherever you listen to Cults. After today’s show, visit your favorite podcast directory and search for Haunted Places. Quip - Go to getquip.com/CULTS to get your first refill pack FREE with a Quip electric toothbrush. Zola - To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to ZOLA.com/cults Paramount Network’s Waco - Waco, presented by Paramount Network, is a 6-part television event that tells the story of one of the most shocking sieges in U.S. history. Waco premieres Wednesday, January 24th on Paramount Network.

 E17: “The Branch Davidians” - David Koresh | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:49:12

David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell, became an internationally name in 1993 as he led many of his followers in The Branch Davidians, and himself, to violent deaths after a 51-day standoff with the FBI. We focus on Koresh and how his childhood filled with abandonment and rejection led to his troubling reign as a controlling cult leader. Sponsors! Waco, presented by Paramount Network - This episode is brought to you by Waco, a 6-part television event that tells the story of one of the most shocking sieges in U.S. history. Waco premieres Wednesday, January 24th on Paramount Network.

 E16: "Aum Shinrikyo" Pt. 2 - Shoko Asahara | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:45:22

In part two of Aum Shinrikyo, we take a deeper look at the members of one of the most notorious cults in modern history. Shoko Asahara, the cult’s leader, established deep connections with his followers. These connections created a deadly devotion as the group worked toward destroying humanity. Sponsors! Zola - To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to ZOLA.com/cults. BetterHelp - To learn more or sign up go to betterhelp.com/CULTS. Enter the invite code CULTS to get your first 7 days free.

 E15: "Aum Shinrikyo" - Shoko Asahara | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:43:21

In 1980’s, a Japanese Buddhism-inspired cult, called Aum Shinrikyo, formed under a leader who tried to end the world. Greg and Vanessa explore Aum Shinrikyo—one of the most feared cults in history—its leader Shoko Asahara, and the group’s desire to eliminate humankind. Sponsors! HelloFresh - For $30 off your first week of HelloFresh, visit hellofresh.com and enter the promo code CULTS30. BetterHelp - Go to betterhelp.com/CULTS and enter the invite code CULTS to get your first 7 days free.

 E14: “FLDS” Pt. 2 - Warren Jeffs | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:50:32

Greg and Vanessa further examine how Warren Jeffs’ leadership impacted the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Jeffs inherited the role as Prophet of the Church, giving him more power and control over his followers. Jeffs abused this power, leading many of his followers down a path of everlasting pain and destruction. Sponsors! BetterHelp - Go to betterhelp.com/CULTS and enter the invite code CULTS to get your first 7 days free. Bombas - Buy the perfect gift for everyone on your list at bombas.com/CULTS today and get 20% off your first purchase. ManCrates - Go to mancrates.com/CULTS to get 5% off your order.

 E13: “FLDS” - Warren Jeffs | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:50:35

Greg and Vanessa explore the twisted life of Warren Jeffs and his influence on the Fundamentalist Cult of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Jeffs’s upbringing helped shape him into a cult leader who controlled his followers’ every move—from limiting their access to education to dictating who could marry who. His desire for power and control led him to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List. SPONSORS! Tree Hut - go to treehutwatches.com/cults and enter promo code CULTS for 15% off your first order. Man Crates - Visit ​mancrates.com/cults​​ ​to​ ​get​ ​5%​ ​off​ ​your​ ​order. Merch - You asked, and we listened: You can now buy Serial Killers T-shirts, sweatshirts and phone cases at represent.com/parcast!

 E12: “The Children of God” Pt. 2 - David Berg | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:56:37

As the Children of God grew, David Berg began passing his own perverse thoughts on to his followers as scripture in what were deemed the “Mo Letters”. From “flirty fishing”, the exploitation of women to recruit new followers using sex as an incentive, to pedophilia, to child pornography, the Children of God steadily grew into a cult centered around abuse. Despite the intervention of anti-cult groups, and their transition into what is now called The Family International, nothing could be done to repair the mental and emotional damage inflicted on the second generation of the Children of God. Sponsors! MERCH - You asked, and we listened: You can now buy Serial Killers T-shirts, sweatshirts and phone cases at represent.com/parcast! Stamps.com -  Go to Stamps.com, click on the Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in CULTS to get a special offer! HelloFresh - For $30 off your first week of HelloFresh, visit hellofresh.com and enter the promo code CULTS30

 E11: “The Children of God” - David Berg | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:43:08

The child of missionaries and grandson of a reverend, David Berg was destined for religious leadership. But, as a victim of sexual abuse who never received support, David developed twisted ideas. Greg and Vanessa discuss this apocalyptic cult’s charismatic leader, the concept of dual validation and how the cycle of abuse influenced David Berg’s beliefs. SPONSORS! Merch! You asked, and we listened: You can now buy Cults T-shirts, sweatshirts and phone cases at represent.com/parcast! Mack Weldon - Go to MackWeldon.Com  and get 20% off your purchase using the promo code CULTS

 E10: “The Ant Hills Kids” Pt. 2 - Roch Theriault | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:50:45

Leader of the Ant Hill Kids, Roch Theriault, took advantage of Canada’s cultural mosaic to cut his followers off from society as they awaited doomsday. Greg and Vanessa examine the young followers who fell under Roch’s sway, and why they stayed as Roch tortured, mutilated, and murdered loyal followers and their children. SPONSORS! Zola - To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to ZOLA.com/cults Casper -  Get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting Casper.com/CULTS and using code: CULTS at checkout! Quip - Right now go to GETQUIP.COM/CULTS to get your first refill pack FREE with a QUIP electric toothbrush. Historical Figures - Subscribe and listen to Vanessa’s other podcast, Historical Figures, on your favorite podcast directory!

 E9: “The Ant Hills Kids” - Roch Theriault | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:36:12

The Ant Hill Kids, one of the most notorious cults in Canadian history, was lead by Roch Theriault. Believing the world was coming to an end, Roch lead his followers into the woods where he brutally mutilated and tortured his followers and their children in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The master manipulator, he was even able to convince psychiatrists and psychologists that he was sane. Greg and Vanessa track Roch’s evolution from a boy who loved to read to a brutal cult leader.   SPONSORS! Historical Figures - Listen and subscribe to Vanessa’s other podcast on your favorite podcast directory, or Parcast.com! Mack Weldon- Go to Mack Weldon Dot Com and get 20% off your purchase using the promo code CULTS.

 E8: “The Family” Pt. 2 - Anne Hamilton Byrne | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:40:14

Anne Hamilton’s “Family” commonly called The Great White Brotherhood of Initiates and Masters - operated for 30 years, raising stolen children, planning for the apocalypse, and taking LSD. This week, Greg and Vanessa dig into the cult’s crimes, specifically the abuse the Family’s “perfect” children endured and how the harrowing actions of one of these children led to this cults downfall. SPONSORS! Hellofresh - For $30 off your first week of HelloFresh, visit hellofresh.com and enter CULTS30. Haunted Places- Listen and subscribe to Greg’s new podcast on your favorite podcast directory this holiday season.

 E7: “The Family” - Anne Hamilton Byrne | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:32:16

All Anne-Hamilton Byrne wanted was a family, with children. Unfortunately, she would stop at nothing to get it, even if it meant starting an abusive cult. Greg and Vanessa dig into Anne’s rough childhood, eastern religious influences, and powerful charisma. How was Anne able to amass over 500 followers, and quietly kidnap 28 children? SPONSORS! Quip - Go to GETQUIP.COM/CULTS to get your first refill pack FREE with a QUIP electric toothbrush. Stamps.com - Go to Stamps.com, and before you do anything else, click on the Radio Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in CULTS to get a 4 week Trial that includes postage and a digital scale!

 E6: Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God Pt.2 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:44:44

Over a thousand people were lured into Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibwetere’s cult, believing that Credonia had spoken to the Virgin Mary herself. Once they joined, guilt, isolation, and even the fear of AIDS kept members psychologically trapped within the Movement’s compounds. Greg and Vanessa examine the leaders’ manipulation tactics and study the horrific destruction inflicted when the cult became too much for Credonia to handle. SPONSORS! RXbar - For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/cults AND ENTER PROMO CODE: CULTS AT CHECKOUT. Mindhunter:  Two FBI agents set out on a sinister investigative odyssey--to probe the depths of killers' minds. October 13, Only on Netflix. Heaven’s Gate - A new podcast from Stitcher. Listen in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you lsiten.

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