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How did an executive "success" program become a cult based around mind control and sex trafficking? What was the secret society of DOS within the NXIVM cult? Willow does a deep dive on Keith Rainere, how he got his start and where it all ended up in this fascinating episode.

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In the turbulent 1970's, Bonnie Nettle and Marshall Applewhite found fast friendship in a rough time in their lives. Together, they wanted to share their New Age/Christian beliefs with others. They claimed you could attain a higher level of existence through a monastic lifestyle. If you followed the rules, your body would evolve and you would ascend to heaven on a flying saucer. But when Bonnie died, proving her theories wrong, Marshall took the cult in a new, darker direction that ended tragically with the discovery of the Hale Bopp comet.

Check out a Heaven's Gate recruitment video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqSZhwu1Rwo&ab_channel=JayDowns

Their website: https://www.heavensgate.com/

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Are they a hoax? When was the first crop circle? Why'd they call it a UFO nest? What does the devil have to do with it? Why did a movie about mutated ants inspire hoaxers?  Merris and Lillian explore the mysterious and strange world of crop circles.

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Aldofo Constanzo wasn't a Satanist. He was a practioner of Palo Mayombe, but leave it to the white, Western press to know not what the heck that is. To them, when they found a shed containing a cauldron and human remains, it all looked like the work of the devil. Aldofo spent his youth gaining power, followers, and influence. Eventually, he began to use his gift of prediction to get in good with local drug families. Through sacrifice and charisma, he and his followers felt invincible. Until, that is, they sacrificed a white college student. Willow does AN AMAZING job telling this fascinating, gripping story.

**SENSITIVE LISTENER WARNING this episode is grisly, gory, and disturbing**

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On March 20, 1995, five members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult let loose Sarin gas into the subway trains of Tokyo, killing 27 people and inuring thousands. Many survivors still suffer the effects of the gas. What drove them to kill? Shoko Asahara, their charismatic leader believed he was Toykyo's Christ and that the US was about to launch a nuclear strike on Japan. Only his followers would be spared. And when the apocalypse didn't happen soon enough? They decided to give it a little push. Lillian covers this strange and sinister cult.

Check out the anime the cult produced! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO_ewrEc820&ab_channel=Kmr_TL

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Merris returns to cohost with Lillian and they talk about the Flatwoods Monster of West Virginia. It's a bizarre little story! On the evening of September 12, 1952 some boys were playing by their elementary school and saw a bright flash of light streak across the sky. They got their mom, dog, and a man named Eugene and went to investigate. What they found scared them half to death! 

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In Guffey, Colorado, just outside Colorado Springs officers respond to a wellness check and find 60 y.o. Carl Dutcher on the kitchen floor dead with at least 2 gunshot wounds
Carl’s wife JoAnna was found dead in the bathroom. Their grandson Tony was missing.

What lead to this almost beggars belief. What drove Tony's childhood friend Isaac Grimes to commit these unspeakable acts? What happened to Tony? And why did it all revolve around teenager Simon Sue?

In this episode, Willow dives into a New Year's Eve murder and a cult.

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Hey friends! This episode Merris and Lillian talk about the creepy urban legend of Black Eyed Children. Where did it start? Is it true? Why is it associated with UFO's? WHERE IS WILLOW? The answer to the last bit: Willow is under the weather, we doubt it's covid because she's been vaccinated but you never know so we're being safe. Please send Willow some love: WillowAhava is her venmo. Shoot her a few dollars, would ya??

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On Christmas Night, Eshay's body was found near her mother's house, in the middle of the street. She'd been shot and dragged by a vehicle. Eshay was a black transgender woman and this was clearly a hate crime. Who killed Eshay? Why haven't the police made progress on this tragic, senseless murder?

Donate to a transgender charity today: https://secure.transequality.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20101a?df_id=1480&mfc_pref=T&1480.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=62EE8B0A5C74CF0CA5B652FEE5D9932C

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Langston Hughes, famous poet, wrote about the amazing life and accomplishments of civil rights activist Harry Moore who was tragically murdered on Christmas Day in 1951 along with his loving wife of 25 years, Harriette. Due to Florida law enforcement's involvement in the Ku Klux Klan, key evidence was hidden or destroyed and Moore's murderers were never brought to justice despite five separate investigations into the incident. He's a forgotten hero of the civil rights movement and we aim to shine some light on this brave soul's life and achievements. Instead of gifts this year, please consider donating to:

https://engage.naacpldf.org/bjS0OzAK_0K3GWxHeFEI-g2?source=DU22M2AA&utm_source=fy22eoy&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=eoy&utm_content=version1&gclid=CjwKCAiAtouOBhA6EiwA2nLKH4BkyKYrPTw3EnVzPVs5-PsL0p0FsZoHHNaF51UXW6WwGjwo73JNjhoCSPgQAvD_BwE

https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html

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