Cults

By Parcast Network

Society & Culture History

What's Cults about?

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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Cults Bites: Psychological ...

01.17.2020

In addition to new episodes of Cults each week, you’ll now also hear Crime Bites every Friday. Each Crime Bites episode gives you a deeper, yet brief look into true-crime topics covered at Parcast. Today we explore the idea of ...

Cults episodes:

01.21.2020 “The House of David” Pt. 2: Benjamin Purnell In the 1920s, the House of David baseball team was taking the nation by storm with their entertaining style of play. However, there was more to the group than just their athletic abilities. They were members of a cult led ...
01.17.2020 Cults Bites: Psychological Manipulation In addition to new episodes of Cults each week, you’ll now also hear Crime Bites every Friday. Each Crime Bites episode gives you a deeper, yet brief look into true-crime topics covered at Parcast. Today we explore the idea of ...
01.14.2020 “The House of David” Pt. 1: Benjamin Purnell Benjamin Purnell arrived in Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1913, claiming to be the seventh and final messenger of God. He planned to build a compound for his followers to wait for the end of the world, but he had an ...
01.09.2020 Listen First! SECRET SOCIETIES, A Parcast Original Series! They’ve been around for thousands of years…orchestrating some of history’s most controversial events. And if not for their radical actions, you may never have even known they existed. Every Thursday, take a journey through hidden passageways and become a member ...
01.07.2020 “The Virtual Reptilian Cult”: Sherry Shriner Sherry Shriner believed Satan disguised himself as Jesus and subsequently tricked the world into praising him. So she became the virtual leader of an online Reptilian ET Cult that believed demonic, alien reptiles were sent by Satan to take over ...
12.31.2019 Best of 2019: “The Source Family” Pt. 2: James Baker Here’s one of our listeners’ most requested episodes of 2019: When the cult moved to Hawaii, James Baker never expected his penniless followers to find him. But once it became clear that they were willing to follow to the bitter ...
12.24.2019 Best of 2019: “The Source Family” Pt. 1: James Baker Here’s one of our listeners’ most requested episodes of 2019: When James Baker started his health food restaurant on the Sunset Strip in the 1970s, he had no intention of creating a spiritual commune. But opportunity knocked, and soon, he ...
12.23.2019 Jeffrey Dahmer Special Pt. 3 Parcast Exclusive! DAHMER: A SERIAL KILLERS 3-PART SPECIAL While on probation after an early release from prison in March of 1990, Jeffrey Dahmer continued his wave of sadistic violence. A chance event would finally lead to his arrest, and a ...
12.23.2019 Jeffrey Dahmer Special Pt. 2 Parcast Exclusive! DAHMER: A SERIAL KILLERS 3-PART SPECIAL It was a murderous rampage that could have possibly been stopped. Although Jeffrey Dahmer failed numerous times to turn his life around, his multi-year killing spree also went ignored by his family, ...
12.23.2019 Jeffrey Dahmer Special Pt. 1 Parcast Exclusive! DAHMER: A SERIAL KILLERS 3-PART SPECIAL You know the name, but do you know the whole story? Jeffrey Dahmer—one of history’s most notorious serial killers, and our most requested episode, is now the subject of an exclusive 3-part ...
12.17.2019 "Fountain of the World” Pt. 2: Krishna Venta In the late 1940s, the eccentric Krishna Venta founded the Fountain of the World and claimed to be the embodiment of Christ. However, he had an apocalyptic warning. The world was going to end in 1965, and only his chosen ...
12.11.2019 Only on Spotify! FAMOUS FATES, A Parcast Limited Series! Discover the stories of incredible people whose grandiose lives were matched only by their shocking demise in Parcast’s new limited series, FAMOUS FATES. With 5 episodes released every Wednesday, each group will center around a common theme, such as Hollywood ...
12.10.2019 “Fountain of the World” Pt. 1: Krishna Venta As a wandering lecturer who opened up a religious compound in the San Fernando Valley in 1949, Krishna Venta claimed to be from a mythical valley in India. He preached about love and knowing oneself, but was hiding a secret ...
12.03.2019 “Colonia Dignidad”: Paul Schäfer When former Nazi serviceman Paul Schäfer fled Germany in 1961, he founded a rural community called Colonia Dignidad in Southern Chile. But the community’s bucolic appearance hid a culture of torture, murder, and pedophilia.
11.24.2019 Listen First! SPORTS CRIMINALS, A Parcast Original Series! They’re sport’s greatest heroes… displaying superhuman-like abilities to overcome intense pressure. But when it comes to the downfalls of fame, money, and ego—they’re far more human than super. Every Thursday, Parcast’s original series SPORTS CRIMINALS keeps score on the darker ...
11.19.2019 “Lev Tahor” Pt. 2: Shlomo Helbrans In the 1990s and 2000s, Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans and the Lev Tahor preyed on impressionable youths. The ultra-orthodox Jewish community was known to use brainwashing tactics on its followers, and would be accused of heinous crimes such as kidnappings and ...
11.14.2019 Listen First! DOG TALES, A Parcast Original Series! They’re four-legged, full of love and often times more like family than their nickname suggests. Parcast’s endearing original series, DOG TALES, tells the true stories of heroic canines that have gone above and beyond their “best friend” duties. Every Monday, ...
11.12.2019 “Lev Tahor” Pt. 1: Shlomo Helbrans Charming, electric, and persuasive are just some of the ways people described Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans. As the leader of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in the 1990s and 2000s, he was known for brainwashing his followers, leading them to commit shocking ...
11.05.2019 “The International Churches of Christ” Pt. 2: Kip McKean While the church became notorious for its aggressive recruiting practices through the 80s and 90s, it also experienced incredible growth—eventually reaching Los Angeles. However, Kip McKean’s hubris—and sins—would eventually lead to his downfall.
11.03.2019 Par for the Crime: POLITICAL SCANDALS, A Parcast Original Series! Every Tuesday leading up to the 2020 election, POLITICAL SCANDALS counts down the 52 most controversial events in American history—uncovering the crimes and deceptions by some of our most infamous elected officials. And now you can hear a special clip ...
10.29.2019 “The International Churches of Christ” Pt. 1: Kip McKean Before his church became one of the fastest growing—and most controversial—religious organizations in the United States, Kip McKean developed strict beliefs as a Bible literalist in 1960s Florida.
10.23.2019 Listen First! VILLAINS, A Parcast Original Series! Bad guys. Black hats. Evildoers. They are the bane of every hero’s existence…and the subject of Parcast’s dastardly new original series, VILLAINS. Every Friday, VILLAINS dissects the greatest foils from history and fiction—uncovering origins, analyzing impacts, and exploring the complexity ...
10.22.2019 “New Forest Coven” Pt. 2: Gerald Gardner Witness the growing pains Wicca went through as it transitioned from a small secret society to a global religion, and explore the fallout from Gerald Gardner’s decision to speak publicly about their practices in 1954. Learn about Wicca’s evolution over ...
10.15.2019 "The New Forest Coven" Pt. 1: Gerald Gardner September 1939: Occultist Gerald Gardner makes contact with what he believes to be a remnant of the long rumored "Witch-Cult." His experience with The New Forest Coven would reshape his understanding of paganism, and inspire him to chart a new ...
10.11.2019 Bonus: Today In True Crime - Zodiac Killer On this day in 1969, the Zodiac Killer’s last confirmed victim was shot and killed.
10.08.2019 “Tradition, Family and Property” Pt. 1: Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira He feared the rise of Communism posed a threat to the Catholic Church. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira’s solution—to form his own reactionary movement to preserve and propagate his own beliefs.
10.01.2019 “Tensegrity” Pt. 2 - Carlos Castaneda After he was publicly humiliated when his memoirs were exposed as a hoax, Castaneda retreated into seclusion. But he brought with him a few dozen committed followers, who were sexual slaves and unquestioning adherents. Although he predicted that he was ...
09.25.2019 All Cults Episodes Now Available! Thank you for being a loyal listener! We’re excited to announce all Parcast Network episodes older than 6 months are now available for free on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
09.24.2019 “Tensegrity” - Carlos Castaneda In 1960, anthropology student Carlos Castaneda followed a Native American Yaqui guide into the desert. There, he received a divine revelation about the subjective nature of reality - a revelation Castaneda could only share by exerting extreme levels of control ...
09.17.2019 “The Fall River Cult” Pt. 2 - Robin Murphy Members of the Fall River Satanic cult were suspects in the murder of a young woman in 1979, but detectives couldn't find anyone who was willing to testify against them. Then, as the investigation continued, another body was found. The ...
09.10.2019 “The Fall River Cult” - Robin Murphy In 1979, biker and pimp Carl Drew joined sex worker Robin Murphy to create a Satanic cult in Fall River Massachusetts. Though some claimed the weekly meetings were harmless, the cult was soon implicated in the murder of a young ...
09.08.2019 Introducing: HOROSCOPE TODAY, a new Parcast Original! Ever wonder how the stars correlate with our emotional blueprint? Gain insight in just three minutes with daily episodes that will help you navigate your day. Twelve signs, twelve podcasts. Delivering your destiny, daily. Find your daily briefing by searching ...
09.03.2019 “Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God” Pt. 2 - Ervil LeBaron In the 1970s, Ervil Lebaron broke with his brother’s church to form his own polygamous fundamentalist sect known as the Lambs of God. By reinstating the religious doctrine of Blood Atonement, Ervil compelled his followers to murder dozens of his ...
08.27.2019 “Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God” - Ervil LeBaron In 1971, Ervil LeBaron received a revelation from God: he had inherited the mantle of Joseph Smith, and was destined to rule over God’s Kingdom on earth. There was just one problem: Ervil’s older brother Joel just had the same ...
08.20.2019 “Symbionese Liberation Army” Pt. 2 - Donald DeFreeze From within the confines of the Vacaville prison medical center, Donald DeFreeze started recruiting young, idealistic Berkeley radicals for his leftist political cult. The US needed to change. And radical change, DeFreeze knew, demanded radical action. He was willing to ...
08.19.2019 Introducing: TODAY IN TRUE CRIME, a new Parcast Original! Crime never takes a day off, and neither do we. In our new podcast, TODAY IN TRUE CRIME, every day, we flip back the calendar and examine a true crime event from the same date years ago. In this clip, ...
08.13.2019 “Symbionese Liberation Army” - Donald DeFreeze Donald DeFreeze was a gun-obsessed drifter throughout the 1960s. But he didn't use his guns — he had nothing to fight for. At least, not until he was radicalized and began to build a coalition to execute his plans. Sponsors! ...
08.06.2019 “Nation of Yaweh” Pt. 2 - Hulon Mitchell Jr. In the early 1980s, Hulon Mitchell, Jr.'s Nation of Yahweh became a fixture in Miami's black community. However, while Hulon used his influence to reduce crime rates, he was committing atrocious abuses on his own followers. Parcasters - On today's ...
07.31.2019 Introducing: CON ARTISTS, a new Parcast Original! From counterfeit goods, to fake love interests, and even major financial fraud, you will find it all in our new show. In this Parcast Original, we examine the swindlers behind the scam, and the victims manipulated by their deceit. In ...
07.30.2019 “Nation of Yaweh” - Hulon Mitchell Jr. From the moment Hulon Mitchell, Jr. was born in 1935, he was raised to think he was special. But growing up in segregated Oklahoma, he realized that black men and women lacked the same opportunities as their white counterparts. He ...
07.23.2019 “The Brotherhood of Eternal Love” - John Griggs Just before the Summer of Love, 22-year-old John Griggs discovered LSD and had an epiphany – he would serve as the Hippie Messiah and guide the world to psychedelic revolution. John set out to the beaches of Southern California where ...
07.16.2019 “The Wesson Vampire Clan” Pt. 2 - Marcus Delon Wesson The more Marcus Wesson retreated from society, the more extreme his behavior became. He lead his family of 16 children deep into the woods, claiming it was for their own protection. But away from prying eyes, Marcus Wesson preyed on ...
07.09.2019 “The Wesson Vampire Clan” - Marcus Delon Wesson His version of faith, was placing himself on the same level as God and demanding his children serve him as such. But when Marcus Wesson needed more followers to control, instead of recruiting he turned to his daughters. They would ...
07.02.2019 “The Alamo Christian Foundation” Pt. 2 - Tony Alamo Along with his wife Susan, they grew The Alamo Christian Foundation from a few dozen homeless teenagers to over 3,000 followers on sophisticated compounds around the United States. Their dreams of stardom were finally achieved, but it still wasn't enough ...
06.25.2019 “The Alamo Christian Foundation” - Tony Alamo When he moved to Los Angeles in 1960, Tony Alamo was convinced that his big break as a musician was just around the corner. What he found instead was the voice of God, which commanded him to collect young and ...
06.18.2019 “Lord Our Righteousness Church” Pt. 2 - Wayne Bent In the fall of 2007, Judgement Day arrived on the Strong City compound. The world didn't end, as their Messiah had predicted, but it was still a portent of things to come. Sponsors! Gabi - Take two minutes and see ...
06.11.2019 “Lord Our Righteousness Church” - Wayne Bent In the early 2000s, Wayne Bent established his following on a compound in New Mexico that he dubbed "Strong City." But their faith would be tested when Wayne revealed God's next command: he required seven young virgins to take as ...
06.04.2019 “The Children of Thunder” Pt. 2 - Glenn Taylor Helzer In July of 2001, this cult declared war on Satan and the forces of darkness. But soon, their plans unravelled around them, and five innocent people would fall victim to The Children of Thunder’s bloody war. Parcasters - This week ...
05.29.2019 Introducing: THE DARK SIDE OF, a new Parcast Original! Hollywood is one of our most celebrated institutions, but do you know the dark shadows draped over its early years? In this new Parcast Original, we reexamine unknown and overlooked histories of society's beloved cultural touchstones. Every multi-episode series will ...
05.28.2019 “The Children of Thunder” - Glenn Taylor Helzer He believed that the voice in his head, which he called "Spirit," was the voice of God. Lead by the lord, Glenn Taylor Helzer gathered his followers in the summer of 2001 to wage a war against Satan. Parcasters - ...

Older episodes

Cults

What's Cults about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Cults episodes:

“The House of David” Pt. 2: Benjamin Purnell

Cults Bites: Psychological Manipulation

“The House of David” Pt. 1: Benjamin Purnell

Listen First! SECRET SOCIETIES, A Parcast Original Series!

“The Virtual Reptilian Cult”: Sherry Shriner

Best of 2019: “The Source Family” Pt. 2: James Baker

Best of 2019: “The Source Family” Pt. 1: James Baker

Jeffrey Dahmer Special Pt. 3

Jeffrey Dahmer Special Pt. 2

Jeffrey Dahmer Special Pt. 1

"Fountain of the World” Pt. 2: Krishna Venta

Only on Spotify! FAMOUS FATES, A Parcast Limited Series!

“Fountain of the World” Pt. 1: Krishna Venta

“Colonia Dignidad”: Paul Schäfer

Listen First! SPORTS CRIMINALS, A Parcast Original Series!

“Lev Tahor” Pt. 2: Shlomo Helbrans

Listen First! DOG TALES, A Parcast Original Series!

“Lev Tahor” Pt. 1: Shlomo Helbrans

“The International Churches of Christ” Pt. 2: Kip McKean

Par for the Crime: POLITICAL SCANDALS, A Parcast Original Series!

“The International Churches of Christ” Pt. 1: Kip McKean

Listen First! VILLAINS, A Parcast Original Series!

“New Forest Coven” Pt. 2: Gerald Gardner

"The New Forest Coven" Pt. 1: Gerald Gardner

Bonus: Today In True Crime - Zodiac Killer

“Tradition, Family and Property” Pt. 1: Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

“Tensegrity” Pt. 2 - Carlos Castaneda

All Cults Episodes Now Available!

“Tensegrity” - Carlos Castaneda

“The Fall River Cult” Pt. 2 - Robin Murphy

“The Fall River Cult” - Robin Murphy

Introducing: HOROSCOPE TODAY, a new Parcast Original!

“Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God” Pt. 2 - Ervil LeBaron

“Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God” - Ervil LeBaron

“Symbionese Liberation Army” Pt. 2 - Donald DeFreeze

Introducing: TODAY IN TRUE CRIME, a new Parcast Original!

“Symbionese Liberation Army” - Donald DeFreeze

“Nation of Yaweh” Pt. 2 - Hulon Mitchell Jr.

Introducing: CON ARTISTS, a new Parcast Original!

“Nation of Yaweh” - Hulon Mitchell Jr.

“The Brotherhood of Eternal Love” - John Griggs

“The Wesson Vampire Clan” Pt. 2 - Marcus Delon Wesson

“The Wesson Vampire Clan” - Marcus Delon Wesson

“The Alamo Christian Foundation” Pt. 2 - Tony Alamo

“The Alamo Christian Foundation” - Tony Alamo

“Lord Our Righteousness Church” Pt. 2 - Wayne Bent

“Lord Our Righteousness Church” - Wayne Bent

“The Children of Thunder” Pt. 2 - Glenn Taylor Helzer

Introducing: THE DARK SIDE OF, a new Parcast Original!

“The Children of Thunder” - Glenn Taylor Helzer

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