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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Listen First! DOG TALES, A ...

11.14.2019

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, ...

Cults episodes:

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 Gardener September 1939: Occultist Gerald Gardener 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 - ...
05.21.2019 “Church of Jesus With Signs Following” Pt. 2 - Glenn Summerford In 1980 he quickly grew his flock through acts of extreme religious affirmation, such as handling poisonous snakes and drinking poison in front of his congregants. But was Glenn Summerford a man with a deep connection to the Lord, protected ...
05.14.2019 “Church of Jesus With Signs Following” - Glenn Summerford He spent most of his life in a boxing ring, trying to prove his worth with his fists. But after nearly dying from an injury in the ring in 1963, Glenn Summerford committed to turning his life around and found ...
05.07.2019 "The Process Church" Pt. 2 - Mary Ann MacClean and Robert de Grimston After fleeing from a destructive hurricane, in the late 1960s, Mary and Robert de Grimston led their followers on a nomadic journey around the US in search of more converts and the site of their new church. But the stress ...
04.30.2019 "The Process Church" - Mary Ann MacClean and Robert de Grimston Mary and Robert de Grimston created a flamboyant cult in 1960s London that attracted outcasts and celebrities alike. But as their communication with God sent them west, the cult soon found itself in constant danger--in the eye of a literal ...
04.25.2019 Not Guilty, Vanessa’s new podcast! In this new podcast, we dive into cases resulting in acquittal or exoneration, examining the crimes, trials, and verdicts that make us ask the question: what defines guilt? If you enjoy true crime, courtroom drama, and high stakes storytelling, you ...
04.23.2019 “The Blackburn Cult” Pt. 2 - May Otis Blackburn In 1925 Willa had been dead for months, and yet she wasn't laid to rest. May Blackburn laid her in a tub of ice, mummified her, and buried her beneath her floorboards in Venice, California. The end of the world ...
04.16.2019 “The Blackburn Cult” - May Otis Blackburn Many actors wait tables while they're waiting for their big break; May and Ruth Blackburn started a cult. In 1920s Los Angeles, this mother-daughter duo swindled a fortune from their followers while promising them fortune and immortality. Sponsors! Quip - ...
04.09.2019 “Eastern Lightning” Pt. 2 - Zhao Weishan After the cult was dogged with rumors of violent conversion tactics, the Church of the Almighty God blamed the Chinese government for the negative press. A more extreme example occurred in 2014, as the cult would be accused of the ...
04.02.2019 “Eastern Lightning” - Zhao Weishan The Church of the Almighty God preached that Jesus Christ had been reborn and walked the Earth. She was here to save their souls before the world ended. In 1991, followers scrambled to prove how devoted they were to her ...
03.28.2019 Bonus: Greg and Vanessa revisit Jonestown In this special crossover with Assassinations, Greg and Vanessa give insight regarding the charismatic preacher, Jim Jones, and his congregation’s move from San Francisco to the newly-constructed jungle settlement of Jonestown, Guyana in 1977. The move was intended to keep ...
03.26.2019 “The Source Family” Pt. 2 - James Baker 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 end, he began planning a dramatic exit of epic proportions. ...
03.25.2019 SURVIVAL, a new Parcast podcast! This high intensity Parcast Original series features incredible stories of defying certain death and overcoming insurmountable obstacles, while taking you along for a fast paced thrill ride. To hear the rest of this episode, subscribe to SURVIVAL on Spotify, or ...
03.19.2019 “The Source Family” - James Baker 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 was the leader of a yoga-based cult in Hollywood Hills ...
03.12.2019 “New Vrindaban” Pt. 2 - Kirtanananda Swami For roughly 15 years, this guru was a beloved spiritual leader with hopes of opening a worship oriented theme park. In 1985, everything changed when a vicious attack resulted in a head injury, coma, and ultimately a sinister personality change. ...
03.05.2019 “New Vrindaban” - Kirtanananda Swami For 26 years, he was the guru and leader of the New Vrindaban cult in West Virginia. Kirtanananda Swami would turn this vacant land into a 1200-acre sanctuary for all faiths complete with an enormous gold palace. What seemed like ...
02.26.2019 “The Workers' Institute” Pt. 2 - Aravindan Balakrishnan By the 1970s, Comrade Bala's small collective had gone completely underground. His followers lived in constant fear of advanced Chinese technology capable of reading their thoughts, and killing them at any moment. Amidst the chaos, Comrade Bala fathered a child ...

Older episodes

Cults

What's Cults about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Cults episodes:

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 Gardener

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

“Church of Jesus With Signs Following” Pt. 2 - Glenn Summerford

“Church of Jesus With Signs Following” - Glenn Summerford

"The Process Church" Pt. 2 - Mary Ann MacClean and Robert de Grimston

"The Process Church" - Mary Ann MacClean and Robert de Grimston

Not Guilty, Vanessa’s new podcast!

“The Blackburn Cult” Pt. 2 - May Otis Blackburn

“The Blackburn Cult” - May Otis Blackburn

“Eastern Lightning” Pt. 2 - Zhao Weishan

“Eastern Lightning” - Zhao Weishan

Bonus: Greg and Vanessa revisit Jonestown

“The Source Family” Pt. 2 - James Baker

SURVIVAL, a new Parcast podcast!

“The Source Family” - James Baker

“New Vrindaban” Pt. 2 - Kirtanananda Swami

“New Vrindaban” - Kirtanananda Swami

“The Workers' Institute” Pt. 2 - Aravindan Balakrishnan

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