Cults

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 over every student he encountered.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 leaders of the Cult, Carl Drew and Robin Murphy, were escalating their violence and disturbing rituals at a shocking pace.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 woman.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 opponents and family members in his name.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 revelation about himself. 

Parcasters - Which UFO sighting kicked off the alien craze? It wasn’t Roswell! Subscribe to Extraterrestrial today to learn about the close encounter that started it all, the Mount Rainier flying saucer sighting. Search for Extraterrestrial on Spotify to listen now!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 do whatever it took to wake Americans up to the revolution, whether that meant murder, theft, or the kidnapping of a newspaper heiress. 

Sponsors!

Modsy - Go to Modsy.com, start a design project, and use code CULTS to get 20% off.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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!

Billie - Go to MyBillie.com/CULTS for 10% off your razor.

Embrace Pet Insurance - Get your FREE quote at EmbracePetInsurance.com/ CULTS. 

Native - For 20% off your first purchase, visit NativeDeodorant.com and use promo code CULTS during checkout!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 episode of Mythology, we take on the legendary Odyssey, bringing the incredible journey to life! Subscribe to MYTHOLOGY today to hear the most notable stories in human history as you never have before.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices