Sinister Societies

David Koresh didn’t create the religious group known as the Davidians, but he did come to lead a splinter group in the ‘80s that later became infamous after a controversial and deadly raid. Hannah and Suruthi cover Koresh’s sinister “revelations,” pedophilia, and evolution from charismatic leader to militant commander.

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In the midst of the Great Depression, Arthur Bell wrote a book outlining the good and evil forces at work in the world, pitting the philanthropic “Sponsors” against a cabal of “Hidden Rulers.” It read like science fiction, but became real for thousands of people. Hannah and Suruthi dive into the cosmic cult that eventually caught the attention of the federal government.

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What started as a church with idealistic intentions to promote racial and economic equality devolved into a cult where 909 people died in a mass casualty event. Hannah and Suruthi discuss Jim Jones and if the people at the Jonestown settlement were devoted followers or actually hostages.

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Sacrifices, suspected murders, and the hidden corpse of a teenage priestess… In the 1920s, May Otis Blackburn and her daughter Ruth led a cult based in Simi Valley, California, that promised eternal life but became infamous for its deathly rituals and disappearances. Hannah and Suruthi dive in.

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It started as a bookshop, grew into a commune, and evolved into an off-the-grid cult. Aravindan Balakrishnan started the Workers’ Institute after joining, then getting kicked out of, the Communist Party of England. His political beliefs attracted a small band of followers, whose lives he quickly began controlling with outlandish claims meant to stoke their fear.

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Their president? The devil. Their customs? “Horrid impieties.” Hellfire Clubs started in the 18th century as unruly gatherings devoted to hedonism and blasphemy. Most of what we know about them comes from rumors — each more lurid than the last. Hannah and Suruthi dive into the history and legends of this group of secret societies. 

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Strict rules, “spiritual connections,” and promiscuous dance rituals were the hallmarks of a bible school in Washington that fell deeper into notoriety after a string of deaths and sexual assault accussations. Hannah and Suruthi dive into the life and legacy of Donald Barnett, and the teachings that led one member to murder her child. 

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Two televangelists built a sprawling empire complete with a television network and a Christian theme park. Hannah and Suruthi cover the spectacular rise and fall of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, whose fundraising skills made them seriously wealthy... until the scandals brought everything down. 

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A housewife in the 1950s starts studying the occult, then hosting meditations for a group of like-minded people. It seems harmless enough... until the supernatural battles, bloodletting, and mysterious deaths begin.

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A polarizing church in Wells, Texas, is known for its aggressive street preaching, the death of a newborn, and members cutting contact with their families. Hannah and Suruthi look closely at the origins and notoriety of the Church of Wells. 

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