Sinister Societies

Taking secret oaths. Trashing public spaces. Oxford University's elite dining club has carved its name in infamy, and not even its most powerful members can erase its past. Suruthi and Hannah delve into the Bullingdon Club’s most shocking (and shockingly inebriated) antics.

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It’s super-secretive, hundreds of years old, and also known as the Brotherhood of Death. Hannah and Suruthi sneak inside Yale University’s Skull and Bones society to dissect their strange traditions, famous alumni, and global influence.

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The Manson Family’s infamous murder spree may have been partially inspired by The Beatles’ song “Helter Skelter” but it was The Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson who opened doors in Hollywood for their charismatic cult leader. Hannah and Suruthi discuss how Charles Manson came *thisclose* to becoming the next great pop hit of the ‘60s. 

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An organization bills itself as a self-help company, but it’s really something else entirely. Something more like… a sex cult. Hannah and Suruthi analyze how NXIVM made headlines by turning actresses and heiresses into recruiters, all to advance Keith Raniere’s twisted schemes. 

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If you’ve ever seen the album cover for Michael Jackson’s “Bad” album, you’ve seen one of Tony Alamo’s designer jackets. They’ve been a fashion commodity and celebrity status symbol for decades… and they were made by a cult. 

This is our fourth and final episode in our series “Cult Brands: Financing a Movement,” where we explore the business side of cults.

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Reverend Sun Myung Moon, self-proclaimed messiah and leader of the Moonies, is well known for hosting mass marriage rituals... and lesser known for his massive influence on the sushi industry. 

This is our third episode in our series “Cult Brands: Financing a Movement,” where we explore cults that went commercial.

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A winery in California once produced wines that aren’t just good — they’re world-class. Behind the operations was a religious group called the Fellowship of Friends, whose prophesying leader conversed with angels, predicted the apocalypse, and now finds himself embroiled in sex abuse allegations. 

This is our second episode in our series “Cult Brands: Financing a Movement,” where we explore cults that went commercial.

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Yogi Bhajan, the spiritual leader who popularized Kundalini yoga in the U.S. in the 1970s, also founded a billion-dollar empire that includes a massive tea brand. This is our premiere episode (!) and the first in our series called “Cult Brands: Financing a Movement.” Join us for four incredible episodes as we explore the intersection between cults and commerce. 

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Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala are teaming up with Parcast Network to bring you an unprecedented look into the world’s most secretive groups — the occult, the collegiate, the vampiric, and so much more. Premieres Tuesday, October 19th. 

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