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Strange Country Ep. 259: James Arthur Ray
What is the main PSA of Strange Country? Trust your gut. Especially when self-proclaimed gurus tell you to suck it up inside a blistering hot sweat lodge. On this episode, cohosts Beth and Kelly discuss James Arthur Ray, another self-help platitude-spilling grifter, who hawked the law of attraction and The Secret, repackaged as Harmonic Wealth ™. His spiritual warrior retreat in October 2009 led to three people dying.
Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands
Cite your sources:
Archibold, Randal C. “Sweat Lodge Deaths Not Criminal, Guru's Lawyer Says (Published 2010).” The New York Times, 14 January 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/us/14sweat.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Blair, Leonardo. “More deaths from faith-healing recorded in Idaho as advocates fight to end practice.” Christian Post, 17 January 2023, https://www.christianpost.com/news/more-deaths-from-faith-healing-recorded-in-idaho.html. Accessed 5 April 2023.
Archibold, Randal C. “Sweat Lodge Deaths Not Criminal, Guru's Lawyer Says (Published 2010).” The New York Times, 14 January 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/us/14sweat.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Davis, Kristina. "Trial starting for self-help guru accused in sweat-lodge deaths." San Diego Union-Tribune, The: Web Edition Articles (CA), sec. Courts, 20 Feb. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/135A07C2ADC4A8D8. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023.
Dougherty, John. “Deaths at Sweat Lodge Bring Soul-Searching.” The New York Times, 11 October 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/us/12lodge.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Dougherty, John. “For Some Seeking Rebirth, Sweat Lodge Was End (Published 2009).” The New York Times, 22 October 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/us/22sweat.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Dougherty, John. “New Details About Deaths in Sweat Lodge Are Revealed (Published 2009).” The New York Times, 30 December 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/us/30sweatlodge.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Fonseca, Felicia. "State questions training of sweat lodge volunteers." Associated Press State Wire: Arizona (AZ), sec. State and regional, 8 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1399E7E1B3052070. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023
Fonseca, Felicia. "State seeks to admit audio of sweat lodge victim." Associated Press State Wire: Arizona (AZ), sec. Financial/Business, 3 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1399E937D2E75330. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023.
FONSECA, FELICIA. "Victim's roommate testifies in AZ sweat lodge case." Associated Press Archive, 12 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1363CCCCC21153D0. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Fonseca, Felicia. “Witness says he built up trust in self-help author." Associated Press State Wire: Arizona (AZ), sec. State and regional, 10 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1399E81AB2EA2E00. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Goodwin, Christopher. “At the temple of James Arthur Ray | US news.” The Guardian, 8 July 2011, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/08/james-arthur-ray-sweat-lodge-arizona. Accessed 9 April 2023.
Gumbel, Andrew (22 October 2009). "Death valley: three new-agers die in a sweat lodge". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
HARRIS, DAN. “Beyond Sweat Lodge: James Ray's Controversial World.” ABC News, 28 October 2009, https://abcnews.go.com/US/inside-james-rays-inspirational-controversial-world/story?id=8939491. Accessed 8 April 2023.
Marshall, Robert. “The dark legacy of Carlos Castaneda.” Salon.com, 12 April 2007, https://www.salon.com/2007/04/12/castaneda/. Accessed 9 April 2023.
"My Daughter Died at the Hands of Oprah's New Age Guru. Why Is She Silent?." Daily Beast, The, sec. News, 10 July 2020. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/17C25C6F99C536B8. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023.
Novak, Matt. “The Untold Story of Napoleon Hill, the Greatest Self-Help Scammer of All Time.” Gizmodo, 6 December 2016, https://gizmodo.com/the-untold-story-of-napoleon-hill-the-greatest-self-he-1789385645. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Roth, Gregory. “Questions About ‘Sweat Lodge’ Rite Where 2 Died.” The New York Times, 10 October 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/11lodge.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Salkin, Allen. “Shaking Riches Out of the Cosmos.” The New York Times, 25 February 2007, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/fashion/25attraction.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Schley, Dorothy. "Thoughts on the State of Arizona vs James Arthur Ray." Colorado Springs Examiner (CO), sec. Spirituality & Empowerment, 11 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/135ECD4F2BA18288. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Shepelavy, Roxanne Patel. "When Self-Help Harms." Self, vol. 32, no. 9, Sept. 2010, p. 160. Gale OneFile: Popular Magazines, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A238620150/PPPM?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=bookmark-PPPM&xid=c68ade5c. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Siklos, Richard (2008-04-08). "The man who would be Robbins, Covey, and Chopra". CNN. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
Stroud, Matt. “The Death Dealer.” The Verge, 4 December 2013, https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/4/5038930/the-death-dealer-james-arthur-sweat-lodge-deaths-in-sedona. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Stroud, Matt, and Jenny Carchman. “In Enlighten Us, a disgraced guru fails to find redemption.” The Verge, 18 April 2016, https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/18/11434916/enlighten-us-disgraced-guru-james-arthur-ray. Accessed 6 April 2023.
“Sweat lodge guru now linked to San Diego death.” CBS 8, 9 December 2009, https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/sweat-lodge-guru-now-linked-to-san-diego-death/509-367866eb-4d60-4c31-a1d4-e823ff103485. Accessed 8 April 2023.
“Sweat lodge survivors take stand.” Sedona Red Rock News, 30 March 2011, https://www.redrocknews.com/2011/03/30/sweat-lodge-survivors-take-stand/. Accessed 6 April 2023.
“Volunteer relives deadly scene during Ray trial.” Sedona Red Rock News, 14 April 2011, https://www.redrocknews.com/2011/04/14/volunteer-relives-deadly-scene-during-ray-trial/. Accessed 6 April 2023.
View all episodes
By Strange Country
3.4
174174 ratings
What is the main PSA of Strange Country? Trust your gut. Especially when self-proclaimed gurus tell you to suck it up inside a blistering hot sweat lodge. On this episode, cohosts Beth and Kelly discuss James Arthur Ray, another self-help platitude-spilling grifter, who hawked the law of attraction and The Secret, repackaged as Harmonic Wealth ™. His spiritual warrior retreat in October 2009 led to three people dying.
Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands
Cite your sources:
Archibold, Randal C. “Sweat Lodge Deaths Not Criminal, Guru's Lawyer Says (Published 2010).” The New York Times, 14 January 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/us/14sweat.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Blair, Leonardo. “More deaths from faith-healing recorded in Idaho as advocates fight to end practice.” Christian Post, 17 January 2023, https://www.christianpost.com/news/more-deaths-from-faith-healing-recorded-in-idaho.html. Accessed 5 April 2023.
Archibold, Randal C. “Sweat Lodge Deaths Not Criminal, Guru's Lawyer Says (Published 2010).” The New York Times, 14 January 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/us/14sweat.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Davis, Kristina. "Trial starting for self-help guru accused in sweat-lodge deaths." San Diego Union-Tribune, The: Web Edition Articles (CA), sec. Courts, 20 Feb. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/135A07C2ADC4A8D8. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023.
Dougherty, John. “Deaths at Sweat Lodge Bring Soul-Searching.” The New York Times, 11 October 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/us/12lodge.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Dougherty, John. “For Some Seeking Rebirth, Sweat Lodge Was End (Published 2009).” The New York Times, 22 October 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/us/22sweat.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Dougherty, John. “New Details About Deaths in Sweat Lodge Are Revealed (Published 2009).” The New York Times, 30 December 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/us/30sweatlodge.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Fonseca, Felicia. "State questions training of sweat lodge volunteers." Associated Press State Wire: Arizona (AZ), sec. State and regional, 8 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1399E7E1B3052070. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023
Fonseca, Felicia. "State seeks to admit audio of sweat lodge victim." Associated Press State Wire: Arizona (AZ), sec. Financial/Business, 3 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1399E937D2E75330. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023.
FONSECA, FELICIA. "Victim's roommate testifies in AZ sweat lodge case." Associated Press Archive, 12 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1363CCCCC21153D0. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Fonseca, Felicia. “Witness says he built up trust in self-help author." Associated Press State Wire: Arizona (AZ), sec. State and regional, 10 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/1399E81AB2EA2E00. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Goodwin, Christopher. “At the temple of James Arthur Ray | US news.” The Guardian, 8 July 2011, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/08/james-arthur-ray-sweat-lodge-arizona. Accessed 9 April 2023.
Gumbel, Andrew (22 October 2009). "Death valley: three new-agers die in a sweat lodge". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
HARRIS, DAN. “Beyond Sweat Lodge: James Ray's Controversial World.” ABC News, 28 October 2009, https://abcnews.go.com/US/inside-james-rays-inspirational-controversial-world/story?id=8939491. Accessed 8 April 2023.
Marshall, Robert. “The dark legacy of Carlos Castaneda.” Salon.com, 12 April 2007, https://www.salon.com/2007/04/12/castaneda/. Accessed 9 April 2023.
"My Daughter Died at the Hands of Oprah's New Age Guru. Why Is She Silent?." Daily Beast, The, sec. News, 10 July 2020. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/17C25C6F99C536B8. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023.
Novak, Matt. “The Untold Story of Napoleon Hill, the Greatest Self-Help Scammer of All Time.” Gizmodo, 6 December 2016, https://gizmodo.com/the-untold-story-of-napoleon-hill-the-greatest-self-he-1789385645. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Roth, Gregory. “Questions About ‘Sweat Lodge’ Rite Where 2 Died.” The New York Times, 10 October 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/11lodge.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Salkin, Allen. “Shaking Riches Out of the Cosmos.” The New York Times, 25 February 2007, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/fashion/25attraction.html. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Schley, Dorothy. "Thoughts on the State of Arizona vs James Arthur Ray." Colorado Springs Examiner (CO), sec. Spirituality & Empowerment, 11 Mar. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FA07302A8AE5340&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/135ECD4F2BA18288. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Shepelavy, Roxanne Patel. "When Self-Help Harms." Self, vol. 32, no. 9, Sept. 2010, p. 160. Gale OneFile: Popular Magazines, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A238620150/PPPM?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=bookmark-PPPM&xid=c68ade5c. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Siklos, Richard (2008-04-08). "The man who would be Robbins, Covey, and Chopra". CNN. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
Stroud, Matt. “The Death Dealer.” The Verge, 4 December 2013, https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/4/5038930/the-death-dealer-james-arthur-sweat-lodge-deaths-in-sedona. Accessed 6 April 2023.
Stroud, Matt, and Jenny Carchman. “In Enlighten Us, a disgraced guru fails to find redemption.” The Verge, 18 April 2016, https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/18/11434916/enlighten-us-disgraced-guru-james-arthur-ray. Accessed 6 April 2023.
“Sweat lodge guru now linked to San Diego death.” CBS 8, 9 December 2009, https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/sweat-lodge-guru-now-linked-to-san-diego-death/509-367866eb-4d60-4c31-a1d4-e823ff103485. Accessed 8 April 2023.
“Sweat lodge survivors take stand.” Sedona Red Rock News, 30 March 2011, https://www.redrocknews.com/2011/03/30/sweat-lodge-survivors-take-stand/. Accessed 6 April 2023.
“Volunteer relives deadly scene during Ray trial.” Sedona Red Rock News, 14 April 2011, https://www.redrocknews.com/2011/04/14/volunteer-relives-deadly-scene-during-ray-trial/. Accessed 6 April 2023.
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