Welcome to Failed Utopia. This is a podcast about utopian ideas and paradise lost. We look at utopian concepts from the past, present and future, as well as utopian societies and communes, which promise the world to eager followers but inevitably fail when it all starts to unravel. Some of these utopias just fall apart, while others devolve into true horrors and even brutal cults. I’ll break down what these groups’ leaders were thinking, what attracted their devotees in the first place, and how it all went wrong. 

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I’m your host, Anna Roberts. As I’ve been researching for this show, I’ve come across some truly incredible stories, and I cannot wait to share them with you. We’ll cover wide-ranging topics, from concepts and technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to cults like Synanon, Heaven's Gate, and Peoples Temple—all united by their utopian aspirations.

Join me as we follow the yellow brick road to meet some unbelievable characters and pull back the curtain on the charismatic leaders, charlatans and conmen who have enticed so many into giving up everything, from their money and material things to relationships and families, and sometimes, even their very lives for the promise of utopia.