Episodes

  • Bruno Gröning & The Circle of Friends w/ Lindsay Valenty
    Mar 1 2022
    We did it, Fred! We finally found a cult that isn't horrible! Because today we are going to be talking about Bruno Groning and The Circle of Friends. A cult whose leader died before it formed but whose followers managed to create a worldwide cult that believes in positive thinking to heal its followers. Consider supporting the podcast by becoming a Patreon Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Ye Olde Crime: Twitter Instagram Website Pineapple Pizza Podcast: Twitter Instagram Website This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Audible Mentioned in this episode: Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • Aum Shinrikyo | The Military Cult That Injured Thousands
    Feb 15 2022
    In 1989, the Metropolitan Government of Tokyo officially recognized “Aum Shinrikyo” as a legitimate religious movement. Little did they know that five years later, that same group would carry out a violent terrorist attack on the city, leaving 13 dead and a thousand others severely injured. Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • James Ellison & The Covenant w/ Shots and Thoughts
    Feb 1 2022
    In 1976, James Ellison moved to Arkansas, intending to establish a self-sustaining fundamentalist Christian commune made up of like-minded individuals who wanted nothing more than to dedicate themselves to God. But by 1978 – a mere two years later – he and his followers had become domestic terrorists who believed in white supremacy and were willing to resort to violent means to overthrow the government of the United States. Get Ad-Free episodes and episodes A Week Early on our Cultiv8 Podcast Network Patreon Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Shots And Thoughts: Twitter Instagram Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • August Engelhardt & The Coconut Cult w/ The Dumb, Found Dead
    Jan 18 2022
    Cults are not always sinister. Similarly, cult leaders are not always manipulative sociopaths. Sometimes, all they need is one deluded man. August Engelhardt, born with a silver spoon, was many things, and one of them was delusional, something he shared with other cults and their leaders. You might wonder the peculiarities of Engelhardt’s delusion. It is nothing other than the obsessive yet interesting relationship he developed with the fruit with one of the hardest shells. This is a man that decided to give everything up for a life of nudity and a diet consisting of nothing other than coconuts. Get Ad-Free episodes and episodes A Week Early on our Cultiv8 Podcast Network Patreon Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website The Dumb, Found Dead: Twitter Instagram Facebook Website Mentioned in this episode: Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • The Church of Scientology Part 2: The Indoctrination Process
    Jan 11 2022
    For many, Tom Cruise is a good-looking actor who rose to fame after starring in blockbusters like “Top Gun,” “Mission Impossible,” and “Risky Business.” But for Scientologists, Tom Cruise is a demigod who has become “Operating Thetan VII.” According to them, this status has allowed him to gain a wide range of superpowers, such as telekinesis, leaving his body at will, and controlling the behaviour of other living things – including humans. In fact, former Scientologist and actress Leah Remini once said, quote, “Being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself. You are a person who is anti– the aims and goals of Scientology. You are evil.” End quote. It’s crazy to think that a belief system created in the 1950s managed to become so powerful that it was able to turn an ordinary human being into a deity worshipped by members. Get Ad-Free episodes and episodes A Week Early on our Cultiv8 Podcast Network Patreon Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Weird Distraction Podcast: Twitter Facebook Instagram Website Mentioned in this episode: Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • The Church of Scientology Part 1: The Story of L. Ron Hubbard
    Jan 4 2022
    Super excited to kick off 2022 with this much-anticipated cult! The Church of Scientology may be controversial; however, its devotees have nothing but praise for its teachings. For instance, actor Tom Cruise once called it “a beautiful religion,” while fellow actor John Travolta publicly stated that it was only being criticized because it “really works well.” For many, though, the Church of Scientology is nothing but a dangerous cult that brainwashes people, charges them exorbitantly for their membership, and never lets them leave. Get access to Part 2 right now on our Cultiv8 Podcast Network Patreon Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Weird Distraction Podcast: Twitter Facebook Instagram Website Mentioned in this episode: Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • The Hermes Far Eastern Shining Cult | Curing The World One Grift At A Time
    Dec 14 2021
    When Ann Fitzgerald met a group of New Age devotees at a festival in London, she thought that she had found a set of like-minded and supportive friends. Never did she imagine that she would spend the next decade in their grip, working 16-hour shifts without being paid a single dollar. Ann, however, was far from the group’s only victim. Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Canadian SPIRIT podcast: Twitter Facebook Website Sources for this episode include The Famous People, the World Religions and Spirituality Project, The Laughing Man Institute official website, the Hermes Far Eastern Shining official website, The Daily Telegraph, Cult Education, and The Apologetics Index. Mentioned in this episode: Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • The Lafferty Brothers' School of Prophets | A Family Cult
    Nov 16 2021
    When Allen Lafferty walked into his home on the evening of July 24, 1984, he never expected to find the carpet and drapes soaked in blood. Nor did he imagine that he would be the first to find the corpses of his beloved wife and daughter. Staring at their remains, Allen soon came to realize that those responsible for destroying his family were none other than his older brothers, whom he had looked up to all his life.  Follow us on the socials: Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Sources for this episode include “Under the Banner of Heaven” by Jon Krakauer, The Deseret News, The Detroit Free Press, True Crime Daily, Kuer 90.1, Grunge, CBS News, KSL TV, The Salt Lake City Weekly, the State of Utah v. Ronald Watson Lafferty (2001), and a Medium article titled “Brenda and Erica Lafferty: Revelation and Death” by Madeline O’Brien. Mentioned in this episode: Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Audible Get 1-month free of Audible! That's one free book and access to hundreds of free books and podcasts! Start reading today! Audible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins