Cults—and their leaders, followers, beliefs, and rituals—are fascinating. There’s something endlessly curiosity-inducing about stories of seemingly ordinary people who get wrapped up in groupthink that quickly veers into dangerous territory. Part of the appeal is because we think it could never happen to us, even though we suspect, deep down, that it absolutely could.
What ultimately drives people to join cults or cult-like organizations? What will they be willing to do to remain a vital member? These outstanding cult podcasts explore the answers to these questions and so much more.
This Audible Original podcast from James Bruce and Peter McDonnell expertly recounts the harrowing ordeal of a survivor from one of world's largest and least known cults. Sochil Martin grew up inside La Luz del Mundo, a religious cult whose followers were led to believe that the only path to eternal salvation was obedience and servitude to their divine leader. But the "Apostle" was far from a savior, and his demands grew darker and darker. Frankie Corzo narrates this chilling account of the emotional havoc wreaked by cults and a stirring true story of the fight for freedom and justice.
If you’re fascinated by cults and driven by caffeine, this is the perfect podcast for you. Grab your own cup of joe and join Sam Lund and Jon Nash every month as they get together, drink coffee, and discuss true stories of cults and fringe religious groups. Balancing in-depth knowledge with humor and compassion, Coffee and Cults has a conversational flair sure to appeal to any true crime fan.
The Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, better known simply as Jonestown, is one of the most infamous cults in history. On November 18, 1978, 914 members of Jonestown drank a lethal elixir of Flavor Aid and cyanide in Guyana. Tim Carter, who became part of the inner circle of the cult's charismatic leader, Jim Jones, was able to escape the massacre. This gripping Audible Original podcast tells his story.
In 1997, 39 members of the Heaven's Gate religious cult took their own lives in an apparent mass suicide. But why? What events and beliefs could lead to so much death? In the Heaven's Gate podcast, host Glynn Washington talks to those who lost loved ones and those who still believe, relaying the stories of both outraged family members and committed Seekers as never told before.
To the public, NXIVM (pronounced “Nexium”) was a company that provided seminars and videos to help with personal development. But behind closed doors, NXIVM was also a cult. Hosted by CBC documentarian Josh Bloch, Escaping NXIVM is an investigative series that explores the story behind the group and its leader, Keith Raniere. This podcast chronicles the journey of Sarah Edmondson, a Canadian actress who was deeply involved in NXIVM at a high level and ultimately able to break free.
Aside from its clever name, Let's Talk About Sects stands out for its thorough research and compelling storytelling. In each weekly episode, host Sarah Steel takes listeners on a deep dive into a different and equally fascinating cult. This award-winning podcast explores each cult's history, its recruitment process, experiences of the cult's members, psychological ramifications, and the major events that happened during the cult's existence.
Hosted by Tyler Measom and Liz Iacuzzi, Was I in A Cult? is a documentary-style podcast featuring the stories of people who have been in—and successfully escaped from—cults. This podcast aims to humanize the experiences of the indoctrinated by allowing former members to directly tell their riveting and inspirational stories in a way that’s empathetic and, at times, all too easy to identify with.
Lifelong best friends and sisters, Jada Smith and Alesia Galati grew up together in a cult. Now, as survivors, they sit down to discuss the anatomy and hallmarks of cults on their podcast, Two Sisters and a Cult. In each episode, Jada and Alesia chat about all things cults, both historical and present-day, while relating the stories of followers and leaders to their own memories of the cult they were raised in.
Jonathan Hirsch had a childhood that will likely sound similar to your own. But there's one big difference: he grew up in a family that followed a controversial spiritual leader named Franklin Jones. To Jonathan's family, Franklin—also known as spiritual guru Adi Da—was essentially a god. But to the outside world, he was a cult leader and sexual abuser. Hirsch left the community when he went off to college. Now, in Dear Franklin Jones, he takes a look back at his childhood experiences trying to find out what was really going on and if he was, in fact, a member of a cult.
In Transmissions from Jonestown, host Shannon Howard guides listeners through tapes chronicling the history of Peoples Temple—recordings that have finally been made public after being locked deep within an FBI vault for decades. Utterly riveting, though sometimes difficult to listen to, this invaluable podcast pieces together the history of Peoples Temple, from Jim Jones's beginnings as a faith healer to the cult's tragic demise on November 18th, 1978.
The Cult Vault is a weekly podcast, produced and hosted by Kacey, that offers in-depth insight into some of history's most notorious cults, modern-day sects, and conspiracies. Episodes cover the topics from a wide range of fascinating angles. Recent episodes have included a conversation with Cult Mediation Specialist Patrick Ryan, a look at Christian nationalism in America, and a discussion with a survivor of the Japanese New Religious Movement known as Sukyo Mahikari.
Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth have lived through (and escaped) being ensnared in a cult. And now in their podcast Trust Me, they're sharing their experiences and unpacking the manipulative tactics, aura of secrecy, and abuse of power that can make all kinds of people vulnerable to getting seduced by a cult and buying into its beliefs. It’s an empowering and moving listen with an open-minded spirit and a refreshing perspective.
In the 1970s, John Hanas appeared in Toronto, claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, with a small group of followers. Calling themselves the Students of Light, they believed Hanas had supernatural powers. But those on the outside looking in saw the man for who he really was: the leader of a dangerous cult. Hosted by Daniel Munro, Chasing Enlightenment tells the story of the Students of Light and their founder, who was accused of mind control, brainwashing, and abuse.
Is SoulCycle a cult? What about Instagram? Sounds Like a Cult is a podcast with a comedic slant that looks into the things in our contemporary culture that, well, sort of sound like cults. Join hosts Isa Medina and Amanda Montell as they take on the questions we've all been wondering about but afraid to ask. When does something become a cult? And when the scales tip in that direction, how harmful are these cultural obsessions?
Jeff and Shaleia, vloggers with a growing YouTube following, offered a tantalizing promise to members of their online community. By following their practices—and embracing the core belief in "Twin Flames," a divine kind of love shared between soulmates—members were led to believe they could forge a deep, lasting romantic connection with their destined partner. Instead, followers were gradually led to distance themselves from friends and family, pursue their Twin Flame with reckless abandon, and alter their very identities. Actor Stephanie Beatriz hosts this riveting podcast about what happens when searching for The One gets you trapped in a cult.
