Good Cult

Opportunist
  • 4.8 (146)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Good Cult

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River Donaghey grew up in a cult. Or at least that’s what some people called it. His parents called it a “personal-growth seminar group.” Its leader called it “one big happy family.” But there was a dark side to the world River grew up in. One he never heard about as a kid.  In the 1970s and 80s, a self-help company called Lifespring took America by storm. Hundreds of thousands of people walked out of Lifespring as true believers, convinced that the seminars had the power to change the world. But dozens of trainees claimed that after taking a seminar, they had a psychotic break. Some spent months in the hospital. Others attempted suicide. And at least four people died.  River spent the past year digging into the bizarre, untold story of Lifespring and its controversial leader: a convicted felon turned New Age guru named John Hanley. What he uncovered made him question everything he thought he knew about his childhood. And about the seminars that are still changing lives—and ruining them—to this day.

Episodes

  1. OCT 21

    Tim Ballard: Unmasking a Hero

    Listen to the new season of Opportunist, out now wherever you listen to podcasts. In the 10th season of "The Opportunist: Tim Ballard," Podcast One will explore controversy surrounding Tim Ballard, the celebrated founder of Operation Underground Railroad, an organization known for its mission to combat human trafficking. Hailed by some as a modern-day hero, Ballard's reputation is now tarnished by controversy as allegations of sexual misconduct have emerged - shaking the foundations of his crusade. Through exclusive interviews with victims and those who know him best, this podcast series aims to unravel the complexities of Ballard's dual persona- a savior to some, a predator to others. Join host Sarah James McLaughlin as she explores the rise and potential fall of a man whose actions have sparked a national conversation on trust, power, and accountability.

    19 min

  2. MAY 30

    Vigilante - Byron David Smith: THE DEER HUNTER

    Byron Smith was tired of his home being burgled. He said it had been broken into at least a half dozen times. And he was determined not to let it happen again. So, Smith set a trap and laid in wait to protect his “castle.” When two teenage cousins broke into his house on Elm Street, it set off a true-life horror story. Listen to Vigilante:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigilante/id1622288667https://open.spotify.com/show/49wzulSXKQKWYOIWoTVEPT?si=0d4c8835885e4fa1

    38 min
  3. 6 of 6: So What? Now What?

    2022-10-12

    6 of 6: So What? Now What?

    "Your idea of how this came about ain't at all how it came about."   Listen to Good Cult ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Good Cult ad-free on Amazon Music   Thank you to our sponsors: Zocdoc: Then start your search for a top-rated doctor today at Zocdoc.com/GOODCULT Splendid Spoon: Get $120 off your first three boxes at SplendidSpoon.com/GOODCULT. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  4. 5 of 6: The Red-Black Game

    2022-10-05

    5 of 6: The Red-Black Game

    "I see the value in transformation, but I also see its shortcomings."   Listen to Good Cult ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Good Cult ad-free on Amazon Music   Thank you to our sponsors: Zocdoc: Then start your search for a top-rated doctor today at Zocdoc.com/GOODCULT BetterHelp: Get 10% off at Betterhelp.com/GOODCULT Jordan Harbinger Show: Check out cult-related episodes at jordanharbinger.com/start See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  5. 4 of 6: Casualties

    2022-09-28

    4 of 6: Casualties

    "We were never a cult and we wanted to remove everything that gave the appearance of being a cult."   Listen to Good Cult ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Good Cult ad-free on Amazon Music   Thank you to our sponsors: Jordan Harbinger Show: watch cult-related episodes at jordanharbinger.com/start See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  6. 3 of 6: This is About the Rest of Your Life

    2022-09-21

    3 of 6: This is About the Rest of Your Life

    "He was like a rockstar. He was a very attractive man. He was the Lifespring celebrity."   Listen to Good Cult ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Good Cult ad-free on Amazon Music   Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp: Get 10% off at Betterhelp.com/GOODCULT Splendid Spoon: Get $120 off your first three boxes at SplendidSpoon.com/GOODCULT. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min
  7. 2 of 6: The Leader

    2022-09-14

    2 of 6: The Leader

    "He thought being put in that casket was the best thing that ever happened to him."   Listen to Good Cult ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Good Cult ad-free on Amazon Music   Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp: Get 10% off at Betterhelp.com/GOODCULT See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  8. 1 of 6: The Mom-Dad Dyad

    2022-09-14

    1 of 6: The Mom-Dad Dyad

    "It's the single most impactful thing that ever happened in my life. You always have to say the birth of your child was the biggest impact. But I never would have had a child if it hadn't been for the seminars!"   Listen to Good Cult ad-free, with bonus content, at KastMedia.com/KastPlus Listen to Good Cult ad-free on Amazon Music   Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp: Get 10% off at Betterhelp.com/GOODCULT See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
  9. Good Cult: Coming September 14, 2022

    TRAILER

    Good Cult: Coming September 14, 2022

    "Hey, it might be a cult, but at least it's a good cult!"     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min

Trailer

Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • The Opportunist tells true stories of regular people who turn sinister by embracing opportunity. How does an everyday person turn into a thief, a scammer or a cult leader? Perhaps the most dangerous person is the one who appears the most normal. Perhaps there is a dark potential lurking inside all of us that is just waiting for the right opportunity to emerge. The Opportunist is an original podcast hosted by Sarah James McLaughlin.

    • 4.6 (918)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • In 2014, Dutch friends Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers disappeared while hiking a jungle trail in Panama. Two months later, investigators found their remains, as well as a backpack with a digital camera filled with photos that hinted at a darker story. What happened to Kris and Lisanne? In this investigative series, journalists Mariana Atencio and Jeremy Kryt retrace the last steps of the doomed women. Their search for the truth immerses them in eight years’ worth of conflicting evidence, testimonies, and rumors, as on-the-ground witnesses in Panama come forward for the first time. This explosive new evidence sets off a real-time race to reopen the case, and finally get justice for Kris and Lisanne.

    • 4.1 (204)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • Vigilante is a podcast about regular people who take justice into their own hands - for better, or for worse. Hosted by Sarah James McLaughlin.

    • 3.9 (114)
    • TRUE CRIME

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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
146 Ratings

About

River Donaghey grew up in a cult. Or at least that’s what some people called it. His parents called it a “personal-growth seminar group.” Its leader called it “one big happy family.” But there was a dark side to the world River grew up in. One he never heard about as a kid.  In the 1970s and 80s, a self-help company called Lifespring took America by storm. Hundreds of thousands of people walked out of Lifespring as true believers, convinced that the seminars had the power to change the world. But dozens of trainees claimed that after taking a seminar, they had a psychotic break. Some spent months in the hospital. Others attempted suicide. And at least four people died.  River spent the past year digging into the bizarre, untold story of Lifespring and its controversial leader: a convicted felon turned New Age guru named John Hanley. What he uncovered made him question everything he thought he knew about his childhood. And about the seminars that are still changing lives—and ruining them—to this day.

Information

  • Channel
    Opportunist
  • Creator
    Good Cult
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    Good Cult
  • Provider
    Kast Media

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