7 episodes
Good Cult Opportunist
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- True Crime
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4.7 • 85 Ratings
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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.
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6 of 6: So What? Now What?
"Your idea of how this came about ain't at all how it came about."
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5 of 6: The Red-Black Game
"I see the value in transformation, but I also see its shortcomings."
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4 of 6: Casualties
"We were never a cult and we wanted to remove everything that gave the appearance of being a cult."
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Thank you to our sponsors:
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
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."
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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. -
2 of 6: The Leader
"He thought being put in that casket was the best thing that ever happened to him."
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Thank you to our sponsors:
BetterHelp: Get 10% off at Betterhelp.com/GOODCULT
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
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!"
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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.
Customer Reviews
Fascinating Informative
I’m currently doing some “light” research to do with work. I stumbled across this podcast and jumped right in. What I loved about this was the approach and the air left for the listener to make up their own mind.
Excellent
What a fascinating insight into this cult. Take enjoyed it, River!
Great listen
A really interesting insight to someone who has experienced a cult and grew up within it. River shares his thoughts and feelings through out and has scripted this really well. I was hooked!