Altar Ego

Altar Ego

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Hosted by two close friends, one a therapist raised Southern Baptist, now agnostic; the other a spiritually curious ex-Catholic who believes in ghosts and is terrified of demons... we dive into dark tales and crimes committed in the name of God (or the devil). Through ethical retellings of possessions, prophecies, cults, and beliefs, we investigate spirituality, belief systems, and the ambiguous psychological spaces in between.

2 DAYS AGO

Episode 25: LSD + The Acid King

In 1938, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD by accident and experienced the first-ever LSD trip. By the mid-1960s the U.S. government had funded over 1,000 clinical studies on it, secretly tested it on soldiers without their consent, and then criminalized it entirely... all within the same two decades. In the first of a several-part series, this episode covers the discovery and history of LSD. We also get into Ricky Kasso, the seventeen-year-old from Northport, Long Island, known as The Acid King among peers, who murdered his friend Gary Lauwers and left his body in the woods for 35 days. In 1984, Gary's murder became the face of Satanic Panic in America.

42 min
5 MAR

Episode 24: Judas Priest Suicide Trial

CW: This episode discusses suicide, attempted suicide, depression, substance use, and themes of self-harm. Listener discretion advised. In 1990, Judas Priest stood trial in a Nevada courtroom. Not for drugs. Not for violence. Not for anything they physically did. But for what their music supposedly said. Two young men attempted suicide after spending hours listening to the band’s song “Better by You, Better Than Me.” Their families believed hidden subliminal messages in the track pushed them over the edge. What follows is a lawsuit that combined grief, fear, culture wars, and the lingering shadow of the Satanic Panic. In this episode, Heather unpacks what really happened. We talk about subliminal messaging, moral responsibility, and why we so often search for something external to blame. Sources: Pazder, Lawrence & Smith, Michelle. Michelle Remembers. Congdon & Weed, 1980.https://archive.org/details/michelleremembers00pazdde Becker, Gavin. The Gift of Fear. Little, Brown and Company, 1997.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56465.The_Gift_of_FearMcNally, Richard J. Remembering Trauma. Harvard University Press, 2003.https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674016764Wright, Gary. Dream Weaver: A Memoir. Da Capo Press, 2014.https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/gary-wright/dream-weaver/9780306822374/Loftus, Elizabeth F. “Creating False Memories.” Scientific American, 1997.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/creating-false-memories/Liu, Jia & Kanwisher, Nancy. “The Perception of Face-Like Objects.” Psychological Science, 2014.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797614524583American Psychological Association. “Questions and Answers About Memories of Childhood Abuse.”https://www.apa.org/monitor/may01/memorieMcMartin Preschool Trial Overview – Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/mcmartin-preschool-caseCalifornia Court of Appeal Records (McMartin-related cases).https://law.justia.com/cases/california/Vance v. Judas Priest, Nevada Supreme Court Opinion (1992).https://law.justia.com/cases/nevada/supreme-court/1992/22575-1.html

1h 11m
26 FEB

Episode 23: OneTaste The Institute of Orgasmic Meditation

CW: This episode discusses adult themes, including sexuality and coercion, sexual and labor trafficking, and sexual abuse. Not appropriate for children. Listener discretion advised. OneTaste was marketed as a path to awakening, empowerment, and liberation, but in actuality was sexual coercion and exploitation that led the founders to federal court. This episode examines a notable shift in accountability for the wellness world and what this ruling means for systems that sustain abuse. When do healing containers become exploitative systems? How can the law interpret psychological coercion? And what responsibility do leaders carry when empowerment language becomes a tool of control? A reflective discussion on accountability, cult dynamics, and what it means for wellness spaces to be held responsible for the harm they cause. Supportive Material: Orgasmic Inc. Documentary. Netflix

1h 35m
20 FEB

Episode 22: The Corpse Bride of Key West

In 1930s Key West, a man calling himself Dr. Carl Tanzler believed fate had promised him a woman he'd seen in childhood visions. When he met Elena Milagro de Hoyos, she was alive... and battling tuberculosis. After her death, he did not accept the loss. What happened next went far beyond mourning. In this episode, Heather explores obsession disguised as devotion, the shocking lengths Tanzler went to preserve Elena's body, and the unsettling fact that parts of the community sympathized with him. Was this the unraveling of one man's mind, or a reflection of a culture willing to romanticize something profoundly disturbing? Sources “Carl Tanzler.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Tanzler “Anna Constantia von Brockdorff.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Constantia_von_Brockdorff “Carl von Cosel.” American Hauntings Ink. https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/voncosel/ “The Strange, True Story of Carl Tanzler.” Smithsonian Magazine. “Carl Tanzler, the Man Who Lived with a Corpse.” Atlas Obscura. Slatalla, Michelle. The New York Times. Historical reporting on the Carl Tanzler case. Key West Historical Society Archives.

1h 26m
11 FEB

Episode 21: "The Rain Boy" + Poltergeists

CW: Brief mentions of child abuse and SA. In this follow-up episode, we discuss the case of a man now known as “The Rain Boy,” Donnie Decker, who became the center of an odd 1983 case in which witnesses claimed water appeared inside with no clear source. Rather than asking only what happened, this episode, Jeri walks us through a different curiosity: what can happen when the body's survival responses are activated and unresolved? Through the lens of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, we explore how humans successfully metabolize and/or struggle to metabolize extreme emotional experiences, all anchored in a phenomenon-based theory of how those processes may shape what and how we perceive things.

1h 8m
4 FEB

Episode 20 Behind the Hauntings: The Rise and Controversy of the Warrens

Ed and Lorraine Warren are two of the most recognizable names in paranormal history. Demonologists, ghost hunters, and the couple behind some of the most famous haunting cases of the 20th century. But before the movies, the mythology, and the merch, they were just two people who found each other and built something much bigger than themselves. In this episode, Heather traces how the Warrens met, how their partnership formed, and how they transformed into the supernatural powerhouses that would shape modern paranormal culture. From early investigations to the creation of their public image, we break down what was real, what was strategic, and what was carefully cultivated…allegedly. We also address the more recent scandalous rumors surrounding Ed Warren. Why they resurfaced years later, where the claims came from, and how they complicate the legacy. Join Heather and Jeri for a deep dive into how belief, ambition, faith, and controversy collided, and how the Warrens became legends. Sources: About the Warrens. Warrens.net, NESPR. https://warrens.net/about/ Kranc, Lauren. “The New Conjuring Movie Is Based on the Real Story of a Murderer Who Claimed He Was Possessed.” Esquire, June 4, 2021. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a36634853/true-story-the-conjuring-the-devil-made-me-do-it/ Fact or Fearmongering? Dissecting the Warrens’ Novels. USGhostAdventures.com, April 8, 2024. https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/fact-or-fearmongering-dissecting-the-warrens-novels/ Harvey, Austin. "The Disturbing Allegations Of Ed And Lorraine Warren’s Abuse And The Evidence Behind Them." AllThatsInteresting.com, October 23, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/ed-and-lorraine-warren-abuse “By Demons Possessed,” The Washington Post, Lynn Darling, September 13, 1981. Originally published as “By Demons Possessed: It Began in a Dream House and Ended in Death.” Accessed Jan 2, 2025

2h 1m
21 JAN

Episode 18: The Curse of Led Zeppelin + Ties to Aleister Crowley

CW: This episode includes discussion of child death, addiction (alcoholism and drug use), and mental health crisis, as well as death, grief, and occult themes. Listener discretion advised. Led Zeppelin didn’t just reshape rock music; they became wrapped in something far darker. Tragedy, strange coincidences, and enduring rumors have fueled the legend of the so-called Curse of Led Zeppelin for decades. In this episode, we examine where myth ends and history begins. From the band’s use of occult symbolism to the personal obsessions that blurred artistry and belief, we explore how mysticism became part of Led Zeppelin’s identity. At the center of it all looms one controversial figure whose influence on counterculture is impossible to ignore: Aleister Crowley. Was this simply provocative imagery, or did fascination with the occult invite something darker? We unpack the stories, the tragedies, and why this legend refuses to fade. Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica. “Aleister Crowley | Biography, Teachings, Reputation, & Facts.” Britannica, November 6 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aleister-Crowley“Boleskine House.” Wikipedia, The Free Enclyclopedia. Retrieved November 19 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boleskine_House#CITEREFWall2010Banulescu, Eduard. “Jimmy Page’s Occult Interests: From Alchemical Symbols to Aleister Crowley.” Alt77, February 1 2024. https://alt77.com/jimmy-page-occult-interests/ The Revolver Club. “The Curse of Led Zeppelin.” The Revolver Club, 18 April 2024. https://www.therevolverclub.com/blogs/the-revolver-club/the-curse-of-led-zeppelin?srsltid=AfmBOopCCb86uUIQoc-RD784hXlku5mnX17TnbAB1xAha9_Ua-KUpACc

1h 32m
7 JAN

Episode 17: Suicide Cult + Teal Swan

CW: This episode includes discussion of suicide, mental health crises, emotional abuse, and coercive or controlling dynamics in spiritual spaces. Listen with care. In this episode, we take a deep look at Teal Swan; her rise as a spiritual influencer, the community that formed around her, and the serious concerns raised by former followers, journalists, and mental-health professionals. Drawing from long-form investigations, documentaries, and Teal Swan’s own published content, Heather walks us through how language, authority, and vulnerability can intersect in powerful and dangerous ways. We discuss the ethical responsibility of spiritual leaders, the blurred lines between self-help and control, and why certain teachings raise red flags when viewed through the lens of trauma-informed psychology, consent, and harm reduction. This episode centers on accountability, critical thinking, and compassion for those impacted. We believe belief systems deserve examination, especially when they hold real-world consequences. Sources: “The Deep End.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deep_End_(2022_TV_series) “The Gateway: Teal Swan.” Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/tag/the-gateway “Teal Swan.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@TealSwanOfficial

2h 12m

Hosted by two close friends, one a therapist raised Southern Baptist, now agnostic; the other a spiritually curious ex-Catholic who believes in ghosts and is terrified of demons... we dive into dark tales and crimes committed in the name of God (or the devil). Through ethical retellings of possessions, prophecies, cults, and beliefs, we investigate spirituality, belief systems, and the ambiguous psychological spaces in between.

Creator

Altar Ego
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

27
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Altar Ego
Show Website

Altar Ego