Altar Ego

Altar Ego

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.

  1. 6d ago

    39: Therapist of the Satanic Panic: Barbara Snow

    CW: Discussions of SA and ritual abuse. In the 1980s, at the height of what's now widely known as the Satanic Panic, a Utah social worker Barbara Snow, and a colleague by the name of Teena Sorenson developed a framework for how children supposedly disclose abuse. A framework where denial, inconsistency, and even retraction could all be read as steps toward eventual confirmation. Snow’s work in one Utah community led to accusations of ritual and cult abuse against dozens of adults and at least one conviction, which was later overturned by the Utah Supreme Court over concerns about her interviewing techniques.  Decades later, similar allegations resurfaced, but this time involving Snow's own family, and a teenage client named Teal Swan. Teal’s influence and story have drawn renewed attention in recent years. Despite Snow’s continued controversial therapy practices public records indicate she continues to practice in Salt Lake City today.

  2. Aug 19

    38: The Great Amherst Mystery: The Haunting of Esther Cox

    One of the most famous hauntings in Canadian history began with a terrified young woman... but was Esther Cox haunted by a violent spirit, or was she living through the devastating aftermath of trauma? In this episode, we revisit The Great Amherst Mystery and trace the extraordinary events that transformed Esther Cox into one of the paranormal world's most enduring figures. From unexplained scratches and flying objects to eyewitness accounts that have fueled belief for generations, we examine the story that captivated believers and skeptics alike. But we don't stop at the ghost story. We also explore the psychological impact of trauma, the effects of a near-fatal assault, and why modern psychology offers another lens through which to understand Esther's experiences. Rather than asking listeners to choose between the supernatural and science, we examine how both perspectives have shaped this remarkable case for more than 140 years. Was Esther the victim of a malicious entity, a misunderstood survivor, or something far more complex? Join us as we unpack one of history's most compelling paranormal mysteries. Because sometimes the scariest stories aren't about ghosts—they're about what people survive.

  3. Aug 12

    37: Amway, Cult Tactics + a Congressman?

    What does the Heritage Foundation have to do with the most profitable MLM ever? This week, Jeri takes us through a deep dive of Amway (short for American Way), one of the most influential and recognizable multi-level marketing companies in the world. From its borrowed recruiting tactics to the powerful influences built around it, we look at how many MLMs use similar techniques found in high-control groups. We also explore Amway's political contributions... including the organization's ties to one of its most prominent supporters and what their role was in Congress... yes, the U.S. Government. In this episode, we talk about: How Amway became one of the largest MLMs in historyThe psychology behind MLM recruitment and retentionWhy some former distributors compare the experience to leaving a cultThe overlap between MLMs and high-control groupsThe company's influence in American politicsWhether success stories match the reality for most participants

  4. Aug 5

    36: Brick by Brick: How a LEGO Store Exposed Police Corruption

    What began as a simple LEGO consignment spiraled into a saga of criminal charges, disputed evidence, alleged police misconduct, and a community left wondering who could be trusted. In this episode, we unravel the extraordinary story behind the Utah Bricks & Minifigs controversy—from the Mansell family's original consignment and the takeover of the franchise, to Ben Schneider and the allegations, arrests, lawsuits, and unanswered questions that followed. As always, we separate documented facts from allegations, examine the competing narratives, and explore the psychology of authority, reputation, and what happens when ordinary disputes collide with extraordinary power. How does a neighborhood LEGO store become the center of one of Utah's most controversial ongoing legal battles? Join us as we break it down—brick by brick.

  5. May 27

    35: The Stolen Nganga + The Perversion of Palo Mayombe

    In 1989, a drug cult operating out of Matamoros, Mexico, was exposed when a member blew through a border checkpoint — believing himself invisible — and was followed straight back to Santa Elena Ranch. What investigators found was confusing and deeply disturbing. What the media told the world about it brought deep harm and stigma to one of the oldest continuously practiced African diasporic religions in the Western Hemisphere. The media called it voodoo, satanism, and black magic. What it actually was... one man's deliberate theft of a sacred tradition. Adolfo Constanzo took the vocabulary of Palo Mayombe and stripped out everything that did not serve him. What remained was a framework for murder, torture, coercion, and control, dressed in the robes of ancient tradition.

  6. May 21

    34: Prophet, Polygamist, and the Making of Mormon Utah - Brigham Young

    In the second episode of Heather's Mormonism in Utah series, we pick up after the death of Joseph Smith, when the future of the Mormon movement was uncertain. Into leadership stepped a carpenter-turned-apostle who would lead thousands of followers across the American frontier and transform the desert of Utah Territory into the center of a new religious empire. Brigham Young was more than a pioneer; he practiced and fiercely defended polygamy, married dozens of women, fathered more than fifty children, amassed extraordinary political power, and governed both church and state. Under his leadership, Mormonism expanded rapidly. His legacy is tied to the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the Utah War, and teachings that continue to be highly debated in modern day. In this episode, we examine the life of Brigham Young from multiple perspectives: faithful believers and critics. We explore how Young impacted the religious, political, and cultural landscape of the American West. Sources: “Brigham Young.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brigham-Young “Joseph Smith.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Smith-American-religious-leader “Succession Crisis (Latter Day Saints).” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_crisis_(Latter_Day_Saints) “The Nauvoo Crisis and the Twelve.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/succession-in-the-presidency “Sidney Rigdon and the Succession Crisis.” Joseph Smith Papers Project. https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/sidney-rigdon-succession-crisis “Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve.” Joseph Smith Papers Project. https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/brigham-young-and-the-twelve “Succession of Church Leadership.” BYU Studies Quarterly. https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/succession-in-the-presidency/ Saints Unscripted. Who Was Brigham Young? YouTube. Saints Unscripted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wY0gQ8o0tQ Biography. Brigham Young: Mormon Leader and Colonizer of the American West. YouTube. A&E Television Networks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mB4L5vXK4I

  7. May 14

    33: MC5's Total Assault on American Ideology

    This is the final installment of Jeri's LSD series, and we're ending it in Detroit. A group of kids from Lincoln Park start playing guitar after school in 1963, and by 1968, they are living in a commune run by their manager, getting surveilled by the FBI, and sharing a roof with someone on the bureau's ten most wanted list. MC5 was performing punk rock before anyone had a name for it. This episode is about MC5's history, impact on culture, their relationship to LSD, and how a revolutionary-minded poet saw a broke Detroit cover band as the vessel for revolution. Kick Out The Jams (Live Recording): https://open.spotify.com/track/1cLfXnBwTFuRngRZfQeLof?si=1445176dcf9d4370 Sources: Boisvert, L. (2026, April 16). 57 years ago, MC5 got booted from Elektra Records after profanity-laden magazine ad. VICE. https://www.vice.com/en/article/57-years-ago-mc5-got-booted-from-elektra-records-after-profanity-laden-magazine-ad/Wikipedia contributors. (2025). MC5. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC5Every Record Tells A Story. (2021, September 14). Recalled and censored: The story of the MC5's Kick Out the Jams. https://everyrecordtellsastory.com/2021/09/14/recalled-and-censored-the-story-of-the-mc5s-kick-out-the-jams/

  8. May 6

    32: Joseph Smith: Prophet, Polygamy, and the Birth of Mormonism

    Content Warning: This episode discusses polygamy, coercion, and religious control within a historical context. Joseph Smith is known as the founder of Mormonism, a prophet to millions and a figure surrounded by faith, devotion, and controversy. But the story of how the religion began is far more complex than many realize. In this episode, we step into early 1800s America to trace Smith’s rise from obscurity to religious authority. We unpack the origins of his revelations, the creation of the Book of Mormon, and the structure of the movement he built. Along the way, we examine the role of secrecy, power, and polygamy within the early church, including the relationships that have sparked ongoing debate and criticism. This is not a story told to sensationalize. It is an exploration of belief, influence, and the ways people can shape and be shaped by faith. With historical context and careful attention to the human impact, we look at the man behind the movement and the foundation that continues to influence millions today. SOURCES & Further Reading: Corey Miller. What Do Mormons Really Believe? PBS NewsHour (Correction: actually published by Phoenix Seminary). April 27, 2022.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo. Gospel Topics Essays. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132 Richard Lyman Bushman. Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Fawn M. Brodie. No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith. Vintage Books, 1971. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Becoming Like God. Gospel Topics Essays. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/becoming-like-god The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Word of Wisdom. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/word-of-wisdom The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Book of Mormon Translation. Gospel Topics Essays. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/book-of-mormon-translation Terryl L. Givens. The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2009. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Book of Mormon Translation. Gospel Topics Essays. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/book-of-mormon-translation The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Book of Mormon. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith History 1. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1 Richard Lyman Bushman. Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Terryl L. Givens. The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2009. J. Gordon Melton. Encyclopedia of American Religions. Gale, 2010. Fawn M. Brodie. No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith. Vintage Books, 1971. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brigham Young. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/brigham-young Leonard J. Arrington. Brigham Young: American Moses. University of Illinois Press, 1985. John G. Turner. Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet. Harvard University Press, 2012. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/pioneer-overland-travel Utah War. Utah War, 1857–1858. https://history.utah.gov/utah-war Richard Lyman Bushman. Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Grenfell, Alyssa. Joseph Smith’s Polygamy Cult. YouTube, 2025. https://youtu.be/4BJqFHEyW4s  Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith. Wives of Joseph Smith, n.d. https://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/PDFBooklet/PDFBooklet.pdf

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Altar Ego
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Altar Ego
  • Show Website
    Altar Ego