35 episodes

Join me (not in a cult sense), Josh Schell, as we dive into the dark and interesting world of cults! I will take you on a journey of how cults form, who their leaders are, and how they almost always come to an end.

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    • True Crime
    • 4.2 • 42 Ratings

Join me (not in a cult sense), Josh Schell, as we dive into the dark and interesting world of cults! I will take you on a journey of how cults form, who their leaders are, and how they almost always come to an end.

    Bruno Gröning & The Circle of Friends w/ Lindsay Valenty

    Bruno Gröning & The Circle of Friends w/ Lindsay Valenty

    We did it, Fred! We finally found a cult that isn't horrible! Because today we are going to be talking about Bruno Groning and The Circle of Friends. A cult whose leader died before it formed but whose followers managed to create a worldwide cult that believes in positive thinking to heal its followers.
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    • 59 min
    Aum Shinrikyo | The Military Cult That Injured Thousands

    Aum Shinrikyo | The Military Cult That Injured Thousands

    In 1989, the Metropolitan Government of Tokyo officially recognized “Aum Shinrikyo” as a legitimate religious movement.
    Little did they know that five years later, that same group would carry out a violent terrorist attack on the city, leaving 13 dead and a thousand others severely injured.

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    • 49 min
    James Ellison & The Covenant w/ Shots and Thoughts

    James Ellison & The Covenant w/ Shots and Thoughts

    In 1976, James Ellison moved to Arkansas, intending to establish a self-sustaining fundamentalist Christian commune made up of like-minded individuals who wanted nothing more than to dedicate themselves to God.
    But by 1978 – a mere two years later – he and his followers had become domestic terrorists who believed in white supremacy and were willing to resort to violent means to overthrow the government of the United States.
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    • 56 min
    August Engelhardt & The Coconut Cult w/ The Dumb, Found Dead

    August Engelhardt & The Coconut Cult w/ The Dumb, Found Dead

    Cults are not always sinister. Similarly, cult leaders are not always manipulative sociopaths. Sometimes, all they need is one deluded man. August Engelhardt, born with a silver spoon, was many things, and one of them was delusional, something he shared with other cults and their leaders. You might wonder the peculiarities of Engelhardt’s delusion. It is nothing other than the obsessive yet interesting relationship he developed with the fruit with one of the hardest shells. This is a man that decided to give everything up for a life of nudity and a diet consisting of nothing other than coconuts.
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    • 57 min
    The Church of Scientology Part 2: The Indoctrination Process

    The Church of Scientology Part 2: The Indoctrination Process

    For many, Tom Cruise is a good-looking actor who rose to fame after starring in blockbusters like “Top Gun,” “Mission Impossible,” and “Risky Business.”
    But for Scientologists, Tom Cruise is a demigod who has become “Operating Thetan VII.” According to them, this status has allowed him to gain a wide range of superpowers, such as telekinesis, leaving his body at will, and controlling the behaviour of other living things – including humans.
    In fact, former Scientologist and actress Leah Remini once said, quote, “Being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself. You are a person who is anti– the aims and goals of Scientology. You are evil.” End quote.
    It’s crazy to think that a belief system created in the 1950s managed to become so powerful that it was able to turn an ordinary human being into a deity worshipped by members.
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    • 46 min
    The Church of Scientology Part 1: The Story of L. Ron Hubbard

    The Church of Scientology Part 1: The Story of L. Ron Hubbard

    Super excited to kick off 2022 with this much-anticipated cult!
    The Church of Scientology may be controversial; however, its devotees have nothing but praise for its teachings. For instance, actor Tom Cruise once called it “a beautiful religion,” while fellow actor John Travolta publicly stated that it was only being criticized because it “really works well.”
    For many, though, the Church of Scientology is nothing but a dangerous cult that brainwashes people, charges them exorbitantly for their membership, and never lets them leave.
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    • 54 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
42 Ratings

42 Ratings

ky1234456 ,

The Left

As you have done one on QAnon, which is well done, why not dive into the cult of the modern day left wing and ANTIFA?

AvilaOjai ,

Please do more research

It seems like you’re just reading a summary article and not really understanding what you’re reading. The value in a podcast like this is cross referencing the whys, how’s and whats of a cult.

SingleMa ,

Love the podcast

I follow another of Josh’s podcast and started listening to this one. Have been listening while at work and love it. Thoroughly regret knowing about “The Ant Hill Kids” cult and that sadist even existing, but will continue listening like a dummy LOL. Love your hosting Josh.

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