Parcast
Their promises are alluring and their influence oh-so-subtle. Every week on Sinister Societies, friends and co-hosts Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire examine the unbelievable crimes and everyday insidiousness of cults. Expect plenty of prophets, apocalypses, and doom... alongside everything from bunkers and booze to utopias and URLs.
Sherry Shriner's Reptilian Cult
Sherry Shriner’s conspiracy theories exploded online in the late 2000s with the debut of her YouTube channel, but the seeds of her bizarre beliefs had been planted in her childhood. Hannah and Suruthi cover the cult leader’s obsession with the “alien agenda,” Bible Codes, end days prophecies, and the New World Order.
Criminal Couples is Back for Season 2!
Rediscover the dark side of love in the second season of this special collection from Parcast Network. Enjoy a clip from the first episode, then follow Criminal Couples for new episodes every Monday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Rama and American Buddhism
Frederick Lenz was a spiritual leader in the ‘80s who believed he was the incarnation of a Hindu god. He called himself Rama, insisted computer programming was a path to enlightenment, and collected millions from his followers. But for all his material wealth, he couldn’t save his beloved pup Vayu, and it sent him over the edge.
Hermes Far Eastern Shining
Sometime in the ‘90s a man named Gerald Attrill changed his name to Jessa O’My Heart, claimed he was the next coming of Jesus Christ, and began selling magical elixirs. People drank it up. Hermes Far Eastern Shining became — and still is! — a massively profitable business. But it’s also incredibly dubious… to say the least.
LuLaRoe
For a company whose slogan is “Creating freedom through fashion” LuLaRoe is tangled up in quite a few lawsuits. So, how did Mark and Deanne Stidham’s legging empire lose its footing? Hannah and Suruthi discuss the boom — and bust — created by the once-beloved MLM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Synanon
How does a widely respected drug rehabilitation program turn into a violent cult? Today, Hannah and Suruthi are talking about Synanon — the “revolutionary” group helmed by Chuck Dederich that became a religious society with its own private militia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
