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From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe...
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From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place. New episodes weekly. Listener stories always welcome. Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
United Kingdom
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Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families. - Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations. - The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse. - Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education. - FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers. - RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources 🧠
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control. - Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families. - Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults.
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26 LUG 2026 · In Toowoomba, Australia, a small Christian sect led by Brendan Stevens rejected medicine in favour of divine healing. In January 2022, those beliefs ended in tragedy when nine-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died after her insulin was withheld. This episode examines the rise of The Saints, life inside the group, Elizabeth's death, and the extraordinary trial that saw all fourteen adult members convicted of manslaughter.
Part 1 – Brendan Stevens: Pentecostal Roots, the Break from RCI, and the Formation of The Saints
Part 2 – Becoming the True Family: Recruitment, Baptism, and Separation from the Outside World
Part 3 – Elizabeth Struhs: Diabetes, the 2019 Warning, and the Escalation After Kerrie’s Release
Part 4 – Six Days Without Insulin: Elizabeth's Death and the Thirty-Six-Hour Wait for Resurrection
Part 5 – Fourteen Defendants: The Supreme Court Trial, Manslaughter Convictions, and the End of The Saints
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
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12 LUG 2026 · Founded in Israel in 1988, Lev Tahor presented itself as a return to pure Judaism under the leadership of Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans. Over the following decades, the group crossed continents, relocating from Israel to the United States, Canada, Guatemala and beyond as legal pressure and child welfare investigations followed. Members described a world of extreme isolation, rigid religious rules, arranged child marriages, severe punishments and complete separation from mainstream society. As survivors escaped and spoke publicly, allegations of abuse, neglect, kidnapping, human trafficking and child exploitation led to international investigations involving authorities across multiple countries. Today, Lev Tahor remains one of the most controversial and heavily investigated ultra-Orthodox sects in the modern world, with its leaders facing criminal convictions while former members continue helping authorities expose what they say happened behind the community's closed doors.
Part 1 – Shlomo Helbrans: Jerusalem, Religious Conversion, and the Birth of Lev Tahor
Part 2 – America, Kidnapping, Prison, Canada, and the Growth of the Sect
Part 3 – Child Welfare Investigations, International Flight, and Criminal Investigations
Part 4 – Nachman Helbrans, International Raids, Convictions, and the Collapse of the Leadership
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
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Trascritto
5 LUG 2026 · The Superior Universal Alignment began in Brazil in 1981 as a small UFO-inspired religious movement led by the self-proclaimed prophet Valentina de Andrade. Promising spiritual enlightenment, extraterrestrial salvation, and escape from an approaching apocalypse, the group rejected traditional Christianity and embraced increasingly extreme beliefs that isolated its followers from the outside world. When a series of horrific crimes shocked the city of Altamira. Between 1989 and 1993, young boys began disappearing before many were found brutally mutilated and murdered, while others survived unimaginable attacks. As investigators searched for answers, attention turned toward respected local professionals connected to the Superior Universal Alignment and the movement's disturbing teachings about children born after 1981.
Part 1 – Valentina de Andrade: Prophecy, UFO Beliefs, and the Birth of a New Religion
Part 2 – Building Superior Universal Alignment: Doctrine, Followers, Rituals, and Isolation
Part 3 – The Altamira Child Emasculations
Part 4 – Trials, Convictions, Acquittals, and the Search for Justice
Part 5 – Decline, Dissolution, and the End of Superior Universal Alignment
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Contenuto generato con l’IA
Trascritto
28 GIU 2026 · Colonia Dignidad began as a secluded German religious settlement in rural Chile, promising faith, hard work, and a better future. Behind its fences, however, Paul Schäfer built one of the most abusive cults of the twentieth century. Families were separated, children were systematically abused, members endured forced labor and psychological control, and the colony became a fortress ruled through fear and absolute obedience. During Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship, Colonia Dignidad evolved into something even darker, serving as a secret detention and torture site where political prisoners disappeared beneath the colony while Schäfer maintained his grip over hundreds of followers. Decades of secrecy eventually gave way to survivor testimony, international investigations, criminal prosecutions, and the fall of the man who had controlled the settlement for more than forty years.
Part 1 – Paul Schäfer: War, Religion, Abuse, and the Road to Chile
Part 2 – Building Colonia Dignidad: The Promised Land and the Fortress Colony
Part 3 – Pinochet, DINA, Torture, and the Secret Prison Beneath the Colony
Part 4 – Escapes, Exposure, International Scandal, and the Fall of Paul Schäfer
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Contenuto generato con l’IA
Trascritto
21 GIU 2026 · The Sullivan Institute began in New York during the 1950s as an unconventional psychotherapy movement that promised personal liberation, emotional growth, and freedom from traditional social constraints. Under the leadership of Saul Newton and Jane Pearce, it attracted artists, intellectuals, therapists, and idealistic young people searching for a new way of life. Over time, however, the movement evolved into a tightly controlled community where therapy became a tool of authority, family bonds were discouraged, sexual relationships were regulated, children were raised communally, and members increasingly surrendered personal autonomy to the group's leadership. Former members would later describe an environment shaped by manipulation, coercion, financial control, sexual exploitation, and psychological dependency. This episode explores the rise of the Sullivanians, the ideology that rejected the nuclear family, the community that grew on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the survivors who eventually spoke out, and the collapse of one of America's most unusual and controversial psychotherapy cults.
Part 1 – Saul Newton: War, Radical Politics, Psychoanalysis, and Reinvention
Part 2 – Founding the Sullivan Institute: Therapy, Authority, and the Rejection of the Family
Part 3 – Children, Custody, and the Cost of the Anti-Family Ideology
Part 4 – Exposure, Defections, Lawsuits, and Professional Collapse
Part 5 – Dissolution, Survivor Reckoning, and the Legacy of the Sullivanians
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Contenuto generato con l’IA
Trascritto
14 GIU 2026 · In 2010, a recently released ex-convict named Larry Ray moved into his daughter’s dormitory at Sarah Lawrence College. What began as friendly dinners, life advice, and mentorship slowly evolved into one of the most shocking cult cases in modern American history. Over the next decade, Ray manipulated a group of students through psychological coercion, isolation, humiliation, forced confessions, financial exploitation, sex trafficking, and fear. This episode explores the rise and fall of the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult, examining how a charismatic predator gained extraordinary control over intelligent young adults, the devastating impact on his victims, the survivors who ultimately exposed the abuse, and the federal trial that ended with Ray receiving a 60-year prison sentence. It is a disturbing story of manipulation, dependency, and the dangers of coercive control hidden in plain sight.
Part 1 – Larry Ray: Brooklyn, Lies, Crime, and Reinvention
Part 2 – The Dorm Room: Sarah Lawrence and the First Circle
Part 3 – Manhattan, Pinehurst, and the Expansion of Abuse
Part 4 – Sex Trafficking, Extortion, Exposure, and Arrest
Part 5 – Trial, Sentencing, Survivors, and Legacy
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Contenuto generato con l’IA
Trascritto
7 GIU 2026 · Tonight on Hidden Cults, we explore 3HO, the Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization, the spiritual movement founded in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan. What began as a counterculture yoga movement promising a path to be healthy, happy, and holy grew into a worldwide network of ashrams, businesses, schools, and spiritual communities centered around Kundalini Yoga and Sikh-inspired practices. For many followers, 3HO offered purpose, discipline, sobriety, and transformation. For others, it became a system marked by unquestioned authority, communal pressure, abuse allegations, and lasting trauma. Through the rise of Yogi Bhajan, the growth of the movement, survivor testimony, and the ongoing debate over its legacy, we examine one of the most influential and controversial spiritual organizations of the modern era.
Part 1 – Harbhajan Singh Puri: Punjab, Partition, and Reinvention
Part 2 – Los Angeles, Counterculture, and the Birth of 3HO
Part 3 – Ashrams, Business, Family Life, and Authority
Part 4 – Allegations, Ex-Members, and the 2020 Reckoning
Part 5 – After Yogi Bhajan: Reform, Survival, and a Divided Legacy
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Contenuto generato con l’IA
Trascritto
31 MAG 2026 · Tonight on Hidden Cults, we examine Japa Meditation Ireland and the rise of Irish spiritual teacher Dennis Curran. What began as meditation groups built around mantra practice, healing, and personal growth expanded into a nationwide movement attracting hundreds, and possibly thousands, of followers. Supporters described life-changing spiritual experiences and a strong sense of community. Former members described something very different: psychological pressure, financial demands, unquestioning loyalty to spiritual authority, and serious allegations of abuse.
Part 1 – Dennis Curran: Kildare, Healing, and the Making of a Master
Part 2 – From Meditation Groups to a National Network
Part 3 – Allegations, Whistleblowers, and Exposure
Part 4 – Dennis Curran’s Death, Dormancy, and the Legacy of Japa Ireland
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Contenuto generato con l’IA
Trascritto
24 MAG 2026 · Tonight on Hidden Cults, we explore Desteni, the bizarre internet-era movement founded by Bernard Poolman in South Africa. Blending channeling, reptilian conspiracies, self-forgiveness rituals, and extreme mind-control ideology, Desteni attracted followers searching for truth, transformation, and freedom from the “programmed mind.” But behind the online videos and spiritual promises, former members describe psychological control, emotional manipulation, financial pressure, and a system that slowly consumed people’s identities.
Part 1 – Bernard Poolman: Namibia, Policing, Occult Claims, and Reinvention
Part 2 – The Farm, the Portal, and the Birth of Desteni
Part 3 – Life Inside Desteni: Farm, Buddies, Courses, and Control
Part 4 – Ex-Members, TechnoTutor, and Cult Allegations
Part 5 – After Poolman: Eqafe, Rebranding, and What Remains
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Contenuto generato con l’IA
Trascritto
17 MAG 2026 · The Nation of Yahweh began in Miami in the late 1970s under the leadership of Yahweh ben Yahweh, born Hulon Mitchell Jr., who preached that Black Americans were the true Israelites of the Bible and that he was the chosen son of God sent to lead them. What started as a movement focused on identity, discipline, and community rebuilding grew into a tightly controlled organization built around fear, obedience, and violence. Inside the Temple of Love, followers surrendered names, money, relationships, and personal freedom, while prosecutors later accused the group of operating through intimidation and murder. This episode follows the rise of the Nation of Yahweh in Miami, the people drawn into it, the violence tied to the movement, and the federal investigation that brought its leader down.
Part 1 – Hulon Mitchell Jr.: Oklahoma, Religion, and Reinvention (1935–1979)
Part 2 – Miami, the Temple of Love, and the Rise of the Nation (1979–Mid-1980s)
Part 3 – Fear Inside the Temple: Enforcers, Defectors, and Violence
Part 4 – Operation Jericho, Trial, and Conviction (1986–1992)
Part 5 – Prison, Release, Death, and What Remains (1992–Present)
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
- Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
- The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
- FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
Canada
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
- Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
- Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hidden-cults--6633392/support.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Unisciti al Supporters Club di "Hidden Cults"
Inizia a supportare questo podcast e entra a far parte della sua community.
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe...
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From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place. New episodes weekly. Listener stories always welcome. Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
United Kingdom
mostra meno
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families. - Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations. - The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse. - Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education. - FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers. - RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.
- Cult & Trauma Support Resources 🧠
- Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
- Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
- Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
- Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
- Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.
United Kingdom
- The Family Survival Trust
https://familysurvivaltrust.org
Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control. - Cults Information Centre and Family Support
https://cults.org.uk
UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families. - Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
https://www.mind.org.uk
📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
- Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
https://www.cifs.org.au
National support for individuals and families affected by cults.
Informazioni
| Autore | Nik Hunter |
| Organizzazione | Nik Hunter |
| Categorie | Cultura e società , Documentari , Cronaca nera |
| Sito | - |
| hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com |
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