We did it, Fred! We finally found a cult that isn't horrible! Because today we are going to be talking about Bruno Gröning 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…

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. Get Ad-Free episodes and…

A clip from my episode on James Ellison and The Covenant! Sean spits the truth about racism and Jesus!

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…

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…

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…

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…

When Ann Fitzgerald met a group of New Age devotees at a festival in London, she thought that she had found a set of like-minded and supportive friends. Never did she imagine that she would spend the next decade in their grip, working 16-hour shifts without being paid a single…

When Allen Lafferty walked into his home on the evening of July 24, 1984, he never expected to find the carpet and drapes soaked in blood. Nor did he imagine that he would be the first to find the corpses of his beloved wife and daughter. Staring at their remains,…

After graduating from Harvard University in the early 1970s, Paul Sprecher decided to head to the Big Apple, in search of exciting opportunities. Instead, he stumbled upon a group led by an increasingly erratic authoritarian, who sought to impose his views about sex and the nuclear family on his hundreds…

In today’s episode of Let’s Start a Cult we will be discussing Multi-Level Marketing companies or pyramid schemes. From leggings to essential oils and kitchen knives, these predatory brands have manipulated countless individuals, causing them to destroy personal relationships and lose their life savings. With tactics reminiscent of actual religious…

The Chinese government is often criticized for its harsh policies against groups that undermine it. However, many have welcomed the measures that it has taken to repress the Church of Almighty God, due to the cult’s involvement in dozens of controversies, including riots, a stabbing at a primary school, and…

In today’s episode of Let’s Start a Cult – the story of Colonia Dignidad, a religious commune established on the foothills of Chile’s Andes Mountains. To outsiders, it seemed like a self-sustaining Christian community that strived to give back to the locals. However, it would later be revealed that it…

The Ripper Crew, a group that terrorized Chicago with a series of abductions and horrific killings between 1981 and 1982. Later, it would be revealed that they would eat the amputated breasts of their victims as part of their sickening Satanic ritual. They may have committed these horrific murders but…

In this episode, we are talking about an Australian New Age Group called The Family. This group forcefully adopted children and raised them on a compound in Australia. Sponsored by Db Journey: https://bit.ly/37cP8YP Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - The Early Years of Anne Hamilton-Byrne and The Family 15:38 -…

In this episode of Let’s Start a Cult – the story of the Children of Thunder, a trio led by a fanatic who believed that it was his mission to kill the leaders of the Mormon Church. To carry this out, he brainwashed his younger brother and his roommate to…

Unlike the majority of other cults, the House of David didn’t isolate itself from the rest of the world. In fact, its members even opened their commune to visitors, welcoming up to half a million of them during peak season. They also formed their own baseball team that went on…

Aswang are horrible shape-shifting creatures from Filipino folklore! Listen to this test episode as John gives Josh and Sean an in-depth look into these terrible creatures! Get ready to listen weekly starting August 2nd! Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Subscribe to Reddit On Wiki: https://linktr.ee/redditonwiki Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aswang https://www.movementdisorders.org/MDS/AOS-Partners/Movement-Disorder-Society-of-the-Philippines.htm https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/aswang-the-terrifying-vampire-ghouls-of-the-philippines/…

A clip from the latest episode of Let's Start A Cult. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: https://youtu.be/qGX0gbyVK70 Our Socials: Twitter: https://twitter.com/lets_cult Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsstartacultpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lets_cult/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChcl9qrvKAsXJTaBfVgKILQ Website: https://www.letsstartacultpodcast.com/ Crime & Compulsion: Twitter: https://twitter.com/crimecompulsion Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crimeandcompulsion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimeandcompulsionpodcast/ Website: https://crimeandcompulsion.com/ Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LetsStartACult) #charlesmanson #short #cult