The CULTural Zeitgeist

This week, we discuss Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the MAHA movement. What does it really mean, and is it as good as it sounds? Short answer: Probably not. 

We finally cover Amy Carlson A.K.A. Mother God, who's cult of personality may have led to her undoing. 

Possibly one of the most influential people we have covered this far, Helena Blavatsky is considered a fraud by some but to us, she is just a 19th-century hustler girlie, who may or may not have been hustled herself. 

Bentino Massaro leveraged the internet to grow a devout following. His teachings are a spiritual circle jerk of nonsense that has led to one death and a trail of sexual assault allegations. 

Originally aired November 1, 2023 In 1981 residents of Antelope, Oregon found their small conservative town of 40 residents overtaken by thousands of orange-clad strangers. The outsiders came to Oregon looking to create a utopian society dedicated to their leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. But years of investigations would find the Rajneeshees responsible for the first and largest bioterror attack on...

Belle Gibson continues to take her scheme to new levels, gets blasted on 60 Minutes, and takes cultural appropriation to a new level.    Please Consider Donating To Cancer Research Institute Cancer Research Institute’s mission is to save more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all types of cancer. It holds an A- from charity watchdog CharityWatch for it’...

Originally aired November 13, 2023 Wellness influencer Belle Gibson claimed that she had cured herself of malignant brain cancer through clean eating and coffee enemas. But, spoiler alert, she was a huge F*CKING liar.   Please Consider Donating To Cancer Research Institute Cancer Research Institute’s mission is to save more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies...

JZ Knight rose to prominence for channeling a Ramtha, a 35,000-year-old entity from a lost civilization. However, she quickly contorted her message of love and self-acceptance into a racist doomsday prediction that pit reptilian aliens against only the most enlightened of mankind. 

This episode was previously aired on 12/6/2023 Katie Griggs was a girl-bossing yoga teacher and somehow a follower of two cult leader creeps (Osho and Yogi Bhajan) we have already covered. So things went really well...     Resources  Phelan, Hayley. “ The Second Coming of Guru Jagat .” Vanity Fair. 1 December 2021   Orecchio-Egresitz, Haven. “ Before the sudden death of its leader, Ra Ma Yoga Inst...

Krishna Venta was a vagabond before dedicating his life to cosplaying as Jesus and peddling a doomsday race war that would live on in infamy long after he was gone. 

Joyce Green was a stereotypical 60's housewife before abandoning her kids and transforming into the guru Ma Jaya Bhagavati, complete with visions of the dead and full-blown stigmata. 

This week, we cover the unsolved death of Astrologer and Yogi, Marcia Moore. Moore was a renowned writer on the metaphysical and went missing in 1979. 

This week, we continue our two-part episode on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.  We cover the court of Oyer and Terminer and the low-key serial killer running the show. 

CULTured is our irregular, monthly roundup of news in the wellness, yoga, and true crime space.....plus whatever the hell else we want to talk about.    This month, we try to wrap our heads around the Diddy controversy and how deep the scandal goes. 

It's SPOOKY SEASON!    Join us for a deep dive into one of the most notorious events in American history, The Salem Witch Trials. We discuss the societal tensions and personal vendettas that fueled the hysteria, leading to the persecution of many innocent people.     

It's spooky season, and this week we cover the takeover of a small Mexican town by a group of hustlers that spirals into forced blood rituals, orgies, and human sacrifice. You know, super casual stuff.     

The Fox Sisters claimed to be able to speak to the dead, a claim that captivated a pre-Civil War America — but years of opposition, tragedy, and in-fighting proved to be their undoing.    Recommended listening: The Foxes of Hydesville 

Be prepared for our first on-air argument about spam thickness...Spoiler alert: We agree to disagree (but do we really?)     Louis DeWohl is a sham astrologer hired by the Brits to help stop Hilter. It's a weird one....but a fun one. 

This month, we dive into Netflix's Dancing for the Devil, the TwinRay cult, Men's Group ethics, and Swami Satchidananda's possible VD   Netflix's Dancing for the Devil Be Scofield's Twin Ray expose (please donate to help keep her work going) MA'AT - Advocacy for victims of Aubert Bastiat Yogaville Lawsuit (again, Be Scofield - go donate if your can) I've Had It Podcast Lilias's Bones - A Witch Pod...

In this episode, we dive deep into the life of Miss Cleo, the charismatic face of the Psychic Readers Network. We explore her rise to fame, the controversies that surrounded her, and the eventual downfall that left her devastated.  We discuss the deceptive practices of the Psychic Readers Network, the legal battles that ensued, and how Miss Cleo was exploited by the very company that made her famo...

Sarah burns it down.  Sarah Edmondson, with the support of Mark Vicente and Bonnie Piesse, take their case against Keith Raniere public and that POS goes on the run.  Trigger warnings for mentions of suicide and sexual assault are included as we delve into the darker aspects of this case. This episode is a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with justice, heartbreak, and the resilience of those who...

In this episode, we delve into the disturbing world of NXIVM, a so-called self-improvement organization founded by Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman. Promising personal development and success through their proprietary "technology," NXIVM quickly garnered a following of dedicated members. However, beneath the surface lurked a sinister reality.   The Vow on MAX

In this episode, Jenna and Jess dive into the controversial world of Teal Swan, a self-proclaimed spiritual leader who has garnered a large following by claiming to be a spiritual catalyst. Teal hosts retreats and workshops but is unlicensed, unregulated, and dangerous as hell.    This episode is one huge trigger warning for suicide and sexual assault, please skip if you are not in the headspace t...