The CULTural Zeitgeist

Join Jenna and Jess for their possible monthly roundup, where they dive into spirituality, wellness, pop culture, and all the things. First up: Andrew Keegan clarifies his status amidst cult rumors on the 'Pod Meets World' podcast. Hear the backstory and why Jenna and Jess think he's just a hippie with a lot of money. Next: Claire Bronfman, a former benefactor of NXIVM, has been released from pris...

The Modern Mystery School is an organization that considers itself the Harvard of Metaphysics. They teach a mixture of martial arts, meditation, reiki, and witchcraft to enact the will of ancient aliens, all while raking in millions by stoking fear of apocalypse demons. So. Super cool. 

Gregorian Bivolaru made headlines last year for being caught after 8 years on the run from international law enforcement for being an unhinged perv while marketing himself as a yoga guru. 

Serge Benhayon is a nut job who believes (amongst many things) that he received divine messages while taking a prolonged #2. Needless to say things don't get much better from there. 

OneTaste was a San Francisco-based startup in the early aughts based on the concept of Orgasmic Meditation. But what started as a women's empowerment group turned real fucking shady as its founder tried to turn their circle jerk into a religion. 

Travel back to the turn of the 20th century for a glimpse into America's first yoga sex cult starring a gaggle of harlots wearing (gasp) tights, and a man unironically and inappropriately donning a turban. 

Today we chat with our dear friend Rachael Cohen, an energy worker, intuitive medium, and author of the upcoming book Self Care of Eco-Anxiety. We dabble into Tiktok psychics, astrology, intuitive abilities, and mediumship.    Connect with Rachael Cohen - Our Infinite Nature Website Instagram / Tiktok / Youtube Preorder Self Care for Eco-Anxiety    

James Arthur Ray was a motivational speaker who found success after he was featured in the 2006 film The Secret. But his hubris landed him in hot water after three people died at one of his self-help retreats.    Before attending an event or teacher training check out the site before for red flags to be aware of.  Seek Safely  

In 1995, filmmaker Allen Ross is missing and his friends begin to suspect that his involvement in a spiritual dowsing cult may have something to do with his disappearance. 

Anne Hamilton-Byrne is a yoga instructor who used meditation and LSD to establish a cult centered around the idea that she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, while also unlawfully acquiring 28 children to expand her following.   Join our Patreon to support our production and get a shout-out in our next episode. Try 7 days free! Instagram -  @spirituallyeffedpodcast

We knew we would eventually have to cover the human garbage that is Bikram Choudhury, but it doesn't mean we like it. Bikram is an over-the-top, abusive, and delusional predator who still has followers today but should just be in jail.      Join our Patreon  to support our production and get a shout out in our next episode. Try 7 days free! Instagram -  @spirituallyeffedpodcast

Psychics. Romance Novels. Love faxes with Colin Powell. This story has everything you could ask for. Except for your money back.    Our Infinite Nature     Join our Patreon  to support our production and get a shout out in our next episode. Try 7 days free! Instagram -  @spirituallyeffedpodcast

Aum Shinrikyo is a cult that transitioned from a new-age religion to a terrorist organization engaged in horrific crimes under the leadership of its ambitious and deluded leader, Shoko Asahara. Asahara used sensory, sleep, and food deprivation, sexual assault, and even murder, to ensure that his yoga cult could bring forth the end of days, leaving him as the supreme ruler of Japan.   Creepy Dancin...

Learn about the devastating transition of Aum Shinrikyo from a spiritual organization to a terrorist organization engaged in horrific crimes under the leadership of its ambitious and deluded leader, Shoko Asahara. Asahara used sensory, sleep, and food deprivation, sexual assault, and even murder, to ensure that his yoga cult could bring forth the end of days, leaving him as the supreme ruler of Ja...

The Buddhafield is a bodacious cult from the 80’s that was devoted to yoga, dance, and maintaining rockin’ bods. Their leader was known for rocking guyliner, a speedo, and a penchant for sexual abuse.   Holy Hell - Will Allen’s Documentary on Peacock How to Become a Cult Leader: Episode 3, Reform Their Minds - Narrated by Peter Dinklage so, need I say more

Well, this one was full of trashy audio and went on for well over an hour before we artfully edited it to a manageable 52 minutes (you're welcome).   Today we finish our story about the disgusting Keith Ham (a week late...sorry, not sorry) and the multiple murders he committed to keep his followers from knowing he was a pedocreep.    In case you wanted one: Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Tee...

Keith Ham was a Hare Krishna leader of the West Virginia ashram called New Vrindaban, but he was harboring pretty gross secrets that would lead him to commit not one, but two grisly murders.    Krishnas: Gurus. Karma. Murder - Documentary on Peacock Hare Krishna Leader Tied to Murder Plot - Washington Post 

If you think Young Living was bad, doTerra isn't much better. doTerra turns a blind eye to the shady business dealings of it's middle man and lies about it's charitable work overseas    IUCN The Price of Purity on Vice TV Beeyo Mal    

D. Gary Young is known as an essential oil trailblazer who started a wildly successful company with millions of devoted followers, but before Gary introduced the world to Thieves he had also spent a good amount of time in jail. Apparently, pretending to be a doctor is against the law, but don't worry, jail didn't stop this go-getter. 

A non-depressing tale of how Little Women author Louisa May Alcott grew up in a failed Dickensian hipster cult run by her father, an educator and dedicated vegan, who was very much, ahead of his time.    

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 Institute was accused by some former members of bei...

Yogi Bhajan came to the US to spread the teachings of Kundalini Yoga, something he claimed was an ancient spiritual practice, but ...turns out he made the whole thing up and left a trail of sexual abuse and shady business deals along the way.    RESOURCES Deslippe, Philip. “ From Maharaj to Mahan Tantric: The Construction of Yogi Bhajan's Kundalini Yoga ”  Dyson, Pamela Saharah. Premka: White Bird...

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’...

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 for all types of cancer. It holds...

A quick update on the Kaitlin Armstrong trail, new evidence was presented, petty gauntlets were thrown, a muppet of a man got his foot stomped on by a grown-ass adult.