On Belief: A Podcast About Cults

Latest Episodes:

Episode 105: Messianic Jews with Guest Rabbi Michael Skobac Jun 04, 2019

Show notes

If you've ever wondered what Jews For Jesus or other groups in the Messianic Judaism extended universe actually believe.

In this episode, we discuss:

The origins of Messianic Judaism
How Messianic Jewish groups recruit
How Messianic Jewish groups appropriate Jewish symbols and give them a Christian spin
What Messianic Jewish groups actually believe
Is there harm to the Jewish community?
And more...

Special Guest: Rabbi Michael Skobac.

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Episode 104: Aum Shinrikyo with Guest Sarah Hightower May 28, 2019

Show notes

Content warning: Frank discussion of abuse and murder

You may vaguely remember the Tokyo Subway Sarin attack, but that's not where the Aum Shinrikyo story begins or ends.

Guest Sarah Hightower explains:

How Shoko Asahara was an opportunist and bully from childhood
How Asahara was a multiple time grifter before settling on creating a cult
The day-to-day lives of adherents
What Poa was
Why a failed bid to intall Aum members in Japanese Parliament spurred Asahara to pursue chemical and biological weapons
And more...

Special Guest: Sarah Hightower.

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Episode 103: The Family with Guest Chris Johnston May 21, 2019

Show notes

Content Warning: Frank discussion of child abuse

In this episode, Chris Johnston tells us:

Who was Anne Hamilton-Byrne?
How did she grow her cult out of a well-placed yoga studio?
How Anne took advantage of countercultre symbols like mysticism and LSD and used them to target rich conservatives
How Anne was able to grow her brood of children
How The Family evaded police and the homeschooling authorities
What happened to the children of The Family?
And more...

Buy Chris' book: https://www.amazon.com/Family-shocking-true-story-notorious/dp/1925321673

Special Guest: Chris Johnston.

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Episode 102: NXIVM With Guest Brock Wilbur May 14, 2019

Show notes

**A change has been made to this episode. Two sentences not materially important to the content of the episode have been removed to comply with a nastygram from a law firm representing a particularly litigious group which, while not directly referenced in the episode, are related to the group previously mentioned in this episode. The group in question is in no way affiliated with NXIVM.

We at On Belief would like to thank the intern at the law firm for their patronage in the $5 tier.**

Brock Wilbur sits down to discuss how he became aware of Keith Raniere and NXIVM and what he has uncovered so far.

Brock discusses what it's like to worry for years you might be sued into oblivion by a cult
Brock describes some little-known facts about the inner workings of NXIVM
Who is Keith Raniere?
Who is Nancy Salzman?
Which organizations were used as fronts for NXIVM?
What does Keith Raniere's trial hold?

Special Guests: Brock Wilbur and Rick Alan Ross.

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Episode 101: What IS a Cult? An Interview with Rick Alan Ross of the Cult Education Institute Apr 19, 2019

Show notes

We delve into the mechanics of cults: