The Truth About True Crime with Amanda Knox

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Ministry of Evil, Part 1: The Cult of Personality Feb 11, 2019

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In the beginning, Tony and Susan Alamo were street-corner hucksters, handing out apocalyptic leaflets to hippies in Hollywood, using the horrors of war and civil unrest in the 1970s as a way to tap into the psyche of the times. Amanda Knox takes a look at the Alamos' fire-and-brimstone evangelism that sucked members into their cult and trapped them there through manipulation and exploitation. Guests include former member Carey Miller, expert and author Debby Schriver, and Ministry of Evil docu-series producers Fenton Bailey, Leslie Mattingly and Eleanor West.

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New Season Preview: Ministry of Evil Feb 08, 2019

Show notes

In the '70s and '80s, Tony and Susan Alamo promised personal salvation to those who joined their ministry, The Alamo Christian Foundation. Wielding the fear of damnation, they grew rapidly but soon began to face allegations of using cult-like tactics and abuse to control and exploit their followers. This season on The Truth About True Crime, former members share their stories as host Amanda Knox uncovers the methods the Alamos used to capture people, the mental and physical maltreatment Tony and Susan inflicted on their followers and the challenges the filmmakers faced in telling this story in SundanceTV's docu-series Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo.

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Sundance Film Festival Bonus Episode: Filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile) Feb 01, 2019

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Amanda Knox sits down with filmmaker Joe Berlinger at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival to discuss his new film starring Zac Efron as infamous serial killer Ted Bundy — Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Amanda and Joe dig into the nuances of resurrecting the sensationalized media story that surrounded more than thirty homicides of young women in seven states, what it was like to adapt the story of an undeniably guilty killer after working on numerous documentaries that deal with the wrongfully convicted, and how the director helped his actors get into the headspace of this gruesome tale.

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Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, Part 7: Life After Jonestown Dec 07, 2018

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40 years after the massacre in Guyana, Amanda Knox speaks to survivors about the aftermath of Jonestown and how they continue to deal with it in their daily lives. This episode also features audio from the 40-year anniversary memorial of the Jonestown Massacre held on November 18, 2018 at Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland, California. Guest include Stephan Jones, Jim Jones, Jr., Jeff Guinn, Jordan Vilchez, Grace Stoen and Laura Johnston Kohl.

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Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, Part 6: No Escape Nov 19, 2018

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When Congressman Leo Ryan made a trip to Jonestown to investigate the alleged human rights violations happening there, things took a horrific turn. Amanda Knox examines the events that took place on November 18, 1978, ultimately leading to the deaths of over 900 people, now known as "The Jonestown Massacre." How did the survivors deal with the immediate aftermath? What media sensationalism surrounded them? Guests Jeff Guinn, Jordan Vilchez and Grace Stoen weigh in.

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Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, Part 5: Promised Land Nov 19, 2018

Show notes

Pitched as a paradise where the Peoples Temple members could finally put their good work and ideas to action, Jonestown devolved into a struggling, brainwashed community located in Guyana's unforgiving jungle. Amanda Knox takes a look at what life was like for the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, and the events that led up to the massacre. Guests include Jeff Guinn, Jim Jones, Jr. and Shan Nicholson.

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Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, Part 4: Losing Control Nov 19, 2018

Show notes

Before moving the Peoples Temple to Guyana, Jim Jones was on a downward spiral fueled by an addiction to drugs and power. Amanda Knox digs into Jones' desperate need to control the narrative of himself and the Peoples Temple while struggling with his own self-destructive behavior. Guests include Jeff Guinn and Shan Nicholson.

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Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, Part 3: California Dreaming Nov 19, 2018

Show notes

Jim Jones used skillful performance tactics to generate fear and awe among his congregation, keeping them loyal and afraid. Amanda Knox examines the theatrics Jones used to grow his church, leading the Peoples Temple from Indiana to California. Guests include Jeff Guinn, Jim Jones, Jr., Jordan Vilchez and Laura Johnston Kohl.

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Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, Part 2: Rainbow Family Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

What were Jim Jones' motives in creating the Peoples Temple? What methods did he use to attract new members and control them? Amanda Knox uncovers the many ways Jones manipulated his followers on his path to power with guests Jeff Guinn, Jim Jones, Jr., Jordan Vilchez and Ron Haldeman. Archival clips are courtesy of the Jonestown Institute.

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Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, Part 1: Making a Monster Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

In 1978, the Jonestown Massacre left more than 900 dead in what is remembered as the largest mass suicide in American history. Discover how cult leader Jim Jones, once a valuable contributor to the civil rights movement, went from messiah to monster. In the first episode, Amanda Knox explores Jones' childhood and how the events at Jonestown have altered the opinions of the people who knew him when he was young. Guests include Jeff Guinn, Ron Haldeman and Phyllis Zimmerman. Archival clips are courtesy of the Jonestown Institute.

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