Prophesied to die young and surviving near-death-experiences, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh felt discomfort with his own mortality from a young age. Over time, his spiritual studies and strong beliefs about capitalism and sexuality led Rajneesh to become a charismatic cult leader. This charisma attracted Ma Anand Sheela, the woman who rose from a 20-year-old devote ... Show More
Nov 2022
Waco Siege & Branch Davidians Pt. 1
On February 28th, 1993, ATF agents raided a compound in Waco, Texas, belonging to a religious group known as the Branch Davidians. A 51-day standoff ensued, ending in a violent siege. Eighty-one people lost their lives, many of them children — but to this day, no one knows which ... Show More
32m 53s
Jul 2016
The 93 Rolls-Royces of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
<p>Some called Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh a messiah, and some called him a cult leader. Beginning in the 1980s, this controversial guru and his followers slowly took over an area of rural Oregon. Yet despite all his spiritual teachings and publications, he's perhaps best remembered f ... Show More
1h 2m
Jun 2021
“The Guru's Secretary” Sheela Birnstiel Pt. 2
With her relationship with Bhagwan strained and her power slipping away, Sheela Birnstiel knew she had to do something drastic to make him happy and gain it all back. So in 1984, assisted by a group of loyal followers, Birnstiel masterminded the largest bioterrorist attack the U. ... Show More
49m 55s
Mar 2025
She Started a Cult - The Amy Carlson / Love Has Won story
<p>The Amy Carlson case centers around the leader of the spiritual cult "Love Has Won," who was found unalived in April 2021 in a Colorado home, her mummified body adorned with glitter and wrapped in Christmas lights. Known to her followers as "Mother God," Ca ... Show More
8m 49s