In 1972, self-appointed bishop Douglas Metcalf had his followers build a new heaven on earth in New Zealand. He called it Camp David… But while the group found peace behind the gates to their compound, they prepared for battle with the outside world.
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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
33m 53s
Jun 2020
The Menendez Brothers Pt. 2
In August of 1989, 21-year-old Lyle and 18-year-old Erik Menendez murdered their parents in Beverly Hills after years of abuse. Afterward, they attempted to cover it up, but their stories quickly unravelled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
47m 38s
Mar 2022
Heaven’s Gate Pt. 4: The Exit
As the days count down to Hale-Bopp’s arrival, 39 people prepare for ascension. They’d abandoned their old lives, embraced a new ideology, weathered the death of a beloved leader… and finally, made themselves worthy of the Next Level. Now, the comet was coming. And with it, the s ... Show More
47m 25s
Nov 2023
The Dominion of Melchizedek: The "Mothership for Con Artists Worldwide"
Back in the early 1980s David and Mark Pedley were little more than a father-son real estate scam duo. Then came prison, escape, and a self-penned Bible, named for an obscure Jerusalem priest and the foundation for a micronation called the Dominion of Melchizedek. It was no ordin ... Show More
46m 5s
Feb 2022
153. God and the American Empire
On today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by Friend of the Show, Professor Andrew Preston, to talk about the relationship between the US and religion, both at home and abroad in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Why have there been such low levels of anti-clericalism in the US com ... Show More
31m 43s