Ep.3 Aum Shinrikyo

In this harrowing episode of Hidden Cults, we dive into the chilling rise and catastrophic fall of Aum Shinrikyo, a doomsday cult that began as a fringe yoga group in Japan and evolved into a domestic terrorist organization with apocalyptic ambitions. Led by the self-proclaimed messiah Shoko Asahara, Aum's journey from spiritual seekers to the perpetrators of the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack exposes a disturbing fusion of mind control, science fiction, and mass delusion. We unravel the cult's recruitment of elite scientists, their obsession with chemical weapons, and the twisted prophecy that led to one of the deadliest terror attacks in modern Japanese history. Survivors, defectors, and experts help us uncover the cult's hidden inner workings, and the eerie global echoes that remain today. A story of belief turned deadly, this is the nightmare beneath the surface of spiritual salvation.

Part 1 – The Guru in the Shadows: The Rise of Shoko Asahara (1955–1989)
Part 2 – Cult to Command: Doctrine, Devotion, and Domination (1990–1994)
Part 3 – The Tokyo Attack: Chaos Underground (1995)
Part 4 – Collapse and Reckoning: Trials, Trauma, and Aftershocks (1995–2018)
Part 5 – Echoes in the Void: The Remnants and Rebrands (2018–Present)
Part 6 – Reflections on Faith, Fear, and Control

From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place. New episodes weekly. Listener stories always welcome. Anonymity guaranteed.

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International Resources

• International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
  https://www.icsahome.com
  Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.
• Open Minds Foundation
  https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
  Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.
• The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
  https://www.thehotline.org
  📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.
• Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
  https://freedomofmind.com
  Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.
• FaithTrust Institute
  https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
  Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.

United States

• Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
  📞 1-239-514-3081
  Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
  https://www.rainn.org
  📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.

Canada 

• Cult & Trauma Support Resources 🧠
• Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-