Zealot

Zealot

A podcast about cults.

Episodes

June 19, 2021 2 mins
So long, and thanks for all the cults.
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Jo Thornely talks to Matt Bevan about a guy who shares a load of characteristics with cult leaders, if he could only just get organised: Donald Trump.
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November 9, 2020 55 mins
Jo Thornely talks to Josh Dean about a guy who did more damage to the Hare Krishna reputation than repetitive airport chanting: Keith Ham.
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October 4, 2020 59 mins
Jo Thornely talks to Paul Verhoeven about a man who made everyone who watched Tiger King say hmmmm: Doc Antle.
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Jo Thornely talks to Rhys Nicholson about a man who made a college dorm look even more like a cult than usual: Lawrence Ray.
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Jo Thornely talks to Marieke Hardy about a cult led by a man skilled in the arts of manipulation, push-ups, and Speedo-wearing: The Buddhafield.
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Jo Thornely talks to Cal Wilson about a Kiwi cult that she visited as a child, remembering the headscarves and gardening, but not the huge cache of weapons: Camp David.
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Jo Thornely talks to Yvie Jones about a big-haired lady who’ll tell you Jesus wants you to be skinny and fat people go to hell: Gwen Shamblin.
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Jo Thornely talks to Lauren Bonner about a guy who took a short break from being a prison inmate to develop his skills as a songwriter and cult leader: Charles Manson.
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Jo Thornely talks to Rose Callaghan about an actor whose most convincing roles are as a rock star and a cult leader: Jared Leto.
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Jo Thornely talks to Brianna Williams about a woman who has made sure you’ll find her if you Google how to kill yourself: Teal Swan.
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Jo Thornely talks to Alex Jae about a family that hates you, pancakes and nerds, but LOVES bedroom murals and knock-off Ed Hardy: Westboro Baptist Church.
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Jo Thornely talks to Gary Smith about a clever trust fund brat with an unhygienic attitude towards canapés: Aleister Crowley.
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Jo Thornely talks to Rob Stott about a cult that slaps the demons out of you and serves pizza afterwards: Grace Road Church.
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September 15, 2019 60 mins
Jo Thornely talks to Lucas Brown about a cult that loved communism, forks and fornicating: The Oneida Community.
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Jo Thornely talks to Alison Piotrowski about a cult that loves the twin themes of reincarnation and boobs: Universal Medicine.
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Jo Thornely talks to Jeremy Davidson about a murderous cult leader whose only assets were fake nuns and sartorial style : DeVernon LeGrand.
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Jo Thornely talks to Natalie Norman live at the Toronto True Crime Film Festival about a guy who balances on the twin pillars of okayness and staring: John De Ruiter.
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Jo Thornely talks to Simone Holtznagel about (probably) the only cult that started with health food and ended with hang gliding: The Source Family.
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April 24, 2019 69 mins
Jo Thornely talks to Chris Deal about a guy accused of both running a sex cult and dropping killer jams: R Kelly.
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