A message from Zealot

Donald Trump

Matt Bevan

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.

Zealot 47: Donald Trump with Matt Bevan

Josh Dean

Keith Ham

Jo Thornely talks to Josh Dean about a guy who did more damage to the Hare Krishna reputation than repetitive airport chanting: Keith Ham.

Zealot 46: Keith Ham with Josh Dean

Paul Verhoeven

Jo Thornely talks to Paul Verhoeven about a man who made everyone who watched Tiger King say hmmmm: Doc Antle.

Zealot 45: Doc Antle with Paul Verhoeven

Rhys Nicholson

Lawrence Ray

Jo Thornely talks to Rhys Nicholson about a man who made a college dorm look even more like a cult than usual: Lawrence Ray.

Zealot 44: Lawrence Ray with Rhys Nicholson

Marieke Hardy

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.

Zealot 43: The Buddhafield with Marieke Hardy

Cal Wilson

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.

Zealot 42: Camp David with Cal Wilson

Yvie Jones

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.

Zealot 40: Gwen Shamblin with Yvie Jones

Lauren Bonner

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.

Zealot 39: The Manson Family with Lauren Bonner

Jared Leto

Rose Callaghan

Jo Thornely talks to Rose Callaghan about an actor whose most convincing roles are as a rock star and a cult leader: Jared Leto.

Zealot 38: Jared Leto with Rose Callaghan

This show is actually hilarious! Great find!

Hilarious!

Couldn’t have been more excited to see this popped up in my feed this morning.

She’s back!

Zealot

Kerri Sackville

Jo Thornely talks to Kerri Sackville about the cult well known for mass weddings and less well known for disgusting sex handkerchiefs: The Moonies.

Zealot 6: The Moonies with Kerri Sackville

Alex Jae

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.

Zealot 36: Westboro Baptist Church with Alex Jae

Aleister Crowley

Gary Smith

Jo Thornely talks to Gary Smith about a clever trust fund brat with an unhygienic attitude towards canapés: Aleister Crowley.

Zealot 35: Aleister Crowley with Gary Smith

Katie Jamieson

Jo Thornely talks to Katie Jamieson about the go-to cult for man-buns and active wear: The Raelians

Zealot 3: Raelians with Katie Jamieson

Eddie Sharp

Do we live inside the Earth or is it full of racists and waterfalls? Are they the same thing? Jo Thornely wonders with Eddie Sharp

Zealot 4: Hollow Earth with Eddie Sharp

Brock Wilbur

Jo Thornely talks to Brock Wilbur about a cult-slash-multi-level-marketing organisation inspired by Scientology, Amway, and deep misogyny: NXIVM.

Zealot 27: NXIVM with Brock Wilbur

Jan Fran

Jo Thornely talks to Jan Fran about a cult that puts the prayer into prairie dresses but otherwise makes you feel a bit sick: The FLDS.

Zealot 18: FLDS with Jan Fran

Nadine Von Cohen

Jo Thornely talks to Nadine Von Cohen about an evil Chilean Nazi torture cult so heinous they made a bad movie about it: Colonia Dignidad

Zealot 7: Colonia Dignidad with Nadine Von Cohen

Rachael Mogan

Jo Thornely talks to Rachael Mogan McIntosh about the cult that inspired luxury car ownership, salad bar terrorism, and tough titties: The Rajneeshees.

Zealot 5: Rajneeshees with Rachael Mogan McIntosh

Rob Stott

Jo Thornely talks to Rob Stott about a cult that slaps the demons out of you and serves pizza afterwards: Grace Road Church.

Zealot 34: Grace Road Church with Rob Stott

Dan Ilic

Jo Thornely talks to Dan Ilic about a cult led by a guy who calls himself “The Little Pebble” but who others call “a convicted paedophile”: The Order of St Charbel.

Zealot 26: The Little Pebble with Dan Ilic

Chris Deal

Jo Thornely talks to Chris Deal about a guy accused of both running a sex cult and dropping killer jams: R Kelly.

Zealot 28: R Kelly with Chris Deal

Shelley Stocken

Jo Thornely talks to Shelley Stocken about a cult that hits its lows in the twin categories of child-rearing and hairdressing: The Family.

Zealot 17: The Family with Shelley Stocken

Colin Delaney

Jo Thornely talks to Colin Delaney about a cult synonymous with hair, balls, and syncopated rhythm: House Of David.

Zealot 19: House of David with Colin Delaney

Alison Piotrowski

Jo Thornely talks to Alison Piotrowski about a cult that loves the twin themes of reincarnation and boobs: Universal Medicine.

Zealot 32: Universal Medicine with Alison Piotrowski

Bec Shaw

Jo Thornely talks to Bec Shaw about a cult that shows giving medieval re-enactment nerds capes and power is never a good idea: The Order of the Solar Temple.

Zealot 22: Order of the Solar Temple with Bec Shaw

Roch Theriault

Dan Barrett

Jo Thornely talks to Dan Barrett about a drunk sadist who enjoys a bit of experimental surgery but also bakes a mean baguette: Roch Theriault.

Zealot 15 Roch Theriault with Dan Barrett

Patrick Lenton

Jo Thornely talks to Patrick Lenton about a cult that really knows their way around a spaceship and a box of coloured pencils: Universe People.

Zealot 21: Universe People with Patrick Lenton

Alex Monnig

Circle

Jo Thornely talks to Alex Monnig about a cult full of grown up child celebrities and bad financial management: Full Circle.

Zealot 25: Full Circle with Alex Monnig

The best podcast episodes of the most interesting stories and things. From skyping someone while they're in space, to tracking down and meeting a telephone scammer in person, to the story of a Galapagos. These episodes will keep you and all your friends entertained and captivated for hours. Learn something new in every episode! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes: Interesting Stories & Things

The best episodes for anyone looking to learn more about topics such as happiness, fulfillment, depression and psychology/mental health in general. With interviews with industry experts, personal stories of individuals, this topic has lessons applicable to everyone. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!