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Hidden Cults

Hidden Cults

By: Nik Hunter
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About this listen

 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.

Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com

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-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
  • Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
  • Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
  • Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
  • Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.

United Kingdom
  • The Family Survival Trust
    https://familysurvivaltrust.org
    Support and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.
  • Cults Information Centre and Family Support
    https://cults.org.uk
    UK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.
  • Mind UK (Mental Health Support)
    https://www.mind.org.uk
    📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.
Australia
  • Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS)
    https://www.cifs.org.au
    National support for individuals and families affected by cults.
Copyright Nik Hunter Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • Ep.7 The Manson Family

    Ep.7 The Manson Family
    Jun 25 2025
    In the heat and haze of the 1960s, Charles Manson didn’t look like a cult leader. He looked like a drifter with a guitar and some big ideas. But behind the music and the talk of love was something darker. Something that would end in blood. In this episode of Hidden Cults, we follow the story of the Manson Family from its earliest days on the fringes of the counterculture to the horrific murders that shocked the world. We dig into how Manson built his following, what he promised, and how he convinced others to kill in his name. This isn’t just a story about a cult, it’s about influence, manipulation, and the line between belief and destruction.Part 1 – The Drifter and the Dream: The Early Life of Charles MansonPart 2 – The Family Grows: From Haight-Ashbury to the DesertPart 3 – Prophecy and Blood: The Road to Helter SkelterPart 4 – The Trial: Theatre of ControlPart 5 – Echoes of the Family: Aftermath and SurvivalPart 6 – The Blueprint: Influence, Replication, and the Shadow That RemainsFrom 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.Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.comInternational ResourcesInternational Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)https://www.icsahome.comProvides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.Open Minds Foundationhttps://www.openmindsfoundation.orgOffers 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.comResources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.FaithTrust Institutehttps://www.faithtrustinstitute.orgSupport and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.United StatesCult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)📞 1-239-514-3081Referral 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-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.orgPhone: 📞 514-274-2333Email: infosecte@qc.aira.comCanada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.United KingdomThe Family Survival Trusthttps://familysurvivaltrust.orgSupport and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.Cults Information Centre and Family Supporthttps://cults.org.ukUK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.Mind UK (Mental Health Support)https://www.mind.org.uk📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.AustraliaCult Information and Family Support (CIFS)https://www.cifs.org.auNational support for individuals and families affected by cults.
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    49 mins
  • Ep.6 The Peoples Temple

    Ep.6 The Peoples Temple
    Jun 22 2025
    Long before the tragedy in the jungle, the Peoples Temple looked like something good. Jim Jones preached equality. He fed the poor, welcomed the outcast, and promised a better world. But behind the sermons was a darker reality. In this episode of Hidden Cults, we follow the full rise and collapse of the Peoples Temple. From small-town Indiana to the remote settlement of Jonestown, this is the story of how one man’s hunger for control led to one of the largest mass deaths in modern history. It’s not just about what happened in 1978. It’s about how it started, why people followed, and what it really takes to turn faith into a weapon.Part 1 – The Prophet of Progress: The Early Life of Jim JonesPart 2 – Expansion and ObediencePart 3 – JonestownPart 4 – The Bodies Left BehindPart 5 – The AftermathPart 6 – Legacy of a LieFrom 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.Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.comInternational ResourcesInternational Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)https://www.icsahome.comProvides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.Open Minds Foundationhttps://www.openmindsfoundation.orgOffers 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.comResources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.FaithTrust Institutehttps://www.faithtrustinstitute.orgSupport and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.United StatesCult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)📞 1-239-514-3081Referral 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-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.orgPhone: 📞 514-274-2333Email: infosecte@qc.aira.comCanada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.United KingdomThe Family Survival Trusthttps://familysurvivaltrust.orgSupport and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.Cults Information Centre and Family Supporthttps://cults.org.ukUK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.Mind UK (Mental Health Support)https://www.mind.org.uk📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.AustraliaCult Information and Family Support (CIFS)https://www.cifs.org.auNational support for individuals and families affected by cults.
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    49 mins
  • Ep.5 The Order of the Solar Temple

    Ep.5 The Order of the Solar Temple
    Jun 18 2025
    It began as a secret society chasing spiritual enlightenment, and ended in ritual murder and mass death. In this episode of Hidden Cults, we uncover the chilling rise and fall of The Order of the Solar Temple. Founded in Europe in the late 1980s, this apocalyptic group blended New Age mysticism, Templar mythology, and conspiracy to justify its descent into control, paranoia, and fatal prophecy. From its charismatic leaders and wealthy elite followers to the carefully staged deaths across Switzerland, France, and Canada, this is the true story behind one of the most disturbing cults in modern history. We follow the timeline step by step, from obscure recruitment to coordinated group suicides cloaked in fire and secrecy. What did they believe? Why did so many die? And how did it go so far without anyone stopping it? This is not just a story of belief gone wrong. It's a warning, about power, persuasion, and what happens when salvation is used as a weapon.Part 1 – Seeds of Shadows: Origins of the OrderPart 2 – The Descent BeginsPart 3 – Behind the VeilPart 4 – The Fire RitualsPart 5 – Echoes and AshesPart 6 – Reflections on Faith, Fear, and ControlFrom 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.Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.comInternational ResourcesInternational Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)https://www.icsahome.comProvides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.Open Minds Foundationhttps://www.openmindsfoundation.orgOffers 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.comResources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.FaithTrust Institutehttps://www.faithtrustinstitute.orgSupport and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.United StatesCult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)📞 1-239-514-3081Referral 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-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.orgPhone: 📞 514-274-2333Email: infosecte@qc.aira.comCanada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.Offers confidential support, referrals, and information in English and French.United KingdomThe Family Survival Trusthttps://familysurvivaltrust.orgSupport and advocacy for those affected by cults and coercive control.Cults Information Centre and Family Supporthttps://cults.org.ukUK-based information and guidance for cult survivors and families.Mind UK (Mental Health Support)https://www.mind.org.uk📞 0300 123 3393 — Non-judgmental mental health advice and support.AustraliaCult Information and Family Support (CIFS)https://www.cifs.org.auNational support for individuals and families affected by cults.
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
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