Cynthia Watson was one of the most memorable former Students of Light who contributed to Season 1 of Chasing Enlightenment. In this bonus episode, we chat about her reactions to the podcast and about some parts of her story we didn't have time

Bonus Episode 3: The Hundred Year Hangover

Dec 13th, 2021 22m 45s

The story of the Students of Light is closely tied up with the history of Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. In this bonus episode, local historian Neil Ross helps us dig a bit deeper into the area’s colourful history.Visit chasingenlightenment.

Bonus Episode 2: I Dated a Student of Light

Nov 29th, 2021 27m 31s

Eric is a Junction resident who contacted us to share his story. He wasn’t a Student of Light, but he knew several members personally as a teenager and young adult, including one woman he dated while in university. While Eric had a few slightly

Bonus Episode 1: Interview With Joseph C.

Nov 22nd, 2021 27m 1s

In this bonus episode, we interview former Student of Light Joseph C. about what he heard on Season 1 of Chasing Enlightenment. Does he still view John Hanas as a benevolent man with supernatural powers? And does he still think that former Stud

Episode 6: The Present

Nov 8th, 2021 36m 19s

The Students of Light remain active in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. Current members believe they can communicate with John Hanas from beyond the grave. Some former members now reject the group’s brand of spirituality, while others live in

Episode 5: The Second Generation

Nov 1st, 2021 35m 49s

Some who spent their childhoods in the Students of Light say their upbringing left lasting scars. There’s also one second-generation member whose story cast a minor spotlight on the group in recent years, after she accused John Hanas’ former ri

Episode 4: The Core Group

Oct 25th, 2021 28m 33s

John Hanas delegated some power to his “core group” of followers. One was a woman who claimed to channel the voices of beings from other dimensions through her body. Another, John’s eventual wife, would become almost as revered within the group

Episode 3: The Leader

Oct 18th, 2021 30m 39s

John Hanas has been called everything from a spiritual master to an evil, manipulative man. Former followers claim he began as a humble religious leader, but some say he eventually exerted more and more control over their lives, sometimes with

Episode 2: The Students

Oct 11th, 2021 32m 59s

Many former Students of Light tell similar stories about why they first joined. One, a woman named Treva Olson, claims the group turned her into a mindless, brainwashed follower. That is, until her family kidnapped her and had her forcibly “dep

Episode 1: The Vegetarians

Oct 4th, 2021 28m 8s

In the 1970s, a small religious sect called the Students of Light quietly moved into the core of Toronto’s rundown Junction neighbourhood. Some former members have called the group a dangerous cult, accusing its leadership of mind control, brai

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Coming Soon: Chasing Enlightenment

Sep 11th, 2021 1m 57s

They called themselves the Students of Light. Their leader claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Some claim he had supernatural powers, while others call him an abusive cult leader. Hear the group’s story on Chasing Enlightenment, pr

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