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.

A message from Zealot

Jun 19th, 2021 2m 52s

So long, and thanks for all the cults.

Zealot 47: Donald Trump with Matt Bevan

Nov 22nd, 2020 55m 43s

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 46: Keith Ham with Josh Dean

Nov 9th, 2020 55m 57s

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 45: Doc Antle with Paul Verhoeven

Oct 5th, 2020 59m 28s

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

Zealot 44: Lawrence Ray with Rhys Nicholson

Aug 30th, 2020 1h 14m

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 43: The Buddhafield with Marieke Hardy

Aug 2nd, 2020 57m 55s

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 42: Camp David with Cal Wilson

Jul 5th, 2020 53m 46s

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 41: Taipan & the Ideal Human Environment with Courtney Fry

Jun 9th, 2020 51m 32s

Jo Thornely talks to Courtney Fry about a rugged Aussie cult leader who likes perfect nectarines and being called Taipan: James Salerno and the Ideal Human Environment.

Zealot 40: Gwen Shamblin with Yvie Jones

May 16th, 2020 1h 6m

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 38: Jared Leto with Rose Callaghan

Apr 16th, 2020 56m 31s

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 37: Teal Swan with Brianna Williams

Apr 7th, 2020 1h 8m

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.

Zealot 36: Westboro Baptist Church with Alex Jae

Nov 20th, 2019 1h 10m

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 35: Aleister Crowley with Gary Smith

Oct 31st, 2019 1h 6m

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

Zealot 34: Grace Road Church with Rob Stott

Oct 13th, 2019 56m 7s

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

Zealot 33: Oneida with Lucas Brown

Sep 15th, 2019 1h

Jo Thornely talks to Lucas Brown about a cult that loved communism, forks and fornicating: The Oneida Community.

Zealot 32: Universal Medicine with Alison Piotrowski

Aug 17th, 2019 1h 23m

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

Zealot 31: DeVernon LeGrand with Jeremy Davidson

Jul 21st, 2019 49m 9s

Jo Thornely talks to Jeremy Davidson about a murderous cult leader whose only assets were fake nuns and sartorial style : DeVernon LeGrand.

Zealot 30: John De Ruiter with Natalie Norman LIVE at Toronto True Crime Film Festival

Jul 6th, 2019 53m

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.

Zealot 29: The Source Family with Simone Holtznagel

May 29th, 2019 52m 13s

Jo Thornely talks to Simone Holtznagel about (probably) the only cult that started with health food and ended with hang gliding: The Source Family.

Zealot 28: R Kelly with Chris Deal

Apr 25th, 2019 1h 9m

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

Zealot 27: NXIVM with Brock Wilbur

Mar 25th, 2019 1h 5m

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

Zealot 26: The Little Pebble with Dan Ilic

Mar 16th, 2019 1h 10m

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.