He was endorsed by Oprah, interviewed by Larry King, and was selling his workshops for tens of thousands of dollars. After promising health, wealth, and happiness to his followers, in the end, all this grifter gave them was a hard sales pitch, injury, and death. This week’s episode is Sweat Lodge Guru James Arthur Ray, Part 2. Click here for this week's show notes: https://www.sinisterhood.com/shownotes/ep415-sweat-lodge-guru-james-arthur-ray-pt2 Click here to sign up for our Patreon and receive hundreds of hours of bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/sinisterhood Please click here to leave a review and tell us what you think of the show: https://www.sinisterhood.com/review Please consider supporting the companies that support us! -Remove the guesswork with Ladder and get a real coach in your ear telling you exactly what to do for every workout, no thinking, everything planned for you. If you have an iPhone, head to ladder.fit/CREEPY and take a quick quiz to find your perfect Ladder plan. Use my link and get a free 7-day trial with NO credit card, and $10 off your first month if you join. -To grab your PAKA hoodie, go to https://www.PAKAAPPAREL.COM. -Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/creepy with code creepy. -Head to MyAlloy.com and use the code SINISTER for a fully customized treatment plan and unlimited messaging with your doctor. Plus 20 percent off your first order today! This code is valid on products only.

He went from a telemarketer to an Oprah-endorsed self-help guru, charging thousands for "enlightenment" retreats. His journey from unknown to one of the biggest stars in the industry came to a screeching halt once his use of extreme methods caused it all to come crumbing down. This week's episode is Sweat Lodge Guru James Arthur Ray, Part 1. Click here for this week's show notes: https://www.sinisterhood.com/shownotes/ep414-sweat-lodge-guru-james-arthur-ray-pt1 Click here to sign up for our Patreon and receive hundreds of hours of bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/sinisterhood Please click here to leave a review and tell us what you think of the show: https://www.sinisterhood.com/review Please consider supporting the companies that support us! -Head to MyAlloy.com and use the code SINISTER for a fully customized treatment plan and unlimited messaging with your doctor. Plus 20 percent off your first order today! This code is valid on products only. -For a limited time get 40% off your first order PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/creepy and use code creepy. -To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to MINTMOBILE.com/sinisterhood. Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month.

In this conversation, former est Trainer and early Forum leader, Ed Gurowitz Ph.D., shares insights about the 6 Day program, a unique transformational training experience that emphasized safety, integrity and going beyond personal limits. It is legendary in the Landmark/Werner Erhard circles. The discussion covers the program's history, structure, and the experiential learning processes involved. While we have found many stories about the dangers of the est training and the Forum, we have heard almost nothing but huge praise for the course known as the 6 Day. As we have heard about some terrible outcomes of these types of encounter programs in the modern era, such as James Arthur Ray and the Spiritual Warrior program in which 3 people lost their lives, I wondered what we could learn from the apparent success, including the safety record, of the 6 Day. Ed reflects on the importance of leadership in creating a safe environment for participants and the challenges of maintaining integrity in personal development. The conversation concludes with thoughts on transformation as a continuous practice and the need for community support. A bit about Ed … Ed Gurowitz, Ph.D. is a psychologist who has been on the leading edge of personal and organizational transformation for over 40 years. As a management consultant and leadership development specialist, he has worked with top executives all over the world on communication, collaboration, conflict resolution, and removing the barriers that keep people stuck in “good enough,” allowing them to emerge into their full greatness as leaders and as human beings. RESOURCES & LINKS If you or someone you know is wrestling with recovery after being involved in a high-control group, relationship or any organization, check out the Healthy Healing and Recovery Group w/ Rachel Bernstein https://ilumn8.life/op/lgat-recovery-group/ Read Anne’s Book Is This A Cult: Confronting the Line Between Exploitation and Transformation https://a.co/d/7uoGYRs

This story isn't over yet, but we're hoping it's at least hit it's peak problematic-ness by now. This week we're devotees of James A Ray (of The Secret fame), and we're hopping on the roller coaster that is his rise and fall. See you at the hot-coal-walking party, but DONT do anything else if he asks you!Original song and performance by Devon Sproule Love Cults I'd Join? Want to join all the communal fun with us? *Subscribe to the pod on all pod platforms!*Rate and review us on Google (please and thank you)!*Follow us on the social medes... we're @ cultsidjoin.com, and Cults I'd Join on FB and Insta!*Share us with your cool friends (only the cool ones, please). Those tax-free compound payments aren't going to make themselves!You can find Ameran on the Insta @ amawrenYou can find Jesse on all the things @ lewdlinensSuper special thanks to our theme song creator, the incomparable Mz. Devon Sproule, we are lucky ducks to have a piece of her sweet sound on our show!

James Arthur Ray was a struggling self-help speaker until Oprah and The Secret came along and made him famous. He became a multi-millionaire with sold out conferences and multiple mansions. His followers paid him tens of thousands to be in his presence, and James felt like a god. But at one of his retreats, he pushed his followers past their limits. After his arrest and prison sentence, he came out determined to try and rebuild the massive following and success he once had, exploiting the vulnerable along the way yet again. Find my second channel here: https://youtube.com/@josienoelle-youtube?si=vJCb1Q83ZmluXXrk Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 2:09 Early Years 5:04 Tony Robbins 7:47 James' Seminars 9:25 Start Clip: James' Speech 11:45 End Clip: James' Speech 11:46 James' Followers 15:14 James' Career Skyrockets 18:35 Pushing the Limits 21:19 Chaos 22:18 Start Clip: Survivors 26:31 End Clip: Survivors 26:32 The Fall 27:42 Start Clip: Trial 28:49 End Clip: Trial 28:50 Repeat Offender 32:24 Creating A Cover-Up 32:52 Start Clip: Voicemails 33:26 End Clip: Voicemails 33:27 The Cover-Up 36:31 Enlighten Us 37:34 Start Clip: Piers Morgan 40:55 End Clip: Piers Morgan 40:56 Post-Prison 43:33 Start Clip: Drinking the Kool-Aid 44:39 End Clip: Drinking the Kool-Aid 44:40 James Gets Married 46:07 Modern Alchemy 46:50 Start Clip: Radicalization 47:18 End Clip: Radicalization 47:19 It All Ends 49:35 Pet Palate Cleanser 📩 Business Inquiries: josie@josienaikoi.com More NOT THE GOOD GIRL videos: The Millionaire Preacher With A Weight Loss Cult | Gwen Shamblin Documentary https://youtu.be/h5ayw21ZE6g The Actor, The Cult, & The Women Left In Their Wake | Documentary https://youtu.be/YFu5znY-eio The Pastor, The Playmate, and The Christian Pimp | Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker Documentary https://youtu.be/j9ZiTEguN3w TV's Scandalous Christian Family and Their Fundamentalist Cult | The Duggars and IBLP Documentary https://youtu.be/sUyEuwCUKhw The Scandalous Downfall of Justin Bieber's Pastor & Hillsong Church | Carl Lentz Documentary https://youtu.be/kng12Bc3y4k The Scandalous Life of Pastor Ted Haggard... And His Dark Return | Documentary https://youtu.be/adICmN2RJ1U Written and narrated by: Josie Naikoi (NOT THE GOOD GIRL) Edited by: Dan Nunez Josie Naikoi (NOT THE GOOD GIRL) Support: https://www.patreon.com/notthegoodgirl Join this channel as a member if you feel like it: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4DMThX0F-h6F1nzCbp6shw/join Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DeCJIS_KTLGIjI5_g0k3kc101ngWCZb7cOmCnxmpcUU/edit?usp=sharing

In this conversation, former est Trainer and early Forum leader, Ed Gurowitz Ph.D., shares insights about the 6 Day program, a unique transformational training experience that emphasized safety, integrity and going beyond personal limits. It is legendary in the Landmark/Werner Erhard circles. The discussion covers the program's history, structure, and the experiential learning processes involved. While we have found many stories about the dangers of the est training and the Forum, we have heard almost nothing but huge praise for the course known as the 6 Day. AND as we have heard about some terrible outcomes of these types of encounter programs in the modern era, such as James Arthur Ray and the Spiritual Warrior program in which 3 people lost their lives, I wondered what we could learn from the apparent success, including the safety record, of the 6 Day. Ed reflects on the importance of leadership in creating a safe environment for participants and the challenges of maintaining integrity in personal development. The conversation concludes with thoughts on transformation as a continuous practice and the need for community support. A bit about Ed … Ed Gurowitz, Ph.D. is a psychologist who has been on the leading edge of personal and organizational transformation for over 40 years. As a management consultant and leadership development specialist, he has worked with top executives all over the world on communication, collaboration, conflict resolution, and removing the barriers that keep people stuck in “good enough,” allowing them to emerge into their full greatness as leaders and as human beings. RESOURCES & LINKS If you are a practitioner of personal development or wellness programs, products or services and want to learn what it looks like to be a Safe Practioner consider joining us for the next Safe Practitioner's Workshop https://ilumn8.life/op/safe-practitioners-workshop/ If you or someone you know is wrestling with recovery after being involved in a high-control group, relationship or any organization, check out the Healthy Healing and Recovery Group w/ Rachel Bernstein https://ilumn8.life/op/lgat-recovery-... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1NfUTdjMWNnX0M2M3p0SDNxcGNocnhrcGxzZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsUWRwV0J6cXAxbHBveDM5Y3pGMjhweE4wUGZqM2l2R244SjhkSFoteWlRYjZOdi02b2lHTmpTaGVzOFBrQW1RTzI0bXN2dXhlR1BCYTdaNjVPWk0yZ0dwZDlKMWdGbG9hbWEwZFZ2RVpmWlhnRVFObw&q=https%3A%2F%2Filumn8.life%2Fop%2Flgat-recovery-group%2F&v=Kjby2IqpUGU) Read Anne’s Book Is This A Cult: Confronting the Line Between Exploitation and Transformation https://a.co/d/7uoGYRs (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblc3XzFXZVRJUGowUEp0UVRYVzRGQ25FUnFEd3xBQ3Jtc0tsSDJwQ3JZLTByRTZFMUhlN3NuMG9hQTFyVEg1a1E4WDU2dldoVWI0NjA3TkhGeFJ5cEtWbU02TkhjYXpmbmxxeUNmRVl5S0RGcHVnZHRPYVQ3LUxyZnotQ0lQUER1MVVzUmJMQVdKSU1KNjBDZnlNZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2F7uoGYRs&v=Kjby2IqpUGU)

During James Arthur Ray’s 2009 Spiritual Warrior retreat in Sedona, the self-proclaimed spiritual teacher exhorted participants to “play full-on” in order to overcome their limiting beliefs and fear of death. After having their heads shaved and enduring a gruelling 36-hour “vision quest,” Ray packed the spiritual warriors into a makeshift “sweat lodge,” where temperatures reached 120 degrees.  Three people died. Eighteen were hospitalized. Ray fled the scene, taking cover at a nearby luxury resort to promote his next event. After spending just two years in jail, he went right back to presenting himself as a spiritual guide and transformational seminar leader.  Journalist and professor emeritus at Northern Arizona University, Annette McGivney joins Julian to discuss her new book, Plastic Shaman: The True Story of a Deadly Self-Help Retreat and America’s Misguided Quest for Wellness. Show Notes Annette McGivney Bio Plastic Shaman is available September 15th through Torrey House Press Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AuraFrames: https://www.auraframes.com/milehigher USE PROMO CODE: MILEHIGHER DripDrop: https://www.dripdrop.com USE PROMO CODE: MILEHIGHER ButcherBox: https://butcherbox.com/milehigher Upwork: https://upwork.com RocketMoney: https://rocketmoney.com/milehigher For many, the landmark 2006 documentary The Secret was their first introduction to new age spiritualism and the law of attraction. This turned many of the Self-Help gurus featured in the documentary into overnight celebrities, including James Arthur Ray. From his “rockstar,” style seminars and in your face attitude, James rose to prominence by giving his attendees immense challenges, pushing them to breakthrough. But when a sweat lodge ran by James killed three people, the question remained: was he at fault? Did his teachings lead to this? Would he ever face justice or apologize? Intro 0:00 What Happened All Those Years Ago? 1:18 Charging for Help 2:56 James' Early Life 6:22 World Traveler or Good Liar? 10:24 Awestruck 13:58 Good Money in Self Help 23:23 Early Signs of Trouble 30:32 The Secret 32:24 James' First Taste of the Spotlight 43:54 Delusions of Grandeur 50:19 Becoming a Cult 55:21 The Sweat Lodge 58:48 How it All Happened 1:06:12 Immediate Aftermath 1:13:48 No Leg to Stand On 1:20:05 James' Return 1:26:56 A Sudden End 1:28:40 Final Thoughts & Outro 1:32:44 Mile Higher Media website: https://milehigher.com/ Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Mile Higher Merch: milehigher.shop Check out our other podcasts! The Sesh https://bit.ly/3Mtoz4X Lights Out https://bit.ly/3n3Gaoe Planet Sleep https://linktr.ee/planetsleep Join our official FB group! https://bit.ly/3kQbAxg MHP YouTube: http://bit.ly/2qaDWGf Are You Subscribed On Apple Podcast & Spotify?! Support MHP by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcast :) https://apple.co/2H4kh58 MHP Topic Request Form: https://forms.gle/gUeTEzL9QEh4Hqz88 You can follow us on all the things: @milehigherpod Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/milehigherpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MileHigher Hosts: Kendall: @kendallraeonyt IG: http://instagram.com/kendallraeonyt YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/kendallsplace Josh: @milehigherjosh IG: http://www.instagram.com/milehigherjosh Producers: Janelle: @janelle_fields_ IG: https://www.instagram.com/janelle_fields_/ Ian: @ifarme IG: https://www.instagram.com/ifarme/ Tom: @tomfoolery_photo IG: / tomfoolery_photo Podcast sponsor inquires: adops@audioboom.com ✉ Send Us Mail ✉ Kendall Rae & Josh Thomas 8547 E Arapahoe Rd Ste J # 233 Greenwood Village, CO 80112 Music By: Mile Higher Boys YT: https://bit.ly/2Q7N5QO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0F4ik... Sources: https://pastebin.com/Z4UVUcM2 The creator hosts a documentary series for educational purposes (EDSA). These include authoritative sources such as interviews, newspaper articles, and TV news reporting meant to educate and memorialize notable cases in our history. Videos come with an editorial and artistic value.

🛎 If You're New Subscribe ► https://bit.ly/BtBSubscribe Part Six: Is Oprah Winfrey a Bastard? | BEHIND THE BASTARDS Oh god, we are finally done. Unfortunately Oprah's greatest harms, like her role in birthing the anti vaccine movement, live on. Series Sources: https://archive.org/details/oprahwinfrey0000unse_a9o7/page/40/mode/2up https://www.today.com/popculture/oprah-opens-hoda-kotb-about-how-her-childhood-trauma-informed-t219209 https://www.amazon.com/Oprah-Media-Power-Janice-Peck/dp/1594514690 Winfrey, Oprah; Perry, Bruce D.. What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (pp. 21-22). Flatiron Books. Kindle Edition. https://variety.com/2018/music/news/seal-accuses-oprah-knowing-about-weinstein-misconduct-1202661226/ https://quchronicle.com/87691/opinion/oprah-winfrey-always-at-the-scene-of-the-crime/ https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/08/entertainment/oprah-winfrey-harvey-weinstein-gwyneth-paltrow-interview/index.html Original Air Date: January 30, 2025 ❤️ iHeartRadio » https://ihr.fm/3D75eCI 📢 APPLE PODCASTS » ‎https://apple.co/3FnuPKg 📢 AMAZON MUSIC » https://amzn.to/3fgTxla 🟢 SPOTIFY » https://spoti.fi/3SXCwtQ 🎥 PREVIOUS VIDEO » https://youtu.be/2lkSiUjP2HY 👕 GRAB YOUR MERCH » https://bit.ly/3U4npQo ✨ KEEP IN TOUCH WITH : TWITTER » https://bit.ly/3Nbw2q7 INSTAGRAM » https://bit.ly/3WdrQua There’s a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater’s insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein’s side career as a trashy romance novelist. New episodes Wednesday and Friday with backlog episodes on Saturday until we catch up. #BehindtheBastards #BehindtheBastardsPodcast #RobertEvansBehindtheBastards #BehindtheBastardsMerch #BehindtheBastardsJohnLandis #BehindTheBastardsHost #BehindtheBastardsIvermectin #BestBehindtheBastardsEpisodes #BehindtheBastardsBestEpisodes

🛎 If You're New Subscribe ► https://bit.ly/BtBSubscribe Part Five: Is Oprah Winfrey a Bastard? | BEHIND THE BASTARDS Today we talk about Oprah's involvement in a self help guru who killed three people in a sweat lodge, and how it goes into a shift in American culture driven by The Oprah Winfrey show. Original Air Date: January 28, 2025 ❤️ iHeartRadio » https://ihr.fm/3D75eCI 📢 APPLE PODCASTS » ‎https://apple.co/3FnuPKg 📢 AMAZON MUSIC » https://amzn.to/3fgTxla 🟢 SPOTIFY » https://spoti.fi/3SXCwtQ 🎥 PREVIOUS VIDEO » https://youtu.be/dzJS7IgtoF0 👕 GRAB YOUR MERCH » https://bit.ly/3U4npQo ✨ KEEP IN TOUCH WITH : TWITTER » https://bit.ly/3Nbw2q7 INSTAGRAM » https://bit.ly/3WdrQua There’s a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater’s insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein’s side career as a trashy romance novelist. New episodes Wednesday and Friday with backlog episodes on Saturday until we catch up. #BehindtheBastards #BehindtheBastardsPodcast #RobertEvansBehindtheBastards #BehindtheBastardsMerch #BehindtheBastardsJohnLandis #BehindTheBastardsHost #BehindtheBastardsIvermectin #BestBehindtheBastardsEpisodes #BehindtheBastardsBestEpisodes

The family of a woman who died during a James Arthur Ray-led sweat lodge ceremony near Sedona in 2009 reacted to his "unexpected death." For more Local News from KPHO: https://www.azfamily.com/ For more YouTube Content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIrgpHvUm1FMtv-C1xwkJtw