What happens when a parent leaves not just their family, but the entire world they once knew? In this episode, I talk with author and memoirist Lily Dunn about her powerful memoir Sins of My Father (https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/sins-of-my-father-a-daughter-a-cult-a-wild-unravelling-lily-dunn/6264181?ean=9781474623292) . When Lily was six years old, her father abandoned the family to join a spiritual movement that would shape the course of both his life and hers. We discuss the lasting effects of childhood abandonment, the allure of cults and alternative communities, the complicated nature of love and forgiveness, and why understanding our parents doesn't always mean excusing them. Lily also shares insights into the craft of memoir writing, including how to write honestly about family, navigate difficult memories, and transform personal experiences into stories that resonate with others. Whether you're interested in family dynamics, personal growth, or the art of storytelling, this is a fascinating conversation about making sense of the past and finding meaning in the stories we tell ourselves. Highlights from our conversation: • Why Lily's father left his family to join a spiritual commune • The hidden effects of childhood abandonment • Boarding school syndrome and its lifelong impact • How cults attract people searching for belonging • The difference between understanding and forgiving • What makes a compelling memoir • Why everyone may have a story worth telling • The ethics of writing about family and personal history Lily's links: https://lilydunn.co.uk/ Books - https://lilydunn.co.uk/books/ Substack - https://lilydunn.substack.com/ Writing Courses - https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/ Question or comment? Send us a text message. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/856252/fan_mail/new) www.undercurrentstories.com

In this episode of the Cult Vault podcast, host Kacey interviews Sarito Carroll, author of 'In the Shadow of Enlightenment,' who shares her experiences growing up in the Osho Rajneesh cult. Sarito discusses the challenges of writing her memoir, the invisibility of children in the Rajneesh movement, and the impact of a nomadic lifestyle on her childhood. She reflects on her experiences in the ashram, the open sexuality culture, and the neglect and abuse that occurred within the community. Sarito's story sheds light on the complexities of growing up in a cult and the lasting effects of those experiences.  Sarito's Book: Sarito Carroll - Child of Osho (Bhagwan Shree) Rajneesh cult speaks of sexual abuse, neglect, and highs and lows of unique commune she grew up in. (https://www.saritocarroll.com/intheshadowofenlightenment) Get in Touch or Support:  Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvault Crimecon UK 2025 https://www.crimecon.co.uk - use code CULT for 10% off tickets! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-Vault Gmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com

Anke Richter, Director of Decult, speaking at the Victoria Parliament Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups. She shared the information of her years of research for the book CULT TRIP, and focused on the lasting harm caused by non-religious cults – especially their impact on young women and children. She emphasised that many cults aren’t religious at all, but commercial enterprises built on coercive control and systemic abuse, rather than belief systems.

You don't have to join a compound to end up in a high-control group. Sometimes it starts with a neo-tantra festival. A weekend workshop. A community that feels like finally, finally, you found your people. Anke Richter is an international cult journalist, author of the bestseller Cult Trip (HarperCollins), and founder of Decult — the first cult awareness conference in Australasia. She spent six years inside ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) before becoming one of its most informed critics. She's also researched Centrepoint, Osho/Rajneeshpuram, and OneTaste firsthand. This is Part 2 of a series. Start with the previous episode "The Men Behind Sexual Polarity Have A Lot to Answer For" — or read the full article on Substack (link below). In this episode: • Why smart, educated, well-resourced people end up in cults — and the myth that it couldn't happen to you • What actually makes something a high-control group (and why "you can leave any time" doesn't disqualify it) • How ISTA and similar neo-tantra spaces specifically target ex-evangelicals and ex-Mormons leaving purity culture • The slippery slope from a weekend workshop to deeper entanglement — and what the escalation actually looks like • Osho/Rajneeshpuram as the ideological origin of modern neo-tantra — and the documented child sexual abuse that history includes • The playbook: how spiritual framing gets used to override consent and silence complaints • "Acting from your wounding" and "stuck in victim consciousness" — the specific language used to shut down resistance • The veneer of consent: why trauma-informed language and consent frameworks can be used as cover • Why the word "victim" gets weaponized in these spaces — and why that needs to stop • How David Deida's sexual polarity ideology functioned as a gateway into neo-tantra spaces for a generation of people, and why it is harmful Resources mentioned: • Cult Trip by Anke Richter — available wherever books are sold Anke Richter: https://ankerichter.net Decult — cult awareness conference and resources: https://decult.net Red Flags in Workshops — free consent-forward resource for participants and facilitators: https://redflagsinworkshops.com Part 1 — Have You Been Sold the Patriarchy's Version of "The Divine Feminine"?  https://open.substack.com/pub/laurajurgens/p/have-you-been-sold-the-patriarchys Get my free guide: Get Out of Your Head: A Starter Guide to Releasing the Pressure, Shame, and "Shoulds" Around Intimacy at https://laurajurgens.com/guide (https://laurajurgens.com/libido) Find out more about my offerings and read the blog: https://laurajurgens.com (https://laurajurgens.com/) / Copyright notice: All content in this podcast is copyrighted and copying, scraping, data mining, or using the content to train AI is prohibited.

Lily Dunn joins Let’s Talk Memoir for a conversation about the impact her father leaving to follow the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had on her childhood, when she knew it was time to write her memoir Sins of the Father, stepping into her role as reflective narrator, creating tension, family members in our work, and understanding as a means to healing.   Also in this episode: -writing to find answers -our early experiences as shadows in our lives -staying true to your purpose    Books mentioned in this episode: Educated by Tara Westover Whip Smart by Meliss Febos Your Voice in My Head by Emma Forrest Busy Being Free by Emma Forrst   Lily Dunn writes fiction and nonfiction. Her literary memoir, Sins of My Father: A Daughter, A Cult, A Wild Unravelling is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson (March 2022), and her novel, Shadowing the Sun, by Portobello Books (2007). She has personal essays in Granta, Litro, Hinterland, MIRonline and The Real Story, and is a regular writer for Aeon magazine. She is co-editor of A Wild and Precious Life: Recovery Anthology, with Zoe Gilbert (Unbound 2021). She teaches creative writing at Bath Spa University in the UK and co-runs London Lit Lab.    Connect with Lily: Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilydunnwriter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilydunnwriting/ Website: lilydunn.co.uk London Lit Lab: londonlitlab.co.uk UK Book Link: https://smarturl.it/SinsOfMyFatherHB US Book Link: https://geni.us/SinsOfMyFatherUS -- Ronit is a teacher and speaker whose essays, creative nonfiction, and fiction have been featured in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, The Washington Post, Writer’s Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named a 2021 Best True Crime Book by Book Riot and was a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, the Housatonic Book Awards, and the Book of the Year Awards. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts’ 2020 Eludia Award and will be published in 2023. She is creative nonfiction editor at The Citron Review and lives in Seattle with her family where she is working on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com More about WHEN SHE COMES BACK, a memoir: https://ronitplank.com/book/ Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://twitter.com/RonitPlank https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank Background photo: Canva Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll’s Fingers  

What started as a spiritual utopia in the Oregon desert became one of the most disturbing cult stories in American history. In this episode, Sabrina and Corinne dive into the Rajneesh Movement; from Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh’s rise as a global guru to Ma Anand Sheela’s ruthless grip on power inside Rajneeshpuram. What followed was paranoia, political manipulation, mass poisoning, and the largest bioterror attack in U.S. history. How did a commune built on enlightenment spiral into crime, control, and chaos? If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Crimes Of… to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Crimes Of… is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Social YouTube: @crimehousestudios Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia Crimes Of… is hosted by Sabrina Deana-Roga and Corinne Vien Instagram: @sabbertoothtiger | @corinnevien Episode Sponsor: Go to https://www.LangeHair.com and use code CRIMES to get 20% off your first order. Chapters 00:00 Welcome To Crimes Of… Cults  07:35 Ma Anand Sheela  08:35 Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh  13:45 Rajneesh’s Journey To Enlightenment  19:05 Rajneesh The Guru  25:25 Ma Anand Sheela’s Rise  27:40 Rajneesh Moves To New Jersey  29:10 64,000 Acres Of Land  33:25 Building A City  37:45 Ma Anand Sheela Takes Over  42:25 The Antelope Conflict  52:00 The Peace Force  54:20 Recruiting The Unhoused  57:00 The Secret Poison Lab  57:50 The Salmonella Poisoning  1:00:45 Sheela’s Downfall  1:06:00 Fighting Back  1:09:05 Sheela Flees The Country  1:13:40 The Arrest

In this deeply personal conversation, former Prem Rawat instructor and President of Elan Vital, Don Johnson, speaks with Sarito Carol, author of In the Shadow of Enlightenment, about their experiences inside two different cults: one led by Prem Rawat movement and the other by Osho/Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Although their paths were very different, the themes are strikingly similar: spiritual idealism, devotion to charismatic leaders, institutional silence around abuse, psychological conditioning, trauma, shame, and the long process of reclaiming personal truth after leaving high-control groups. Sarito shares her experience growing up inside the Osho commune as a child and the backlash she faced after publicly speaking out about abuse within the community. Don reflects on his decade inside the Prem Rawat cult, his eventual disillusionment, and the courage it took to begin speaking publicly after years of silence. Together, they explore: Why do people stay in cults for so long The emotional cost of speaking out Spiritual bypassing and institutional protection PTSD and delayed healing Reclaiming autonomy and inner authority Separating genuine spirituality from guru worship and manipulation This is not simply a conversation about Osho or Prem Rawat. It is a broader conversation about power, belief, trauma, awakening, and what it means to reclaim your life after surrendering it to a system or leader. Sarito Carol’s book In the Shadow of Enlightenment is available on Amazon. More about her work: saritocarol.com #CultRecovery #Osho #PremRawat

Generation Cult's live show and literary event happened on stage at The Lost Church San Francisco in front of a fabulous audience on June 26, 2025. If you missed it, you're in luck because the recording is finally out now! It was a late night in North Beach deep down in the Victorian speakeasy-style venue that hosted our show and book signing featuring the three authors who were our guests: Sarito Carroll, Anke Richter and Janja Lalich. Host Dhyana Levey moderated the discussion about children raised in cults, the authors' books, and what to watch out for in a potentially abusive group. Sure, the conversations got a bit intense. But everyone still had a good time. How could we not with Johnny Tripod bartending and cool tunes on the sound system by local SF Bay Area band The Chaw? Sarito celebrated the release of her new memoir, In the Shadow of Enlightenment, detailing her upbringing in the Osho Rajneesh cult 40 years after the infamous commune’s collapse. And, yeah, we talked a little about the Netflix documentary "Wild Wild Country" and its star Ma Anand Sheela ... but there is just so much more to this story. You'll have to listen to this episode and read Sarito's book to find out. saritocarroll.com We also got a big-time expert to weigh in on our discussions and share a bit about the harsh political cult she spent a decade in. Researcher, educator and author Janja Lalich graced the stage with insight and stayed overtime to sign her book Escaping Utopia, based on interviews with 65 people who grew up in high-demand groups. janjalalich.com And tying the whole night together, we had German investigative journalist and author Anke Richter in town to visit all the way from her home base in New Zealand. Her book Cult Trip: Inside the world of coercion & control (Harper Collins), researched the aftermath of sex cults around the world. ankerichter.net What a night! And you didn't even have to buy tickets. Enjoy the Generation Cult podcast Season 4 finale recorded in front of a live audience. Includes discussions of child sexual abuse, please listen with discretion *stage recording by Peter Clarke *set up/other audio by Brett Cline *editing by Dhyana Levey *photography by Laura Casey and Nic Roethlisberger *music by The Chaw

Send us a textDr Martina Zangger's story is one of extraordinary resilience and recovery after childhood sexual abuse, and her message, that shame must be taken from the victim and placed on the perpetrator.Abused at just four years old in Switzerland by her grandfather, a respected judge, and her uncle, a well-known politician, Martina grew up shrouded in silence.Moving to Australia at 12 years old, In her search for healing, Martina fell in love with an Indian guru at 18 years old, and was invited as a mail order disciple to live in his cult in the U.S, provided she paid $8000 for the privilege. So desperate to get to her guru, and with few skills she was talked into becoming a sex worker in Darlinghurst, Sydney at just 19. She eventually made enough money to go to the Ashram but unfortunately all was not what it seemed in 'the brochure!' She was subjected to exploitation and hard labour. Her journey from trauma to survival is confronting but deeply inspiring.Today, Martina holds a PhD, is an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, and has spent over 20 years working on the frontline with women and children impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence. This is an AMAZING episode!Support the show

What if the shame was never yours and why we must shift the blame away from victims and place it squarely on the perpetrators. In this powerful episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Di Gillett speaks with Dr Martina Zangger - survivor of childhood sexual abuse, psychotherapist, and author of Not My Shame, about the devastating impact of abuse of power, and why shame must shift back to where it belongs. Martina grew up in Switzerland in a respected family. Her grandfather was a high court judge. Her uncle a politician. Behind closed doors, she was abused. She did not disclose until she was 27. In this conversation we explore: ➺ Why perpetrators rely on power and silence. ➺ The psychology of narcissistic abuse. ➺ Why survivors blame themselves. ➺ The long arc of healing. ➺ The Rajneesh cult and how vulnerability was exploited. ➺ How cult dynamics mirror abuse of power. 👉 Shame Must Change Sides | Talking Childhood Abuse, Power & Healing Welcome to the Power of Women Podcast with host Di Gillett as she elevates female authority through powerful storytelling. This is the home of unapologetic conversations and inspiring stories. ➡️ We explore: ➺ Why perpetrators rely on power and silence ➺ The psychology of narcissistic abuse ➺ Why survivors blame themselves ➺ The long arc of healing ➺ The Rajneesh cult and how vulnerability was exploited ➺ How women move from surviving to authoring their future Dr Martina Zangger’s life work is built on one belief: “Shame must change sides.” 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations that reframe power, voice and lived experience. Here's how you can dive deeper: Here are the Full episodes on our YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-x3JuAsSAwZfNVT8B_GGqRJm_56Quqd Listen now to the audio version: https://shows.acast.com/the-power-of-women-podcast Follow our blog: https://powerofwomen.com.au/inspirational-podcast/ New episodes drop every Monday to fuel your week with insights on leadership, resilience and success. Subscribe and join a community of women who are changing the game. ➡️ Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1 Let's Connect! Follow the Journey: Di Gillett (Host): LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/?hl=en Website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/ Get in Touch: Want to start a conversation, suggest a guest, or provide feedback? We'd love to hear from you! 📧 Contact us: https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/ Chapters: 00:00 Rage and Hope: The Duality of Healing 01:53 Childhood Trauma: A Hidden Reality 05:57 The Journey to Disclosure 09:46 The Importance of Safe Spaces 14:02 Shame: The Silent Burden 18:13 Confronting the Past 21:58 Understanding Perpetrators 25:58 The Role of Women in Healing 30:04 The Rajneesh Cult Experience 38:02 Breaking Free from the Cult 46:00 Empowerment Through Storytelling Acknowledgements: Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen www.vinilo.com.au Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/ Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/ #PowerOfWomenPodcast #childhoodtrauma #healingjourney #sexualabuserecovery #survivorstory

Osho, AKA Bhagwan, AKA Raj Rajneesh, AKA....we get it - mystic, con artist, cult leader, philosopher, terrorist, dupe? Your guess is as good as mine. Join Bhagwan Richard and myself as we explore the world of a man with 93 Rolls Royces and enough devoted worshipers to keep his toes permanently sucked and prescriptions filled. References and Citations:Building Utopia by Russell KingThe Golden Road - William DalrympleThe Eknath Easwaran / Nilgiri Press Trilogy:-Dhammapada-Upanishads-Bhagavad GitaThe Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Commentary by Sri Swami SatchidanandaWild Wild Country - Netflix DocumentaryIn Search of the Miraculous - PD Ouspensky (Gurdjieff)Doppelganger - Naomi Klein (book about Steve Bannon and Naomi Wolf)The Rajneesh BibleBreath of Fire - HBO Max Documentary

A little boy in born in india and from day one, things go awry. His grandparents dote on him and make him feel like the most special child out there. His mother and father are absent and so his baby ego is allowed to go unchecked. This creates an insufferable child who at the age of just 8 years old begins talking about politics and ruling the world. Pair this with some unexpected and untimely deaths of loved ones in his former years and that little boy grows an unhelathy obsession with seeking a religion which doesn't stick to the usual confines... Not finding anything which fits, the man now know as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, makes his own religion and changes his name to Rajneesh - from here on out Rajneesh Puram is born and a cult begins to form but as yet, everyone is unaware and joining in search of enlitenment which Rajneesh says he can deliver...if only they can be free. But how would this spiritual group go from yoga to a terrorist organisation... let's find out If you’re interested in more true crime deep dives, hit subscribe and ring the bell to stay updated. HUGE thanks goes to SNAG for sponsoring this series. Please check them out at www.snagtights.com 🎧 Enjoy 2 New episodes of Killers, Cults & Queens every week plus one bonus ep — hit subscribe and join us for more true crime, cults, and creepy tales. 👑 Hosted by Cheryl The Queen and Nikki Druce. Got a theory? Been lost in a rabbit hole? We want to hear from YOU! Email killerscultsqueens@gmail.com to get in touch, or DM us @killerscultsqueens on Instagram. And follow Cheryl @cheryldragqueen and Nikki Druce @nikkimacabrelondon. For sponsorship, press or collaboration enquiries please email killerscultsqueens@gmail.com If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, please consider contacting the following resources: The Samaritans helpline: 116 123 Confidential Emotional Support Line: 01708 765200 Hope Not Hate: 020 7952 1181 Exit UK: 0800 999 1945 Safeline national male survivor helpline: 0808 800 5005 Sexual Assault Support Line: 01708 765200 Sane mental health line: 0300 304 7000

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: Our guest is Margarit Davtian, a social science researcher and content creator passionate about social change innovation. She actively works to raise consumer awareness about cult of personalities in the media, high-control group dynamics, unethical marketing practices, medical misinformation, and other dangers that live at the intersection of politics, business, and mental health. Margarit shares her story about joining, living in and eventually leaving the infamous Osho Cult. She goes on to share the “yellow flags” that she saw along the way & how many of today’s wellness and self-help leaders display these same flags. You can find Margarit & her work here: Substack: seekwithser.substack.com Instagram: @seekwithser

This true crime documentary examines the disturbing case of a Manson Family member who personally carried out two nights of murder in 1969 Los Angeles, alongside nine other women whose roles inside infamous cults led to mass poisoning, child murder, doomsday killings, sexual exploitation, and one of the most serious racketeering prosecutions in modern U.S. history. These ten true crime cases reveal the reality behind female devotion to cult leadership and what happens when belief becomes a weapon. From Patricia Krenwinkel, who stabbed Abigail Folger 28 times under Charles Manson's direction, to Valentina de Andrade, the Brazilian cult founder accused of inspiring the ritual murder of at least six boys in the Amazon, this cult true crime documentary covers ten of the most disturbing legal cases involving women who became enforcers, recruiters, and architects of cult violence. The video also examines Ma Anand Sheela, the Rajneeshee second-in-command behind the largest bioterror attack in U.S. history, and Lori Vallow Daybell, the "doomsday cult mom" now serving life without parole for the murders of her two children. Two cases from the Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo are then explored — Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca, both convicted in connection with the abuse of underage girls by apostle Naasón Joaquín García. The documentary closes with the four women at the centre of the NXIVM case — co-founder Nancy Salzman, Seagram heiress Clare Bronfman, Smallville actress Allison Mack, and Lauren Salzman — whose convictions exposed how a self-help company in upstate New York was operating as a coercive criminal enterprise under Keith Raniere. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Patricia Krenwinkel: The Manson Family Enforcer (1971) 6:05 — Valentina de Andrade: The Amazon Child Murder Cult (2003) 12:19 — Ma Anand Sheela: The Rajneeshee Bioterror Attack (1986) 18:45 — Lori Vallow Daybell: The Doomsday Cult Mom (2023) 25:01 — Alondra Ocampo: La Luz del Mundo (2022) 31:17 — Susana Medina Oaxaca: La Luz del Mundo (2022) 37:29 — Nancy Salzman: NXIVM's "Prefect" (2021) 45:05 — Clare Bronfman: NXIVM's Financial Enforcer (2020) 50:25 — Allison Mack: NXIVM "Slave Master" (2021) 56:51 — Lauren Salzman: NXIVM First-Line (2021) This long-form cult true crime documentary follows the legal outcomes of ten women whose roles inside cult organisations led to significant convictions and, in several cases, life sentences. From doomsday family murder to organised bioterror, child grooming and federal racketeering, every case included has been ruled on by the relevant court system in the United States, Brazil, and other jurisdictions. Each case is presented based on verified public court records, established news reporting, and official legal statements. ⚖️ DISCLAIMER: All cases discussed in this true crime documentary are based on publicly available court records, verified news reporting, and official legal statements. ChronMedia does not condone any illegal activity and presents these cases for educational and informational purposes only. The terms "alleged" and "convicted" are used in accordance with the legal status of each case as ruled by the appropriate court system. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to ChronMedia for more long-form true crime documentaries covering cult crimes, fallen public figures, religious scandals, and high-profile legal cases. #CultCrime #TrueCrime #NXIVM #LoriVallow #AllisonMack #MansonFamily #CultDocumentary #TrueCrimeDocumentary #CultMom #ChronMedia

In 1984, a utopian community committed the largest bioterror attack in U.S. history just to win a local election. Welcome back to another investigation on The Spooky Lawyer. Today, we are uncovering the dark psychology and terrifying true story of the Rajneeshi cult, a silent invasion, and the hidden evil that brought a small American town to its knees. Behind the red robes, meditation, and promises of spiritual enlightenment lay a chilling criminal syndicate run by the enigmatic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) and his ruthless second-in-command, Ma Anand Sheela. What began as an isolated ashram in the high desert of Oregon quickly morphed into an armed compound. As tension with the local residents of Antelope reached a boiling point, the cult realized that controlling the land meant controlling the local government. To guarantee a win in the Wasco County elections, they engineered a sinister plot: mass-poisoning the local population. Using sophisticated, clandestine laboratories hidden within their utopian city, the Rajneeshis cultured lethal strains of Salmonella. They meticulously contaminated salad bars, produce, and water across the town of The Dalles, hospitalizing 751 innocent people. This wasn't a sudden crime of passion; it was a calculated, devastating exercise in psychological manipulation, political warfare, and unhinged devotion. Sheela’s militant grip on the followers and Osho’s silent complicity created a perfect storm of manipulation that still baffles criminal psychologists today. How does a movement built on peace weaponize a community to the point of bioterrorism? The Rajneeshpuram experiment reveals the terrifying reality of cult psychology and the dangerous lengths people will go to when extreme faith becomes fatal. TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Introduction: The Cult That Poisoned a Town [01:24] The Rise of Rajneeshpuram [03:20] The Origins of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh [05:01] Ma Anand Sheela & The Move to Oregon [06:55] The Hostile Takeover of Antelope, Oregon [09:05] The "Share-A-Home" Voter Packing Scheme [11:13] Planning the Bioterror Attack [13:51] Poisoning the Salad Bars in The Dalles [15:25] The CDC Investigation [16:54] The Commune Implodes & Sheela Flees [18:07] The FBI Raid & Uncovering the Evidence [19:35] Arrests, Charges & Sentencing [21:03] Rajneesh's Attempted Escape & Deportation [22:23] The Fall of the Commune & Final Thoughts Join the Investigation: Where do you draw the line between extreme devotion and dangerous brainwashing? Did Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh truly not know about the biological attacks, or was Ma Anand Sheela just a convenient scapegoat for a mastermind? Let me know your psychological read on Sheela in the comments below. Watch Next & Recommended For You: If you are fascinated by true crime documentaries covering dark psychology, false prophets, and the chilling realities of manipulation, this video is for you. Fans of deep dives into the Manson Family, NXIVM, Jim Jones, and the recent Trust Me: The False Prophet docuseries will find the Rajneeshi attack to be one of the most disturbing and overlooked cult crimes in modern history. If you enjoy cinematic true crime stories that explore deadly secrets and the psychology of murder, hit subscribe for more. Search Tags: #TrueCrimeDocumentary #CultPsychology #Rajneeshi #DarkPsychology #Bioterrorism #Osho #MaAnandSheela #CultLeaders #TrueCrime2026 #PsychologicalThriller #MindControl #CrimeAnalysis #HiddenEvil #HistoricalCrime #TheSpookyLawyer

Watching Hulu doc “The Cult of NatureBoy” sent me and Charlie in to veritable orbit and it sparked an interest in what causes some people to view certain people as magnetic and charismatic when to us they seem unhinged or just plain creepy. We have watched many a cult documentary in our time and I’m always struck by how unsavory or inept some of these cult leaders seem. How do they amass a following? What draws people to them? Where in our lives have we maybe encountered cult dynamics and can we relate to some of the lack of direction that can cloud people’s judgement enough to be vulnerable to indoctrination? You don’t have to follow someone to the jungle to be in a cultish dynamic. There are cults of politics, personality, some friend groups and romantic relationships operate with the same construct of isolation, control and group think. Are we drinking the kool-aid?#cults #cultmemebers #nxivm #netflix #hulu #documentary #viral #followers #indoctrination #freethinker #natureboy #manson #osho #selfhelp #seekers #selfimprovement #interview #rabbithole