<description>&lt;div&gt;Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday!&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; What if I told you that one of the most influential... and mysterious cult leaders in American history is someone most people have never heard of? &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; And that Jim Jones himself, yes Jonestown Jim Jones, got many of his ideas from same guy?&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Today, we’re diving into the wild and complicated story of Father Divine—the charismatic leader behind the Peace Mission Movement, a man who inspired millions, shaped pieces of the civil rights era, built entire communities from the ground up… and also demanded unwavering loyalty that crossed more than a few lines.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; This isn’t your typical cult story. It’s part spiritual revolution, part empire-building, part “wait, WHAT?!” And somehow still a chapter of American history no one talks about. And we should because it brings up an interesting question...&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Where’s the line between a movement that helps people… and one that controls them? And at what point does something become a cult?&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Let’s get into the Dark History of Father Divine. &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; And when you're done... go check out my MMM episode about Jonestown: &lt;a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/8164237-jonestown-massacre-apocalyptic-cult-who-was-jim-jones"&gt;https://audioboom.com/posts/8164237-jonestown-massacre-apocalyptic-cult-who-was-jim-jones&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; ________&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; FOLLOW ME AROUND&lt;br&gt; Tik Tok: &lt;a href="https://bit.ly/3e3jL9v"&gt;https://bit.ly/3e3jL9v&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Instagram: &lt;a href="http://bit.ly/2nbO4PR"&gt;http://bit.ly/2nbO4PR&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Facebook: &lt;a href="http://bit.ly/2mdZtK6"&gt;http://bit.ly/2mdZtK6&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Twitter: &lt;a href="http://bit.ly/2yT4BLV"&gt;http://bit.ly/2yT4BLV&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Pinterest: &lt;a href="http://bit.ly/2mVpXnY"&gt;http://bit.ly/2mVpXnY&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Youtube: &lt;a href="http://bit.ly/1HGw3Og"&gt;http://bit.ly/1HGw3Og&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Goodreads: &lt;a href="http://bit.ly/3IVnO7N"&gt;http://bit.ly/3IVnO7N&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Snapchat: &lt;a href="https://bit.ly/3cC0V9d"&gt;https://bit.ly/3cC0V9d&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; Discord: &lt;a href="https://discord.gg/BaileySarian"&gt;https://discord.gg/BaileySarian&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; RECOMMEND A STORY HERE: cases4bailey@gmail.com&lt;br&gt; Business Related Emails: bailey@underscoretalent.com&lt;br&gt; Business Related Mail: Bailey Sarian 4400 W. Riverside Dr., Ste 110-300 Burbank, CA 91505&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; ________&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; This podcast is Executive Produced by: Bailey Sarian and Joey Scavuzzo&lt;br&gt; Head Writer: Allyson Philobos&lt;br&gt; Senior Writer: Katie Burris&lt;br&gt; Research provided by: Xander Elmore&lt;br&gt; Additional research by: Dr. Thomas Messersmith&lt;br&gt; Special thank you to our Historical Consultant: Poulomi Saha, Professor at UC Berkeley who writes and teaches about our cultural obsession with cults.&lt;br&gt; Director: Brian Jaggers&lt;br&gt; Edited by: Julien Perez&lt;br&gt; Additional Editing: Maria Norris&lt;br&gt; Hair: Angel Gonzalez&lt;br&gt; Makeup: Nikki la Rose&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; ________&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Stop putting off those doctor's appointments and go to &lt;a href="http://www.Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY"&gt;Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY&lt;/a&gt; to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. That’s &lt;a href="http://www.zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY"&gt;Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; For a limited time, visit &lt;a href="http://www.AuraFrames.com"&gt;AuraFrames.com&lt;/a&gt; and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter -  by using promo code DARKHISTORY at checkout. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to &lt;a href="http://www.MASTERCLASS.com/DARKHISTORY"&gt;MASTERCLASS.com/DARKHISTORY&lt;/a&gt; for the current offer. &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Get started today at &lt;a href="http://www.StitchFix.com/darkhistory"&gt;StitchFix.com/darkhistory&lt;/a&gt; to get $20 off your first order—and they’ll waive your styling fee. That’s &lt;a href="http://www.stitchfix.com/darkhistory"&gt;StitchFix.com/darkhistory&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; ________&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;/div&gt; </description>

Dark History

Audioboom Studios

190: The Mysterious Cult Leader Who Inspired Jonestown - Father Divine

NOV 26, 202567 MIN
Dark History

190: The Mysterious Cult Leader Who Inspired Jonestown - Father Divine

NOV 26, 202567 MIN

Description

<div>Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday!<br> <br> What if I told you that one of the most influential... and mysterious cult leaders in American history is someone most people have never heard of? <br> <br> And that Jim Jones himself, yes Jonestown Jim Jones, got many of his ideas from same guy?<br> <br> Today, we’re diving into the wild and complicated story of Father Divine—the charismatic leader behind the Peace Mission Movement, a man who inspired millions, shaped pieces of the civil rights era, built entire communities from the ground up… and also demanded unwavering loyalty that crossed more than a few lines.<br> <br> This isn’t your typical cult story. It’s part spiritual revolution, part empire-building, part “wait, WHAT?!” And somehow still a chapter of American history no one talks about. And we should because it brings up an interesting question...<br> <br> Where’s the line between a movement that helps people… and one that controls them? And at what point does something become a cult?<br> <br> Let’s get into the Dark History of Father Divine. <br> <br> And when you're done... go check out my MMM episode about Jonestown: <a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/8164237-jonestown-massacre-apocalyptic-cult-who-was-jim-jones">https://audioboom.com/posts/8164237-jonestown-massacre-apocalyptic-cult-who-was-jim-jones</a><br> <br> ________<br> <br> FOLLOW ME AROUND<br> Tik Tok: <a href="https://bit.ly/3e3jL9v">https://bit.ly/3e3jL9v</a><br> Instagram: <a href="http://bit.ly/2nbO4PR">http://bit.ly/2nbO4PR</a><br> Facebook: <a href="http://bit.ly/2mdZtK6">http://bit.ly/2mdZtK6</a><br> Twitter: <a href="http://bit.ly/2yT4BLV">http://bit.ly/2yT4BLV</a><br> Pinterest: <a href="http://bit.ly/2mVpXnY">http://bit.ly/2mVpXnY</a><br> Youtube: <a href="http://bit.ly/1HGw3Og">http://bit.ly/1HGw3Og</a><br> Goodreads: <a href="http://bit.ly/3IVnO7N">http://bit.ly/3IVnO7N</a><br> Snapchat: <a href="https://bit.ly/3cC0V9d">https://bit.ly/3cC0V9d</a><br> Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/BaileySarian">https://discord.gg/BaileySarian</a><br> <br> RECOMMEND A STORY HERE: [email protected]<br> Business Related Emails: [email protected]<br> Business Related Mail: Bailey Sarian 4400 W. Riverside Dr., Ste 110-300 Burbank, CA 91505<br> <br> ________<br> <br> This podcast is Executive Produced by: Bailey Sarian and Joey Scavuzzo<br> Head Writer: Allyson Philobos<br> Senior Writer: Katie Burris<br> Research provided by: Xander Elmore<br> Additional research by: Dr. Thomas Messersmith<br> Special thank you to our Historical Consultant: Poulomi Saha, Professor at UC Berkeley who writes and teaches about our cultural obsession with cults.<br> Director: Brian Jaggers<br> Edited by: Julien Perez<br> Additional Editing: Maria Norris<br> Hair: Angel Gonzalez<br> Makeup: Nikki la Rose<br> <br> ________<br> <br> Stop putting off those doctor's appointments and go to <a href="http://www.Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY">Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY</a> to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. That’s <a href="http://www.zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY">Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY</a>. <br> <br> For a limited time, visit <a href="http://www.AuraFrames.com">AuraFrames.com</a> and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter -  by using promo code DARKHISTORY at checkout. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.<br> <br> MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to <a href="http://www.MASTERCLASS.com/DARKHISTORY">MASTERCLASS.com/DARKHISTORY</a> for the current offer. <br> <br> Get started today at <a href="http://www.StitchFix.com/darkhistory">StitchFix.com/darkhistory</a> to get $20 off your first order—and they’ll waive your styling fee. That’s <a href="http://www.stitchfix.com/darkhistory">StitchFix.com/darkhistory</a>.<br> <br> ________<br> <br> </div>