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[Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide, mental illness, and sexual assault. Listener discretion advised.] Youtube spiritual guru Teal Swan says she saves lives. Others say she\u2019s dangerously death-obsessed. We say she\u2019s serving strong \u201c9 Perfect Strangers\u201d villain vibes with a side order of night terrors. But that\u2019s just us. We wanted an expert\u2019s perspective, so we called on investigative journalist Jennings Brown for this episode to help us understand more about Teal\u2019s world. As a senior reporter at Gizmodo, Jennings traveled to rural Utah, the forests of Costa Rica, and smack dab into the middle of Teal\u2019s inner circle to understand her teachings and investigate the deaths of some of her followers.\xa0

His unprecedented access to her group is at the heart of a six part podcast called The Gateway - which we highly recommend as critical listening for anyone wanting to learn more about Teal\u2019s whole vibe from a safe distance. He joins us today to talk about the sharp edges woven into her carefully-curated, hypnotic image, and how spiritual hucksters are gaming the algorithm and manipulating people\u2019s most vulnerable moments. We also talk to him about his newest Spotify Original podcast series: Revelations which follows a California cult that combines doomsday prophecies and fine wine. And TBH, we get so carried away that we go into extra innings. Enjoy this first episode with Jennings - and we\u2019ll be back next week with part two.\xa0

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CREDITS:\xa0

Production Partner: Citizens of Sound\xa0

Producers: Will Retherford & Jess Tardy

Theme Song: \u201cCultivated\u201d by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

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The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody\u2019s mad at you, just don\u2019t be a culty fuckwad.

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