How to Become a Cult Leader

2023 6.9

Look inside the cult leader's playbook for achieving unconditional love, endless devotion and the power to control people's minds, bodies, and souls. Disguised as a guidebook for capturing a devoted cult following, this docuseries takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the rise of six famed flock leaders.

Play

1
Build Your Foundation
2023-07-28
Embrace your calling and reinvent yourself by studying the life of petty criminal and folk rock troubadour-turned-murderous legend Charles Manson.
2
Grow Your Flock
2023-07-28
Build a fervent following by retracing the steps of Jim Jones, whose messiah complex turned a small healing grift into a dangerously loyal congregation.
3
Reform Their Minds
2023-07-28
Return to Buddhafield and unlock the mastery of manipulation with Jaimie Gomez, a failed actor who built an army of servants by promising enlightenment.
4
Promise Eternity
2023-07-28
Apocalypse, anyone? Create credible danger and consolidate power by studying the spiritual, sci-fi narrative of Heaven's Gate leader Marshall Applewhite.
5
Control Your Image
2023-07-28
Leverage media coverage to cultivate a pious image like Shoko Asahara, who built the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo on positive PR and deadly methods.
6
Become Immortal
2023-07-28
Avoid unhappy endings and cement your legacy by studying Sun Myung Moon, who transformed the Unification Church into a still-thriving economic machine.

Cast

Peter Dinklage Narrator (voice)

How to Become a Cult Leader

Episodes

Build Your Foundation

Grow Your Flock

Reform Their Minds

Promise Eternity

Control Your Image

Become Immortal

Cast

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