TV series
How to Become a Cult Leader
Overview
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.
Details
- First air date
- 2023-07-28
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 6 episodes
- Genres
- Documentary, Crime
- Network
- Netflix
- Production
- Citizen Jones, Estuary Films
- Country
- US
- Original language
- EN
Cast
- Peter Dinklage as Narrator (voice)
- Asha Rangappa as Self
- Leo J. Ryan as Self (archive footage)
- George H. W. Bush as Self (archive footage)
Creators and crew
- David Ginsberg - Executive Producer
- Jonas Bell Pasht - Executive Producer
- Peter Dinklage - Executive Producer
- Jonah Bekhor - Executive Producer
- Jake Laufer - Executive Producer
Episodes
Episode 1: Build Your Foundation
Embrace your calling and reinvent yourself by studying the life of petty criminal and folk rock troubadour-turned-murderous legend Charles Manson.
Episode 2: Grow Your Flock
Build a fervent following by retracing the steps of Jim Jones, whose messiah complex turned a small healing grift into a dangerously loyal congregation.
Episode 3: Reform Their Minds
Return to Buddhafield and unlock the mastery of manipulation with Jaimie Gomez, a failed actor who built an army of servants by promising enlightenment.
Episode 4: Promise Eternity
Apocalypse, anyone? Create credible danger and consolidate power by studying the spiritual, sci-fi narrative of Heaven's Gate leader Marshall Applewhite.
Episode 5: Control Your Image
Leverage media coverage to cultivate a pious image like Shoko Asahara, who built the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo on positive PR and deadly methods.
Episode 6: Become Immortal
Avoid unhappy endings and cement your legacy by studying Sun Myung Moon, who transformed the Unification Church into a still-thriving economic machine.
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