Jonestown Cult

Bloodlines & Betrayals- Jonestown Cult

In this Bloodlines & Betrayal episode, hosts David Schuman and Steve Cully take listeners deep into the chilling story of Jonestown — the utopian dream that became one of history’s darkest nightmares. Led by the charismatic yet paranoid Jim Jones, the People’s Temple began as a movement preaching equality, compassion, and unity — but ended in the mass murder-suicide of over 900 people in the jungles of Guyana in 1978.

Schuman and Cully unravel how Jones transformed from a passionate preacher to a manipulative cult leader obsessed with control. They expose the psychological grip he held over his followers — cutting them off from their families, isolating them in the wilderness, and convincing them that loyalty meant surrendering everything, even their lives.

The episode recounts the fateful visit of Congressman Leo Ryan, whose attempt to investigate the community led to violence, chaos, and the final order: “Drink the poison.” Mothers, children, and entire families perished in what Jones called an act of “revolutionary suicide.”

Ultimately, Bloodlines & Betrayal portrays Jonestown not just as a tragedy of faith gone wrong, but as a masterclass in manipulation, blind devotion, and the human cost of obedience. Schuman and Cully leave listeners with a haunting truth — the most dangerous betrayal is the one committed in the name of salvation.