Failed Utopia
54 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 36 ratingsThis is a podcast about utopian ideas and paradise lost. We look at utopian concepts from the past, present and future, as well as utopian societies and communes, which promise the world to eager followers but inevitably fail when it all starts to unravel. Some of these utopias just fall apart, while others devolve into true horrors and even brutal cults. I’ll break down what these groups’ leaders were thinking, what attracted their devotees in the first place, and how it all went wrong.
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Episodes
Dubai's Artificial Islands
February 28, 2023 21:50 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBOver twenty years ago, Dubai began constructing the world's largest artificial archipelago of islands, designed to be a lavish oasis for the super-rich. Today, the islands stand mostly empty and some are sinking back into the sea, but the developers and government of Dubai refuse to give up on the mind boggling mega-project. Let me tell you about this astonishing feat of engineering, how it did work--kind of, but also hasn’t panned out the way they hoped, and why they’ll probably never let t...
New Year's Resolutions
January 31, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBWhy most New Year’s resolutions fail, the Babylonians and Romans, putting our hands on a peacock, setting and getting goals, habit formation, motivation vs. discipline, believing you deserve to have what you want, and what procrastination really is (you’re not lazy). Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral h...
Bonus Episode: More Theranos Updates (Elizabeth Holmes Sentencing & Sunny Balwani Trial)
November 23, 2022 21:35 - 6 minutes - 6.3 MBThe Theranos saga continues. Updates on Elizabeth Holmes' sentencing and Sunny Balwani's trial and verdict. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources Theranos Full Explainer: https://failedutopia.com/theranos/ Holmes Trial & Verdict Updates: YouTube https://youtu.be/P9xR6jn84kU Audio only https://failedutopia.com/theranos-update/ Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Merchandise...
Roanoke: The Lost Colony
November 22, 2022 19:36 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBColonialism and utopianism, as Thomas More coined the term, have been linked since the early sixteenth century when European explorers began taking stock of newly accessible lands that would later become colonies. Colonists had the expectation of achieving a much better life by settling in "new" lands, while producing a dystopia for the original inhabitants. Optimistic colonists didn’t always find what they expected, but for centuries they continued to emigrate and settle, driven by utopian ...
Paradise to Hellscape: Salton Sea and Other Terrible Places
November 08, 2022 13:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBLet’s talk about an environmental catastrophe that turned a tourism and wildlife paradise into a toxic wasteland. This is something that we’re starting to see happening all over the world and that’s only going to become more of a problem in the future thanks to climate change. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Ghost towns and toxic fumes: How an idyllic California lake became a disaster How California’s Salton Sea went from vacation destination to toxic nightmare As t...
The Church of Love (Chonda-Za)
October 25, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThe Church of Love: Chonda-Za, Love Angels, lonely hearts, and a whole lot of questionable love letters. Plus, self-delusion and seeing things for what they are. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Useful Delusions: The Pow...
Cryptocurrency Part 2
October 11, 2022 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBIn Part 2, hopefully we’re gonna have a little more fun talking not about techno-utopia, but actual physical utopian communes based around the love of crypto. Cryptoland, Cryptopia, Satoshi Island, Bitcoin Beach, Bitcoin City, and actually, the entire country of El Salvador. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources Tragic Cryptoland trailer Cryptoland website When Your Island Paradise Goes Bankrupt... Thailand’s Crypto Utopia — ‘90% of a cult, without all ...
Cryptocurrency Part 1
September 27, 2022 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBCryptocurrency is one of the most buzzy techno-utopian ideas out there. Is it really a disruptive technology of the future? Or a bunch of esoteric, elitist, crypto-bro BS? Even a scam? Let's talk about what crypto is and what it's good for... or not. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources Computer Scientists Say Crypto Industry Is Misleading the Public About Blockchain Technology Why This Computer Scientist Says All Cryptocurrency Should “Die in a Fire” T...
The Farm
September 13, 2022 12:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBThe Farm was once the largest hippie commune in U.S. history, and it still exists today albeit in a somewhat different form. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources https://thefarmcommunity.com https://www.thefarm.org What life is like when you’re born on a commune Erika Anderson Stephen Gaskin obituary “40 Years on the Farm” documentary Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Me...
Auroville
August 30, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBA spiritual Indian utopia that’s over 50 years old, but still very much a work in progress. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia in Auroville by Akash Kapur Bulldozing a dream? Auroville’s importance as an experiment in alternative living Bulldozers, violence and politics crack an Indian dream of utopia Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middlet...
Biosphere 2
August 16, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBOn this episode, the fascinating story of Biosphere 2, the largest closed ecological system ever created… or, how eight people went nuts and almost starved in a vivarium for humans. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources https://biosphere2.org Mark Nelson’s 2018 article Biosphere 2: What Really Happened? Spaceship Earth Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Merchandise: www.fail...
Helicon Home Colony
March 15, 2022 12:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBThe Helicon Home Colony was the brainchild of the renowned author and muckraking journalist Upton Sinclair. It lasted less than 6 months and went down in a literal blaze. "We stood in the snow and watched our beautiful utopia flame and roar, until it crashed in and died away to a dull glow." Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Autobiography of Upton Sinclair Utopia, New Jersey: Travels in the Nearest Eden by Perdita Bu...
Theranos Update (Fraud Trial & Verdict for Elizabeth Holmes)
January 20, 2022 21:57 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P9xR6jn84kU Updates on the verdict in the trial of former Theranos founder and CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, including charges, sentencing, appeal, Ramesh Sunny Balwani's upcoming trial on the same charges, and more. Full Theranos explainer episode: https://failedutopia.com/theranos/ Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Viol...
Replay: Holiday Special!
December 21, 2021 17:30 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBIn this replay from 2020, find out about the secretive alternative community that only gets talked about once a year. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree ar...
Marshall Islands
December 15, 2021 02:38 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBPicture a chain of tropical islands with white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters, breathtaking sunsets, palm trees swaying in a tropical breeze, and a culturally rich population of native people fishing the bountiful waters of their homeland as they have for generations. Sounds pretty ideal, right? Maybe even the closest we’ve ever gotten to an actual utopia. But there are a couple of problems. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Preve...
Theranos
November 24, 2021 00:30 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBToday, Elizabeth Holmes testifies in her own defense in a trial for criminal charges stemming from the collapse of the company she infamously founded, Theranos. The startup claiming to revolutionize the medical industry, and at one point valued at $9 billion, went down in a blaze of allegations of fraud as one of the worst disasters in Silicon Valley history. What went wrong? Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800...
Bonus Episode: Etheric Surgery Update
November 16, 2021 22:27 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBVIDEO VERSION on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZYtpBV2EfUU This is my results update on my etheric surgery with Mother God in the 5th dimension and the 5D full disclosure team, also known as psychic surgery from a cult leader who’s been deceased for several months. Previous Love Has Won & 5D Full Disclosure episodes: https://failedutopia.com/love-has-won/ https://failedutopia.com/love-has-won-updates-5d-full-disclosure/ Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources...
Love Has Won UPDATES (5D Full Disclosure)
November 09, 2021 13:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBThis is an update about Love Has Won, now known as 5D Full Disclosure. I have a bunch of new information for you guys, and there have been some developments in this case. Today I’ll be updating you on the criminal cases related to the discovery of Amy Carlson’s body, some things that aired recently in a special on Dateline NBC, what the group is up to now, and my personal experience getting etheric surgery by Mother God from the fifth dimension. Yes, I got psychic surgery from a deceased cul...
Vampire Clan (Rod Ferrell)
October 26, 2021 19:21 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBVampire lore has fascinated humans for centuries, starting as far back as the Greeks. From Nosferatu and Dracula to Interview with the Vampire and Twilight, everybody loves a good vampire story. But way before team Edward and team Jacob, a much less attractive teen was taking the vampire thing way too far. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence He...
Earth: Climate Crisis Part 2
October 13, 2021 00:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBThis is the continuation of the previous Earth: Climate Crisis episode. Renewable energy, pros and cons of nuclear, geoengineering, why carbon emissions will rise for the foreseeable future, climate vs. economics, and more. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-8...
Earth: Climate Crisis Part 1
September 28, 2021 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBPlanet Earth is a utopia for human life in the cosmos. But how much longer will it stay that way? Scientists say we are running out of time to avert climate catastrophe. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Fast C...
Credit Card Rewards
August 25, 2021 00:00 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBCredit card rewards. Who knew they had a dark side? Crazy, right? Well, not if you know the old adage, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Emily Stewart at Vox Wh...
The Family aka The Great White Brotherhood of Initiates and Masters (Anne Hamilton-Byrne)
July 27, 2021 12:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBToday, you get to hear about an Australian new-age, nuclear-apocalypse doomsday, child-stealing cult called The Great White Brotherhood of Initiates and Masters. Or for short, The Family. They stole babies, and they also dropped a lot of acid.Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for vic...
More's Utopia Part 8
July 15, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBThe final chapter of Thomas More's Utopia. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/failedutopia/donations
More's Utopia Part 7
July 13, 2021 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBPart seven is all about the Utopians' military, and this might actually be one of the few times Thomas More manages to stay on topic. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/failedutopia/donations
More's Utopia Part 6
July 08, 2021 12:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBIn part six, Thomas More makes us think with the chapter title, Of Their Slaves, and Of Their Marriages, that we're just going to hear about slaves and marriage in Utopia. But somehow he manages to talk about euthanasia, suicide, and the pitfalls of having an overly-complex legal code. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-723...
More's Utopia Part 5
July 06, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBIn part five of the series, we'll continue Book 2 by reading Of the Travelling of the Utopians and find out how they they regard the pleasures and pains of life. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/failedutopia/donations
More's Utopia Part 4
July 01, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBToday in the fourth part of the series, I'll talk about weird old Greek words and mention Final Fantasy for no real reason at all and read you the introduction to Book 2 and the first four chapters, which include: Of Their Towns, Particularly of Amaurot; Of Their Magistrates; Of Their Trades, and Manner of Life; and Of Their Traffic. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot M...
More's Utopia Part 3
June 29, 2021 12:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBIn the third part of this series, Hythloday continues his discourse, and the friends discuss communism, greed, money, property, wealth inequality, Plato, religious men who make spiritual compromises for political convenience, and whether it is better to put forth radical ideas or “cast about” and stay in your lane. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Support t...
More's Utopia Part 2
June 24, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBIn the second episode of this series on Thomas More's Utopia, Hythloday continues his discourse. We'll hear more about the death penalty, Renaissance humanism, how kings who are selfish stupidly act against their own interests, the fictional land of the Polylerits, and a socially awkward exchange between a court jester and a monk. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Midd...
More's Utopia Part 1
June 22, 2021 12:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBIt's Failed Utopia's inaugural fiction takeover! I’m doing something a little different for the next few episodes and talking not about real world stuff but about a fictional utopia. And what better place to start than with the book that gave us the modern meaning of the word: Thomas More’s Utopia. The book is a discourse on a fictional island called Utopia. Not only did Thomas More coin the phrase, this 16th Century work is widely considered to be the ancestor of the entire utopian and dyst...
Tenacious Unicorn Ranch
June 08, 2021 22:05 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBIt's Pride month, and today I'm bringing you a story about a trans and queer haven in southern Colorado. It's an alpaca ranch founded by a group of trans people who wanted to create a little utopia where they could thrive away from persistent discrimination and hostility they faced as trans people out in the world. While they just want to live their lives and exist, they aren’t willing to hide in order to be left alone, and unfortunately, just being who they are, where they are has led to so...
Love Has Won
May 25, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBToday I’m filling you in on something you might have seen in the headlines recently—the death of Love Has Won leader Amy Carlson, also known as Mother God. The bizarre circumstances reported by the media have put the spotlight on this group for the public, but for cult watchers, this group has been on their radar for a while now. What is this group all about, and what could have led to the remains of its leader being discovered decomposing in a house in Colorado, decorated with glitter and s...
Great Eleven
May 11, 2021 12:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBThe Divine Order of the Royal Arms of the Great Eleven was one of many cults operating in Southern California in the 1920s. It was also known as The Great Eleven or the Blackburn Cult. Botched resurrections, cultists pissing off an Italian organized crime syndicate, possible poisonings and mysterious disappearances, and ritual sacrifices . . . of puppies. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Tex...
Recycling
April 27, 2021 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBOur planet is awash in garbage, especially plastic. Our land, oceans, lakes and rivers are choked with plastic. It’s even been found in the Marianas Trench 6.5 miles under the sea and all over Mount Everest. It has permeated the food chain, and the air we breathe, and it falls in rainwater. For decades, recycling was billed as the panacea that would save us from our garbage. Why didn’t it work? Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevent...
Weimar Republic
April 13, 2021 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBThe Weimar Republic was the prosperous, post-World War I period in Germany, which lasted from 1918 to 1933. It was during this time that Germany transitioned from a monarchy to a republic. It ended when Hitler ascended to power as a dictator. How could a golden age of economic prosperity and cultural renaissance possibly have failed so miserably that it gave way to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust? Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Preve...
The Nation of Yahweh
March 30, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBThis is the story of a dream about Black pride and religion that turned into a reality of corruption, fear, and murder: Nation of Yahweh and its leader, Yahweh Ben Yahweh. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection www....
The Narcotic Farm
March 16, 2021 12:00 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBToday you’ll hear about The Narcotic Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, addiction, science, wacky graham crackers, jazz, prison, unethical medical experimentation, and a weird diversion about William S. Burroughs that I really didn’t plan on talking about but that made me feel very indignant. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources Addiction Help: USA The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) findtreatment.gov or 1-800-662-HELP The ...
The Leopard Society
March 02, 2021 13:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBBig cats, colonizers, the slave trade, cannibalism, supernatural strength-granting rituals, and a whole lot of blood and entrails. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Britannica’s Cannibalism: Cultures, Cures, Cu...
Republic of Minerva
February 16, 2021 13:00 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MB1970s dudes claim a reef, turn it into an island, declare sovereignty, and get chased off by the King of Tonga. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection The New York Times 1976 South Sea Reef Proclaimed A Republic by ...
Bonus Episode: Valentine's Day
February 09, 2021 13:00 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBThe utopia of love; weird stories about Saint Valentine, Cupid, and Charles, Duke of Orleans; fun facts about candy, venereal disease, and celebrating around the world; why I'm jealous of Juliet's mail; badly read poetry; and much more! Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources An image of Charles, Duke of Orleans’ original 1415 letter at The British Library History’s Oldest-Known Valentine Was Written in Prison History of the Conversation Heart Cherubic Cu...
Trumpworld
February 02, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBDid Donald Trump create a #MAGA utopia during his presidency? What’s the deal with QAnon? Is Trumpism a cult? Trigger warning: reality Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Watch this video! It features a great bre...
Heaven's Gate
January 19, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBUFOs, Jesus, meat suits, Ti and Do, Luciferians, the Human Evolutionary Level, spading under, Star Trek . . . oh, and the largest mass suicide ever to take place on American soil. It's Heaven's Gate. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veteran...
Gloriavale
January 05, 2021 13:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBGloriavale is a fundamentalist Christian cult in the beautiful country of New Zealand. Not only do they observe some strange practices but they also face decades worth of accusations of brainwashing, abuse, and violence. They still operate today with about 500 members. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect,...
Bonus Episode: Holiday Special!
December 23, 2020 13:00 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBWhat’s the secretive alternative community that only gets talked about once a year? Listen on to find out! Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 Make The Connection Written and produced by Anna Roberts Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.c...
Naked in the Woods
December 22, 2020 13:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBGet ready to hear about Naked in the Woods, an aptly titled book by Margaret Grundstein about her years spent in a utopian hippie commune in the woods in Oregon. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 Make The Connection Margaret Grundstein’s Naked ...
Oneida Community
December 08, 2020 13:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBWhat do you think of when you hear “free-love commune”? If you’re an American like me, I’m guessing you’re thinking 1960s or 70s alternative communities and hippies, not devout Christians in the 1800s. Today we’re talking about the Oneida Community—the only cult that turned itself into a silverware company. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence ...
Disney World
November 24, 2020 13:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBWhat does Walt Disney have to do with utopia? Is Disney World really the happiest place on Earth? Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 Make The Connection Walt Disney’s 1966 EPCOT film (EPCOT comes in at 10:25 if you’re impatient) Richard E. Foglesong’s Married to the Mouse James B. Stewart’s Disne...
Bonus Episode: Jonestown Survivors
November 17, 2020 13:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBThis is a bonus episode that builds on the previous episodes Jonestown Parts 1 and 2. This will make more sense if you finish those two episodes first. So much of the research I did for those episodes didn’t make it into the final cut. So today I’m giving you a little bonus content--what you could consider the silver lining: those who survived and those who tried to save the lives of others. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Failed Utopia merch now available! www.faile...
Jonestown Part 2
November 10, 2020 13:03 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBIn today’s episode we are going to talk about the granddaddy of utopian fails, Peoples Temple. Or, as you might know it, Jonestown. This is Part 2. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website. Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 Make The Connection Jeff Guinn’s The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jo...