Freaky Friday: Episode 145

Self-Help. Personal Growth. Life-improvement. Multi-level marketing schemes promise riches, better lives, and unimagined happiness. But beneath the surface of this organization was a secret society that drained its members of money, personal autonomy, and even their lives. A sex cult where women were referred to as "slaves", branded like cattle, and forced to have sex with a leader they called Vanguard all under the guise of "female empowerment." Support Sinisterhood

3 Juli 20191h 42min

Parks are meant to be a tranquil place, lush with trees and welcoming to visitors. But one fateful morning, an innocent man found himself in the wrong park at the wrong time, faced with a violent attacker. Years of untreated mental health issues culminated in this nightmare encounter. Could anything have prevented this brutal attack? *Note: This audio contains some minor audio/technical issues Support Sinisterhood

25 Juni 20191h 29min

Gray bald heads. Large round eyes. A flash of light and someone disappears. Alien abductions have been reported for decades but one man claims his incident was the real deal. Was he the target of some extraterrestrial visitors or was it all a ploy to gain fortune and fame? Support Sinisterhood

18 Juni 20191h 32min

A concept created to inspire audiences and delight children can sometimes take on an unnerving and nightmarish form. With painted faces and bouquets of balloons, they lurk on street corners or wait for you in the woods, luring children and frightening adults. Are they simply teenage pranksters or is there something more sinister at play? Support Sinisterhood

4 Juni 20191h 5min

With law enforcement closing in, America's grisliest serial killer gets careless. When he's finally arrested, police and the public breathed a sigh of relief. But it would be nearly a decade before justice was served. And more lives would be lost in the meantime. Support Sinisterhood

28 Maj 20191h 54min

The early 1970s were a time of great turmoil and upset with the free love of the 60s fading to cynicism and growing dangers. For the women of the Pacific Northwest, activities as seemingly harmless as going to the beach or hitchhiking suddenly had deadly consequences. Women began disappearing at a rate never before seen by law enforcement and tips poured in to help catch the cold-blooded killer. Could this handsome, charming law student named Ted be their prime suspect? Support Sinisterhood

22 Maj 20191h 30min

One of America’s most prolific and renowned serial killers, Ted Bundy was known for his charming smile, magnetic personality, and violent and sadistic tendencies. For decades his rage simmered beneath the surface, until one day he was exposed for the monster he always had been. In the first of our three-part series, we discuss Bundy's childhood, teenage and college years, and the incident that psychiatrist's call the pivotal moment in his development as a psychopath. Support Sinisterhood

15 Maj 20191h 5min

By all accounts Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose were an unfortunate pair - a single mom, forced to care for her daughter and her many illnesses. As if that weren't bad enough, their home was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. When Habitat For Humanity was gracious enough to build them a new home in Springfield, Missouri, neighbors welcomed the devoted and loving mother and the sweet young girl who always had a huge smile on her face despite her sickly condition. But things aren't always as they appear, and what neighbors didn't suspect was one of the worse cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy was occurring right across the street. Even more shocking is how the horror would end. Dee Dee and Gypsy's story gripped the nation and can now be seen in the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, the Hulu series_ The Act_, and continues to make headlines from the courtroom. Support Sinisterhood

8 Maj 20191h 49min