{"id":132261,"date":"2025-10-16T13:54:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=132261"},"modified":"2025-10-24T16:29:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T23:29:44","slug":"the-eighth-annual-peoples-temple-podcast-review-spectacular","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=132261","title":{"rendered":"The eighth annual Peoples Temple podcast review spectacular!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unlike last year<\/a>, this year saw a lot of podcasts covering the subject. Part of this was due to the creation of new podcasts and part was due to the author utilizing a new podcatcher which found more episodes. In fact, I had to have a cutoff date for episodes, or I\u2019d still be here at my desk with my headphones on.<\/p>\n

Some of this year\u2019s shows are multi-episodic, and some are just one-and-done, but as I stated two years ago, one-and-done shows can bring new people to the topic, so they have their uses. There has been a growing number of true crime and comedy podcasts, and Peoples Temple was not spared this trend. Humor is subjective, and what I found funny and not funny may be different from your tastes. There is your content warning.<\/p>\n

As always, there is no particular order as to how these are presented.<\/p>\n

Why We Do What We Do (7\/16, 7\/23\/2025)\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I was initially excited about this one because it promotes itself as being about psychology and why people do the things that they do. Well, it does do that, but only in the last 36 minutes of more than two hours of content. Host Dr. Abraham jumps around in the timeline. At some points, I didn\u2019t know if I was in the 1970s or 1965. He also claims there is gunfire on the \u201cDeath Tape,\u201d which I\u2019ve never heard or mentioned by anyone else. When he finally gets to the \u201cwhy\u201d part, he mentions how Jones tricked people with the fake healings, how he used punishment to stop any critical thinking, and how group values replaced individuals\u2019 values. These are all true points, but they have been brought up in other shows that made fewer mistakes in the narrative.<\/p>\n

One interesting theory that was brought up is the question of whether Jones was damaged by exposure to lead while growing up. If Jones had not been cremated, this could still be tested. If this episode had focused on what the show\u2019s description described, it could have been worth hearing.<\/p>\n

Drink about Something (7\/11, 7\/18, 7\/25, \"\"<\/a>08\/01\/2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A true crime podcast about stories so \u201cshocking that you just may need a drink after or during.\u201d The two main hosts are Lindsey and Jesse, who I think are married or are long-term partners. Lindsey, who was raised in a faith-healing tradition, provides the content and context, and Jesse provides the color commentary while becoming increasingly shocked as the story grows progressively worse. Part of the appeal of this show, for me anyway, was hearing Jesse become increasingly freaked out. Jones\u2019 antics shock him and Jim\u2019s \u201cfuck schedule\u201d sent him over the edge with laughter and disbelief.<\/p>\n

Even though this is a comedy podcast, it is one of the better researched shows this year, with sources including Raven, The Road to Jonestown<\/em>, and the tape recordings. The Temple\u2019s civil rights work is discussed, and there is agreement that Jones did some good work early in his ministry. There are some occasional errors which I\u2019m going to blame on the heavy drinking that goes on during the recording. These errors include:<\/p>\n