Afleveringen
-
In this episode of Pod Candy: Cults, Crimes and Killers, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John Mayer take on the chilling Gilgo Beach murders and Peacockâs docuseries The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. The team dives into the disturbing case of Rex Heuermann, the Long Island architect who pleaded guilty to murdering eight women over a span of 17 years.
The hosts examine the shocking contrast between Heuermannâs public life as a husband, father, and professional, and the horrifying crimes he committed in secret. They discuss how his family processed the truth, the role of denial and cognitive dissonance, and the painful question of how someone can still love a parent while confronting the fact that they are capable of monstrous acts.
Dr. John brings his forensic psychology insight to the discussion, breaking down Heuermannâs compartmentalization, his need for control, the significance of his home environment, and why some serial killers stop, or become sloppy over time.
The episode also explores the impact on families left behind, the trauma of law enforcement searches, the role of therapists and mandated reporting, and the larger failures that allowed these womenâs disappearances to go unresolved for so long. -
This week on Pod Candy: Cults, Crimes and Killers, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John Mayer break down Netflixâs Trust Me: The False Prophet, the disturbing four-part documentary about Samuel Bateman and the splintered FLDS community he manipulated after Warren Jeffs was sent to prison.
Bateman claimed to be the new prophet, convinced followers that Warren Jeffs was speaking through him, and used faith, fear, sex, and salvation as weapons of control. The episode dives into how he exploited a community already shaped by isolation, obedience, polygamy, and generational brainwashing, and how women and children became currency in his quest for power.
Stacey and Dori unpack the documentaryâs most shocking moments, from Christine Marie and Tolgaâs hidden recordings to Juliaâs incredible courage in helping expose the abuse. Dr. John Mayer joins the conversation to explain coercive control, groupthink, indoctrination, and why people born into systems like the FLDS often cannot see a way out until one small crack of doubt appears.
This is an emotional, disturbing, and powerful episode about false prophets, survival, and the women who risked everything to tell the truth. Please listen with care. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
In this episode of Pod Candy: Cults, Crimes and Killers, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John Mayer pull back the curtain on one of televisionâs most beloved figures: Bob Barker. For decades, The Price Is Right projected bright lights, big prizes, and wholesome Americana â but behind the scenes, former models and staff described a workplace marked by control, sexism, racism, lawsuits, and unchecked power.
Our hosts discuss the disturbing allegations explored in the documentary, including the treatment of the âBarker's Beauties,â the toxic culture backstage, Barkerâs public image as Americaâs friendly game show host, and the darker claims that challenged that carefully protected legacy. Dr. John Mayer adds a psychological lens, examining how fame, narcissism, and a lack of boundaries can create a culture where abuse of power is allowed to thrive.
Itâs a conversation about nostalgia, betrayal, celebrity image-making, and what happens when the person America trusted on screen may have been very different offstage. -
You sign up for yoga hoping for clarity, healing, maybe even a little enlightenment. But what happens when that search for peace leads straight into control, coercion, and something much darker?
In this episode of Pod Candy, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John dive into Twisted Yoga, the Apple TV+ documentary about controversial spiritual leader Gregorian Bivolaru and the international yoga movement that former members say became a system of manipulation, sexual exploitation, secrecy, and abuse. The conversation unpacks how âspiritual growthâ can be weaponized, why people stay when their instincts are screaming, and how money, fear, isolation, and the promise of transformation can keep people trapped.
From tantric âinitiationsâ and surrendered passports to cult-like loyalty, cognitive dissonance, and Dr. Johnâs take on fear as control, this episode gets into the psychology behind how seemingly empowering communities can become dangerous. -
In this episode of Pod Candy, Stacey and Dori dive into the disturbing case of Jared Fogle, the former Subway spokesman whose wholesome public image hid a far darker reality. As they revisit the documentary Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster, they break down how an American success story unraveled into a horrifying criminal case involving child exploitation, undercover recordings, and years of hidden abuse.
They also examine the woman who risked everything to help expose him, the larger web of people tied to the case, and the failures that may have allowed the abuse to continue. With insights from Dr. John, the episode explores the psychology behind predatory behavior and the devastating impact these crimes leave behind. Itâs a furious, emotional, and deeply unsettling conversation about manipulation, power, and the monsters that can hide in plain sight.*Listener discretion advised.
Source Documentary: "Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster" on HBO Max. -
In this episode of Pod Candy, we unpack HBO Maxâs Murder in Glitter Ball City, a shocking true crime story set in Louisvilleâs flashy nightlife scene, where sex, drugs, and a brutal murder collide. Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John break down the twisted relationships, the toxic dynamics, and the courtroom chaos behind a case that feels almost too bizarre to be real. Listener discretion is advised for explicit themes, drug use, and violence.
Source Documentary: "Murder in Glitterball City" on HBO Max
-
In this episode of Pod Candy, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John Mayer break down Hollywood Hustler: Glitz, Glam & Scam, the jaw-dropping documentary about Zach Horowitz, the aspiring actor who built a Hollywood fantasy so convincing that friends, investors, and insiders handed over millions. What started as promises of exclusive film distribution deals with major studios and streamers unraveled into one of Hollywoodâs most shocking Ponzi schemes.
As they unpack the layers of deception, Stacey and Dori dig into the power of image, access, and manipulation in an industry where perception can easily outweigh reality. They debate whether the people closest to Horowitz truly had no idea, or whether some ignored the red flags because the lifestyle was just too good to question. Dr. John joins the conversation to explore the psychology behind grifting, sociopathic behavior, enabling, and how charm and confidence can keep even the smartest people hooked.
Itâs a wild conversation about greed, illusion, loyalty, and the danger of believing the story someone wants you to see.Source Documentary: "Hollywood Hustler: Glitz, Glam & Scam" on Prime Video
-
In this deeply unsettling episode of Pod Candy, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John Mayer unpack HBO Maxâs The Cult Behind The Killer: The Andrea Yates Storyâand the disturbing web of severe mental illness, postpartum psychosis, religious extremism, and coercive influence surrounding one of the most devastating crimes in modern American history. Rather than reducing the Andrea Yates case to a headline, the conversation digs into the warning signs, the role of Michael Woronieckiâs radical teachings, and the broader systems that failed Andrea and her children.
Listen as we examine how cult-like ideology, fear-based religious messaging, and untreated psychological crisis can collide with horrifying consequences. They also explore the unsettling parallels raised in the documentary, including the normalization of child abuse, the emotional fallout for survivors like Moses Storm, and the lingering questions about accountability that still remain today. This is one of Pod Candyâs heaviest episodesâthoughtful, emotional, and unflinching in its search for context beneath this horrific crime.
-
In this very, very cool Pod Candy bonus episode we're giving you a best-of âkillersâ mashup featuring highlights from past episodes, stitched together into one dark, bingeable ride.
In this compilation, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John Mayer revisit four infamous casesâpulling the most jaw-dropping moments, sharpest psychological insights, and most heated âwaitâŠWHAT?!â reactions.
-
In this episode of Pod Candy, Stacey and Dori dive into Corey Feldman Versus the Worldâa YouTube documentary filmed around 2016 that tracks Corey Feldman during a turbulent stretch of touring, isolation, and relentless public scrutiny.
What starts as âwaitâŠwhat am I watching?â quickly turns into something darker: the documentaryâs âangelsâ eraâyoung women recruited into Feldmanâs orbitâraises unsettling questions about control, power, and cult-like dynamics, including reports of strict rules and basic-needs restrictions while on the road.
Joining them, Dr. John zooms out from the spectacle and into the psychologyâconnecting paranoia, âdark mediaâ conspiracies, and the âlove and lightâ self-mythology to a broader pattern of delusion and grievance. Stacey and Dorisâ minds are blown when Dr. John drops his most provocative comparison: parallels to Charles Mansonâthe entourage structure, the messiah framing, and the obsession with being recognized as a ârealâ artist.
Find out what happens when childhood fame, unresolved trauma, and the need to control the narrative collide⊠and who gets hurt along the way.Content warning: This episode discusses childhood trauma, abuse and mental health struggles.
Source Documentary: "Cory Feldman vs The World" on Youtube TV
-
In this chilling episode of Pod Candy, Stacey and Dori unpack Netflixâs documentary âEvil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Storyâ a real-world case of charisma turned coercion, where a Utah therapist-turnedââlife coachâ allegedly leveraged religion, fear, and authority to control families and justify horrific abuse.
The trio digs into how Hildebrandt built an âempireâ through her âConnextionsâ programâpushing rigid âtruth vs. distortionâ rhetoric, encouraging no-contact separations, and draining families financiallyâwhile allegedly isolating partners and turning spouses against each other. They also explore the explosive crossover with YouTube mom Ruby Franke, and the harrowing details that emerged after one of Frankeâs children escaped for help, exposing evidence of extreme neglect and torture.
Joining them, Dr. John Mayer adds clinical insight into the psychology of manipulationâwhy vulnerable communities can fall into moral panic, how âauthorityâ becomes a weapon, and why itâs crucial to verify a therapistâs credentials. Especially when someone rebrands as a âcoachâ to dodge accountability. The conversation is equal parts furious, heartbroken, and laser-focused on the bigger takeaway: when âfamily valuesâ become a shield for control, the harm can be devastating.
Source Documentary: "Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hilderbrandt Story" on Netflix
-
In this episode of Pod Candy, Stacey and Dori dive into a raw, emotionally charged conversation sparked by Netflixâs The Perfect Neighbor. They focus on the bigger questions the documentary raisesâabout boundaries, neighbor conflicts, police response, fear, and how everyday tensions can spiral into irreversible tragedy
Their discussion moves candidly between empathy and accountability as Stacey and Dori debate personal responsibility, parental boundaries, and whether this situation couldâor shouldâhave been stopped long before it turned deadly. Forensic psychologist Dr. John Mayer joins to add psychological context, exploring anger, isolation, entitlement, and how unresolved conflict can become a dangerous obsession.
The team unpacks the uncomfortable gray areas: how people justify their behavior, how systems fail, and how easily ânormalâ disputes can escalate when no one truly intervenes. Thought-provoking, emotional, and deeply human, this conversation stays with you long after the episode ends.Source Documentary: "The Perfect Neighbor" on Netflix
-
In this gripping episode of Pod Candy, Stacey and Dori dive deep into the tragic, turbulent, and endlessly controversial life of Eileen Wuornosâone of Americaâs most infamous female serial killers, and the subject of Netflixâs newest true-crime documentary.
Through raw discussion, personal reflection, and expert insight from forensic psychologist Dr. John Mayer, the hosts unpack the layers behind Wuornosâs story: a childhood marked by abandonment and violence, a lifetime of assault and exploitation, and a justice system that seemed determined to silence her rather than understand her.
As the trio breaks down the documentary, they question its omissions, its sensationalism, and the haunting truths buried beneath its surface. Was Wuornos a cold-blooded murderer, a lifelong victim pushed past her breaking point, or something far more complex? And what do her crimes reveal about societyâs failure to protect its most vulnerable?
Source Documentary: "Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers" on Netflix
-
In this gripping episode of Pod Candy, Stacey, Dori, and forensic psychologist Dr. John Mayer break down the shocking world revealed in Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, the documentary exposing the Fundamentalist LDS and its infamous prophet, Warren Jeffs. Pulling directly from survivor accounts and documentary footage, the hosts unpack how obedience, isolation, and religious manipulation were weaponized to create a closed, abuse-driven system hidden in plain sight.
Dr. John adds psychological insight on grooming, isolation, and what he calls âpsychological murderââthe lifelong trauma carried by survivors, and the group discusses the heroes who exposed the sect, the reporters and investigators who refused to look away, and the maddening reality that thousands still follow Jeffs even as he serves a life sentence.
Emotional, disturbing, raw, and darkly funny at times, this episode shines a light on one of the most extreme modern cultsâand why it still exists today.
Source Documentary: "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" on Netflix
-
In this chilling episode of Pod Candy: Cults, Crimes & Killers, Stacey Flaster and Dori Goldman unpack Netflixâs shocking true-crime documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. What begins as a disturbing case of anonymous harassment among Michigan teens quickly spirals into one of the most jaw-dropping catfishing stories ever told.
Joined by forensic psychologist Dr. John Mayer, the hosts break down the psychology of this disturbing caseâfrom âcyber-Munchausenâ and parental obsession to the long-term trauma of betrayal and emotional control. Together they ask: what drives a parent to become the villain in their own childâs story? -
Netflix may be shining a new spotlight on one of Americaâs most disturbing figures with Monster: The Ed Gein Story, but Pod Candy was there first. In this chilling mashup episode, hosts Stacey and Dr. John Mayer revisit their most fascinating and unnerving conversations about the real-life âButcher of Plainfield.â With commentary from Dori, filmmaker Alex Flaster (who produced the A&E Biography on Ed Gein), and horror expert Adam Rockoff, they explore how Geinâs twisted legacy gave birth to icons like Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and Leatherface.
From Geinâs psychologically stunted upbringing under a fanatical mother to the macabre crimes that redefined horror, this episode dives deep into what made him both a monster and a myth. Plus, Adam returns to give his brutally honest take on Netflixâs new dramatization â what it got right, what it got wrong, and why fiction canât compete with the horrifying truth.
Warning: Graphic discussion of real crimes and disturbing behavior.Source Material: "A&E Biography: Ed Gein" (on A&E) & "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" (on Netflix)
-
In 1998, 23-year-old Amy Lynn Bradley vanished without a trace from a Caribbean cruise ship â and her story has haunted the world ever since. In this episode, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John unpack one of the most chilling disappearances in modern history: Was Amy the victim of foul play, suicide, or something even darker like human trafficking?
From the baffling eyewitness sightings to the disturbing photos that surfaced years later, the hosts dive deep into every theory â mixing compassion, shock, and their trademark dark humor. Join the Pod Candy crew as they sift through the evidence, question the cruise lineâs actions, and confront the eerie possibility that Amy Bradley might still be alive.
-
Stacey and Dori turn their attention to Teal Swan, a spiritual influencer whose teachings on healing and suicide have made her both magnetic and deeply controversial. Drawing from the docuseries The Deep End, the hosts unpack how Swan shapes her image, the unsettling dynamics within her inner circle, and why so many vulnerable people are drawn into her orbit. With Dr. John weighing in, the conversation digs into the psychology of manipulation, the ethics of self-proclaimed healers, and what this story reveals about belief, control, and the human need for answers.
Source Documentary: "The Deep End" on Prime Video
-
In this episode of Pod Candy, Stacey and Dori dive into Betting on Zero and expose the dark underbelly of Herbalifeâa company accused of preying on vulnerable communities under the guise of opportunity. Joined by Dr. John, they peel back the layers of manipulation, exploitation, and broken promises that define multi-level marketing. In a groundbreaking moment, the hosts identify a new cult categoryâthe âMLM Cultââwhere recruitment replaces retail and loyalty is leveraged like currency. Is it a business, a scam, or something far more sinister? Tune in as they unpack the psychology, the players, and the real-world impact of this modern-day money cult.
Source Documentary: "Betting on Zero" on YouTube TV
-
In this powerful episode of Pod Candy, Stacey and Dori dive into Surviving Ohio State, the documentary exposing one of the largest sexual abuse scandals in U.S. history. They discuss the decades of abuse committed by Dr. Richard Strauss, the silence of Ohio State University, and the devastating toll on more than 300 male athletes whose voices went unheard for far too long.
Joined by Dr. John Mayer, the conversation unpacks the systemic failures that protected power over people, the stigma male survivors face, and the long shadows abuse casts over a life. From whistleblowers and cover-ups to the lasting trauma carried by survivors, this episode asks hard questions about accountability, justice, and the courage it takes to speak the truth.
Source Documentary: Surviving Ohio State on HBO Max.If youâre a survivor or supporting one, resources are linked in the show notes. You are not alone.
- Laat meer zien
