Jim Bakker’s Christian Disneyworld: Heritage USA with Gianmarco Soresi and Mackenzie Barmen | 65

The Big Flop

Wondery

Society & Culture, Comedy, Business

4.6 • 884 Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the 1970s, Heritage USA wasn't just a theme park, it was a "Christian Disneyland" that had the faithful flocking to its divine water slides, righteous rides, and—wait for it—bible study with a side of funnel cake. But when its founder, televangelist extraordinaire Jim Bakker, got caught with his hand in the collection plate and his pants around his ankles, God-fearing tourists decided to find Jesus anywhere but Heritage USA.

Gianmarco Soresi (The Downside) and Mackenzie Barmen (Bullshittery) join Misha to take a bumpy rollercoaster ride through the rise and fall of Jim Bakker and Heritage USA.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Imagine a world where you could listen to The Big Flop without any breaks?
0:04.7	Newsflash, you can.
0:06.6	By joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or in Apple Podcasts.
0:11.0	You'll get early access to episodes of The Big Flop and enjoy them entirely ad-free.
0:17.1	It's the ultimate way to immerse yourself in the drama of these business debacles.
0:31.1	Jim Baker, one of the biggest televangelists of the 1980s, is at the top of a hotel looking over his amusement park,
0:41.2	Heritage USA. It's kind of a Christian Disney World. It's dawn. The sun's just rising. From up here,
0:49.8	Jim can see the water park, the miniature train, the amphitheater where they put on a show re-enecting
0:55.5	the crucifixion. Praise the Lord. Heritage USA is huge. 2300 acres with all kinds of attractions and rides,
1:06.1	horseback riding, the world's biggest wave pool, and also Bible study. It is a Christian theme park after all.
1:14.7	But Jim's not satisfied. He wants to go bigger. So he comes up with a plan. On his TV show, he's going
1:23.5	to start asking for people to send him money directly to help build some new additions
1:28.8	to the park, like a heaven and hell themed roller coaster and a replica of historical Jerusalem.
1:36.4	In return, they'll get a lifetime pass to stay in Heritage USA's Hotel.
1:42.8	And if he's got all that money coming in, nobody will notice if he spends a little of it on
1:48.1	himself, right?
1:49.9	Jim touches the gold cross at his neck and checks his Rolex.
1:54.2	It's almost time to head to the studio to record the latest episode of his show.
1:59.2	A new car here, some fancy clothes there.
2:02.3	There, he deserves nice things.
2:04.9	And it's not like anybody's ever going to find out.
2:08.0	Definitely not all the people who send in donations to help build the park.
	...

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