Space Cult And The Arachnid Queen

The Box of Oddities

John Elliott and Kat Walls

True Crime, Society & Culture, Comedy

4.9 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Psychology of Heaven's Gate and Nan Songer, The Spider Lady What makes a person trade all earthly belongings for a pair of Nikes and a one-way ticket on a UFO behind a comet? In this episode, Jethro dives into the unnerving psychology behind the Heaven’s Gate cult: belief, identity, and how a group of intelligent, seemingly rational people boarded the strangest spaceship never built. Then Kat introduces us to Nan Songer—California’s charming, eccentric “Spider Lady”—who became famous for her eight-legged companions and a personal brand that was equal parts science, spectacle, and complete arachnid chaos. So, please ensure your seat is in its upright and fully locked position: One story might make you question the nature of belief, while the other might make you check your shoes. Listen now wherever pods are cast! #HeavensGate #CultPsychology #SpiderLady #NanSonger #BoxOfOddities #TrueWeird #OddlyFascinating #CultsAndCritters #SpidersAndSpaceships If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's official. Bank holiday season has begun, so why not treat yourself and binge free box sets on ITVX?
0:08.3	Indulge your nail-biting new drama protection.
0:11.4	My God tells me you're hiding something.
0:13.3	Relish the mystery of Unforgotten.
0:15.4	This could be a potential cause of death.
0:17.0	And savour the thrilling secrets of Out There.
0:20.3	You think I'm being paranoid, don't you?
0:22.1	Go on, you deserve it.
0:23.9	Sit back and spoil yourself with free drama this bank holiday season.
0:28.1	Stream free on ITVX.
0:30.3	It's the cinematic event of the year.
0:33.2	Critics say astonishing, tremendous, a triumph of savings.
0:37.4	Are you talking about death of a unicorn?
0:39.4	No, Sergei, it's two-for-one cinema tickets from Compare the Market.
0:42.8	Oh.
0:43.5	But you can use this magnificent offer to see Death of a Unicorn only in Cinemas.
0:48.8	Woo-hoo!
0:49.4	Get Two-for-One Cinema tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday with Compare the Market.
0:53.3	Simples!
0:54.2	When you take out a qualifying product to compare the market,
0:56.4	one membership per year, participating cinemas,
0:58.0	two standard tickets only cheap as free.
	...

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