meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Cheat!

Undercover in a Cult

Cheat!

Sony Music

True Crime, Tv & Film, Society & Culture

4.81.7K Ratings

🗓️ 25 January 2022

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Kabbalah Centre took off when Madonna changed her name to Esther and joined their ranks. Soon enough, Ashton Kutcher, Victoria Beckham and many other celebrities were wearing the Kabbalah Centre’s signature red string bracelet. But, the centre’s teachings were unconventional. They claimed that you could simply scan the words of the Zohar, even if you didn’t understand the Aramaic text, and reap spiritual benefits. Journalist John Sweeney started an investigation and sent in an undercover agent to infiltrate the centre. What he found out was shocking. A Somethin' Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode of Cheat contains references to the Holocaust and misconduct in cults that some listeners may find triggering.

0:07.0

So just a heads up. You might want to choose how and where you listen to today's episode.

0:19.0

It's the early 2000s and Tony Donnelly is on a secret mission for the BBC.

0:24.0

Must have been 150 people in the hall.

0:28.0

He's in a building off of Oxford Street and London's West Inn.

0:32.0

You know Oxford Street, it's famous for shopping with all the high-end brands, luxury goods and a whole lot of tourists.

0:39.0

So Tony's in this big room. Everyone around him is wearing white.

0:44.0

But the group is segregated. The women are on one side of the room and the men are on the other.

0:50.0

They all had a piece of red string around their wrist.

0:54.0

And then Tony notices someone.

0:57.0

She walked in a attractive woman.

1:00.0

The energy in the room changes. Everyone seems to be buzzing as this woman walks over to the other side of the hall.

1:08.0

The only woman wearing a hat.

1:10.0

Suddenly a rabbi starts to speak to the group.

1:14.0

And the rabbi said, everybody had to turn and face to the east.

1:19.0

Tony glances at the people standing around him.

1:22.0

Everybody turned and face to the east.

1:25.0

And then they all start to chant.

1:37.0

Yeah, you heard that right.

1:40.0

They're chanting Chernobyl.

1:42.0

The sight of one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

1:46.0

And the idea was that their collective power and the light would go to Chernobyl

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sony Music, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Sony Music and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.