They’ve been around for thousands of years…orchestrating some of history’s most controversial events. And if not for their radical actions, you may never have even known they existed. Every Thursday, take a journey through hidden passageways and become a member of Parcast’s diabolical series, SECRET SOCIETIES. Each society is explored in 2 episodes—exposing the people and context responsible for its founding, and analyzing the psychology behind their beliefs.
Thu, July 01, 2021
This summer, sift through the files of America’s most covert organization in a special collection from Parcast Network. From secret alliances to global cover-ups, uncover the cold, hard facts and unproven theories surrounding the CIA. Listen to a clip from the first episode here, on the domestic mind control program known as Project MK-Ultra. Then search and follow “Conspiracy Theories: CIA Edition” for declassified episodes every Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, June 15, 2021
Ashley Flowers explores 15 of the world’s worst crimes in the new Spotify Original from Parcast, International Infamy. The first episode takes you to Mexico and the true story of Juana Barraza — a pro wrestler who became a serial killer known as the “Little Old Lady Killer.” Listen to an exclusive clip right here, then follow International Infamy for the full episode. New episodes every Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mon, June 07, 2021
Revisit ten of the worst fathers in true crime history in this special collection from Parcast Network. From the father who turned his son into a spy, to the dad whose long business trips turned out to be mafia hits, these dads will definitely not be getting any Father’s Day gifts this year. Devious Dads is a Spotify Original from Parcast. Listen free on Spotify! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bonus · Mon, May 03, 2021
Wayne Simmons had a dramatic 27-year career with the CIA taking down cartels and busting arms smugglers — or did he? The ex-CIA military analyst and cable news star stands accused of being a fraud. Hosted by the reporter who broke the story, Impostors follows the investigation into who Wayne Simmons really is… Hero, or conman? Impostors is a Spotify Original from Parcast. Produced by Topic Studios and Transmitter Media. Hosted by Alex French. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Mon, April 19, 2021
This awards season, pull back the curtain on Tinseltown’s most infamous controversies in the new Spotify Original from Parcast, Hollywood Scandals. You can hear the first episode on Hollywood’s sordid beginnings right here, then follow Hollywood Scandals for an episode every Monday. Listen free, only on Spotify! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, April 13, 2021
Creepypastas, frightful TikToks, online horror stories… Loey Lane and Eleanor Barnes are taking you into the spookiest corners of the web in their new Spotify Original from Parcast, Internet Urban Legends. Meet the hosts and hear their debut episode on the Watcher House — a terrifying saga that unfolded in 2014 after the Broaddus family bought their dream home in New Jersey. Listen free on Spotify, and follow Internet Urban Legends for new episodes every Tuesday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Mon, March 29, 2021
In the newest Parcast Original from Spotify, comedians and best friends Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone discuss all the trends, scandals, pop culture icons and personal stories they can’t shake from their minds. And they have a lot to cover! Listen to their debut episode right here, where Mary Beth shares her top 5 most iconic SNL musical performances and Benito shares how he got the “thank u, next” treatment from pop superstar Ariana Grande (and why he’s the opposite of mad about it). Then follow Obsessed for new episodes every Monday, free on Spotify! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Wed, March 17, 2021
You’ve heard the rumors. Trembled at the tales. Maybe even have some stories of your own… on what it’s like to enter adulthood. In the newest Spotify Original from Parcast, best friends and performers Teala Dunn and Nia Sioux compare notes on their first forays into the magical world of independence and responsibility — where mistakes are made and naps are taken, frequently. Listen here to Episode 1: Getting Through A Breakup for details of their most memorable splits, and (better) ways to bounce back after a relationship ends. Then search and follow “Adulting” to catch new episodes every Wednesday, free on Spotify! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, February 25, 2021
Dracula wasn’t the only frightful fiction conjured by Irish author Bram Stoker… In this retelling of “The Judge’s House,” a Cambridge student is overcome with curiosity — then dread — as he faces an evil man’s terrifying legacy. Listen to Part 1 right here, then search “Haunted Places: Ghost Stories” to hear Part 2, when the Judge himself comes calling… Haunted Places: Ghost Stories is a Spotify Original from Parcast. Every Thursday, find a new tale of terror from some of history’s greatest authors. Listen free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Mon, February 01, 2021
This season, “L” stands for love… and lawless… and lethal. Beginning February 1st, uncover history’s most infamous couples in this collection of episodes from across Parcast Network. Follow the misdeeds of married mafiosos. Enter the transgressions of casanova cult leaders. And demystify the lives of coupled kingpins, pirates, and spies… Because in this limited series, romance takes a sharp turn into the radical. Get a preview of Criminal Couples right here, then search “Criminal Couples” to find and follow the series. Episodes air every Monday. Listen free, only on Spotify.
Bonus · Tue, January 19, 2021
They’re a powerful political dynasty with no shortage of tragedies, scandals and controversies. Ahead of the 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, revisit the most shocking moments in the Kennedy family history — from conspiracies and cover-ups to assassinations and affairs — in this Parcast limited series. All 12 episodes are available January 19th. Listen free, only on Spotify.
Bonus · Thu, December 31, 2020
The clock’s winding down on the final moments of the year and people around the world are putting their charms and traditions to work, shoring up good fortune for the future. But it’s not always our own personal luck that’s on the line… In this story, a night of superstitions weaves together the fates of merrymakers eager for fresh starts. This episode is presented by Superstitions, a Spotify Original from Parcast. Follow Superstitions free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Thu, December 24, 2020
In East LA, a group of deputies named the Banditos stand accused of running the sheriff’s substation like a gang, institutionalizing a culture of fear and retaliation. And while they’re intimidating civilians and colleagues alike, they may be protected by the very top of the department.
Thu, December 17, 2020
The Compton Executioners allegedly control every aspect of life at the LASD Compton substation. Gang members have been accused of assaulting fellow deputies and even killing civilians, claiming, often without evidence, that they were acting in self-defense. And although they’ve faced several lawsuits, somehow, the Executioners have evaded prosecution — and any accountability.
Thu, December 10, 2020
By the 1850s, Los Angeles was one of the most dangerous places to live in the West. Extrajudicial killings, unchecked racial violence, and vigilante groups like the Los Angeles Rangers prevailed. This “Wild West” culture seeped into and was propagated by the Sheriff’s Department — and it hasn't gone away.
Bonus · Mon, December 07, 2020
You know you can find love in a bar… on an app… Why not a podcast? Every week on Blind Dating, one hopeful single is introduced to two potential matches in a virtual hangout — no cameras allowed. This week, listen in as Pauler, a 33-year-old dancer from Australia, meets a tutor who falls for mama’s boys and a one-time swinger who’s “lived and learned” in LA. Is personality enough to spark a lasting connection? Listen to find out… and don’t miss the twist at the end! Blind Dating is free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Thu, December 03, 2020
The community of Lennox in Los Angeles is just one square mile, but it has an enormous problem. Alongside violent gang activity, there’s a secret organization adding terror to the neighborhood. Their symbol? The Grim Reaper. Their ranks? Los Angeles sheriff's deputies.
Thu, November 26, 2020
Deputy gangs have been embedded in the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department since 1971. In the first of our five-part collaboration with Parcast series Secret Societies, we delve into the earliest of these violent gangs that shaped the current culture within the LASD.
Thu, November 19, 2020
Today we’re bringing you a special episode from another Spotify Original from Parcast. If you enjoy it, check out Supernatural with Ashley Flowers on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! In November 1929, a woman named Netta Fornario was found dead on the mystical island of Iona, Scotland. She was naked except for a black cloak with insignia, suggesting perhaps something occult was responsible for her death.
Bonus · Mon, November 16, 2020
They’re natural-born leaders, hungry for absolute power. Every week on Dictators, delve into the minds and motives of history’s most infamous rulers — people who rose through the ranks toward radicalism, eliminating anyone who stood in their way. This week, track the rise and fall of Nero, an emperor who led Rome to destruction. Hear a clip from Part 1 here, then head to Dictators for the rest of the episode. Dictators is free to listen on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thu, November 12, 2020
The group staged a violent uprising in 1900, determined to rid Imperial China of foreign influence. It later became known as the Boxer Rebellion. Western diplomats and Chinese Christians were forced to defend themselves against the militants, while an international alliance moved to counter-attack…
Thu, November 05, 2020
In the late 1800s, groups of working-class Chinese citizens became frustrated by their dire economic straits and the rampant Western influence over their country. They formed a revolutionary secret society, and resolved to reclaim China for themselves.
Bonus · Mon, November 02, 2020
How do complete strangers turn into perfect pairs? On the new Spotify Original from Parcast, Our Love Story, hear from real-life couples themselves as they share the intimate, funny, joy-filled moments of their relationship — without skipping over what’s been hard. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes featuring people like David, 41, and Samantha, 36, whose improv-fueled friendship led to a fateful first date and the sweetest park bench proposal. Listen now, and follow Our Love Story free on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Thu, October 29, 2020
In 1919, the Thule Society led a revolt against the communist government that had taken control of Munich. In the shaky political aftermath, Thulists joined a new fascist political party, and influenced a burgeoning dictator: Adolph Hitler.
Thu, October 22, 2020
Before there were the Nazis, the Thule Society sprang up as a secret order dedicated to Aryan superiority. Followers of Thule believed the future of Germany lay in returning to the past and practicing the magic of the old Norse gods.
Bonus · Wed, October 21, 2020
Parcast Network is spinning a web of new shows and special programming to celebrate our favorite season. Follow us into the darkest depths of history, mystery, and the human mind — starting with this episode of Crime Countdown! Hosts Ash and Alaina are ranking the top 10 haunted crime scenes, including an Irish castle with a deadly trap door and the home of a ghostly bride. If you enjoy this episode, search Crime Countdown to find more passionate takes on top-ten rankings. Listen free on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Thu, October 15, 2020
Since the dawn of the internet, the ONA and it's non-religious counterpart, the Dreccian Way, have exploded across the world. Dozens of white-supremacist groups have adopted the ONA's messages, with deadly results.
Thu, October 08, 2020
First founded by a mysterious figure in the 1960s, the O.N.A. has made it their mission to use black magic to create their white supremacist dreamworld.
Bonus · Mon, October 05, 2020
Flickering lights… Clanging metal… A sudden, cold rush of air… Parcast Network’s all-new original series is here—and with it, the scariest, most hair-raising ghost stories ever imagined. Join host Alastair Murden as he reaches into the cob-webbed collection of ghost stories from all over the world and brings to life a new, heart-racing tale every Thursday. Enjoy this exclusive clip from our first episode on “The Kit-Bag”—a murder trial that takes a turn for the supernatural. Then search Haunted Places: Ghost Stories to find more episodes, free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thu, October 01, 2020
In the mid-1800s, the Camorra utilized a time of great political turmoil to raise their stature. But when an Italian minister realizes how much they've infiltrated into Neapolitan society, he begins a war against them.
Bonus · Fri, September 25, 2020
Listeners, we’re excited to bring you an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, Solved Murders: True Crime Mysteries. Every Wednesday on Solved Murders, we explore the days, months, and even years leading up to the closure of a seemingly uncrackable case. This is part 1 of our episode on Helen Potts, a young girl who gets tangled up with a playboy medical student, with deadly consequences—but not for the reasons you might first suspect. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out part 2, available now free and only on Spotify. Follow Solved Murders: True Crime Mysteries for more true-crime stories every week!
Thu, September 24, 2020
In the early 1800s, a secret society of criminals known as the Camorra formed in the jails of Naples. Once released, they became pivotal players in the Italian struggle for independence from the Bourbon Regime.
Thu, September 17, 2020
Since they were first founded, the Freemasons' secretive nature gave rise to rumors and conspiracy theories: According to some, Freemasons worship the devil, have a headquarters under the Denver airport, and are planning to rise up and establish a dystopian New World Order.
Bonus · Mon, September 14, 2020
Humanity’s most daring achievements are coming together in the new Spotify Original from Parcast! Every weekday, Incredible Feats introduces you to a new story of jaw-dropping physical strength, mental focus, and bizarre behavior. Join comedian Dan Cummins as he profiles the people who turned the impossible into the incredible, breaking records and making history along the way. Enjoy this exclusive clip from our first episode, and stay tuned for episodes on daredevils, ultramarathoners, performance artists and more! To find more Parcast Network originals, search “Parcast Network” on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Thu, September 10, 2020
With ties back to the stonemason lodges of the Middle Ages, Freemasons just might be the world's oldest secret society—or as they say, society with secrets. Their arcane rituals, esoteric symbols, and celebrity membership have attracted members—and critics—for hundreds of years.
Thu, September 03, 2020
Membership in the Order of the Odd Fellows dwindled after the Great Depression, making it hard for the society to keep their sordid past a secret—like how the Order may have been involved with one of the most notorious murder cases in history. Meanwhile, skeletons are literally falling out of abandoned Lodge closets.
Thu, August 27, 2020
Dating back as far as 79 C.E., the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows is a society built on charitable efforts. Yet behind closed doors, the Order has dark secrets and rituals that are closely guarded by members to this day.
Thu, August 20, 2020
NYPD Detective Joe Petrosino, an Italian immigrant and master of disguise, led the charge against the Black Hand. When a backlash arose against ALL Italian-Americans, his fight to protect his community transformed into a battle against bigotry.
Thu, August 13, 2020
At the turn of the 20th century, a criminal group began terrorizing New York’s Italian immigrant population. The Black Hand was insidious, but Detective Joe Petrosino—aka “the Italian Sherlock Holmes”—fought for justice, with a task force known as “the Mysterious Six.”
Thu, August 06, 2020
In Sicily, the Cosa Nostra acted like a shadow government, controlling local lawmakers, priests, and law enforcement. They ruled the island until the 1980s, when a brave group of magistrates finally put the mafia on trial.
Thu, July 30, 2020
In the mid-1800s, criminal gangs sprang up in Sicily, using violence to extort farmers in the island's lucrative citrus trade. By the end of the century, the gangs organized into the Cosa Nostra: the all-powerful Sicilian mafia.
Thu, July 23, 2020
At the turn of the century, the Order of the Golden Dawn was born… and then died. In the decades since, several mystics have resurrected the order, founding numerous competing chapters, influencing political elections, and maybe even causing the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
Thu, July 16, 2020
In 1888, three Rosicrucians and Freemasons—William Robert Woodman, William Wynn Wescott, and S.L. Mathers—allegedly found an ancient manuscript detailing rituals of a long lost Golden Dawn. They resurrected the order and perpetuated its magical secrets… but were they really mystics? Or was it all an elaborate hoax?
Thu, July 09, 2020
Some of America’s most historical figures, from Samuel Adams to John Hancock to Paul Revere, were members of the Sons of Liberty. But their methods for securing independence weren’t always pure. Alternate histories suggest they may have incited the Boston Massacre and sold opium to fund their cause.
Thu, July 02, 2020
In 1765, nine middle-class businessmen began meeting under Boston’s Liberty Tree. Over time, merchants, artisans, shopkeepers, even politicians joined the secret society known as the Sons of Liberty. Not only did they orchestrate the Boston Tea Party, they inspired the American Revolution.
Thu, June 25, 2020
He inspired the Beatles, sacrificed goats, and faked his own death. Aleister Crowley is one of the most controversial figures in modern history, and his name has become synonymous with the O.T.O.
Thu, June 18, 2020
The occult society of magicians, Ordo Templi Orientis, has divided public opinion since its founding in Germany around 1890. Are they innovative philosophers, or do they worship Satan? Take a walk into the O.T.O.'s world of blood, rituals, and sex magic.
Thu, June 11, 2020
Knowledge about the Bilderberg Group hit the mainstream in the 2000s. Since then, conspiracy theorists have accused the group of handpicking world leaders, deposing uncooperative governments and even creating implements for mind-control. However, the true danger posed by the group is much more harmful than any wild, unfounded claim.
Thu, June 04, 2020
Since its founding in 1954, the Bilderberg Group, an association made up of the world's richest and most powerful people, have met in secret in luxury hotels around the world. Nobody knows what these heads of state and CEOs discuss behind closed doors though several journalists have tried to find out...
Thu, May 28, 2020
With Hasan-i-Sabbah now dead, the Assassins looked to someone to carry on his legacy. They found it in Rashid al-Din Sinan. With Sinan as Grand Master, the Assassins would become legendary, and their deeds would capture the imagination, and horror, of Christian Crusaders.
Thu, May 21, 2020
Throughout the history of Islam, schisms led to the formation of different branches or sects. In 1090, after the death of an Imam, a missionary would set out to form his own branch of Islam. In the process, he would create one of the deadliest secret societies in history.
Thu, May 14, 2020
Many historians believe that the last Cathar died in 1321. They had been slaughtered in a decades-long inquisition led by the Catholic Church. But has the religious society managed to keep alive in the shadows?
Thu, May 07, 2020
They first appeared in Europe sometime during the 12th century. But unlike other secret societies, the Cathars didn’t choose to hide—they were forced to. They believed the pain we experience in this world is because we've been trapped here, in physical form, by a sinister God.
Thu, April 30, 2020
They were famous in the coal mining region of Pennsylvania. Before the end of the 19th century, twenty of the Molly Maguires’ alleged leaders would be hanged for their heinous crimes. But the question remains, did this menacing Irish society even actually exist?
Thu, April 23, 2020
In the 1800s, Irish farmers began protesting against greedy landlords and excessive tithes. But before long, these protests turned violent—even murderous. As the Mollies began popping up in coal-mining Pennsylvania, the death toll would only continue to grow.
Thu, April 16, 2020
If you enjoy the stories told in Secret Societies, check out this episode from our series Dictators: Now in total power, Joseph Stalin went on to transform the Soviet Union into a modernized country—but at the cost of millions of lives. In order to fulfill his vision of communism, the deaths of peasants and political enemies were required.
Thu, April 16, 2020
If you enjoy the stories told in Secret Societies, check out this episode from our series Dictators: Before he became the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world, Joseph Stalin was an idealistic, but ruthless revolutionary. A Marxist from a young age, he devoted much of his life to overthrowing Imperial Russia. But as his star rose among the Russian socialists, so too did his list of enemies.
Thu, April 09, 2020
Recent allegations and revelations about the Rosicrucians have accused them of mind control, ritual suicide, and white supremacy. Some even believe they're part of a global conspiracy to hide the truth about Jesus Christ.
Thu, April 02, 2020
Between 1610 and 1614, a series of anonymous letters claimed to reveal hidden knowledge about a mystical secret society. Were the missives divine revelations—or hoaxes? And did a fourteenth-century Christian monk unlock the key to immortality?
Thu, March 26, 2020
Their power allowed them to attain a nearly impossible reach in politics, big business, and the media after the end of World War II. Some have even accused the Council on Foreign Relations of using the U.S. government...to create a New World Order.
Thu, March 19, 2020
Since its founding in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations has claimed to be an independent political think-tank. But they have had a direct hand in crafting some of the most divisive policies in United States History.
Thu, March 12, 2020
From blood rituals to massacres to drug rings, the Triads are still making headlines around the world. A group that was created with a sense of greater purpose has now come to worship one thing: money. And they'll do anything to turn a profit.
Thu, March 05, 2020
Brotherhood. Political rebellion. Mutual aid. The origin of the Triads in the 17th century is almost virtuous. How, then, has their name become synonymous with corruption, crime, and bloodshed?
Thu, February 27, 2020
The Knights Templar grew in wealth and power for several centuries, becoming what many have labeled as the first multinational corporation. That is until French King Philip the Fair accused them of practicing secret, heretical rituals behind closed doors. The Knights, he pronounced to all of Medieval society, were not what they seemed.
Thu, February 20, 2020
It was a Medieval order of Christian warriors, founded on principles of chastity and commitment to the word of God. Their rituals of the Knights Templar were in keeping with their godly public image—on the surface. But even the most honorable of organizations can be corrupted.
Thu, February 13, 2020
When Francis Dashwood founded the London Hellfire Club, he was primarily interested in partying and starting quarrels. But by the early 1760s, the group's hijinx had destabilized the British Parliament, and threatened the course of England's future.
Thu, February 06, 2020
Black masses. Human sacrifice. Satanic rituals. Are these the practices of an 18th century secret society, or merely legend? The answer may never be known, as the members of the Hellfire Club cloaked their practices in shadow and rumor from the time it was founded.
Thu, January 30, 2020
By 1820, the Carbonari had enough influence within Naples to launch their long-awaited revolution. However, they soon realized that leading a government was much harder than overthrowing one.
Thu, January 23, 2020
In the early 1800s, the Italian Kingdom of Naples fell under the control of a succession of autocratic rulers. Desperate to have a say in their own governance, a group of Neapolitan citizens created the Carbonari—a revolutionary secret society that had their fair share of initiation ceremonies, complex symbols, and hierarchical organization.
Thu, January 16, 2020
There are numerous theories about how actively engaged Yale’s Skull and Bones alumni are in implementing a “New World Order.” The Bonesmen may have already taken control of some of our most influential institutions, including high-ranking positions in government, but just how diabolical are their plans?
Thu, January 09, 2020
Some people believe it’s basically just a fraternity. But others believe it’s something more sinister. Founded at Yale University in 1832, members of the Skull and Bones Society include titans of industry, business elite, and world political leaders—including three U.S. Presidents.
Trailer · Fri, December 20, 2019
Welcome to SECRET SOCIETIES, Parcast’s newest original. Every Thursday starting January 9th, we shine a light on history’s most exclusive organizations. From the Illuminati and the Black Hand to the Order of the Nine Angles and the Hellfire Club—we’ll explore the impact each society actually had on the world around them. So get ready to discover the diabolical beliefs and radical actions you were never supposed to know about in the Parcast original series, SECRET SOCIETIES.
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