River Donaghey grew up in a cult. Or at least that’s what some people called it. His parents called it a “personal-growth seminar group.” Its leader called it “one big happy family.” But there was a dark side to the world River grew up in. One he never heard about as a kid. In the 1970s and 80s, a self-help company called Lifespring took America by storm. Hundreds of thousands of people walked out of Lifespring as true believers, convinced that the seminars had the power to change the world. ...
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The Takeover of Clearwater pt2
MP3•Episode home
Manage episode 422094010 series 2997831
Content provided by Sandi McKenna and Abraham Aurich, Sandi McKenna, and Abraham Aurich. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Sandi McKenna and Abraham Aurich, Sandi McKenna, and Abraham Aurich or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Email us and tell us what topics you would like us to cover.
What if your peaceful hometown suddenly became the target of a covert invasion? Today, we uncover the shocking story of Clearwater, Florida, in 1975, where the Church of Scientology, led by L. Ron Hubbard, stealthily executed a takeover. We expose the shadowy tactics used to acquire key properties under the guise of the United Churches of Florida and the sinister plots against critics and opponents. Mayor Gabe Cazares’s brave resistance and the infamous FBI raids in 1977 reveal a town under siege and a community's fight for truth.
But that's just the beginning. We then delve into the meticulous planning behind Scientology's operations, spotlighting figures like Dick Weigand, Morris Moe Kahn, and Marty Rathbun. Discover the elaborate strategies of Operation Normandy and the deceptive property acquisitions that aimed to dominate Clearwater. Drawing from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, we unravel the relentless legal battles and the ultimate exposure of these covert activities. Join us for this intense narrative, as we bring to light how a tranquil town became the epicenter of a battle between secrecy and transparency.
But that's just the beginning. We then delve into the meticulous planning behind Scientology's operations, spotlighting figures like Dick Weigand, Morris Moe Kahn, and Marty Rathbun. Discover the elaborate strategies of Operation Normandy and the deceptive property acquisitions that aimed to dominate Clearwater. Drawing from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, we unravel the relentless legal battles and the ultimate exposure of these covert activities. Join us for this intense narrative, as we bring to light how a tranquil town became the epicenter of a battle between secrecy and transparency.
Chapters
1. Intro (00:00:00)
2. The Takeover Continues (00:02:02)
3. St Petersburg Times (00:04:03)
4. The Key Players (00:06:47)
5. Shadowy Figure Duke Snider (00:10:22)
6. The Shadowy Henning Heldt (00:13:32)
7. Shadowy Figure Dick Weigang (00:15:44)
8. Shady Morris Moe Kahn (00:18:47)
9. Shadowy Figure Marty Rathburn (00:21:29)
10. Outro (00:24:51)
16 episodes
MP3•Episode home
Manage episode 422094010 series 2997831
Content provided by Sandi McKenna and Abraham Aurich, Sandi McKenna, and Abraham Aurich. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Sandi McKenna and Abraham Aurich, Sandi McKenna, and Abraham Aurich or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Email us and tell us what topics you would like us to cover.
What if your peaceful hometown suddenly became the target of a covert invasion? Today, we uncover the shocking story of Clearwater, Florida, in 1975, where the Church of Scientology, led by L. Ron Hubbard, stealthily executed a takeover. We expose the shadowy tactics used to acquire key properties under the guise of the United Churches of Florida and the sinister plots against critics and opponents. Mayor Gabe Cazares’s brave resistance and the infamous FBI raids in 1977 reveal a town under siege and a community's fight for truth.
But that's just the beginning. We then delve into the meticulous planning behind Scientology's operations, spotlighting figures like Dick Weigand, Morris Moe Kahn, and Marty Rathbun. Discover the elaborate strategies of Operation Normandy and the deceptive property acquisitions that aimed to dominate Clearwater. Drawing from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, we unravel the relentless legal battles and the ultimate exposure of these covert activities. Join us for this intense narrative, as we bring to light how a tranquil town became the epicenter of a battle between secrecy and transparency.
But that's just the beginning. We then delve into the meticulous planning behind Scientology's operations, spotlighting figures like Dick Weigand, Morris Moe Kahn, and Marty Rathbun. Discover the elaborate strategies of Operation Normandy and the deceptive property acquisitions that aimed to dominate Clearwater. Drawing from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, we unravel the relentless legal battles and the ultimate exposure of these covert activities. Join us for this intense narrative, as we bring to light how a tranquil town became the epicenter of a battle between secrecy and transparency.
Chapters
1. Intro (00:00:00)
2. The Takeover Continues (00:02:02)
3. St Petersburg Times (00:04:03)
4. The Key Players (00:06:47)
5. Shadowy Figure Duke Snider (00:10:22)
6. The Shadowy Henning Heldt (00:13:32)
7. Shadowy Figure Dick Weigang (00:15:44)
8. Shady Morris Moe Kahn (00:18:47)
9. Shadowy Figure Marty Rathburn (00:21:29)
10. Outro (00:24:51)
16 episodes
All episodes
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