214: Father Yod & The Source Family

Three unwitting criminals take a gig breaking a former pro-wrestler's son "Cooter" out of a Mexican Prison. Rachael got a last minute opportunity to see Stevie Nicks so this weeks episode was recorded on the run while Greg drove her to the Denver airport before she flew to LA.Music from:Vinyl FieldsTranquil Harmony by UNIVERSFIELD Dreamy Piano Romance by ViraMillerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deep in the annals of Aguilar, Colorado - miles down a dirt road, lies a black Pyramid house nestled under the Spanish Peaks built by a man determined to bring back his wife's soul from the dead.But that was 50 years ago. Now, the homestead is owned by a former Los Angeleno named Austin who after renovating the Pyramid house has come face to face with spiritual entities - perhaps the former occupants. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Suspecting the group of stockpiling illegal weapons, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms obtained a search warrant for the compound and arrest warrants for Koresh and several of the group's members. Starting on February 28th 1993 The Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh, were prepared to stay put at their Mount Carmel Center ranch while the U.S. federal government and Texas state law enforcement officials started a siege of the compound that lasted 51 days and ended on April 19, 1993.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1984 David Koresh lead a faction of Seventh-day Adventist, calling themselves the Branch Davidians against George Roden, who was leading the competing faction. George Roden had ran Howell and his followers off their Mount Carmel compound at gunpoint. Howell and his group relocated to Palestine, Texas and the beginnings of what resulted in the famous "Waco Siege" was born.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode Rachael talks to a horse trainer that actually had encounters in the quarter horse world with different cartels. The eye opening interview with the anonymous trainer is peppered in with the true story of how the Treviño brothers infiltrated the Quarter Horse racing world and laundered millions of dollars through it before the FBI caught onto their scent.Rachael also debuts her Husband, Greg's, new song "One Horse Ranch" from his upcoming album "Horse Power" which she found fitting for this particular episode - here is the pre-save link for the song: https://ditto.fm/one-horse-ranch-greg-hunterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All eyes are on the most violent Mexican drug cartel, the Zetas, by way of their dealings in the quarter horse racing business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bob was a California Kid when the Source Family and Manson Family were gaining momentum in the late 60's & early 70's Los Angeles scene. Both of these groups influenced the record industry at the time and Bob's brother in-law was the founder of Kama Sutra Records and Family Productions and was a mega music industry exec and prolific producer of the Bubblegum Pop era. This connection would place Bob in a number of epic Hollywood stories you're about to hear.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As with all cult leaders - absolute power, corrupts absolutely and in the case of Jim Baker and his "Father Yod" persona it was no different. What started out as a hip, vegetarian restaurant and Sunday meditation classes quickly spun into a hedonistic, rock n' roll fueled cult that bankrupted its own commandments for Dionysian lust. Father Yod claimed 13 wives before an impending apocalypse prompted the group to flee to Hawaii - where they were not welcome. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part Two we dive into Jim Baker's second killing with his bare hands, a few more wifes and the restaurant that fueled it all - The Source Family Restaurant See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode profiles the wild up bringing of Jim Baker better known as "Father Yod" and how he ended up in California starting one of the country's first health food restaurants on Sunset Strip before he started a cult. Jim would later found a spiritual commune in the Hollywood Hills known as the Source Family and of course, front a psychedelic rock band.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.