The Conspiracy Tapes | 4. Contagion

In the mid-1970s, a man burst onto the evangelical scene with a shocking tale: claiming to be a former witch involved in human sacrifices among elite circles. After converting to Christianity, he toured the nation warning of hidden Satanists and spoke about a secret organization known as the Illuminati. John Todd preached salvation to frightened congregations, urging them to prepare for a world takeover by stockpiling weapons and retreating to remote areas.   But John Todd was no saint; he was not the good, honest Christian he claimed to be. He was running from his past. As his influence peaked and his teachings spread through countless tapes, his facade crumbled, and he vanished. Yet, his legacy endured, inspiring acts of extreme violence from Ruby Ridge, Waco, PizzaGate, QAnon right through to the steps of the Capitol on January 6th.    A Magnificent Noise & Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Becoming something of a conspiracy theory himself, no one is fully sure what ever happened to John Todd after his fall from grace. There are many theories, but little proof. Until now. Find out what really happened to John Todd, as well as some shocking details about his life.    Unlock all episodes of The Conspiracy Tapes, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month  thats all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.  Just click Subscribe on the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts.   A Magnificent Noise & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discredited, John Todd vanishes and is largely forgotten until his speeches resurface online, sparking a new wave of interest and influence.   Unlock all episodes of The Conspiracy Tapes, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month  thats all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.  Just click Subscribe on the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts.   A Magnificent Noise & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A pastor receives troubling information about Todd's past. His credibility is shattered, but the tapes of his talks take on a life of their own. Todd's ideas move from fringe Christian congregations to the mainstream, igniting fears of Satanic cults, government conspiracies, and violence.   Unlock all episodes of The Conspiracy Tapes, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month  thats all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.  Just click Subscribe on the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts.   A Magnificent Noise & Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the creators of Cover Up: Body Brokers and The Anthrax Threat: Shootings are not unusual in Belize. Shootings of cops are. When a wealthy woman – married into one of the most powerful families  in Belize – is found on a pier late at night, next to a body, it becomes the country’s biggest news story in a generation. Episode are released on a weekly schedule starting today! Find out more about Campside Media at campsidemedia.com and  follow us @campside_media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1977, Todd seeks to re-establish himself on the Christian speaker circuit. However, this time he sensationalizes his past even further, claiming to be a former member of the Illuminati, suggesting an impending societal collapse and advocating for extreme preparation measures among his followers. Recordings of his talks spread across America, spurring a phenomenon marked by fear and influencing thousands.   Unlock all episodes of The Conspiracy Tapes, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month  thats all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.  Just click Subscribe on the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts.   A Magnificent Noise & Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Todd’s life takes a bizarre turn in Dayton, Ohio, where after a phase of promoting Christianity and condemning witchcraft, he reverts to his occult practices, running an occult bookstore called the Witch's Cauldron. John claims to be harassed by local police for his religion, but are his practices just a cover for even darker activity?   Unlock all episodes of The Conspiracy Tapes, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month  thats all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.  Just click Subscribe on the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts.   A Magnificent Noise & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We meet John Todd, a man with a fantastical story, claiming to be a former witch, now converted to Christianity. He wants to warn fellow Christians about the witches and Satanists in their midst.  Unlock all episodes of The Conspiracy Tapes, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month  thats all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.  Just click Subscribe on the top of the Cover Up show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts.   A Magnificent Noise & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI squad deals with a devastating loss. Those impacted by the attacks try to move on despite knowing that questions surrounding the case will linger on. From Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment, this is Season 4 of Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts and @campside_media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname.  Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers (who all say they are innocent!) turned jailhouse-lawyers. In prison they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away. They set out to turn the tables on Scarcella while still in prison. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they would succeed.  Thirty years later, more than 20 people Scarcella helped put away have walked free. In the media he’s the “disgraced detective,” the rogue cop who hoodwinked an entire system.  For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast ... where justice is done (and undone).  To listen to the full episodes of The Burden please find and follow wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices