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Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes

Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes

Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes is a true crime and conspiracy theories podcast about the people who take belief too far and the deadly consequences that follow. Hosted by Vanessa Richardson, each weekly episode unpacks real stories of murderous cults, criminal cover-ups, mass manipulation, and twisted conspiracies. From Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate to CIA mind control experiments, presidential assassinations, and the Octopus Murders. This is true crime at the intersection of faith, fear and manipulation. Follow now for new episodes every Wednesday. This is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios.

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40 min
Friday

CRIMES: Destruction of Georgia Guidestones

In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes, Vanessa Richardson examines the 2022 destruction of the Georgia Guidestones, a rural monument that had long been at the center of global conspiracy theories. Erected in 1980 and inscribed with ten guiding principles for humanity, the massive granite structure was viewed by some as a call for unity and sustainability, and by others as evidence of a secret plan for population control and global governance. For decades, the Guidestones attracted speculation about the New World Order, elite agendas, and hidden messages. This episode traces the origins of the monument, the rise of conspiracy theories surrounding it, the explosion that brought it down, and the cultural forces that turned a roadside landmark into a lightning rod for suspicion and outrage. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge?  Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CRIMES: Destruction of Georgia Guidestones
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40 min
11 Mar

CONSPIRACY THEORIES: Stonehenge

In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes, Vanessa Richardson examines the mystery and speculation surrounding Stonehenge, the prehistoric stone circle that has puzzled historians for centuries. Built thousands of years ago by Neolithic communities, the monument’s massive stones and precise alignments have fueled theories about lost civilizations, sacred geometry, ley lines, and hidden knowledge. As archaeological discoveries shed new light on how Stonehenge was constructed and used, alternative interpretations continue to thrive in books, documentaries, and online forums. This episode traces the origins of these conspiracy theories, explores the evidence behind the monument’s construction and purpose, and unpacks why Stonehenge remains one of the most debated and mysterious ancient sites in the world. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge?  Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CONSPIRACY THEORIES: Stonehenge
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40 min
6 Mar

Italy’s JFK? The Assassination of Aldo Moro

In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes, Vanessa Richardson examines the 1978 kidnapping and murder of Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, a crime that unfolded at the height of Italy’s “Years of Lead.” As Moro worked to unite rival political factions and reshape the country’s future, he became a target for the Red Brigades, a left-wing terrorist group determined to derail his vision. Held captive for 55 days, Moro pleaded for negotiation while the Italian government refused to bend, ultimately sealing his fate. This episode traces Moro’s rise, the brutal mechanics of his abduction, the political calculations that left him abandoned, and the lasting consequences of a decision that changed Italian history forever. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge?  Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Italy’s JFK? The Assassination of Aldo Moro
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38 min
4 Mar

Operation Gladio: The CIA’s Shadow Forces

In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes, Vanessa Richardson investigates Operation Gladio, a secret Cold War program that saw the U.S. and its allies establish covert “stay-behind” armies across Western Europe to resist a potential Soviet invasion. But when that invasion never came, questions began to surface about what these shadow forces were actually used for. From political assassinations and terror attacks to military coups and state-sanctioned violence, this episode explores the documented history of Gladio, the testimony of intelligence officials, and the conspiracy theories that allege these secret armies were turned against civilians in the name of anti-communism. As facts blur into speculation, the story raises an unsettling question: what happens when weapons built for defense are left without an enemy? If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge?  Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Operation Gladio: The CIA’s Shadow Forces
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51 min
27 Feb

CRIMES: The 2001 Anthrax Attacks

In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes, host Vanessa Richardson examines the chilling bioterrorism attack that terrorized the United States in the weeks following September 11, 2001. As letters laced with deadly anthrax spores moved silently through the U.S. mail, journalists, postal workers, and government employees became unsuspecting targets—leaving five people dead and an entire nation gripped by fear. Vanessa breaks down how the attacks unfolded, why the mail system became a weapon, and how investigators navigated years of false leads, public panic, and scientific breakthroughs to identify the culprit. It’s a haunting look at paranoia, power, and how one person exploited national trauma to carry out the most infamous bioterror attack in American history. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge?  Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CRIMES: The 2001 Anthrax Attacks
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54 min
25 Feb

CULTS: The Rajneesh Movement

In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes, Vanessa Richardson, joined by The Final Hours hosts Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole, unpack the rise and collapse of the Rajneesh Movement, a New Age cult that transformed a remote stretch of rural Oregon into a powerful and deeply disturbing experiment in control. What began as a promise of spiritual enlightenment and communal living under the guidance of guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh quickly devolved into paranoia, political manipulation, and violence. As the cult’s leadership consolidated power, its members carried out election interference, intimidation campaigns, and ultimately the largest bioterror attack in U.S. history. This episode explores how idealism gave way to authoritarian rule—and how a quest for utopia ended in criminal chaos.Listen to and follow The Final Hours with Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zl8pwmgtteoqb01h_o7oww If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge?  Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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