Nearly 1.4 million Canadians and almost 50 million Americans are involved in multi-level marketing. And that sheer volume of people makes it a near certainty that you’ve encountered MLMs in your life somehow. The promise of financial freedom can be an intoxicating lure. But MLMs, like so many other cultish enterprises, are about more than just money. They’re about transcendence. And in their wake, they often leave behind ruined livelihoods and broken lives.  Featured in this episode: Julie Anderson, Amanda Montell, Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Marco Moukhaiber  To learn more: Ponzinomics: The Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing by Robert L. Fitzpatrick “'They have you in a cultish grip': the women losing thousands to online beauty schemes” by Amelia Tate in The Guardian YouTube: @JulieAndersonvideos YouTube: @AlwaysMarco Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Aviva Lessard (Additional Production) Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Oxio, Athletic Greens If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary-Jayne Blackmore is one of the oldest children of Winston Blackmore, the most famous polygamist in Canada.  For decades, her family has been the subject of intense media and legal scrutiny because of her father’s 27 wives and 150 children. Their lives have been dissected in documentaries and in court testimony. The name Blackmore has become synonymous with either faith-based persecution by the state or with cult-like religious fundamentalism that victimizes girls and women. But for Mary-Jayne, these kinds of black-and-white portrayals miss so much about what it’s been like being a Blackmore. To learn more: Balancing Bountiful: What I Learned About Feminism From My Polygamist Grandmothers by Mary Jayne Blackmore The Bishop of Bountiful B.C. by the CBC’s Fifth Estate Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Canva, Athletic Greens  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1973, a French motorsports journalist claimed to have been visited by a UFO that revealed to him the secret origins of humanity. For the next half-century, the man known as Raël would go on to create a new faith with tens of thousands of adherents all around the world.  The media have portrayed the Raelians as not just a cult, but a strange phantasmagoria of extraterrestrials, orgies and clones. But its followers insist it is the only true path forward for humanity. Featured in this episode: Nicole Bertrand, Susan J. Palmer, Harold Henning To learn more: Aliens Adored: Raël’s UFO Religion by Susan J. Palmer The Prophet and the Space Aliens by Yoav Shamir The UFO sect campaigning against female genital mutilation by Monica Mark in The Guardian  Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, Athletic Greens  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An explosion of new spiritual movements in the 1970s led to the creation of an entirely novel academic field. But right from the beginning, the discipline was riven asunder. The Cult Wars have been raging for decades. They’re fought not only in academic journals and conference seminars, but in the press, the courts and in legislative assemblies. And their battles continue to have enormous consequences. Featured in this episode: Michael Kropveld, Stephen A. Kent, Susan J. Palmer To learn more: “Caught Up in the Cult Wars: Confessions of a New Religious Movement Researcher” by Susan J. Palmer in University of Toronto Press “Life after Doomsday: Tracking cult activity from a Montreal storage locker” by Simon Lewson in The Walrus Misunderstanding Cults: Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field edited by Benjamin Zablocki & Thomas Robbins Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Oxio If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 1960s and 70s, there was a fear that cult leaders were brainwashing young people into joining their new, strange movements. But is it even possible to “brainwash” anyone? At a psychiatric hospital in Montreal, one mad scientist, with the help of the CIA, tried to find out. Featured in this episode: Alison Steel, Lisa Ellenwood To learn more: Brainwashed by Michelle Shephard, Lisa Ellenwood & Chris Oke on CBC Podcasts The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control by John Marks Father, Son and CIA by Harvey Weinstein MK Ultra: CIA mind control program in Canada by CBC’s The Fifth Estate “Federal government quietly compensates daughter of brainwashing experiments victim” by Elizabeth Thompson in CBC News Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, Oxio If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story of Brother XII still fascinates and even frightens some people in and around Nanaimo. He’s often called the Devil of De Courcy Island for good reason. Brother XII prophesied about the coming apocalypse. But instead, his story would presage something different. He was a forerunner of the strange, new religions that would sweep over the western world. Featured in this episode: Bill Miner, Justine Brown To learn more: Brother XII: The Strange Odyssey of a 20th Century Prophet by John Oliphant All Possible Worlds: Utopian Experiments in British Columbia by Justine Brown Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Canva, Douglas  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. risis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As organized religion declines in countries like Canada, we’ve experienced an explosion of what some call religious movements and what others call cults. The idea of cults has become an omnipresent part of our discourse. But what even is a cult? And why have we become so intrigued by these groups? And the language of cults has moved beyond just religion into so many different spheres — everything from fitness, to politics, to work.  Featured in this episode: Harold Henning, Amanda Montell To learn more: Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell Sounds Like A Cult Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Cheif) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Rotman, Douglas  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us now! Click here: canadaland.com/join The first episode of Canadaland was published ten years ago today. If we were to announce this is the last episode of Canadaland, no one would be surprised. Journalism in Canada is in a fight for its life. You can have an impact. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The word cult gets tossed around a lot. The label gets applied to everything from doomsday religions, to wellness fads, to online conspiracies. Uncovering the stories of both devotees and dissenters, this season of COMMONS will go beyond the true crime cliches and will make you question everything you thought you knew about cults. Our new season launches on October 18th. Canadaland Supporters can listen to the first episode a week early! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, COMMONS producer Jordan Cornish sits down with Jashvina Shah to talk about her book, Game Misconduct: Hockey's Toxic Culture and How to Fix It.  Featured in this episode: Jashvina Shah To learn more: Game Misconduct Hockey's Toxic Culture and How to Fix It by Evan F. Moore and Jashvina Shah “No, this is not a watershed moment for hockey” by Jashvina Shah in The Globe and Mail  Sex offences against minors: Investigation reveals more than 200 Canadian coaches convicted in last 20 years by Lori Ward and Jamie Strashin in the CBC Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Athletic Greens  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, COMMONS producer Jordan Cornish sits down with host Arshy Mann to discuss our recent season on hockey.  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek Boogaard made his living pummeling people on the ice. But outside the arena, he was soft-spoken and kind. Fighting was just his job. But it would end up taking everything from him. Hockey fights, and the numerous blows to the head that players have to endure, have become a moral crisis at the very heart of the sport. And the NHL is doing everything they can to deny the science and allow this gladiatorial combat to continue. And it’s enforcers like Derek Boogaard who end up paying the price. Featured in this episode: John Branch (The New York Times), Jeremy Allingham To learn more: Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard by John Branch Major Misconduct: The Human Cost of Fighting in Hockey by Jeremy Allingham “Years after his son's death, Len Boogaard on quest to end fighting in hockey” by Roy MacGregor in The Globe and Mail “Brain Trust: Big questions surround the most influential concussion research on the planet” by Jeremy Allingham in CBC News “NHL commissioner disputes link between hockey and CTE brain disease” by H.J. Mai in NPR Morning Edition Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Oxio, Douglas  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hockey Canada scandal has become one of the biggest stories in the country. And now, hockey appears to be in the middle of a reckoning. But this isn’t the first time. There was another moment, just like this one. Back then, people tried to warn the hockey world — they were ignored. And even today, the sport won’t name the very specific issue they face.  Hockey has a gang rape problem.  Featured in this episode: Alexis Peters, Laura Robinson To learn more: Crossing the Line: Violence and Sexual Assault in Canada's National Sport by Laura Robinson “Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal” in The Globe and Mail “Hockey Canada, CHL settle lawsuit over alleged sexual assault involving World Junior players” by Rick Westhead in TSN “Toxic masculinity is part of elite hockey. We need a culture shift” by Alexis Peters in CBC Calgary “‘We haven’t learned a damn thing’: Sexual violence is embedded in junior hockey culture” by Ian Mendes, Dan Robson, and Katie Strang in The Athletic Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Airbnb, Oxio, Better Help, If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Danton was playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the St. Louis Blues. And at the same time, he was trying to hire a hitman to kill his agent, David Frost. Danton’s arrest and conviction would become one of the biggest hockey scandals of all time. But this is not just some salacious true crime story.  It’s an extreme example of everything that’s wrong with hockey culture; hazing and abuse, sexual misconduct and the adult men who control the lives of teenage boys for their own monetary gain. Featured in this episode: Steve Simmons (The Toronto Sun) To learn more: The Lost Dream: The Story of Mike Danton, David Frost, and a Broken Canadian Family by Steve Simmons “A teenage girl's vulnerability laid bare at David Frost trial” by Christie Blatchford in The Globe and Mail “The sometimes sad and remarkable journey of Sheldon Keefe” by Steve Simmons in The Toronto Sun “How police cracked 'the cult'” by Greg McArthur in The Globe and Mail “I’m glad I went to prison” by L. Jon Wertheim in Sports Illustrated “Frost case a study in tragedy and farce” by Gare Joyce in ESPN Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Airbnb, Canva for Teams, Better Help, If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Davis was never a superstar. He was a journeyman player, one of tens of thousands, chasing the dream. And at almost every step, when hockey gave him something, it would also take something away. Hockey exacts a heavy toll on many boys and young men — on their minds and their bodies. And then they’re told not to talk about any of it outside the locker room. It’s enough to make you ask the question. Is this a sport? Or a cult? Featured in this episode: Justin Davis To learn more: Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL by Justin Davis “Hockey Is Not for Everyone” by Akim Aliu in The Players’ Tribune “Flying” by Stan Rogers Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) “I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted.  Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Better Help, Ecojustice  If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHL likes to call Willie O’Ree the Jackie Robinson of hockey. And no one can deny how significant it was when he became the first Black player on the ice in an NHL game in 1958.  But what the league doesn’t like to talk about is what happened next.  Because after O’Ree, the NHL didn’t admit another black player for sixteen years. So did the NHL resegregate? And why don’t we talk about the experiences of the players who broke hockey’s second colour line? Featured in this episode:  Bob Dawson, Bill Riley To learn more: “Mike Marson on challenges he faced as NHL’s second black player” by Wayne Scanlan in SportsNet “Life of Riley; Career of N.S. hockey trailblazer Bill Riley remembered during Black History Month” by Paul Hollingsworth and Allan April in CTV News Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL's First Black Player by Willie O’Ree with Michael McKinley “How Conn Smythe's racism kept Herb Carnegie from achieving his NHL dream” by Ian Kennedy in Yahoo Sports “The dark history of the NFL’s original sins” by Chelsea Stark-Jones and Lex Pryor in The Ringer Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Oxio, Better Help, Ecojustice If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of the estimated 7000 people who have played in the NHL only around 100 of them have been Black. That’s an absurdly low number compared to any other major North American sports league. But what makes that statistic especially shocking is the fact that the modern game has its roots with Black players on Black teams. The Coloured Hockey League wasn’t just a sideshow to the main event of white hockey. And the way that league was targeted by the white establishment is reflective of the racism that Black players faced over the next century. Featured in this episode: Bob Dawson, Darril Fosty, George Fosty To learn more: Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925 Darril Fosty & George Fosty (Author) “1960s college hockey player recalls racism on the ice” by Bruce Deachman in The Ottawa Citizen “The all-Black league that invented hockey as we know it” by Jasper Hutson in Defector Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Canva, Douglas, Better Help, Slow Burn Canadaland is turning 10! From May 24 - June 2, sign up for our highest level of ongoing support for only $10 a month. PLUS you'll receive a FREE limited edition 10th Anniversary tote bag. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hockey is a hell of a lot of fun. But right now, the sport is going through a reckoning. Allegations of racism, corruption, sexual misconduct and so much more are rocking the game to its core. But the truth is that in Canada, hockey is more than just a sport. It’s a civic religion, with a billion dollar business attached to it. Over the next seven episodes, COMMONS will be digging into the cult of hockey, scrutinizing its doctrines and exposing its secrets. Canadaland is turning 10! From May 24 - June 2, sign up for our highest level of ongoing support for only $10 a month. PLUS the first 100 signups will receive a FREE limited edition 10th Anniversary tote bag. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. Editor's Note: a different version of this episode was published on the subscriber-only feed of Commons. No inaccuracies were found in the original version, changes were made by the Editor in Chief for storytelling purposes.  Featured in this episode: Ian Kennedy (The Hockey News) To learn more: “How a Toronto hockey league turns kids’ joy into an $8.8m cash cow” by Ian Kennedy and Nathan Kalman-Lamb in The Guardian “Aliu says GTHL rejected organization that would have assured spots for BIPOC players” by Rick Westhead in TSN “Prospective buyer says he was coached to skirt GTHL’s rules on organization sales” by Rick Westhead in TSN “Rinks of dreams: The Little One had style” by Bruce Lowitt in The Tampa Bay Times Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love it or hate it, hockey is inescapable in Canada. But the sport has a dark side. From violence and racism on the ice, to corruption, cover-ups and abuse off of it. In the latest season of COMMONS, host Arshy Mann and producers Jordan Cornish and Noor Azrieh will be bringing you stories from inside the cult of hockey. Our new season launches on May 24th. If you’re a Canadaland supporter, you can get access to episodes a week early! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last season we sat down with Cory Doctorow, co-author of Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back, to find out how the music industry has become dominated by monopoly power. In this bonus episode, we’re bringing you Arshy’s full interview with Cory, complete with all the nitty gritty details around how and why musicians continue to get screwed by Spotify, music labels, ticketmaster and more. To learn more: Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by ​​Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow Sponsors: Canva, Douglas, Truth Telling If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.