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Artwork for Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes

Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes

Crime House
CIA
Manhattan Project
Nuclear Weapons
Salem Witch Trials
Circleville Letters
NXIVM
Dyatlov Pass Incident
Order Of the Solar Temple
World War II
Heaven's Gate
Keith Raniere
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Gordon Massey
Mary Gillespie
New York City
Joseph Force Crater
Rajneesh Movement
Emanuela Orlandi
Oslo Plaza Woman
Elizabeth Short

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, two weekly episodes unpack real stories of murderous cults, criminal cover-ups, mass manipulation, and twisted conspiracies. From Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate to CIA mind control experiments, presidentia... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes81Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTrue Crime

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Artwork for Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes

Latest Episodes

In 1875, a mild-mannered Civil War veteran named Charles Boles began robbing Wells Fargo stagecoaches across Northern California. He was always polite, never harmed passengers, and occasionally left handwritten poems behind. In this episode of Conspi... more

In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, Vanessa traces how Guy and Edna Ballard built the I AM Movement, a Depression-era spiritual empire claiming contact with immortal "Ascended Masters," and turned it into a multi-million-dollar... more

In southeastern Massachusetts, a stretch of land known as the Bridgewater Triangle has been a magnet for paranormal activity for centuries: cryptid sightings, UFO encounters, ghostly apparitions, and evidence of occult rituals. Many trace the darknes... more

In 2011 and 2012, a small crew of men systematically drained nearly $19 million worth of maple syrup from the world's only strategic reserve, barrel by barrel, night by night, and replaced it with water. Vanessa Richardson of Conspiracy Theories, Cul... more

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Recent Guests

Harini Bhat
Host of Hidden History
PAVE Studios
Episode: CONSPIRACY THEORY: Mercy Brown & the Vampire Panic featuring Dr. Harini Bhat
Dr. Harini Bhat
Host of Hidden History, physician/science communicator
Hidden History / PAVE Studios
Episode: The Case Files History Left Unsolved | Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat
George Knapp
Investigative journalist
Las Vegas news outlet
Episode: CRIME: The Murder of Bob Lazar, Alien Engineer
Christine Wallace
Guest from Sinisterhood, discussed Raëlian Movement
Sinisterhood
Episode: CULTS: The Raëlians with Christie Wallace and Heather McKinney from Sinisterhood
Heather McKinney
Guest from Sinisterhood, discussed Raëlian Movement
Sinisterhood
Episode: CULTS: The Raëlians with Christie Wallace and Heather McKinney from Sinisterhood
Sarah Turney
Advocate for missing persons, host of Voices for Justice
Voices for Justice podcast
Episode: Pullman: The Company Town Experiment
Kourtney Nichole
Host of Crime House's newest show, The Final Hours.
Crime House
Episode: CULTS: The Rajneesh Movement
Carter Roy
Host of Murder, True Crime Stories
Crime House
Episode: The Rasmussen Coverup Pt. 2, with Carter Roy
Dr. Tristin Engels
Licensed Clinical Forensic Psychologist
Episode: CONSPIRACY THEORIES: The Smiley Face Killers with Dr. Tristin Engels

Host

Vanessa Richardson
Host of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes; Host of the show on Crime House / PAVE Studios

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 350 ratings
  • Scratches the Perfect Itch

    Every so often I find a podcast that hits my adhd brain just right and this is one of them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Deeep_threees
    United States21 days ago
  • One of my favorites

    Perfect podcast for long drives! Thank you for all the amazing stories!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tabbikai
    United States23 days ago
  • Some audio issues to consider

    Love the podcast! But I’m wondering if you could remove the heartbeat sound from the intro part of the background soundtrack? For those of us with audio/anxiety issues it can be really distracting. I find myself listening to it and starting to panic a bit. Aside from that, love the show and keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    dusty peanut
    United Statesa month ago
  • Poor Reporting

    This podcast is just an over simplified version of better researched long form true crime docuseries. It is difficult to listen to any episode that I have any prior knowledge of because very often they describe parts of these complex stories inaccurately. Sometimes it’s just annoying and other times it is insulting. This podcast is what is wrong with true crime sometimes. It’s trying to be too entertaining and lighthearted.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KellyAnneisMusical
    United Statesa month ago
  • Keep it up

    Vanessa and your team are going awesome! You are one of my favorite story tellers! Your voice and excitement keep me coming back. To all the haters it’s just a fun podcast back off! She’s better than most!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joki0925
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few listeners request more structured, multi-episode coverage on single cases instead of standalone episodes.
Fans appreciate deep dives into cults and conspiracies, with strong material on historical context and narrative clarity.
Listeners praise Vanessa's soothing voice and storytelling craft; ads are a frequent critique.
Some episodes are accused of factual gaps or inaccuracies, prompting calls for stricter fact-checking.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#39
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#41
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#89
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#53
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#249
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#34
South Africa/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

CRIME: The Great Maple Syrup Heist featuring Ashley & Ricky from Crime Salad
Q: If you had to pull off a fictionalized heist as a couple, what would you steal and how would you do it, and would you work together or split the idea?
They humorously propose a joint venture aligned with their shared values (for example, rescuing dogs from a puppy mill rather than stealing) and emphasize that teamwork would be essential, reflecting their real-life dynamic as a couple.
CRIME: The Great Maple Syrup Heist featuring Ashley & Ricky from Crime Salad
Q: So in this case, these guys started by quietly draining a few barrels of Maple Syrup and replacing it with water, and nothing happened. Still, they got away with it. What do you think motivated the crew to keep it up despite early red flags?
The guests suggest that the financial lure, the sense of fairness they felt from a system they perceived as unfair, and the appeal of operating with relative impunity created momentum; as the operation grew, confidence hardened into a belief that they could outmaneuver the Federation and avoid consequences.
CONSPIRACY THEORY: Mercy Brown & the Vampire Panic featuring Dr. Harini Bhat
Q: So tell us a little bit more about your approach.
Harini explains she investigates historical cases with a commitment to grounding theories in documented history while remaining open to exploring credible questions, blending scientific inquiry with lore to illuminate how evidence shapes public perception.
CONSPIRACY THEORIES: Greenwashing (Pretending to Save the Planet)
Q: What do you think about greenwashing?
Many feel a sense of eco-guilt and are concerned about corporate honesty regarding their environmental impacts.
Crime House Best of 2025 - MISSING: The Martin Family from Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore
Q: What happened to the Martin Family?
The Martin Family mysteriously disappeared during a holiday outing in December 1958, with various theories surrounding their fate including foul play and accidental drowning in the Columbia River.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes

What is Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A true crime and conspiracy-focused show hosted by Vanessa Richardson that unpacks real stories of murderous cults, criminal cover-ups, mass manipulation, and provocative conspiracies. Episodes blend historical cases, modern context, and cultural commentary, often exploring media sensationalism, power dynamics, and the human cost behind sensational headlines. Notable strengths include Vanessa's narrative style and the show's willingness to tackle controversial topics with archival detail and careful storytelling, though some listeners wish for tighter fact-checking and deeper multi-episode arcs on single cases.

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Which podcasts are similar to Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes:

1. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
2. Murder: True Crime Stories
3. Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong
4. Crime House 24/7
5. Crimes Of...

How many episodes of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes are there?

Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes launched a year ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes?

Recent guests on Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes include:

1. Harini Bhat
2. Dr. Harini Bhat
3. George Knapp
4. Christine Wallace
5. Heather McKinney
6. Sarah Turney
7. Kourtney Nichole
8. Carter Roy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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