<p>Introducing "Believers," a new podcast about faith and devotion gone awry.</p>

The Manson Family. The Children of God. Jonestown. Heaven's Gate. NXIVM.

These destructive groups exert a powerful hold over the popular imagination, alternately horrifying and regaling us with stories of murder, manipulation, fraud, abuse and mind-control. But how much do we really understand about how these organizations work, or why their adherents find it so hard to break away from them? On "Believers," we explore these groups and their twisted tales of faith and devotion gone awry.

New episodes are released every Thursday, so make sure to follow and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.