100 The Source Family Cult: Sex, Drugs, and More Sex and Drugs

Crimes, Killers, Cults and Beer: A True Crime Podcast

Welcome to Episode 100! We made it! And, to celebrate, we’re covering a hippie trippy drug cult. The Source Family. A cult that began when hustler/con artist, James Baker opened a health food store in California, in the 60’s. With his money and fame from that, he discovered the grooviness of drugs, and began considering himself to be a guru. He ran those stores into the ground, and opened The Source, which was a health food restaurant. The stars of the time loved his health food restaurant. It was the place to be for A list Hollywood elites. He taught the teachings of the Age of Aquarius, and whatever else he dreamed up.

He would later change his name to Father Yod, and amassed a following of over 200 people, crammed into small houses. And as time went on, he got crazier and crazier, forcing orgies on his entire clan. His own version of faith healing was the gospel as well. It became a psychedelic boot camp of sorts. He also decided he deserved multiple wives, because he was God.

If there was any kind of legacy left behind, it was the music. He had a psychedelic traveling band, that made multiple albums, which are the Holy Grail to music collectors today.

Run out of California due to allegations of underage liberties, he fled to Hawaii, where his life ended in one of the more creative ways for a cult leader to die.

Let’s get Trippy Culty!

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