Jonestown Massacre | I Don't Know About That with Jim Jefferies

Dr. Janja Lalich (www.janjalalich.com) really schools us on what happened that day at Jonestown and also the experience of being in a cult. Check out Dr. Lalich's charity The Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion at www.lalichcenter.org.
Jim's new special "High & Dry" is now available on Netflix!
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[@adk7962]

No one does “actually smart guy pretending to be dumb” better than Jeffries. I have a soul crushing commute so I listen to practically every comedian podcast, and this is only one of two podcasts that regularly makes me laugh out loud. Thanks for keeping me sane on my commute!

[@douglasschendel341]

Wappa education will get the best out of people. But to fail tap, how do you sleep sir.? Hmm

[@lady_bexy]

I wrote a thesis on this for my undergraduate degree at JCU. I made myself listen to the entirety of the death tapes. Just an horrifc outcome for a large group of people who only wanted to live their own way but because a lot of them were vulnerable and were seriously desperate for a place to be accepted they were dominated by a paranoid authoritarian religious leader with such a sad outcome. I'm glad you talked about this. The more information and education about it, the better chance that people won't find themselves in the same position. 💙

[@gart9680]

Jim has a point. Traditional *western socialism* (which is represented by democratic Labour parties across the west) gets incorrectly muddled with communism in the US. Labour parties across the western democratic world get elected to rule. The USA's closest allies in Europe & elsewhere have or had democratically elected socialist leaders. E.G. Tony Blair, Prime minister of the UK during the 90s & 2000s: leader of the Labour party. Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, Norway... All these countries at one time or currently have western socialist governments. *The US itself* had a strong sense of western socialist ideology running through society up to the 50s when there was a concerted effort during the McCarthy era to crush anything deemed in anyway related to communist ideology. And incorrectly western socialist ideology got thrown in with that bag. Due to confusion. Due to paranoia. Due to many reasons. *Traditional western socialism principally promotes: Prevention of working class exploitation.* So its concerns are workers rights, conditions, education, healthcare, housing. Socialism is not undemocratic communism. It's basically about semantics.

[@curmudgeon1933]

I'm not sure that I'd call Tony Blair a 'socialist'. lol He was an establishment capitalist, he just used left-wing buzzwords to convince voters that he was going to help the working class. In reality he set the Labour Party back 20 years, and pushed the Overton window so far right that it has become indistinguishable from the centre-right. The PLP's treatment of Jeremy Corbyn, shows how blind the Labour Party Executive is to the wishes of the ordinary working person. Effectively Britain has become almost a one party state. British media, especially Rupert Murdoch and Lord Rothermere have spent decades and millions of pounds, vilifying and smearing any politician or activist who proposed any policies which might help the public, using the same tactics as the US media, by trying to conflate democratic socialism with Stalinist communism and totalitarianism.

[@emu_warrior]

also socialism isn't a cult, it isn't part of a cultish ideology. it can be used as a bastardised way to control people though which is how cults can mis represent it. and then Americans think anything socialist even democratic socialism is communist

[@bigdaddy741098]

I'm glad she has gotten over her experience and actions to now be helping people. I believe it is very important especially in todays world, I think there will soon be a lot of people realising that they are part of a cult right now.

[@IanICee]

I believe Jim was thinking of Scientology when he was talking about the leader beating people. David beat a lot of their high ranking members in front of others. Also, David's wife is still missing.

[@nndaystar]

Jim's looking younger these days! He's more rested and his skin looks great! Happy for him.

[@TheNurseWhoLovedMe89]

This is actually the first episode I’ve watched 🤷🏻‍♀️😅

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

Then yourself will have a fun time with the rest.

[@TheNurseWhoLovedMe89]

@@pittypatterputzzler5311 I already knew I would because Jim’s a legend 😁😃

[@pjsw]

I know its not really the format of the podcast but if you could get her to come back on just to talk in depth about her experience in the cult that would be so interesting to watch

[@rewindsretro1328]

Yeah, I think she would be good on a youtube channel called "Soft White Underbelly" that goes deep into these kind of stories.

[@rafalko_]

Dr. Janja is an incredible person and i loved her perspective on the details of this cult. Great episode!

[@miller-joel]

Somehow avoided the most important question of all: How do you get people to leave a cult? Seems like you can't, just like with a drug addict or alcoholic. They have to want to leave.

[@ozzyfernandez8228]

I was made to listen to the death tape in its entirety for a concurrent criminal justice class in highschool. To say I was rattled by it is an understatement. I took a therapy session two weeks later. Horrifying!

[@BDNIGGAH420]

Yeah, it was quite disturbing listening to that. Glad hes DEAD!

[@bc14973]

This guest is lovely and I respect her story, but she doesn’t seem especially knowledgeable about Jonestown or the Peoples Temple. She’d have been better as a guest on cults in general, but I think they already had an cult episode.

[@glenn6583]

Much like Jim Jeffries, I am not a likely cult recruit. I am lazy as a sloth and I don’t surrender to authority easily at all. But I am not funny. Thanks everyone for doing this show. It was quite informative and deathly fascinating and perhaps a bit preventative for some. Be seeing you later Jim J. !

[@midnightrider379]

So weird , Thoughty 2 just did a video on this subject.

[@ozzyfernandez8228]

I was thinking this, too. It's nowhere near the anniversary, but it feels like Jonestown is at the top of people's minds right now.

[@biskit2211]

Thats where i was watching something about it...

[@democlips1]

When she describes the leaders of these cults, I can’t help but think of Trump

[@belababus3776]

Sweet a nice light podcast today!!

[@jacksonkeogh3320]

Jim being on 2 bears and not plugging his podcast once really dates him

[@istiles1]

Jackie Speier was shot, she recently wrote a memoir and in several interviews described how close to death she was & her body was really tore up.

[@JAMES-my8bf]

I'm down with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Cult!🍪 😁👍

[@erikbrush]

Comedy club name? HaHa's. That Tickle Stick name could be better with one minor change. Call it The Tickle Schtick. 😉

[@DyslexicAnaboko]

I'm surprised you guys didn't liken religion with cults. I was hoping you would bring up how Judeo-Christian religions are just "popular" cults and therefore are "okay" versus unsavory religions like "scientology". You did mention how cults are just failed religions.

[@crystalmendoza1450]

He's joking about how there aren't any first time listeners but I am! Hi!

[@anthill4623]

Great talk, very interesting.

[@laalki80]

Kelly Bear on fire here. Good points all 'round.

[@bigislander72]

14:14 There's footage if Jim Jones showing drink mix in the pantry at Jonestown. You can clearly see boxes of Kool Aid! Not Flavor Aid!

[@ozsuncoast]

Dr. Janja Lalich was great guest and a good sport. Glad to see that you were all respectful, holding back on your 'usual' filthy dirty swearing. Respect!

[@Shawn-wd4qd]

If you ever need an expert about what happened at Waco in 1993. I would be happy to come on the podcast.

[@Matthew-ve7uv]

Who are you? What are your qualifications? Let me guess -- random internet conspiracy nut?

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

Sounds interesting.

[@catholic3dod790]

Where do I find darkness demons' light eyes caught on video at Jim Jones church? Thanks.

[@v8holdentiger]

Where do I join up for the Jim Jefferies cult? Instead of Kool Aid it’s Cottees cordial surely

[@janetharradine4330]

The expression is "drink the Coolade" not flavorade!

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

Kelly looks mesmerizing as always, ever time I watch these podcast she is a absolute pleasure for the eyes and ears. 😘💨💞❤️

[@DyslexicAnaboko]

Been meaning to ask also - WHERE IS LUIS?!!?!?!? I hear him on the Mermen podcast only now :( want Luis back.

[@athanatic]

All praise holy Apple!

[@JoopTheMalignant]

The Funny Bone!

[@tuutts39]

Wow! She got soooo much wrong about this horrific tragedy. The massacre was MURDER not suicide. Jim had FOUR SONS in Guyana . Stephan, Jimmy (Jr.) and Timmy (Timothy). They were in Georgetown playing in a basketball tournament. They were also their dad’s personal security team. His son Lew (Asian) died in Jonestown. As well as his daughter Agnes (Asian). And a few younger sons and grandchildren. This woman is NOT an expert.

[@haraldisdead]

GODAMMIT, FORREST, STOP JUST TELLING HIM WHAT IT IS

[@DannyGast]

39:23 YEP 🤣

[@take5breaths]

Janja Lalich! She's fantastic! Watch interviews with her about $cientology! ❤❤

[@jakeolthof]

Mike Prokes was a PT leader in SF that killed himself after the massacre down in Guyana.

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

Big love to absolutely wonder full human beings.

[@mikebikepills]

Fun fact. Only the authorities had guns.

[@luna-p]

I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and even though I believed, I definitely didn't have the work ethic to keep it up lol, not to mention my massive social anxiety. They don't have a single authoritarian leader, though. For a long time it was a vague and mostly unknown "governing body." Recently they've turned the eight (now seven?) of them into sort of celebrities, but they are the least charismatic people you'll ever meet - largely exceedingly boring and monotonous but in one case, appallingly goofy and cartoonish.

[@LemmingAttack]

It's all '-les': Pickles, buckles, maracas.... Hm, Jim, there's one of those that isn't an '-les'

[@sluhgo]

Hahahaha Forrest will get detained for being a monotone Debbie downer! JK Forrest but you do make it slightly too easy sometime! Love the show and surprisingly weird topic

[@richardworth836]

Faith or fake healing, same thing

[@tylerpollock9783]

The freeze pipe works poorly (I got one 🤷)

[@crackthefoundation_]

I was wondering.. It doesn't look like the smoke really has time to cool like that

[@tylerpollock9783]

@user 9429450 it's a shame bc it's a decent idea. It's just executed so poorly. It gets clogged easier than a traditional pipe as well as not cooling as well as advertised. If the designers cut fewer corners and did more actual testing of their product, they'd have a decent piece of smoking tech. As is tho, it feels like a lazy cash grab to fool ppl like me. 🤷

[@tylerwunder]

You have to cough to get off

[@ccboom3235]

I'm team tickle stick.

[@paulclissold1525]

Forest when youre brainstorming these topics youre doing shrooms yeah.

[@thar3volution76]

For being an expert she sure didnt know alot.

[@larrynelson4909]

You don't hang anyone upsidedown for 2days they would die

[@tonyabrookes9931]

Exactly

[@smith9157]

Fell off

[@curmudgeon1933]

I'd be interested to know why she considers the Osho movement a 'cult'. Having spent over a decade living and working in Osho centres both in India and Europe, I never experienced anything that would lead me to that conclusion. I never spoke to anyone, some who had been with Osho for many more years than me, who complained of sexual abuse. Nobody tried to coerce me to do something I didn't want to, no one abused me, no one forced me to stay, no one made me give up my autonomy, told me to break contact with family or friends or forced me to work if I didn't want to. I advise anyone to read something by him, or listen to some of his recordings on KZbin. He was no Jones, Koresh or Manson. Of course, governments and organized religions were not happy with his criticisms of their policies, or his popularity with many thousands of people. Listening to some of the 'Christians' who are followers of the MAGA cult I feel they are far more delusional, and dangerous.

[@douglasschendel341]

Wappa educated , & failed on tap. For shame.

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

...Is this new?

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

It is the way.

[@erniehudson1]

Jim looks more and more like Charlie Sheen - time for a Sitcom!

[@5554132]

😪💞💔🥺👻👽⛰❓

[@beautyno.2]

I was shocked at the subject and borderline offended I wasn't asked to be on the podcast as an expert. Hahaha. If you need someone to talk about the Heaven's Gate cult......

[@bigsin781]

Were you an ex-member/survivor? lol

[@larrynelson4909]

You were offended but you want to be an expert ? On what being offended by a podcast that you can just shut off ?

[@beautyno.2]

@@larrynelson4909 wtf. is english your second language? I was clearly making a joke.

[@larrynelson4909]

@@beautyno.2 WOW you really do get offended easy

[@beautyno.2]

@@larrynelson4909 sure dude whatever helps you feel your life is worth while

[@BuRn_FrN]

can't stand Forrest odd monotone voice

[@dizzlebizzle8424]

The expert and Jim got it wrong on one thing. Jim Jones did use a gun but not on himself, he made one of his followers do it. In the end, the insane coward couldn't even do it.

[@Aussie_gamer.]

First

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

Last.

[@Aussie_gamer.]

Can you pin my comment

[@Slaeowulf]

Can you pin deez nuts?

[@lackofeffortfpv7412]

the two first should have a first off, where you keep firsting each other until someone is second

[@natalieolivia4945]

They didn't kill themselves. Nothing about the story makes any sense. Use your brain and take the time to really look at this story.

[@JAMES-my8bf]

Sorry, but this Woman is a Snooze-Fest! 😐

[@michaeldrummond6793]

This Dr just seems like an anti-leftist. Shes not really explaining much. Mainly shes been dismissing certain things as just bad. Revolutionary Suicide was a book by Hewy Newton.

[@paulclissold1525]

Do an episode on christianity, doubt whether youll get an expert to come on. Your ignorance is astounding even by your standards jim. Btw: we just lost father bob. Also please mention barry's passing.

[@lesmansom7817]

Still not as weird as Catholic hierarchy.

[@kishoreragavganeshkumar673]

Here first? woohoo?