In this episode of pplpod, we investigate the Order of the Solar Temple (OTS), a neo-Templar secret society that shocked the world with a series of mass murders and suicides in the 1990s. Unlike the typical profile of vulnerable cult members, the OTS was composed of affluent, cultured professionals—including mayors, journalists, and business leaders—who sought a return to the spiritual heritage of the Knights Templar.

We examine the group's dual leadership: the charismatic recruiter and homeopath Luc Jouret, and the shadowy financier Joseph Di Mambro, who claimed to be a reincarnation of ancient figures. Listen in as we explore their eclectic mix of beliefs, which included "cosmic coupling," communication with "Ascended Masters," and the preparation for a "transit" to the star Sirius to escape a coming environmental apocalypse.

We als ...