The Sunshine Place - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I love listening to podcasts about cults. This one has lots of first hand knowledge and interviews that really show what it was like to be in the cult and how peoples views changed. Top notch!

Captivating summary of the history. I felt a full range of emotions listening to each Episode. I like the balance of how it highlighted the high ideals which drew in the wealthy, educated “lifestylers” as opposed to focusing on the down trodden dope addicts. I think the complexity of the place is far more interesting then the obvious interpretation of a “cult”. Then abuse of power and manipulation is astounding and the fact that so many “normal” educated, well-meaning people found themselves submitting to the whims of the founder. It’s mind blowing and the part I found most interesting. More of this please !

Never had heard anything about this group. The way the show is told from inside the group is great. And it is done with a great balance of showing the bad, and good that went on. Almost nothing is black and white. And the host and people giving interviews tell a detailed and entertaining story, and in a way that doesn’t only celebrate or demonize. Very very well done. I tried the show, expecting to not stick with it, here I am waiting for Wednesdays for the next episodes to drop.

I’m a connoisseur of podcasts about cults and can tell you this is one of the better ones. The archival material is expertly put together in a riveting tale of utopia gone bad. The scope and breadth of the project is immense. I love the recreation of Chuck’s voice - his power of personality and dangerous ideas really come through. Great listening. Thank you!

Big names are behind this podcast. And that’s about the only thing this has going for it. If you enjoy disoriented timelines, random and Unfinished character plots and fabricated tape recordings to make things sound old then this is for you. All stories are based off of first hand s encounters with no facts to back them up. Overall just not worth your time. Many other well put together podcasts series to listen to. I’d put this at the bottom of anyone’s list

The show had potential but I was put off by the repeated use of the phrases “dope fiend” and “drug addict”. I get that this was the 1960s vocabulary but it just sounds dated and stigmatized. If they used at least some person-centered language like “person who uses drugs” or “people with a heroin addiction” I would have kept listening.