Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation Jonathan Hirsch, Part 1 - A Guru, a Compound, and the Cult of Adi Da
Jan 21, 2026
Jonathan Hirsch, a podcaster and author who was raised in the Adidam cult led by Franklin Jones, shares his captivating journey from childhood to adulthood within an unconventional spiritual community. He discusses how his parents were drawn to this movement after exploring other gurus and details the cult's hypnotic influence through tape recordings. Hirsch reveals how one follower's translation of Jones’s teachings exposed their nonsensical nature. He also reflects on growing up isolated while longing for connection, ultimately finding solace among fellow 'cult kids.'
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Names And Doctrine Became More Byzantine
- Franklin Jones (Adi Da) repeatedly changed his name and doctrine, evolving from a casual guru to a Byzantine, unreadable author.
- Jonathan Hirsch notes the complexity served to mystify followers and centralize authority.
Parents Met While Seeking Spirituality
- Hirsch describes his parents as seekers influenced by 60s–70s psychedelic and spiritual exploration.
- His father experimented with acid and his mother lived in Nepal and became an acupuncturist before joining guru movements.
Seekers Moved Between Charismatic Teachers
- Followers sometimes migrated between gurus as leaders changed style or locale, reflecting transient allegiances.
- Hirsch shows how seekers moved from one teacher (Rama) to another (Jones) amid shifting scenes.
