Surviving Satchidananda: The Dark Secrets of an International Yoga Movement
Surviving Satchidananda: The Dark Secrets of an International Yoga Movement
Podcast Description
Surviving Satchidananda exposes the toxic underbelly of Yogaville, an internationally acclaimed spiritual retreat in Central Virginia. Through raw personal stories and interviews with experts, this gripping series reveals the hidden truths behind the so-called sanctuary. Hosted by Brianna Patten, a former Yogaville resident and insider, Surviving Satchidananda explores themes of power, secrecy, and corruption. With a focus on healing and justice, this show is a must-listen for anyone seeking to better understand the allure of spiritual communities and the impact of cult-like environments.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of power dynamics, secrecy, and corruption within spiritual communities, featuring episodes that cover personal stories like Chai's experiences growing up in the ashram, the challenges of indoctrination faced by individuals like Satya, and the analysis of initiation practices led by former members. Key focus areas include mental health management, community impact, and the psychological effects of cult-like environments.
Surviving Satchidananda exposes the toxic underbelly of Yogaville, an internationally acclaimed spiritual retreat in Central Virginia. Through raw personal stories and interviews with experts, this gripping series reveals the hidden truths behind the so-called sanctuary. Hosted by Brianna Patten, a former Yogaville resident and insider, Surviving Satchidananda explores themes of power, secrecy, and corruption. With a focus on healing and justice, this show is a must-listen for anyone seeking to better understand the allure of spiritual communities and the impact of cult-like environments.
In this episode, Brianna interviews Carol Merchasin, the notorious attorney who takes on abusive spiritual communities in court. Her firm, Mcallister Olivarius, is currently supporting plaintiffs Shanti Norris and Susan Cohen in their legal battle against Yogaville/Integral Yoga. Merchasin’s work is part of a broader effort to hold spiritual organizations accountable for misconduct. She has previously represented individuals in cases involving spiritual communities such as The Shambhala International Lineage of Buddhism and Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.
Read the Yogaville court documents yourself here with the index number: 952220-2023
https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/iscroll/IScroll
If you would like to share any information about Yogaville with Brianna, email [email protected]
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.