Black Jonestown

Episode 3 of Black Jonestown centers the voice of Janet Shular, the oldest known surviving former member of People’s Temple, as she reflects on her life, her time within the movement, and the experiences that shaped her understanding of faith, community, and survival.

In Episode 3 of Black Jonestown, we sit down with Janet Shular, the longest living former Peoples Temple, member as she shares her journey in her own words.An educated, accomplished professional in early childhood education, Janet joined Peoples Temple believing it was a place where her gifts could serve children and build community. And for a time, it was. But as the cracks began to show, Janet realized Jim Jones was not the man he claimed to be. What followed was a quiet awakening — and a carefully planned escape that saved her life and the lives of her family. This episode challenges the long-standing stereotypes about who followed Jim Jones. Janet Shuler was not ignorant or helpless. She was thoughtful, perceptive, and courageous — a woman who chose truth over fear.We also honor the life and legacy of Deanna Wilkinson, one of Peoples Temple’s most extraordinary voices. Her music brought joy to many, and her story reminds us that behind every headline were real people with real gifts and real lives.

In Episode 2 of Black Jonestown, Leslie Wagner Wilson sits down with Nancy Shaw — a woman whose family was forever changed by the promises and deceptions of Jim Jones.Nancy opens her heart about losing her mother, who died believing Jones would heal her, and her grandmother, who perished in Jonestown. Through honesty, pain, and clarity, she brings forward a story few have ever heard directly from those who lived it.This conversation is raw, intimate, and deeply human.It speaks to faith, manipulation, grief, and the resilience it takes to reclaim your narrative after unimaginable loss.Following the interview, we honor the life of Elsie Bell, remembering her not just as a victim of Jonestown, but as a woman whose life, hope, and humanity mattered.Black Jonestown is dedicated to telling the stories behind the headlines — to show the family, not the spectacle.If this episode moved you, please like, comment, and subscribe so we can continue sharing the voices and stories that history tried to silence.

In our very first episode of Black Jonestown, we begin with the voices behind the mission.I’m Leslie Wagner Wilson—one of the nine people who escaped Jonestown on November 18, 1978. For decades, others have told our story for us. This podcast changes that.“Who We Are” introduces the storytellers, survivors, researchers, and descendants whose lives were shaped by Peoples Temple and Jonestown. We reclaim our narrative, honor the truth, and bring forward the voices—especially the Black voices—too often erased from history.This is where the journey begins.This is our truth.Welcome to Black Jonestown.

Welcome to Black Jonestown.My name is Leslie Wagner Wilson, also known as Leslie Cathey—and I am one of the nine people who escaped Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978. On that horrific day, I lost my mother, Inez, 50 years old; my sister, Michelle, 24; my brother, Mark, 16; my nephew, Daron, 1 year old; my niece, Dawnyell, 4 years old; and many others I had grown up with since I was thirteen.For decades, the story of Jonestown has been told about us—picked apart, sensationalized, distorted, and reduced to a single, haunting photograph. But those of us who lived it… the families, the children, the elders, the believers and the broken… our voices have rarely been centered.This podcast changes that.