The Gateway: Teal Swan

<p>The Gateway is a six-part series about Teal Swan, a new brand of spiritual guru, who draws in followers with her hypnotic self-help YouTube videos aimed at people who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Some followers move to Teal’s healing center, a spiritual startup where they produce content and manage social media accounts. Teal insists her therapy saves lives, but her critics say Teal’s death-focused dogma is dangerous. Gizmodo reporter Jennings Brown traveled to rural Utah and to the forests of Costa Rica, with extensive access to Teal and her inner circle, to understand Teal's teachings and investigate the deaths of some of her followers.</p>

Introducing The Gateway

Follow Gizmodo reporter Jennings Brown as he investigates an internet spiritual guru, named Teal Swan, and the deaths of some of her followers. The Gateway premieres on May 30th. Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

05-21
04:25

Part 1: Catalyst

In April 2017 YouTube recommended reporter Jennings Brown watch a self-help video from Teal Swan, a spiritual guru with a global online following. He’d spend the next year trying to understand whether or not she’s dangerous.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

05-30
39:43

Part 2: Origins

Jennings travels to Utah, where Teal grew up and began her spiritual career. He learns more about the upbringing that shaped her teachings on suicide, and he meets the people who were closest to a Teal follower who took her own life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

06-06
36:10

Part 3: Philia

Jennings meets Teal at her retreat center in Costa Rica. He spends a week there, observing her therapy methods and getting to know some of the people who leave their lives behind to live with Teal and run her spiritual startup. It all starts with a death meditation, and it only gets stranger from there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

06-13
40:44

Part 4: Tribe

In this exploration of Teal’s online empire, we’ll meet some of the people whose lives have changed because of her teachings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

06-20
48:19

Part 5: Memories

A look back at a strange chapter of American history known as the Satanic Panic—and how it connects to Teal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

06-27
42:24

Part 6: Shadows

After months of reporting, Jennings goes to Utah for one final interview with Teal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

07-04
35:21

Suey

while I agree that teal swan's methods are absolutely NOT great, I kind of agree with her about the meek and neutered methods of the national suicide prevention hotline in the US.(Not sure how it is structured in other countries, compared to say, Good Samaritans in the UK) I have struggled with suicidal ideation periodically in my life. Both times I have called them I felt I did not get the care or relief I was hoping to get-- they were not helpful. I'm lucky to be alive despite their methods.

12-27 Reply

Janette Jones

I beg to differ on ine thing... Teal Swan is not "classically pretty". Lol. Based on his description, Teal Swan is eurocentrically pretty.

05-06 Reply

Vanessa Moses

Wait. She claims to have a photographic memory not long after saying she can't remember what Leslie talks to her about.

02-10 Reply

Alaska

Wow. What a dangerous, malignant narcissist. She belongs in jail. And just hearing her talk it's obvious that she's seriously mentally ill.

07-04 Reply

Danny Madison

the "universal consciousness" bit from just before 23 minutes mark is the most narcissistic nonsense I've ever heard. she's so full of crap... utterly delusional

04-09 Reply

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