Cults are crazy shit! What's even crazier if that cult is online.....yes we said online. Sherry Shriner was the leader of an online cult that believed Satan disguised himself as Jesus and and tricked the world loving and worshiping him. The cult believes that demonic, alien reptiles were sent by Satan to take over the world. We found someone who wrote a book about it!
Our guest Author Tony Russo joins us to discuss his book Dragged into the Light: Truthers, Reptilians, Super Soldiers, and Death Inside an Online Cult. He discuss the cult, his book and how he came upon this crazy story! For more information visit http://draggedintothelight.com/
More about Tony
Tony Russo
From the first time he created a biographical sketch from source material, Tony Russo was interested in telling stories about people’s everyday lives. As a journalist, he specializes in profiles and feature stories that connect people with their community and culture.
To augment to his work in community journalism, Tony began producing independent podcasts in 2007. He produced podcasts on beer, local news, and writing, always with a focus on the individual’s relationship to their place and time.
In 2017 he earned the honor of writing and hosting This Is War, a narrative podcast about the combat veteran experience. In more than fifty interviews with American veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of the next two years, Tony wrote biographical narratives tracing the careers of men and women who had their lives changed in service to their country.
Each story was astounding all on its own, providing snapshots of our country and culture at multiple times and places over the decade-plus conflict.
Tony coveted the chance to tell a story like Dragged Into the Light, which brings together questions about history, religion, politics, and popular culture and investigates how they played out in these real-life circumstances when two realities collide.
Sherry Shriner, her cult, and the insidious and violent nature of the conspiracy theory culture showed him that while truth may have inherent value, as a commodity it’s pretty much worthless.
In his research he crossed paths with a documentary team from VICEthat also was investigating Sherry Shriner. In 2021, he was featured in their series The Devil You Know, Season 2.
Tony lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with his wife and the only one of his four daughters who hasn’t moved out. Together they keep their dog and cats comfortable.
