In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the chaotic life of L. Ron Hubbard, the prolific science fiction author who transformed a self-help system into the Church of Scientology. We trace his journey from his early days writing hundreds of stories for pulp magazines to his disastrous World War II naval career, where he was relieved of command twice and unwittingly fired upon Mexican territory. We also explore his post-war involvement in occult "sex magic" rituals with rocket engineer Jack Parsons, where they attempted to summon a goddess.
Join us as we discuss the 1950 explosion of Dianetics, the subsequent pivot to Scientology, and the formation of the "Sea Org," a private paramilitary fleet where Hubbard punished crew members by throwing them overboard. We break down the esoteric "OT III" scriptures regarding the galactic ruler Xenu, the massive government espionage campaign known as "Operation Snow White," and Hubbard’s final years spent in hiding.
