Founded in 1971 by Jimmie T. Roberts, The Brethren, also called The Road Ministry or the “Garbage Eaters”, became one of the most secretive cult movements in America. Roberts demanded that followers abandon their families, possessions, and even their identities to live as nomads, scavenging for food and sleeping in fields while preaching an apocalyptic gospel. For decades, the group drifted across the highways and small towns of the United States, nearly invisible yet leaving behind broken families and haunting survivor testimonies. In this episode of Hidden Cults, we trace the rise of Roberts from a disillusioned Southern preacher to the leader of a wandering flock. We examine how members were recruited, the hardships of life on the road, the growing paranoia that kept them hidden, and the cracks that eventually emerged as media exposure and family rescues shed light on their secretive world. Survivor voices reveal the price of radical obedience and what remains of The Brethren today.Part 1 – A Prophet on the RoadPart 2 – Forsaking AllPart 3 – The Garbage EatersPart 4 – Hidden in Plain SightPart 5 – Cracks in the CampPart 6 – A Road Still TraveledFrom silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.New episodes weeklyListener stories always welcomeAnonymity guaranteed.Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.comInternational ResourcesInternational Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)https://www.icsahome.comProvides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families.Open Minds Foundationhttps://www.openmindsfoundation.orgOffers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations.The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)https://www.thehotline.org📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse.Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)https://freedomofmind.comResources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education.FaithTrust Institutehttps://www.faithtrustinstitute.orgSupport and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.United StatesCult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)📞 1-239-514-3081Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers.RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)https://www.rainn.org📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma survivors.Canada Cult & Trauma Support Resources Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
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Founded in 1971 by Jimmie T. Roberts, The Brethren, also called The Road Ministry or the “Garbage Eaters”, became one of the most secretive cult movements in America. Roberts demanded that followers abandon their families, possessions, and even their identities to live as nomads, scavenging for food and sleeping in fields while preaching an apocalyptic gospel. For decades, the group drifted across the highways and small towns of the United States, nearly invisible yet leaving behind broken famil...