Murder at Ryans Run: exposing the cult of John Africa - podcast cover

Murder at Ryans Run: exposing the cult of John Africa

Beth McNamarawww.murderatryansrun.com

A true crime investigation exposing the Philadelphia cult operating as the MOVE Organization. Told by survivors and insiders, Murder At Ryans Run reveals abuse, lies, and lost lives—plus exclusive tapes, FBI files, and real-time reporting of a daring cult escape. This is the story MOVE leaders don’t want you to hear.


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Episodes

Happy Independence Day: How July 2nd Changed the MOVE Narrative Forever

July 2nd resonates with profound significance – marking both the launch of this podcast four years ago and the day Pixie Africa broke free from MOVE with her five children. That courageous exodus, described as "driving a tank through a concrete wall," shattered decades of silence and control, allowing truth to finally emerge from within the organization. This date now stands as an Independence Day for MOVE survivors – a powerful counterpoint to the dates MOVE itself commemorates. When those born...

Jul 02, 202511 minSeason 3Ep. 13

Hate Mail From A Cult Leader: inside MOVE's language of control

WARNING: disturbing language and content. Behind the veneer of revolutionary rhetoric and claims of natural living lies a darker reality that few have ever glimpsed. For decades, MOVE has carefully cultivated an image of a loving, principled liberation movement, but newly uncovered internal communication reveals something far more sinister. These never-before-seen letters—what can only be described as "hate mail" between MOVE members—expose the psychological warfare waged against anyone who show...

Jun 12, 202543 minSeason 3Ep. 12

Love Letters From A Cult Leader: inside MOVE's language of control

“I love y’all so much. Ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do for y’all.” —John Africa (Vincent Leaphart), founder of MOVE Thanks to a confidential source, we gained access to dozens of private MOVE letters sent to incarcerated followers. At first glance, some of these letters appear warm, loyal, even loving - representative of what MOVE says they are - a chosen "family". But beneath the surface lies a deeply sophisticated system of control. Using Dr. Robert J. Lifton’s landmark framework for thought refor...

Jun 10, 202535 minSeason 3Ep. 11

MOVE lies about John Gilbride Part 2- Look Who's Talking

*warning: discussion of violence, threats, and the use of a racial slur that is explained but is censored. What happens when a cult's carefully crafted narrative faces public scrutiny? The answer lies in this shocking exploration of MOVE's 2005 radio appearance and their confrontation with America's Most Wanted five years later. Following Fox 29's coverage of John Gilbride's unsolved murder, MOVE members secured two hours of airtime on Philadelphia's WURD Radio. What unfolded wasn't a defense or...

Jun 05, 202546 minSeason 3Ep. 10

MOVE lies about John Gilbride Part 1: Play The Tape

When MOVE feels threatened, they turn to friendly media outlets to control their narrative. This episode takes you inside a revealing 2005 WURD Radio broadcast where MOVE members responded to a Fox News segment about the unsolved murder of John Gilbride. The previously unreleased audio exposes how cult propaganda works in real-time. Ramona Africa, MOVE's Minister of Information, leads a coordinated response where members employ classic manipulation tactics: denying involvement in John's murder w...

Jun 03, 20251 hr 5 minSeason 3Ep. 9

"He Said He Said" - The Confession of Mumia Abu Jamal

Here is the very interesting Howard Stern show mentioned in previous episode about Mumia - TC 01:30:47 -01:51:08 (thanks to listener Alex). A prison friendship leads to an unexpected confession that threatens to collapse the entire Free Mumia movement. Twenty-five years after a bombshell Vanity Fair article claimed Mumia Abu-Jamal admitted to killing Officer Daniel Faulkner, the source of that revelation speaks out in his own words. Philip Bloch wasn't supposed to be part of this story. A former...

May 29, 202545 minSeason 3Ep. 8

The Cult of Mumia: from convicted killer to campus icon using the MOVE playbook

A powerful moment in 1999 captures everything you need to know about how MOVE operated. When Rage Against the Machine held a benefit concert for Mumia Abu-Jamal, they didn't just pack an arena with passionate fans—they delivered approximately $75,000 straight into MOVE's coffers. The organization's leadership understood that Mumia's case was their golden ticket to Hollywood, mainstream visibility, financial support, and fresh recruits. Here is the Howard Stern show mentioned - TC 01:30:47 -01:51...

May 27, 202547 minSeason 3Ep. 7

May 13, 1985: A Police Officer’s Account from Osage Avenue

The haunting story of the MOVE bombing unfolds through the eyes of Philadelphia police officer Jim Berghaier—the Stakeout Cop who rescued 13-year-old Birdie Africa, the only child to survive when authorities dropped explosives on a West Philadelphia rowhouse on May 13, 1985. Standing in the same narrow alley where it happened, Berghaier walks us minute by minute through his experience of that day. His visceral recollections take us back to the moment a satchel of explosives—meant to disable a fo...

May 13, 202537 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Straight Outta Holmesburg -MOVE’s Prison Recruiting—and One Inmates Encounter With Their "God"

The shadows of Philadelphia's MOVE organization stretch far beyond the infamous 1985 bombing on Osage Avenue. Through an exclusive interview with Richard Garland—a former gang member who encountered MOVE while incarcerated at Holmesburg Prison—we uncover the cult's prison recruitment tactics and the mysterious figure at its center. Garland reveals his extraordinary three-day encounter with Vincent Leapheart (John Africa) through prison cell walls, describing a "soft voice that commanded you woul...

May 12, 202543 minSeason 3Ep. 5

Mike Africa Jr.'s Tales of Richmond - Factchecked

When memoir meets mythology, what happens to historical truth? This gripping episode investigates Mike Africa Jr.'s vivid account of his childhood in Richmond, Virginia, revealing a remarkable disconnect between his published narrative and documented reality. Through painstaking research, including interviews with the retired detective who led the 1980 operation, the prosecutor who brought charges, and the attorney who represented MOVE women, we uncover the actual circumstances surrounding the r...

May 09, 202543 minSeason 3Ep. 4

Mike Africa Jr. Version 2001 - Part Deux

This is Part 2—or as they say in France (where MOVE often solicits donations for themselves and Mumia)— Part Deux . It’s not as shocking as Part 1, but it’s still never-before-heard audio from 2001, recorded in the basement of MOVE’s Philly headquarters. A 23-year-old Mike Africa Jr. (aka Michael Davis) reflects on legacy, identity, and his self-declared natural rapping talent (pro tip: double the playback speed for that section). But tucked between the repetition and self-aggrandizing are resea...

May 08, 202549 minSeason 3Ep. 3

Mike Africa Jr. Version 2001 - Part 1

In this immersive, unedited episode, you’re sitting in the basement of MOVE headquarters in West Philly—24 years ago—listening as Michael Davis (known publicly as Mike Africa Jr., and within MOVE by the nickname “Puga,” which he no longer uses - talks freely while being interviewed by longtime MOVE "supporter" Peter Gordon, aka Dubside. At 23, Mike shares a version of MOVE’s history—and his own—that directly contradicts the narrative he tells today about 1985 as a public figure and the self-anno...

May 07, 20251 hr 3 minSeason 3Ep. 2

We'll Burn This House Down - Ramona Africa's Letter

Two days before the 1985 fire that killed 5 children and 6 adults inside 6221 Osage Avenue, MOVE’s Minister of Information, Ramona Africa, sent a letter to police: “We will burn this motherf***ing house down and burn you up with us.” This handwritten letter has been publicly available for 40 years. So why is it rarely included in books, documentaries, or retrospectives—especially now, 40 years later? This episode brings her words back into the story—and asks us all to think critically about what...

May 07, 202521 minSeason 3Ep. 1

MOVE loves Philly cheese steaks and not answering our questions about missing children.

This episode was put together quickly in order to publish before current charismatic spokesperson Mike Africa Jr. goes on WURD radio to talk about remains of MOVE children so this is my effort to put some questions out there for WURD to ask Mike. I will write up better show notes tomorrow. Going hit the hay so I can wake up at 5am my time to catch WURD in Philadelphia. Will post images etc. that go with episode tomorrow. Here are links I promised: Firewalker New Balance Let The Fire Burn on OVID...

Sep 14, 202323 minSeason 2Ep. 13

Shaeida: the little girl who was disappeared in MOVE.

*cw: profanity and death of children It's hard to believe that an organization like MOVE, which preaches about natural foods and healthy living, could be responsible for the neglect and abuse suffered by its children. In this episode we share exclusive investigative information about Shaeida "She She" Hollaway, who disappeared from the group's care in 1978 at the age of five. Through in-depth research, we learn about MOVE's secretive practices that made it challenging for authorities to locate a...

May 11, 202329 minSeason 2Ep. 12

THE MOVE FAMILY

*explicit language and threats of violence Whenever MOVE speaks it is always in "the plural" as "The MOVE Family" but what happens in the family stays in the family, like the movie FIGHT CLUB but even more insidious and culty. So outsiders think MOVE is what they say they are - a loving committed family. Over the two seasons you have heard exclusive interviews with former MOVE members sharing the dark secrets in the group. The podcast has obtained a lot of internal MOVE materials and in this epi...

May 10, 202338 minSeason 2Ep. 11

All About Ria, the other White "Africa"

*explicit: child abuse, animal abuse and racial slurs MOVE wants the public to see them as a black liberation group and so Ria Africa has been conveniently erased from their current narrative which is why we made this entire episode all about the white rich girl named Suzy who became Sue Africa and then Ria Africa. For decades Ria has used the power given to her by MOVE founder Vincent Leaphart and then 2nd leader Alberta Wicker to abuse black children while saying she herself was not white and ...

May 03, 202349 minSeason 2Ep. 10

Mumia Abu Jamal and the MOVE Minister of Confrontation, Pam Africa

Mumia Abu Jamal is mostly known to the world as a former black panther, former radio journalist and for the last 41 years as a convicted murderer who had been sentenced to death but now is serving life in prison without parole. What is less known about Mumia Abu Jamal is his long history with MOVE before he shoots Officer Daniel Faulkner on December 9, 1981 and that Mumia's lead publicist "handler" Pam Africa is also the Minister of Confrontation for MOVE. Utilizing an audio cassette exclusivey ...

Dec 29, 202253 minSeason 2Ep. 9

50 Years A Cult - Media, Money, Mumia & Monsters featuring former MOVE member Rain Africa

Born into MOVE 15 years after the most deadly confrontation on Osage Avenue, Rain Africa was groomed to be a spokesperson and "fundraiser" for MOVE and Mumia Abu Jamal which she says is one in the same. Rain breaks down how MOVE deftly and deceptively uses the media, academics and "the movement". The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the...

Dec 28, 20221 hr 11 minSeason 2Ep. 8

I survived MOVE: the story of Jeanne Africa

*CW: discussion of domestic abuse, threats of violence and loss of life. After more than 30 years Jeanne Africa is breaking her silence about the 5 years she was a devoted MOVE member sharing never-before-heard details about what she alleges was the true nature of MOVE - to overthrow the system by violent revolution and that in following Vincent Leaphart's teachings all of his followers were willing to kill or be killed for his "revolution". National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 If y...

Dec 19, 20221 hr 1 minSeason 2Ep. 7

The Coordinator

This episode examines the real man behind THE COORDINATOR of MOVE, Vincent Leaphart, the leader and creator of the group who gave himself the name of JOHN AFRICA and the title of THE COORDINATOR. Vincent Leaphart, like most cult leaders, put his followers on the front line of his "revolution" and they certainly paid the price with their freedom and in some cases their lives. If you have comments, questions or information related to the podcast or our ongoing research into MOVE please reach out v...

Dec 11, 202253 minSeason 2Ep. 6

The Meaning of Life Africa: how MOVE exploited the deaths of their own children

*CW: discussion of infant deaths, child neglect, child abuse, and police brutality. MOVE says their religion is Life. "JOHN AFRICA taught us that Life is the priority. Nothing is more important or as important as Life, the force that keeps us alive. All life comes from one source, from God, Mom Nature, Mama. Each individual life is dependent on every other life, and all life has a purpose, so all living beings, things that move, are equally important whether they are human beings, dogs, birds, f...

Dec 05, 202250 minSeason 2Ep. 5

Kwashiorkor: the deliberate malnourishment of MOVE children

*CW: child neglect and abuse. MOVE has always bragged about the health/strength of the children raised in MOVE were even more exceptional because they were raised as the "pure generation" under MOVE Law - the teachings of John Africa but the reality was the children were sick with diseases like Kwashiorkor which is only seen in developing countries experiencing famine. What are the signs and symptoms of kwashiorkor? Edema (swelling with fluid, especially in the ankles and feet). Bloated stomach ...

Nov 28, 202257 minSeason 2Ep. 4

Vince Leaphart & The Black Panther

*Sensitive content about police brutality, abuse against children and women. Mention of racial slurs. MOVE began in the West Philadelphia neighborhood of Powelton Village at a time when counterculture and revolution were the norm and a former Black Panther once crossed paths with a handyman named Vince who then became John Africa. The Black Panther Party Ten-Point Program Timothy Hayes Blog Big shout out to 50 years of local reporting on MOVE from The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Dail...

Nov 21, 202241 minSeason 2Ep. 3

Guidelines, Guns and Going Against John Africa

MOVE claims that their "organization" was created by one man, a black man named Vincent Leaphart. Vincent did not create the MOVE cult by himself, he had a lot of help from a white graduate student named Donald Glassey who then escaped and became a government informant in order to stop Vincent's bomb plot. The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of ...

Nov 14, 202238 minSeason 2Ep. 2

MOVE: Small but Deadly with Cult Expert Rick Alan Ross

Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast. In this episode you will get some updates and behind-the-scenes information on Season 1 and then you will hear from cult expert and author Rick Alan Ross about MOVE and the overall nature of destructive cults and MOVE. . Links and Resources mentioned in this episode: Tony Allen's blog: AntiMOVE Kevin Price's blog: Leaving MOVE 2021 RICK ALAN ROSS Twitter https://twitter.com/RickAlanRoss Facebook https://www.facebook.com/culteducation Cult Education Institute I...

Nov 07, 20221 hr 16 minSeason 2Ep. 1

Knock, knock, it's Beth.

MOVE likes to say that John Gilbride is still alive and living under an assumed name working for the US Government who is, of course, hell bent on destroying MOVE. John Gilbride is dead and we have obtained the Medical Examiner's Report stating exactly how he died on September 26, 2002. And we knock on the front door of MOVE leader's house and have a brief and bizarre interaction with her second husband. The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series a...

Apr 25, 202218 minSeason 1Ep. 15

Bonus Ep #3: This all began with Anarchism, Black Cats and Lies

This whole podcast got started when Bob shared the story of MOVE and May 13th 1985 with Beth and got her hooked on learning as much as she could but then one interview spins her around and sends the whole focus and podcast down an unsolved murder rabbit hole that leads deep into the MOVE organization that even ties back to Hollywood film royalty - Steven Spielberg. If you have any information that could help solve the unsolved murder of JOHN GILBRIDE or you have information about the allegations...

Oct 30, 202110 min

The Power of Truth is Final

CONTENT WARNING: child sex abuse and graphic description of child birth. While MOVE continues to claim their belief is LIFE and protecting all life, they are not in mourning of their former MOVE brother John Gilbride who was murdered in cold blood, but rather they are hanging decorations in preparation for not one wedding, but two and only the most trusted, loyal members and supporters are invited. The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are pre...

Oct 27, 202154 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Follow The Money

Every murder investigation looks at motive - why does someone want someone else dead? Common motives are jealousy and money. One of the core secrets about MOVE is the source of their money and that would be a something that John Gilbride would have been privy to and so maybe MOVE vs. John Gilbride is about more than child custody. . The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reas...

Oct 19, 202134 minSeason 1Ep. 13
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