The Source Family
Episode description
In the 1960's, James Baker, soon to be known as Father Yod, moved to Los Angeles and opened a health food restaurant called The Source. Through vegan food and teaching Kundalini yoga, he managed to amass a trusty following of young LA hipsters. To outsiders, the group, known as the Source Family, seemed like stereotypical hippies, with names like Galaxy and Olympus. But there was a dark side: Yod was having sex with young members of the group and declared himself to be essentially God. Somewhere along the way, they even started a jam band. Father Yod, who by the end “married” 14 of his followers, was becoming increasingly paranoid that the government was watching him. He moved the entire family to Hawaii, where he rashly decided to go on a hang gliding mission. Listen in to hear how this quintessential California cult met its messy end.
IN ADDITION
- This article has a menu from The Source. Maria “doesn’t need their bullshit food”. Ali admits she doesn’t mind when she finds hair in her food. Melissa calls the avocado “nature’s butter”.
- As for cult names, our hosts are in agreement that Electricity is a solid name. Maria thinks her cult name would be Bumblebee Blasucci. Ali’s? Petal Aquamarine. Ali suggests listeners should make a cult name generating app.
- This article talks about the prime LA real estate The Source family resided in, including the Harry Chandler Estate. Also, Bud Court from Harold and Maude was a member of The Source at one point!
- A minor brawl erupts when Ali mis-quotes Walt Whitman as saying “Two roads diverged in a yellow road”. She meant Robert Frost, whose poem begins “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.” Ali threatens to leave the podcast.
- Maria assumes The Source Family’s band Ya Ho Wha 13 “did not sound great”.
- What?? Cafe Gratitude is inspired by The Source?? Here’s the podcast about it, from Oh No, Ross and Carrie! And here’s Vespertine, another Source-ey culty eating establishment that Melissa mentions.
- To learn more, watch the documentary The Source Family, available to rent on Prime.
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