PODCAST · society
Black Jonestown
by Leslie Wagner-Wilson
Black Jonestown is a storytelling and documentary channel dedicated to honoring the Black members of the People’s Temple — those who lived, died, and those who survived the tragedy in Jonestown, Guyana on 11/18/1978This channel reclaims their narrative. Through historical storytelling, interviews with survivors, and documentary-style reflections, Black Jonestown explores their lives, their roots, and the social and spiritual movements that led them from California to the jungles of Guyana. Here, we honor their humanity, their strength, and their enduring impact on Black American history.
Episodes
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EPISODE 10: Beatrice “Bea” Orsot - The Woman Who Said She Was Left Behind | Every Child Remembered
A highly educated Black woman, civil rights advocate, mother, and writer, Bea fought racial discrimination long before she encountered Jim Jones in 1970.Her father, Antonio Orsot, was a distinguished architect who designed several historic buildings at Savannah State College.After surviving the...
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Virginia Taylor, A Life Remembered & Honoring the 1 year old children
Every person who died in Jonestown had a name, a story, and a life that mattered.In this special memorial episode of Black Jonestown, we step away from the interview format to honor Virginia Taylor, one of the senior citizens who lost her life on November 18, 1978. Through the memories of those…
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Who Was Leslie Before Peoples Temple
Before there was People's Temple… before Jonestown… there was a little girl with dreams, a family, and a life that shaped the woman she would become.In this deeply personal episode of Black Jonestown, special guest interviewer Janet Shular sits down with survivor Leslie Wagner-Wilson for an...
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Episode 7: Why They Came: Hope and the Black Community
In this episode, host and Jonestown survivor Leslie Wagner Wilson sits down with Sikivu Hutchinson to explore what drew so many Black families to the San Francisco area during the 1970s — and the deep sense of hope that the Peoples Temple represented for the Black community.Together, Leslie and...
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Episode 6: The Man with the File- Inside the Peoples Temple Investigation
Before Jonestown became a tragedy the world could no longer ignore, someone was already watching. In this episode, host and Jonestown survivor Leslie Wagner Wilson sits down with David Reuben, Special Investigator with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. David Reuben shares how he…
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Episode 5: The Grift: Jack Colbert - Life Inside Peoples Temple
In this powerful episode, survivor and Host Leslie Wagner Wilson sits down with Jack Colbert, a former member of People's Temple, for an intimate and unflinching conversation about what it meant to grow up inside of a movement that weaponized hope against the very people it claimed to serve. Jack...
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Episode 4: The Grift; Power, Money and the Promise
In this episode of Black Jonestown, we trace the ideological blueprint that shaped Jim Jones long before Jonestown existed. Episode 4 examines Jones’s formative influences—specifically his ties to William Branham, a controversial revivalist whose theology, healing theatrics, and authoritarian...
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Episode 3: Janet Shular Interview
Episode 3 of Black Jonestown centers the voice of Janet Shular, the oldest known surviving former member of People’s Temple, as she reflects on her life, her time within the movement, and the experiences that shaped her understanding of faith, community, and survival.
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EPISODE 3 : PREVIEW
In Episode 3 of Black Jonestown, we sit down with Janet Shular, the longest living former Peoples Temple, member as she shares her journey in her own words.An educated, accomplished professional in early childhood education, Janet joined Peoples Temple believing it was a place where her gifts…
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Episode 2: Her Mother, Her Grandmother, Her Truth — Remembering Elsie Bell
In Episode 2 of Black Jonestown, Leslie Wagner Wilson sits down with Nancy Shaw — a woman whose family was forever changed by the promises and deceptions of Jim Jones.Nancy opens her heart about losing her mother, who died believing Jones would heal her, and her grandmother, who perished in...
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Who We Are
In our very first episode of Black Jonestown, we begin with the voices behind the mission. I’m Leslie Wagner Wilson—one of the nine people who escaped Jonestown on November 18, 1978. For decades, others have told our story for us. This podcast changes that. “Who We Are” introduces the…
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Black Jonestown- The Untold Story
Welcome to Black Jonestown. My name is Leslie Wagner Wilson, also known as Leslie Cathey—and I am one of the nine people who escaped Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978. On that horrific day, I lost my mother, Inez, 50 years old; my sister, Michelle, 24; my brother, Mark, 16; my nephew, Daron…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Black Jonestown is a storytelling and documentary channel dedicated to honoring the Black members of the People’s Temple — those who lived, died, and those who survived the tragedy in Jonestown, Guyana on 11/18/1978This channel reclaims their narrative. Through historical storytelling, interviews with survivors, and documentary-style reflections, Black Jonestown explores their lives, their roots, and the social and spiritual movements that led them from California to the jungles of Guyana. Here, we honor their humanity, their strength, and their enduring impact on Black American history.
HOSTED BY
Leslie Wagner-Wilson
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Black Jonestown have?
Black Jonestown currently has 12 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Black Jonestown about?
Black Jonestown is a storytelling and documentary channel dedicated to honoring the Black members of the People’s Temple — those who lived, died, and those who survived the tragedy in Jonestown, Guyana on 11/18/1978This channel reclaims their narrative. Through historical storytelling, interviews...
How often does Black Jonestown release new episodes?
Black Jonestown has 12 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Black Jonestown?
You can listen to Black Jonestown on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Black Jonestown?
Black Jonestown is created and hosted by Leslie Wagner-Wilson.
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