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Darkness of the World

By: James Bruce, Peter McDonnell
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
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Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions Cults
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Episodes
  • Darkness of the World Trailer

    Darkness of the World Trailer
    Nov 3 2022
    La Luz del Mundo has been called the world’s largest cult that no one has ever heard of. Sochil Martin grew up inside it. Her harrowing true story to escape and seek justice is an epic that exposes alleged crimes of biblical proportions. It’s important to note that certain parts of this series include details of sexual abuse. Discretion is strongly advised. In addition, some individual names, places, and historical events have been deliberately changed to protect identities and privacy rights. As a girl, Sochil was taught that the world beyond La Luz del Mundo was dark, dangerous, and hell bound; that serving La Luz del Mundo’s divine leader, the “Apostle”, was the only path to eternal salvation. But as Sochil got older, she says what it meant to “serve” the Apostle became darker and darker. Then, in the depth of her despair and at the least expected moment, she met a man who had grown up on the outside. As their love grew against the odds, Sochil resolved to seek justice for the “Apostle’s” alleged crimes. Her incredible true story of surviving La Luz del Mundo and blowing the whistle on its “Apostle” is being told in full for the first time.
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    1 min
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  • The Apostle

    The Apostle
    Nov 3 2022
    Los Angeles native, Sochil Martin, grows up in the religious sect, La Luz del Mundo, and is taught that belief in and service to its leader, the “Apostle”, is the path to eternal salvation. She learns that her estranged mother was once one of the Apostle’s favorites.
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    28 mins
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  • Unconditionals

    Unconditionals
    Nov 3 2022
    At age 13, Sochil vows to be an “unconditional,” committing her life to serving the Apostle. She believes he can do no wrong, so she says she is confused when told she must take off her clothes in front of him.
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    26 mins
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Watch the trailer for Darkness of the World

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Peter McDonnell
James Bruce

About the Creator and Writer

Peter McDonnell is a writer and producer in Los Angeles. He has created, written, and produced numerous Audible Original series. Some of his favorites include the New York Times bestseller Evil Has a Name, Call Me God (an Audible Best Listen of 2019), The Riddle of Emmon Bodfish (an Audible Best Listen of 2021), Brooklyn North about four interconnected cases of wrongful murder convictions, and After the Fall, which goes behind the scenes of the FBI’s investigation into the 9/11 attacks. He also created and wrote Miles to Go about the history of women’s distance running in the US, anchored by the story of Joan Benoit Samuelson’s triumphant win at the 1984 women’s Olympic Marathon in LA. As a producer he made A ll the Gory Details, about the little known, grisly industry of body donations, and Out of Bounds, about a recent revolution in college sports. He is a co-executive producer of the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary science series, Pandemic, and the NBC documentary series, The Forgotten West Memphis Three. He has an MFA from Oregon State University, where he also taught writing.

About the Creator and Director

James Bruce started his career as Louis Malle’s protégé. During his tenure with Malle, Bruce worked in production on Atlantic City and My Dinner with André, and then edited Alamo Bay and the documentary God’s Country. Bruce directed several independent films, Headless Body in Topless Bar, Den of Lions, and Case 219. Bruce produced the feature film Oka! which was filmed in the Central African Republic and premiered at the Telluride Film Festival (on Kino Lorber). Bruce also directed episodes of the television shows Highlander, America’s Most Wanted, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Survivor (Emmy nomination), The Apprentice (two Emmy nominations), and Army Wives. In 2021, Bruce executive produced the reboot of America’s Most Wanted for FOX and in 2022, directed the six-part documentary series, Indivisible: Healing Hate for Paramount+.

Fankie Corzo
XG Production Credits

About the Performer

Frankie Corzo is an actor in Los Angeles. She has narrated over 200 books, garnering numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile Magazine, a SOVAS nomination for ‘Best Fiction’, and spots on coveted ‘Best of Lists’ in publications from Audible to The New York Times. She’s known for bringing her mix of grit and humor to projects spanning from gripping nonfiction to poignant literary fiction and all the way to inspired middle grade and YA projects. Some of her favorite recent projects have included New York Times bestseller Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia for Penguin Random House and The Newbery Medal winning The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera. She can also be seen on Amazon’s The Terminal List, Starz’s Gaslit, Fox’s Pivoting, and Netflix’s Selena: The Series. She is a first-generation Cuban American raised in New Jersey and when she’s not working, she can be found playing outside in Los Angeles with her rescue pups and searching for LA’s best NYC style pizza.

Featured Article: Delve into the Darker Side of Human Nature with the 15 Best Podcasts About Cults


Cults are fascinating. There’s something curiosity-inducing about stories of ordinary people who get wrapped up in groupthink that quickly veers into dangerous territory. Part of the appeal is because we think it could never happen to us, even though we suspect, deep down, that it absolutely could. These listens explore the nature of cults, the figures who lead them, and the followers who have been lured into their orbits.

Featured Article Delve into the Darker Side of Human Nature with the 15 Best Podcasts About Cults

What listeners say about Darkness of the World

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Profile Image for Lovetolisten

Incredible Story!

This series is fantastic. What an amazing story of survival and the pursuit of justice. Wow. It will be interesting to watch these next cases progress.

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Profile Image for Jennifer M Hamlen

A must hear and share

Everyone needs to listen to this despite any reservations about content. The Producers do an extremely good job of avoiding graphic descriptions. This story needs to get out and be heard on a large scale.

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Profile Image for Joanna Bell

Huge Sex Trafficing Crime the MSM Didn't Cover

I watch the news regularly and never heard about this horrific crime on the main stream media. It culminated during Covid but that is no excuse not to provide wide coverage of this crime of a Church leader proclaiming himself to be Jesus Christ on earth. I have no problem with him or his followers believing this but it certainly does not give him the right to have others traffic young minor women, commit rape, and enable him or his followers to sodomize young boys. This is an eye opening documentary on how occult groups brainwash participants so they don't have a framework to even know what is and isn't acceptable behavior. This was not an enjoyable listen, but it certainly was enlightening. I highly recommend it.

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Profile Image for Erika Torres

Courageous’s inspirational story.

Excellent job!
Real hardship story that I wish upon no one, I felt so bad for the victims listening to the testimony.
Sochil and the narrators had the power to transport you to the horrible experiences she and the victims went through.

100 % recommend you to listen this series!

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Profile Image for Just Me

Unbelievably Tragic

I kept shaking my head in disbelief at her naivety. Even as she was outside this evil cult, she kept believing that what she was doing was somehow justified. Then finally she realizes how horrible she had been deceived., FINALLY. I hope justice is rightfully served to this "so-called" church and its cult leader. Sadly the story these women told is so similar to others who have been sucked into a cult and most times religion is the root of the control method that is used.

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Accurate Psychology

As a doctoral student of psychology and counseling, and studying mind-altering techniques and insidious control, I appreciate the accurate portrayal of the true existential conflicts these characters faced and the experts brought in to help the audience understand. More people need to understand the way people can be controlled in their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions by malevolent people. Thank you for putting this out there!

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Gripping till the end

Excellent series following the life of a brave young woman (and victorious survivor), shining the light on previously untold horrors. Sensitive handling of truly heart-breaking events. Everyone should hear this, hopefully it will open some eyes!

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Profile Image for Matilda

Sad terrible circumstances!

I salute the brave girls that came forward to tell the truth! Nathan is the monster and his organization purely the devil! May the Lord give you all justice and the brainwashed people light of truth!

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Profile Image for LUICHY VICTORIANO ABREU

This is way I’m very cautious with super religious people

This is a must listen to story. That at the same time is scary AF. A must listen

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Profile Image for christine Park

Captivating!

A captivating expose of the dark underworld of a religious organization... and the heroism of those coming forward for justice.

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