Their Own Answer —
The People’s Temple Revisited
Untold stories. Unheard voices. A reckoning long overdue.
Their Own Answer was a documentary podcast that reframed the story of The People’s Temple—not through the cult of personality surrounding its infamous leader, but through the lived experiences of the people who followed him in search of justice, safety, and belonging.
As producer and editor of the on the project, I helped craft the sonic blueprint that would guide the series. From shaping narrative arcs to weaving archival audio with survivor interviews, I was responsible for sculpting an immersive, emotionally resonant listening experience that honored the complexity of the Temple’s largely overlooked Black membership—who made up over 80% of the congregation, including many women and children.
The project combined archival recordings, intimate survivor interviews, and rich storytelling to center the humanity of those often erased from history and the headlines.
Their Own Answer asked what it meant to believe in something bigger—and what happens when that belief is betrayed.
