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Creators: This episode was created by Smith College students Payton Armstrong, Portia Caruso, Alaina Economus-Stout, and Sophia Esparza.
[Content note: this episode contains a discussion of sexual violence]
Transcript
Intro music: “Praise the Lord Theme Song”
Sophia: Out of the back seat of their used Plymouth Valiant, Jim and Tammy Bakker fostered an entertainment empire. The rise and reign of PTL was a monumental moment in entertainment history. The Bakkers had successfully created something that mixed religion and faith with pop culture and television. At their peak, millions and millions of loyal viewers across the world tuned into PTL, pooling money from their pockets to finance this evangelical empire. However, as with all good things, they must come to an end. The scandal that rocked PTL and the Bakkers was saturated with financial fraud, blatant deception, and acts of immorality. Using the word of God, the Bakkers managed to cover up the shaky foundations on which PTL stood. But eventually, the match caught fire and effectively burned them to the ground.
Continue reading Episode 5: Praise the Lord (and Defraud Everyone Else)