Behind the Bastards

CZM Rewind: How The Zizians Went Full On Death Cult & The Zizian Murder Spree (or Exactly How Harry Potter Fanfic Killed A Border Patrol Agent)

21 snips
Jan 1, 2026
David Boree, a comedian and podcaster, joins to explore the bizarre and chilling saga of the Zizians, a radical group that spiraled into violence. They discuss Ziz's extreme plans to manipulate her followers’ minds through unihemispheric sleep, aiming to create sociopaths for a 'greater good.' The conversation dives into a shocking murder spree linked to the group, culminating in a shootout that left a Border Patrol agent dead. With absurdity and horror, Boree and the host dissect how fringe ideologies can erupt into chaos.
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ANECDOTE

Cult Origins On A Cramped Sailboat

  • Robert describes Ziz and Gwyn bonding on a tiny sailboat and swearing vengeance against death over a childhood pet.
  • Their isolation and shared trauma seeded delusional, grandiose plans to fight death with radical ideologies.
INSIGHT

Heroism Justifies Moral Abandonment

  • Ziz reframes moral restraint as a prison and promotes a ‘vegan Sith’ ideology that prizes ruthless agency.
  • This reframing normalizes harming others as strategic necessity to 'save the world.'
INSIGHT

Cult Factory In Rationalist Culture

  • The hosts tie Ziz's extremism to broader problems inside rationalist and EA communities, not just fringe idiosyncrasy.
  • They argue the culture's emphasis on heroic responsibility and decision theory fuels cult-like behavior.
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