CZM Rewind: The Zizians: How Harry Potter Fanfic Inspired a Death Cult & The Zizians: Birth of a Cult Leader

December 30, 2025

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: This two-part narrative deep dive hosted by Robert Evans features guest comedian David Borey riffing on bizarre internet subcultures, blending investigative storytelling with irreverent banter on a recent shooting tied to esoteric online ideologies. Absurdly incredulous and darkly humorous.
The Format: Narrative story with host-guest discussion.
The Key Players:
- Host Robert Evans: Podcaster known for Behind the Bastards, unpacking cultish groups through exhaustive research on fringe thinkers and crimes.
- Guest David Borey: Co-host of My Mama Told Me, brings sharp comedic chemistry via skeptical reactions to wild rationalist logic, elevating the episode's satirical edge.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: David Boree**
2 (02:37) **Vermont Border Patrol Shooting Overview**
3 (06:27) **Zizians Media Portrayal & Context**
4 (11:32) **Cults vs. Cult Dynamics & Subcultures**
5 (30:37) **Rationalist Origins: Eliezer Yudkowsky & Less Wrong**
6 (39:46) **Rationalist Insularity & Thought Experiments**
7 (53:27) **Roko's Basilisk & Infohazards**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Part One: Earlier this year a Border Patrol officer was killed in a shoot-out with people who have been described as members of a trans vegan AI death cult. But who are the Zizians, really? Robert sits down with David Gborie to trace their development, from part of the Bay Area Rationalist subculture to killers.

Part Two: Robert tells David Gborie about the early life of Ziz LaSota, a bright young girl from Alaska who came to the Bay Area with dreams of saving the cosmos or destroying it, all based on her obsession with Rationalist blogs and fanfic.

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