Cults to Consciousness - podcast cover

Cults to Consciousness

Shelise Ann Solawww.sheliseannsola.com
Survivor stories of claiming independence after leaving high-control groups & people.  Cults to Consciousness is a YouTube channel and podcast, hosted by Shelise Ann Sola—a former devout Mormon / CSA survivor—and her Producer husband Jonathan.   They delve into the nuanced experiences of individuals who have escaped a broad spectrum of high-control groups and coercive environments. Their mission is not anti-religious but firmly anti-abuse, aiming to shed light on manipulative practices and systems, while promoting compassion, understanding, and accountability. C2C has attracted a kind and engaged community who thoughtfully support their guests. Subscribe to join them on their advocacy mission.
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Episodes

The Erasure of Gays in the AMISH & Mennonite Settlements

Joined for a second time by Mary (former Amish) and Hannah (former Holdeman Mennonite), we discuss the ways in which being gay/bi in their settlements harshly affected them and how queer plain people are generally erased from society. Bringing awareness and visibility to the LGBTQ community, they share their experiences openly and shed light on the disproportionate harm they faced.Watch Mary's original episodeWatch Hannah's original episodehttps://www.lgbtamish.com/The Trevor ProjectHannah's ......

Apr 08, 20241 hr 1 min

Forced into AMISH Settlement, Narrowly Escaped Bishop Abuser

*Content Warning : SA, CA, CSA, mentions of rape* After enduring an excruciating youth at the hands of her mother and step father, isolated on a mountainside, Misty was forced into an Amish settlement at 18 years old. Though in many ways this new lifestyle was far more liberating than what she was used to, it came with darker days than she could’ve ever imagined. Hurt and blamed by those most trusted she took a risk and tried to escape. Http://www.Change.org/childrightsact to sign Misty’s pet......

Apr 06, 20241 hr 28 min

AMISH: How Growing Up in the Strictest Settlement Led to Drugs and Sex Work

*Content Warning: sexual assault, rape, prostitution, attempted murder* Due to lack of education when she left the strict Swartzentruber settlement, Naomi slipped into exotic dancing, prostitution, drugs, and almost getting murdered. In this episode, she opens up about her trials and tribulations with growing up Amish, her dark reality afterward, and eventually finding the light at the end of the tunnel.Naomi’s book: The Amazing Adventures of an Amish StripperFind and support Naom... Learn more ...

Apr 05, 20241 hr 22 min

They tried to claim my sexuality, I fought back

*Content Warning: eating disorders, mentions of homophobia* In this follow up episode we’re going to continue with Oceana’s story growing up under the strict Institute in Basic Life Principles run by Bill Gothard who was recently exposed for preying on young girls. She opens up about coming home from the IBLP training camps, her parents’ reaction, how it led to further untreated eating d*sorders, how all of the programming and IBLP culture permeated into her adult life, and how it’s sti... Learn...

Apr 03, 202453 min

Surviving IBLP Training Center at 15 Years Old & 90 lbs

*Content Warning: eating disorders, self harm* Further shedding light on the Institute in Basic Life Principles run by Bill Gothard who was recently exposed for preying on young girls, is Oceana who grew up living by their rules. Extreme patriarchy, silencing and sexualization of women and blaming those who are being hurt, are just a few things that create compounded trauma. Oceana fought through untreated eating d*sorders, because therapists were considered sinful, as well as the mental heal......

Apr 02, 20241 hr 5 min

“Let Us Prey” | Survivors Seek Justice Against IFB Youth Pastors

The Independent Fundamental Baptist church is known for having extreme views on “worldly” things. Women are over-sexualized to the point where even the very young are blamed and punished for “temping” men into hurting them. Kathy was one of those young women. Her pastor purposely protected the perp and she was ostracized by family, friends and other church members. Our previous episode with her (linked below) illustrates the awful details of her childhood. In this episode, we speak more on th......

Mar 15, 20241 hr 34 min

My IFB Youth Pastor Groomed Me. I Was Blamed.

*Content Warning: child sex abuse, child abuse, rape, mentions of attempted suicide* When purity culture is front and center in a strict religious organization, youth are blamed for being preyed on by adults. It creates an unsafe environment for those who don’t understand boundaries, consent, grooming, or have any s*x education at all to even have proper vocabulary for what might be happening to them. Kathy Durbin explains this harmful culture and how she was ultimately a survivor of it. She ......

Mar 14, 20241 hr 26 min

A Sinister Look into the Controlling IFB Church ft. Preacher Boys Podcast

The cult doc “Let Us Prey” on HBO, highlights the issues within the high control religious group Independent Fundamental Baptist, of which Eric was a part of. From the covering up of predatory behavior of the leaders, to extreme patriarchal control which blames victims and breeds perpetrators, Eric walks us through what his life was like being isolated in this group until his adult years. Which eventually led him and his wife to belong to another cult like group!Watch this episode on YouTube ......

Mar 06, 20241 hr 26 min

Prosecuting Yoga “Guru” BIKRAM for Sexual Assault & Blacklisting

*Content Warning: rape and sexual assault* Yoga instructor Larissa Anderson took yoga “guru” Bikram Choudhury to court for s*xual assault and blacklisting her yoga business after Larissa rejected a s*xual advance by Bikram (who had r*ped her before). He refused to promote her studio and she was blacklisted from the Bikram Yoga community.At the time of the s*xual assault, Bikram had already personally approved her studio down to the floor plan and knew that Larissa had begun negotiating ... Learn...

Mar 05, 202449 min

Falling Prey to BIKRAM: Yoga Guru, Founder, Predator

“Guru” Bikram was responsible for bringing hot yoga to the states and popularizing it. Without realizing, Larissa Anderson was slowly groomed by her then boyfriend and yoga studio owner to seamlessly fall right into Bikram’s hands. He would eventually request massages from Larissa in front of hundreds of students and get more and more bold when they were alone together.Larissa underwent the intense 9 week bootcamp-style training to become an official Bikram yoga teacher so that she coul... Learn...

Mar 04, 202456 min

How Narcissistic Yoga Guru Jagat Exploited Her Followers

First, there was Guru Bhajan. A self proclaimed master of what he called Kundalini Yoga. Later known as an ab*ser on every level, he died and left a gaping hole in the Western market for the next “master” to step in as a celebrity Guru. Enter Guru Jagat. A charismatic female leader who started her own school, attracting young, enthusiastic millennials who wore all white with turbans to her classes. Filled with promises of enlightenment, abundance and more, one of her followers, Charlotte, bec......

Feb 24, 20241 hr 4 min

Mormons Vs Ex Mormons: Who REALLY Won This Cringey Debate? ft. Mormon Stories

Is Mormonism a cult? Jubilee’s “Middleground” had on a panel of current believing Mormons and ex-Mormons to debate this and other nuanced topics. Join us, along with one of the ex-Mormon panelists, Dr. John Dehlin of @mormonstories as we dive deeper into some of the more “cringeworthy” responses, and un-aired behind the scenes details, to decide who really won.Click here to watch this episode & see on screen photosCheck out Jublilee's "Can Mormons and Ex Mormons See Eye ... Learn more about ...

Feb 23, 20241 hr 13 min

I Married a Yoga Guru Con Man

Harvard graduate Joelle Tamraz, was young, enthusiastic and a perfect target for a fake yoga guru. Seeking enlightenment, purpose and peace, she came across a man who swept her off her feet and used spiritual manipulation to eventually exploit her and her family out of thousands of dollars. He told wild stories of channelling and inhabiting someone else’s body to justify cheating right in front of her face. Find out how after 18 years, despite having built a yoga studio together, she was able......

Feb 21, 20241 hr 40 min

THE CULT of Grant Cardone: Ex-Member Exposes Fake Guru

Ben John: "As a beginner entrepreneur/business owner in 2019, I was introduced to a book by Grant Cardone(The 10X Rule) that lured me into mentorship from him. After 3.5 years and $250k spent with Grant & his organization, I realized that I had ignored all the signs in that environment that encouraged me to idolize Grant as a God, seek him for success, disconnect with those who don’t align with him or me, chase money, deceive, & manipulate others to get what I want. I later foun... Learn...

Feb 20, 20241 hr 15 min

My Mom Discloses Secret Mormon Temple Rituals

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon Church), has long been known for their secret temple rituals that only the worthy saints can participate in. Shelise grew up in this mainstream Mormon Church, learning that going to the temple was the ultimate goal, that if she could only be worthy enough, she might even get to see Jesus himself walking the halls. The picture that is painted to it’s members (because NOTHING is disclosed ahead of time) is vastly different than what......

Feb 10, 20241 hr 6 min

Daughters of the Cult Leader Reveal Un-Aired Details

Celia was a daughter of the cult leader Ervil LeBaron, who practiced a fundamentalist Mormon teaching called Blood Atonement which meant taking lives in the name of God. Things got even more out of control when he was put in prison for his crimes and a hit list he created was beginning to be carried out by some of his younger followers. Thankfully, the practice of blood atonement, by way of the LeBarons has been disavowed today, but the effects of these tragic teachings still linger in the li......

Feb 09, 20241 hr 29 min

Warren Jeffs’ Dangerous “Revelations” from Prison ft. Growing Up in Polygamy

Polygamist, Fundamentalist Mormon (FLDS) leader, Warren Jeffs, is currently serving a life sentence in prison for CSA which he claims was revelation from God. He currently still has a few thousand members of his church who believe he was wrongly convicted and completely innocent. A man God being”persecuted” because he’s a true prophet, they would say. Years and years have gone by and he continues to give dangerous "revelations" to his followers including telling his own daughters to stop eati......

Feb 08, 20241 hr 15 min

What She Did with Her Cult Leader’s Mansion

Narrowly escaping out of her window where she was held prisoner, Briell, the 65th wife of FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs, continued to be on the run from her family who wanted to k*ll her. Warren was in prison and he knew she would testify against him, so he ordered people to take her down. After years of seeking safety and peace of mind, she returned to the hometown of the cult and was able to claim Warren’s 45 bedroom mansion. This is what she decided to do with it…Watch pt 1 with Briel here......

Feb 07, 20241 hr

I Married FLDS Cult Leader, Warren Jeffs

**TW: CSA, Suicide, threats of murder** Born into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS/Mormon), Briell was groomed at a very early age to one day become a plural wife to the prophet Warren Jeffs. Her parents wept when they found out the prophet’s plans, but had no choice but to give her, at 18, to the over 50 year old man as his 65th wife. When Briell saw what Warren was doing with his 12 year old wives in Texas, she was mortified and resisted Warren’s at... Learn...

Feb 07, 20241 hr 25 min

Daughters of the Cult Leader, Ervil LeBaron, Tell All

As seen in the new and popular Hulu documentary “Daughters of the Cult”, Anna LeBaron shares with us stories the documentary missed as well as some additional details to her story as Ervil LeBaron’s daughter. We discuss blood atonement, her childhood being moved from place to place with little money for food, shelter or clothing among the plural wives and their kids, as well as conspiracy theories for how her father Ervil actually died in prison.Book: The Polygamist’s Daughter: A MemoirIG: @A......

Jan 27, 20241 hr 36 min

Abandoned with 20+ Kids: The Reality of a PLURAL WIFE in the FLDS

At only 17 years old, Ceci was assigned to become a plural wife and instant mother to 5 children before having her own child 5 months later. She then became 1 of 5 plural wives in this Fundamentalist Latter Day Saint (polygamous Mormon break off) community led by Warren Jeffs who is now in prison for CSA. Warren had a tendency to separate families for seemingly no reason and one night, she was told her husband and the other 4 wives were being sent away to “repent”, leaving the 20+ kids solely......

Jan 12, 20241 hr 26 min

Children of God SEX CULT: My Grandfather Was the Founding Prophet (ft. Faith Jones)

Raised primarily in rural China, Faith Jones went a myriad of ab*ses before finally escaping The Children of God cult to pursue higher education. The cult is known for its far too liberal views on s*xuality which ended up being forced polyamory and free love, even extending to the young members of the communes. She grew up singing on the streets or performing in restaurants to make money for “the family” as none of the adults had jobs. Once she left, she was able to become a lawyer and now sp......

Dec 26, 20231 hr 22 min

The Horrific Childhood of a Boy in the CHILDREN OF GOD Sex Cult

Spending most of his young life in India, Philip endured unspeakable things at the hands of his own parents and other adults in the COG cult. These principles and disciplinary actions were taught directly by the leader David Berg, who twisted the Bible to hurt a lot of people, including the young. This is a graphic story of what he faced and how he managed to escape and create a new life. Find Philip on Social IG: @phil_seibel Website: https://www.philipseibel.com/https://www.my-print.ch/His ......

Dec 24, 20231 hr 17 min

Escaping CHILDREN OF GOD, the Aftermath (ft. Daniella Mestyanek Young)

Growing up abroad in the COG cult meant that Daniella Mestyanek Young was isolated from birth to be a subservient, s*x item for the men in the group. At 15, a few months before she was about to be "on the menu" she realized she needed to get out. We talk about how difficult it can be when leaving a cult and rediscovering one's identity along with learning how the world works. Daniella Mestyanek Young is an Author, a TEDx Speaker, a s*x-cult survivor, a US Army Combat Veteran, an extremely adv......

Dec 23, 20231 hr 27 min

How Mormon Church Lawyers Protect Perpetrator: The Chelsea Goodrich Case

Chelsea Goodrich endured years of CSA from her Mormon Bishop father John Goodrich. Chelsea and her mother Lorraine went to the Mormon/LDS church for help in prosecuting him, but they let her down at every turn, despite making it seem they wouldn’t. What seemed like a good faith payment for Lorraine’s rapidly deteriorating health due to all the stress, ended up being disguised as a gag order given by the LDS church. This is a layered and complicated case that has been frequently misrepresented......

Dec 22, 20231 hr 44 min

Mormon Bishop Exposed for Years of Sexually Abusing His Daughter, Chelsea Goodrich

After years of committing CSA with his own daughter, Mormon bishop John Goodrich confessed his sins to a higher authority called the Stake President. However, the information was never passed to his wife, Chelsea’s mother, or the authorities, and the CSA continued. Years later, Chelsea confided in her mother about what had happened in her childhood which led to a series of more unfortunate events. We go into depth about her hardships and confusion after deconstructing these traumatizing event......

Dec 17, 20231 hr 27 min

How Mormon Bishop’s Council Led to Repeated Child Sex Abuse Amongst Siblings

Born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Katie's home life was less than perfect. However, her parents remained very loyal to the teachings and the gospel of the LDS Church. After years of SA from an older brother, Katie's sister reported it to the Bishop during a confession. The Bishop advised to keep it a secret from everyone, including her parents, as the shame the perpetrator would have faced being forced to come home early from his LDS mission... Learn more about ...

Dec 16, 20231 hr 23 min

Why a Mormon SA Survivor was Blamed and Punished for her “Sin”

**Content Warning: rape and self harm** It's well known that pre-marital s*x among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a huge sin. This is the shocking story of what happened to a member of 18 years old, who's "virtue" was stolen from her. Not only did she have to recount every detail of her traumatic experience alone to multiple men, she was eventually disfellowshipped for her "sins". Years later, after trying again as a faithful, devout, Mormon mom, Kris realized s......

Nov 30, 20231 hr 50 min

How This 18 year old JUST Escaped Her Family Cult in Ecuador

Her father, who got many ideas from his time in the Embassy of Heaven cult, claims to be a prophet. In his paranoia and attempts to escape the US government, he moved his family from state to state and then eventually to Ecuador. Determined it was the right thing to do as ordered by God, his family was completely isolated from proper education and mainstream society. At 18 years old, just 7 months ago, Ella realized she was in a cult and was able to escape.Click here to watch on YouTube Our C......

Nov 28, 20231 hr 15 min

Our Not So Mormon Wedding Film (1930s style)

**THIS EPISODE IS MEANT TO BE WATCHED- THIS IS TO INFORM YOU TO HEAD OVER TO YOUTUBE TO SEE THE WHOLE THING AFTER THE INTRO**CLICK HERE TO WATCHWe can't wait to share with you footage from our Old Hollywood Glamour themed wedding, set in the Historic 1930s Movie Palace! It was a dream lost in time. First, you'll see our actual 5 min wedding film created by the ever so talented couple at Amora Cinema. Next, you'll get to see the 1930s B&W silent short film rendition of our love story which......

Nov 27, 20235 min
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