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.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

His Childhood Trapped in “Shiny Happy People" Cult

Chad Harris' family joined the Shiny Happy People cult when he was just 7 years old, after a doctor convinced his parents to attend a seminar with cult leader Bill Gothard. Chad spent the next almost 20 years being indoctrinated and brainwashed with extreme fundamental Christian teachings before he finally found the truth and ultimately shared his experience on Prime Video's #1 documentary series, "Shiny Happy People." ⁠Watch this episode on YouTube⁠ Follow Chad on social media: TikTok: @archrad...

Jan 02, 20251 hr 24 minSeason 2Ep. 165

Why Former AMISH Woman Demands Change From Congress for Children Isolated in Cults

Content Warning: SA, CA, CSA, mentions of rape Misty Griffin returns to the studio to further discuss her experience growing up at the hands of her tortuous mother and step father, who isolated her and her sister on a mountainside, then forced her into an Amish settlement at 18 years old. Unfortunately, claiming religious exemption means a parent can fly under the radar ab*sing their chiIdren. Misty now fights back, on a mission to help chiIdren in similar situations, stuck in ab*sive environmen...

Dec 22, 20241 hrSeason 2Ep. 164

Let Us Prey: IFB Church Turns On Child For Seeking Justice Against Bible Teacher For SA

CW: CSA… Featured in “Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals” a new four-part docu-series exposing the pred*tory and insidious behavior within the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) Churches – survivor, Ruthy Heiler, shares her account of ab*se as a chiId at the hands of her bible teacher, Aaron Willand. Insidious efforts to cover up pastors’ ab*se, silence survivors, manipulation and suspected cover-ups of other members, Ruthy explains the troubling culture within the IFB, and the stronghold th...

Dec 21, 20241 hr 8 minSeason 2Ep. 163

Why Former “Healing Evangelical” Pastor Who Started 300 Person Church Now Has Regrets

Timmy Gibson is a former fundamental Evangelical Pentecostal Pastor who graduated bible college and spent a total of 30 years of his life teaching and preaching the stories in the Bible. 17 years of which were spent preaching in a church he started himself, which grew to 300 followers. Timmy and his congregation believed he was a conduit of God, as well as a “Healing Evangelist” who could save you from illness, as well as teach you how to speak in tongues, and interpret the meaning. Ironically, ...

Dec 20, 20241 hr 35 minSeason 2Ep. 162

How Her Upscale Islamic Life in Saudi Arabia & Dubai Took A Dark Turn ft. @HolyHumanist

When her well off British family moved to Saudi Arabia near Mecca, Nuriyah Khan ( @HolyHumanist ) lived in two worlds at once— a plush Muslim life inside a compound which protected her from a fundamentalist Islam. Hoping to continue to live a progressive Muslim lifestyle, she married and moved to Dubai. Once her relationship became unsafe, she asked for a separation and was confronted with Sharia law, Islamic religious law that guides the moral and religious lives of Muslims. He relentlessly sta...

Dec 19, 20241 hr 23 minSeason 2Ep. 161

Why Devout Turkish Muslim Denounced Islam After Dissecting Quran (ft. @ApostateProphet)

Sometimes becoming more devout can actually spark the biggest faith crisis. When @ApostateProphet fiercely read to understand the Quran in depth, there were things he could no longer ignore. Learn about his life growing up Muslim in Germany and Turkey and even at one time becoming a communist. AP’s video: The Scientific Mistakes of the Quran https://youtu.be/8yMD99gyr14?si=X7PHkuOxs8FWRGZa Find and connect with Apostate Prophet! YouTube: @ApostateProphet IG @Apostate_Prophet https://www.instagra...

Dec 18, 20241 hr 29 minSeason 2Ep. 160

Escaping SAUDI ARABIA: How She Became FIRST Documented Ex-Muslim Woman to Flee Without Repercussion

A product of the first generation of bi-ethnic children in Saudi Arabia, as an Italian-Arab, Jasmin Faulk-Dickerson faced new challenges. She lived a double life. One which was very Western, liberal and open and another which was Eastern, focused on Islamic law and extremely strict. Her heart yearned for a western life, but situation didn’t allow for it. Determined to flee to America with a man she fell in love with, she tricked her father into giving legal permission for her to travel on her ow...

Nov 04, 20241 hr 39 minSeason 2Ep. 159

I Fell in Love with a Professional Predator

Blinded by what appeared to be special psychic gifts and years of professional accreditation, Lauren Geertsen fell hard for an energy worker who manipulated her emotionally, financially and spiritually. A predator who had many other victims simultaneously. This is the story of a whistleblower who risked it all and lost almost everything to expose him. Check out Lauren's book: The Scorpion and the Lion Find and support Lauren: YT: @LaurenGeertsen IG: @body_connection_coach Our Merch! Patreon: Pat...

Nov 02, 20241 hr 26 minSeason 2Ep. 158

Groomed to Practice Polygamy in Incestuous Cult as a Gay Man

One of the most sacred tenants of The Order, a fundamentalist polygamous break of sect of the mainstream mormon/LDS church, is living polygamy. Nephi knew he was gay, but hid it most of his life because living authentically was never an option for him. He was essentially assigned a wife at a young age and had 7 children before he realized he couldn’t pretend anymore. His father, who had 14 wives and over 160 children was pushing him to take another wife, so he came out to him. Nephi was told he ...

Nov 01, 20241 hr 26 minSeason 2Ep. 157

How Incestuous Polygamy Cult Led Her to Dangerous Toxic Relationships (ft. @TheAmandaRaeGrant )

Amanda Rae ( @TheAmandaRaeGrant ) shares 3 of her most prominent and shocking post-cult relationships, full of betrayal and manipulation. High control groups, by design, eliminate intuition, manipulate people into doing things they don’t want to do, and make them believe they are freely choosing that lifestyle. This can also happen in relationships. It’s far too common for cult survivors to fall prey to people who can take advantage of their vulnerabilities. Check out Shelise’s horror stories on...

Oct 31, 20241 hr 39 minSeason 2Ep. 156

Jealous Cult Leader Attempts to Sabotage Her Engagement

Lindsey Williams of the hit Amazon Prime docu-series, “Shiny Happy People”, was an eager 18 year old when she was hand-picked by cult leader Bill Gothard to work at IBLP headquarters. After grooming her as one of his “Gothard Girls” Gothard would get too close in his one-on-one prayer sessions with her. After being kicked out for kissing a boy, forced to do free labor and write an apology letter to his parents, she finally reconnected with her love. Bill then tried to sabotage her engagement so ...

Oct 30, 20241 hr 18 minSeason 2Ep. 155

Preyed On at 18 by “Shiny Happy People” Cult Leader

Today we are joined by Lindsey Williams of the hit Amazon Prime docu-series, “Shiny Happy People”, exposing the Duggars and Bill Gothard’s IBLP practices. Lindsey dives deep into the lack of education growing up with Gothard’s ATI religious home school program, how she wanted to leave her ab*sive household at 18 and join the famous Gothard (who was seen as a prophet) at head quarters, and how Gothard began to groom her as one of his “Gothard Girls” once he had her alone. IG: @thecultchronicles L...

Oct 30, 20241 hr 41 minSeason 2Ep. 154

Confronting the "Shiny Happy People" Compound He Was Imprisoned In at 16

Joined in the studio is friend, comedian, and ex-IBLP “cult kid” Davey Jackson. Having spent his childhood homeschooled by his mother, at 12, his parents decided to incorporate Bill Gothard’s practices into his education. As a form of punishment for having a girlfriend, at 16, Davey was sent to an intense IBLP training center. Instead of correcting his “bad” behavior, Davey further rebelled, which ultimately led him to spend 7 days in the Prayer Room, the center’s solitary confinement, which onl...

Sep 24, 20241 hr 11 minSeason 2Ep. 153

Son of FLDS “Prophet” Reveals Terrors of Living Through Texas Raid

With immense pressure being one of the sons of the FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs, Ammon would do anything to earn the approval of his father. When he was finally “worthy enough” to be called to the holy land (YFZ Ranch in Texas), he was worked up to 22 hours per day doing hard labor for the church. Assuming Warren truly spoke for God, when he prophesied that the government wanted to come take away the chiIdren, the people were only further convinced he was a prophet considering the 300 police who di...

Sep 23, 20241 hr 34 minSeason 2Ep. 152

Warren Jeffs Punishes from Prison (How 13th Wife of FLDS "Prophet" Escaped)

As the 13th wife of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, Ada Marie was extremely devout in her faith and belief in her prophet and husband. Even from prison, the entire church population was conditioned to believe he was innocent and persecuted by the government. However, as the years went on, Ada explains how his prophesies and commandments would get more and more odd and demanding. He would continue splitting up families, send people all over different states, disfellowship, then re-baptize and for some,...

Sep 20, 20241 hr 25 minSeason 2Ep. 151

Cult Leader’s Ex-Polygamous Wife Reveals Secret Group Sex Ritual Requirements

Warren Jeffs, currently in prison for CSA, is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, otherwise known as the FLDS. He claims that God commanded him to take dozens of wives, some of whom were as young as 12 years old. In his enormous temple/compound that his members built in Texas, he conducted what he called “heavenly sessions” which were essentially big orgies with his wives, which he taped. Ultimately, his disturbing records is what got him put into prison...

Sep 19, 20241 hr 37 minSeason 2Ep. 150

His Mormon Father with Schizophrenia Claimed to Be New Messiah (Wrote 2242 Page Scripture)

An ex-Muslim man converts his entire family to Mormonism when missionaries knock on his door. His stroke of genius combined with schizophrenia and tendency towards extreme punishments and every type of ab*se, created a cult-like environment for his chiIdren. He created his own religion and wrote a 2422 page manuscript of his own holy text. We take a look at his mindset and life through the lens of his son Adrian. Adding further clarification and commentary on generational trauma, Sami, Adrian’s ...

Sep 18, 20241 hr 37 minSeason 2Ep. 149

The BRUTAL Truth About The Founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith ft. Carah Burrell

Outsiders often criticize Mormonism for its wild beliefs and the scandalous actions of the founding prophet Joseph Smith, but the member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are left in the dark about the truth of it history. Carah Burrell @CarahBurrell and Shelise, examine the life and actions of Joseph Smith from a non-faith promoting, historical view, different from their Mormon upbringing. From the ugly truth about polygamy, a Mormon Militia, and original secret temple rituals ...

Sep 17, 20241 hr 46 minSeason 2Ep. 148

Ex-Muslim Opens Up About Sex and Islam in Saudi Arabia | The Story of Apostate Aladdin

*Content Warning: self harm, physical abuse* Anonymous YouTuber Apostate Aladdin shares his story of becoming a man in an environment that used fear to keep boys and girls and men and women separated. This intense fear that men need to be kept away so they don’t act on their uncontrollable desires, left him feeling scared, targeted, alone and shameful. Here we learn about purity culture through a different lens and how he was able to overcome his fear of interacting with women so he could create...

Jun 03, 20241 hr 17 minSeason 2Ep. 146

14 Yr Old Taken From U.S. to Iraq to Be Bride to Abusive Man

*Content Warning: Many mentions of physical abuse & sexual abuse* Tricked into moving to Iraq at age 14, Ellaf was separated from her mother and forced into a chiId marriage by her father who felt she was too much of a burden to raise. Ellaf’s husband was even more controlling than her father and knew that he could get away with hurting her in many ways, because she was alone in an unfamiliar country and didn’t know the culture or the language. Forbidden to use birth control, she had 3 chiId...

Jun 02, 20241 hr 14 minSeason 2Ep. 147

Forced to Marry Al Qaeda: Confessions of an “Ex-Muslim” ft. Yasmine Mohammed

*Content Warning: Domestic Violence, SA, CA* Determined to fight for the human rights of the oppressed, Yasmine Mohammed speaks out and shares her experiences with Islam extremism. Her mother forced her to marry a terrorist and it wasn’t until she fell pregnant with a daughter that made her realize she had to escape in order to secure her a better life. In search of freedom, she also found her voice and now she platforms countless other people who share their experiences.Find and support Yasmine...

May 31, 20241 hr 52 minSeason 2Ep. 146

How “A WELL TRAINED WIFE” Narrowly Escaped Extreme Christian Patriarchy with 4 Kids

**Content Warning: DV, rape, SA** Tia Levings discusses her dark reality in Christian fundamentalism, with evangelical patriarchy and religious trauma. Having appeared in the Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People, and written a harrowing memoir, A Well-Trained Wife she reveals how she had to save herself and her family and details the ways that extreme views can manifest in a marriage.Recruited into the fundamentalist Quiverfull movement as a young wife, Tia Levings learned that being a good Ch...

May 26, 20241 hr 22 minSeason 12Ep. 144

Is the Military A Cult? Ex-Cult Members / Active Military & Veteran Discuss

Daniella grew up in the Children of God and Mike in Scientology. Together they discuss ways that the military, of which they were both in for many years, is cultic and their differing perspectives.Click here to watch on YouTubeFind Mike!YouTube: @mikebrown101Mike’s Interview: “How Scientology Almost Killed His Elderly Mother”Find Daniella!IG: @daniellamyoung_TikTok: search #groupbehaviorgalWebsite: https://www.uncultureyourself.com/Amazon: "Uncultured: A Memoir"Previous episodes with Daniella“He...

May 24, 20241 hr 27 minSeason 2Ep. 143

Groomed to be the Submissive Wife of Her Father’s Choosing

Cait West was completely under her father’s rule down to all her decisions. She was told he would even make the biggest decision of her life for her— who she was going to marry. She was gr**med to be a submissive wife under the patriarchy movement and stay-at-home daughters movement. Her homeschooling was completely unregulated and not much attention was paid to her education, because her sole purpose was to be a mother who eventually belonged to her husband. Terrified that anything less than st...

May 23, 20241 hr 8 minSeason 2Ep. 142

Forced Into Submission: Trapped in the Stay-at-Home Daughter’s Movement

Isolated in a cult within a cult within a cult, Ashley was completely sheltered from the outside world. From infancy she was labeled as unruly and even demon-possessed. Determined to break her as a toddler, then later brag about it, her pastor grandfather took it too far. She would be forced into submission and gr**med to be a “stay-at-home daughter” until her father transferred authority to her betrothed husband. This is how she accidentally escaped the prison in her mind.Click here to watch on...

May 18, 20241 hr 22 minSeason 2Ep. 141

Scientology Forced 12 yr Old to Audit Adults & Rehabilitate Pedophile

Scientology doesn’t believe in the young. They teach that they are trillion year old beings in small bodies. Therefore, they are not treated developmentally correct. Neglected, exploited for work and severely mistreated, they suffer the most in this organization. Serge Del Mar tells his story of growing up in Scientology and his advocacy work to make people wake up and listen to the lost souls who are begging silently for help. Click here to watch on YouTube Find Serge on Social! YouTube: @liter...

May 17, 20241 hr 23 minSeason 1Ep. 140

The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization

At age six, Katherine Spallino is separated from her parents and sent to train for her future in the Church of Scientology’s clergy—the Sea Organization. She rarely sees her parents and never goes to a normal school. Later, Katherine is sent to live at a secluded ranch with other young prospective Sea Org members, called cadets, where she studies Scientology and does manual labor—weeding fields, digging trenches, and works in the galley. The indoctrination escalates, and her family slips even fa...

May 14, 20241 hr 23 minSeason 2Ep. 139

How Scientology Almost Killed His Elderly Mother

Raised by Scientology and forced into the Sea Org and labor intensive youth camps, Mike Brown didn’t have a choice but to be indoctrinated and used by the organization. After he managed to escape, leaving behind his mother and wife, years later he learned of the extreme elder ab*se that was happening. Determined to save his mother who was quickly being worked to death, he devised a plan to break her out and nurse her back to health before it was too late. Click here to watch on YouTubeFi... Lear...

May 13, 20241 hr 31 min

Sentenced to Torturous Christian Extremist Boarding School for 365 days

The troubled teen industry has been in the limelight lately for its more than questionable tactics to “reform” kids. Add in a heavy dose of religious extremism and you have the sometimes fatal Independent Fundamental Baptist all-girl’s school Ashley attended. The most common sentence was 1 year of brutal manual labor, peer-inflicted punishments and psychological warfare. Click here to watch on YouTubeFind Ashley on Social!IG @ashfilet Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashley.kellam**FULLY BOO......

May 12, 20241 hr 15 min

Let Us Prey: Exposing the Circle of Hope Girls' Ranch & the Troubled Teen Industry

Disguised as a wholesome Christian school for troubled youth, was a house of horrors for those unlucky enough to be placed there. Diabolical and dangerous punishm*nts, intense physical labor left these girls scarred in more ways than one. The documentary “Let Us Prey”, finally started to expose the secrets behind the walls of the school and within the IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist) churches as a whole. Amanda shares her story, as a young one of parents who ran one of these school... Learn...

May 11, 20241 hr 8 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android
Open in Metacast