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

What Happens to FLDS Polygamist Children?

Led by the currently incarcerated prophet Warren Jeffs, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have strict rules and one major part of their doctrine is the practice of polygamy. The women who are often assigned and married off at a young age, are forced to bear as many children as possible. Warren took it upon himself to separate mothers and fathers from their children at astonishing rates. We will discuss with Ceci Hendrickson (a former polygamist wife and mother) all o...

May 22, 202546 min

The Damaging Effects of the SISTER WIVES TV Show ft. Amanda Rae Grant

Amanda Rae who grew up in a Fundamentalist Polygamist Mormon sect, shares her thoughts on the damaging effects of polygamy being glorified on TV. Shelise's mom, Lisa, an avid watcher, also joins us to chime in with her thoughts. Click here to watch on YouTube Click here to watch the live we did on Amanda’s channel immediately after! Find Amanda: YouTube: @TheAmandaRaeGrant IG: @amandaraegrant If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP...

May 21, 202548 min

Amanda Rae Grant Reveals SECRETS of "Escaping Polygamy" TV Show

Joined today in studio with Amanda Rae ( @TheAmandaRaeGrant ) we discuss never talked about behind-the-scenes secrets about her time on the TV show "Escaping Polygamy." Click here to watch on YouTube Click here to watch the live we're doing on Amanda’s channel immediately after! Find Amanda: YouTube: @TheAmandaRaeGrant IG: @amandaraegrant If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holding...

May 21, 20251 hr 2 min

Un-Aired Details From the Cast of “Escaping Polygamy” | Where Are They Now? (2024 Reunion)

“Escaping Polygamy” was a hit international tv show that ran from 2014-2019 following a small group of ex-polygamous cult women who helped others escape their polygamous cults on camera. @TheAmandaRaeGrant continues to help women who have escaped, by hosting an annual retreat in Malibu for connection and community. We were lucky enough to be invited and spend time getting to know these amazing ladies. While there, we got to film with most of the cast of the show (Amanda, Andrea, Jessica and Shan...

May 20, 20251 hr 36 min

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: S1 Recap & S2 Predictions ft. Alyssa D Grenfell

Season 2 of Secret Lives of Mormon wives drops Thursday! Joined by @alyssadgrenfell we give you a full recap of Season 1 along with what our predictions are so you can be all caught up and ready to binge! Prepare for our own commentary as ex- Mormons. We have a lot to say! Click here to watch on YouTube Part 2 on Alyssa's channel: https://youtube.com/live/I6TgOCRaUVs Find Alyssa on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alyssadgrenfell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssadgrenfell Ins...

May 20, 202548 min

Confessions from Former Amish Meg & Eli

Join us live to talk about life inside and outside of the Amish settlements. You can watch their episodes prior to the live, so you have more context. Click here to watch on YouTube Eli Old Order AMISH: When Depression is Considered Sin https://youtu.be/AVES4ukGWyg Old Order AMISH: Devastating Effects of ZERO S*x Ed Before Marriage https://youtu.be/fXNayAfl294 Meg “Sins of the Amish” Doc: Darker Details than They Were Willing to Release on TV https://youtu.be/96RGRjyTTNI Find their channels: Eli...

May 19, 20251 hr 22 min

AMISH Teens Escape, Then Get Exploited by New Cult Leader

Luci Coblentz was born and raised in an Old Order Amish Settlement where she was worked so hard as a chiId it literally broke her back. At 17 she had to escape twice before she was free. However, still new and naive to the outside world, she quickly found herself in another non denominational Christian cult, run by a charismatic preacher “chosen by God himself” who controlled his congregation with heavy handed fear. There she would coincidentally run into another former Amish boy from the same s...

May 16, 20251 hr 24 min

FORCED Back Into the Old Order AMISH at 17

Part of a very strict Old Order Amish settlement where children are seen as inherently evil and corporal punishment is the cure, Luci often fantasized about a completely different life. Child labor was so intense, she broke her back and received no medical attention. Finally as a teenager she escaped to her brother’s home only to be taken right back. Her family was forcibly keeping her in her room until she hit her breaking point and ran as fast as she could with her older brother chasing her in...

May 16, 20251 hr 20 min

Conquering Spiritual Trauma from Evangelical Pastor ft. Dr. Laura Anderson

From Evangelical camp kid to youth director, Dr. Laura Anderson recognized early on that something didn’t feel right. It wasn’t until her late 20s that she learned what she had gone through at the hands of her pastor was spiritual and psychological abuse. She also discovered that her symptoms had a very specific name, cPTSD. When she realized most therapists didn’t understand the trauma that comes with leaving a high control group, she made it her mission to become part of the solution and becom...

May 15, 202553 min

The Unexpected Consequences of Cults ft. Mythvision Podcast

Let's talk about the aftermath of being in a cult. Pulling from our post-cult guests' experiences and our own, Derek from @mythvisionpodcast and I, dive into some of the harms that can accumulate from being manipulated, coerced and powerless. Join us and ask your questions! Click here to watch on YouTube Find Derek on Social! Youtube: @MythVisionPodcast MythVision Website: https://mythvisionpodcast.com/ MythVision Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mythvision Facebook page: https://www.facebook.co...

May 15, 20251 hr 43 min

Scientologist Danny Masterson SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ft. Claire Headley

BREAKING NEWS! After months of trial and jury deliberations, the judge has ruled in the case of Danny Masterson. Life in prison with chance of parole in 30 years. This is a huge win for not just the 3 Jane Doe survivors in this case, but for all survivors of SA who are looking for justice. Joined by former top ranking Scientologist, Claire Headley, we discuss the sentence and what we think contributed to it. Click here to watch on YouTube Find and Support Claire! The Aftermath Foundation: http:/...

May 14, 202542 min

An Ex-Scientologist & Ex-Mormon Compare "Information Control" ft. Apostate Alex

First rule of a cult, you're never in a cult! As two ex cult members, we have lived on both sides of the doctrine. The "true" side, as told to us by the leaders, and the actual truth. In this live we will be discussing the enormous amount of information control that goes on within Mormonism and Scientology and how it is used against its members to keep them in. Click here to watch on YouTube Help getting out of Scientology: https://theaftermathfoundation.org/ Find Apostate Alex on Social! YouTub...

May 14, 20251 hr 33 min

ULTRA ORTHODOX: Hasidic Cult Turns on Hasidic Writer For Exposing SA Injustices

Elad, a college student searching for answers to the mysteries of the universe, found mystical answers within a strict Hasidic community. A secular Jew up until that point, he fully embraced the theology, rules and culture. Little did he know, just how controlled his life would soon be and how much scandal he would unearth once his journalism career within the community started to take off. The cover ups, silencing and shaming was too much to ignore. Click here to watch on YouTube Find Elad on S...

May 13, 20251 hr 20 min

Rabbi’s Ex-Wife Breaks Down PURITY Standards ft. Beatrice Weber

Certain Ultra Orthodox communities are considered high control groups by former members. Today, Beatrice Weber, who was a wife to a Rabbi and mother of 10 inside a Hasidic sect, takes us through the book of modesty that they were expected to follow. She will share just how much control she was under when it came to her appearance and every day expectations. Click here to watch on YouTube Watch pt 1 here: https://youtu.be/LGXNrG7kIec?si=0IbiLk6h7XQ0jtZO Watch pt 2 here: https://youtu.be/6MXpJm_aR...

May 12, 20251 hr 13 min

ULTRA ORTHODOX: The Unexpected Price of Leaving with 10 Children

After decades of suffering in silence and submission in the Hasidic community with 10 children, Beatrice carefully plotted her escape. With some of her children already adults, she snuck out with the youngest 4 who were still very young. The community and older children immediately turned on her and tried to take the youngest kids away in court. After years of custody battles, she kept access to her kids, but the court ordered one son stay in a Hasidic school which gave him no secular education....

May 09, 20251 hr 13 min

ULTRA ORTHODOX: Life Imprisoned As a Submissive Rabbi’s Wife

Beatrice Weber was told her only goal in life should be getting married to a respectable Hasidic man and bearing as many children as possible. After being “rebellious” as a young teen, she was sent abroad to a strict religious school where she was meant to learn to behave. As soon as she returned, her parents set her on a path to marry a Torah scholar for a hefty price. She was only 18 years old. She would then not be allowed to use birth control and go on to having 10 children. Suffocated in th...

May 09, 20251 hr 22 min

The Aftermath of Narrowly Escaping Sharia Law (Dubai to UK) ft. Nuriyah Khan

We are joined LIVE today with Nuriyah Khan to continue her harrowing story of escaping Sharia Law in Dubai and the ensuing aftermath. Click here to watch on YouTube Watch the initial interview with Nuriyah Here: https://youtu.be/9wgTdTU1Ay0?si=ErnHxBvAI520iKqq Find Nuriyah on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HolyHumanist We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! Support C2...

May 08, 20251 hr 11 min

The Unbelievable Aftermath of Escaping Two Abusive Iraqi Men

We had an incredible conversation with Ellaf Al-Tamini about her harrowing time in Iraq, forced to marry an ab*sive man as a chiId bride. Join us today as we dive deeper into the unbelievable aftermath of her incredible escape against all odds. Click here to watch on Youtube Watch her full interview here: https://youtu.be/4dWpPKAA5MQ?si=Vm8FeP15YWTGlPIw Connect with Ellaf:https://allmylinks.com/ellafaltamimi2012 IG @ellaf_altamimi https://www.instagram.com/ellaf_altamimi We want to meet you in r...

May 08, 202548 min

Her Confining Teenage Life Growing Up in Saudi Arabia ft. Jasmin Faulk

After an incredible conversation with Jasmin Faulk-Dickerson about her story of escaping Saudi Arabia without legal ramifications, today we are joined with her LIVE to further discuss the difficulties she faced as a teenager growing up as an Italian-Arab in a fundamentalist Islamic family. Click here to watch on Youtube Watch our initial interview with Jasmin: https://youtu.be/Qc3mJ9hIuVw Find and Support Jasmin! IG: jasmin.faulk https://www.instagram.com/jasmin.faulk?igsh=MTRtbHo2dzVnd3VoMA== W...

May 07, 20251 hr 8 min

PANICKED Mormon Apostles Spoke This Weekend— EVERYTHING You Should Know

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (formerly known as the Mormon church) holds a General Conference for its members twice per year, where the Apostles and Prophet give direction and inspiration as received by God. Today, led by the fabulous ex-mormon content creators and Mormon challengers, Julia & Jennie, we will discuss their commandments around women's reproduction, population control, reconversion of apostates and more. These themes will paint a clear picture as to why the l...

May 07, 20251 hr 9 min

Barely Surviving a Painful Life As a Mormon TRAD WIFE

CW: DV & suicide attempt. After being spiritually manipulated to marry a stranger, Jennie did whatever she could to be the woman her new husband wanted. Fitting herself into a tight, Mormon, Trad wife box, if began to suffocate her. One year in she almost had an out, as her husband was also unhappy and asked for a divorce. However, the high leaders in the church said no, and threatened their eternal salvation if they were to even consider breaking their temple covenants. What she would uncov...

May 06, 20251 hr 25 min

The Dark Side of Growing Up a Girl in the Mormon Church ft. Jennie Gage

Known for her uncensored TikTok @lifetaketwo, Jennie Gage expresses the dark side of being raised in the Mainstream Mormon church. She was groomed to be a stay at home wife and mother, with so much emphasis placed on virtue and virginity. When she was assaulted at 14, she was told to repent and read a book authored by a high LDS authority which said she would be better off dead than without her virtue. When she didn’t succeed, she gave her life even more to the church and when leaders, years lat...

May 05, 20251 hr 30 min

ExMormons React to Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Restrictive Sex Rules ft. Alyssa Grenfell

Taking the world by storm are Mormon women from #momtok who are trying to break the mold of what it means to be a traditional wife in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Will the Mormon Church accept them towing the line or in some cases “sinning” against the rules? Two former Mormon women weigh in and explain the purity rules behind why it may not be a good idea to accept a social media sponsorship collaboration from a s*x toy company, among other major points from episode two. Cli...

May 02, 202546 min

ExMormons React to Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (ft. Amanda Rae Grant)

The new hit Hulu show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is making waves amongst the LDS and former LDS community. Many people asking questions about if these women can really call themselves Mormon when they admit to not following the rules and standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The first episode discusses the swinging scandal. Is that really allowed in Mormonism? Ex Mormons Shelise Ann Sola and @theamandaraegrant weigh in on episode 1. Click here to watch on YouTube ...

May 02, 202548 min

Escaping a Polygamous Cult & Mixed-Orientation Marriage Amid Faith Crisis

Today we are joined live with Nephi Robinson, former Order cult member. 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 pus...

May 02, 20251 hr 10 min

Growing Up in Incestuous Mormon Cult, THE ORDER: “My Father Wanted to Starve My Mother’s Cancer”

Joe grew up in a polygamist cult called “The Order.” From the age of 3, he observed his father and uncles with multiple wives— his father, Daniel, fathering over 160+ chiIdren. From the age of 9, Joe started working for The Order, while dealing with the physically and emotionally abus*ve Daniel. As Joe grew up, his dating life was non existent, and he felt “behind”. It became evident that only a small portion of the men were having all of the wives, and that not all of the men would be married. ...

May 01, 20251 hr 24 min

Why We Left

If you noticed our uploads haven't been as regular... it's because we've been going through A LOT of life changes! Today we're here to discuss them all, answer any questions you may have, and take your feedback and suggestions. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Click here to watch on YouTube We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! Support C2C - Any donations are welcome...

May 01, 202559 min

Her Many Attempts to Escape INCEST Polygamy Cult Forcibly Led to In-Patient Facility

CW: mentions of attempted suicide & infant abuse From a young age Priscilla was learning about how she would become a plural wife one day while simultaneously plotting her escape. She would have many failed attempts due to The Order’s desperate need to marry her off to one of her family members with the intention of making several children. They captured her and sent her to a facility to “break her” and when that didn’t work, they tried buying her with promises of fulfilled dreams and large ...

Jan 09, 20251 hr 15 minSeason 1Ep. 166

Kept From His Father’s Death Bed For Leaving Polygamist Cult

Calvin Wayman was born and raised in an offshoot polygamist sect of FLDS called “The Work”. With 44 siblings, a “Wayman” was just about every person he knew in his life. Even more taxing than his childhood trauma, was the trauma he experienced as an adult when he escaped at 30 years old. His life turned upside down— with the threat of his eternal salvation in jeopardy, while fighting against everything he was taught to believe, and on top of that being shunned and accosted by his loved ones— thi...

Jan 05, 20251 hr 18 minSeason 2Ep. 166

LIVE: Extreme Acts of Terrorism from Both Sides Over Holidays- New Orleans & Magdeburg ft @yasmohammedxx

CW: Fatal Terrorist Attack Joined live today with Yasmine Mohammed, we discussed the most recent terrorist attacks in both New Orleans on Bourbon street on New Year’s Eve, and Magdeburg Germany on December 20th. Yasmine was acquainted with the alleged attacker in Germany who could be considered Anti-Islam. We discuss how both sides of extremism are not the answer and bring awareness to the events that claimed many lives and injured over 200. Watch full video on @cultstoconsciousness YouTube chan...

Jan 03, 202521 min
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