Cults to Consciousness

“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 Shanell) and talk about their experiences while filming, behind the scenes and the aftermath.  Click here to watch on YouTube Resource for those escaping polygamy: https://holdingouthelp.org/ Find and support Amanda! YouTube: ​⁠​⁠​⁠  @TheAmandaRaeGrant   IG: @amandaraegrant  Find Shanell! FB: https://www.facebook.com/shanell.snow IG: https://www.instagram.com/shanellsnow/ 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:02 Dealing with backlash 00:02:44 The Order cult, explained 00:04:37 Amanda Rae talks what it was like filming the Escaping Polygamy TV show 00:06:20 The internal conflict the first years of filming for Jessica 00:08:17 The show helped bring community for Shanell 00:09:04 Jessica & Andrea reveal how the Escaping Polygamy TV show got started 00:16:09 Shanell talks why she joined the show 00:18:41 Not wanting to keep Order secrets anymore 00:20:12 Stipulations the cast had for the show 00:21:37 Jessica regrets saying they needed security 00:23:33 Amanda wishes they producers were more aware everyone's state of mind  00:26:51 Did they have anyone trauma informed on set? 00:32:50 Did the show try to create divides between the girls? 00:36:24 Dealing with backlash 00:38:22 What the self sacrifice looked like 00:44:52 What the daily mental health was like for the cast 00:50:52 The show's after effects on Amanda Rae and Jessica 00:55:57 Jessica thought the show and their efforts would bring change with The Order 01:04:37 What can someone do to help members in The Order? 01:07:18 Are the girls religious after leaving The Order? 01:14:39 Updates!  How is the cast doing now? 01:21:59 What was it like for Shelise to infiltrate the retreat as an outsider? 01:28:16 Linda, listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Instagram:  @alyssadgrenfell  Blog: https://www.mormontruths.com Email: alyssadgrenfell@gmail.com 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:  @eliyoder491   Meg:  @coloringspirit ​ 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 settlement who she would end up marrying. It took them 10 years to wake up to the ab*ses perpetrated in the cult and leave together.   Click here to watch on YouTube Watch pt 1:  https://youtu.be/gS_ott73X08?si=SHGru57WV7CdHICO Connect with Luci IG @lucindacoblentz https://www.instagram.com/lucindacoblentz FB https://www.facebook.com/lucinda.coblentz 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Chapter Marks 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:40 What life was like for Luke growing up in an Old Order Amish community 00:06:30 How scaling back on worldly things led to Luke's family leaving the Amish community 00:11:24 How Luci and Luke interacted in the Amish community before connecting again as adults 00:14:19 Things that made Luci vulnerable to joining another cult 00:19:18 How Luke got involved in the church before Luci joined 00:21:11 What made this church so appealing to someone leaving the Amish church 00:24:23 What it was like for Luci and Luke to see each other again years later and after leaving the Amish community 00:29:14 How unhealthy power dynamics and toxic relationships can lead to mental health struggles 00:34:17 What the church provided that Luci had been craving 00:38:41 Ways in which the church kept members under control with a false sense of choice 00:41:39 How this church further manipulated the congregation and misused donations 00:47:31 How Luci's family's way of speaking led to realizing the church leader's manipulation tactics 00:51:33 What made Luke and Luci finally leave the church 00:56:25 Luke's experience leaving the church 00:58:10 How they navigated their lives after leaving the church and having autonomy for the first time 01:06:03 Where Luke and Luci are today and what makes them happy\ 01:13:59 Final thoughts 01:16:15 Linda, listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 into a neighboring cornfield. How could she escape? Click here to watch on YouTube Watch pt 2:  https://youtu.be/4ujbGhZCHPo?si=1vctd96V7cNINQA1 Connect with Luci IG @lucindacoblentz https://www.instagram.com/lucindacoblentz FB https://www.facebook.com/lucinda.coblentz 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Chapter Markers 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:26 Where Luci grew up and how roles in the church were seen as a burden 00:05:06 What it was like being unable to read the Bible but being expected to follow it 00:07:52 Church leaders who unintentionally perpetuated more ab*se 00:10:56 What the repentance process was like 00:12:59 What happens when someone does try to go to the police 00:13:25 How the community treated the victim and why 00:15:43 How the Amish community has created an environment where perpetrators thrive 00:19:26 Luci's childhood and life at home 00:21:33 Luci has a major injury while working on the family's dairy farm 00:24:42 What was life like for Luci's mother? 00:26:03 Parentification in Luci's childhood home 00:28:18 "Rebellious" acts Luci did as a child 00:29:36 Sneaking in a newspaper 00:30:40 Escaping shame and v*olence with an imaginary family 00:35:32 Shame leading to serious mental illness in children 00:39:36 How did reading the Bible lead Luci to leaving the Amish community? 00:42:04 How little interactions with people outside the community impacted Luci positively 00:44:30 How those in the Amish community can lack documentation of birth 00:46:14 Luci's plans for escape 00:51:34 Luci's family violently attempts to thwart her plans 00:59:38 Luci finally escapes for good 01:03:24 How Luci felt and started to cope after leaving everything she ever knew 01:04:47 Finding a job without having legal documentation 01:07:04 The difficulties Luci faced when people found out about her Amish past 01:09:14 How Luci met her husband and joined another cult 01:11:16 Linda, listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 become a therapist who specialized in those types of cases.  Click here to watch on YouTube Find Laura! Website: https://drlauraeanderson.com/about IG: @drlauraeanderson https://www.instagram.com/drlauraeanderson/ Her book: https://amzn.to/40HUXrU 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.com/MythVision/  Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheWaterBoyZRadio/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerekPodcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mythvision/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dereklambert_7/ Discord: https://discord.gg/dRQXdZBq6E  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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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://www.theaftermathfoundation.org/ To volunteer: vounteer@theaftermathfoundation.org Her Website: https://blownforgood.com/ YouTube: @blownforgood Instagram: @blownforgood https://www.instagram.com/blownforgood/ Twitter: @claireheadley https://twitter.com/claireheadley 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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! YouTube:  @apostatealex   Instagram: @apostate.alex https://www.instagram.com/apostate.alex/ Get in touch: hello@apostatealex.com Discord: https://discord.gg/vfkksKgs9d 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Social media: IG @eladnehorai https://www.instagram.com/eladnehorai?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Substack: https://eladnehorai.substack.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabXOk7qJmywOIOi5YQsWahZSKZrhsNDhLH676jKVYOcLeLUScGyrFvqSro_aem_rrCp42zF1D9A8hnQpoZe8w 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 and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness  Host Instagram @sheliseann  Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  Twitter @cultstocon  **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.** Chapter Marks 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:41 Understanding and uncovering systemic ab*se in high demand religions 00:03:09 Elad's parents and how the family practiced Judaism during Elad's childhood 00:04:45 How Elad found this Hasidic group appealing 00:11:14 How Elad's near death experience and diagnosis of bipolar disorder led to a Hasidic Rabbi 00:16:57 Seeking answers from a popular Rabbi 00:21:05 How thought terminating arguments were used as a powerful tool 00:23:13 Think critically but come to the same conclusion 00:24:44 How Elad began to realize the high control nature of Hasidic Judaism 00:26:30 Hasidic rules make their way into the bedroom 00:29:47 Being taught to self-shame in the Hasidic community 00:31:57 How speaking up about mental health was perceived in the Hasidic community 00:33:52 How men were permitted to study Judaism and how it aided in their goal of every Jew becoming Hasidic 00:35:16 Elad begins to unravel his beliefs 00:37:31 How Elad's encouragement of creativity rocked the Hasidic world 00:42:46 Elad gets pushback for publishing stories from his community 00:45:54 How a conservative community can attract a liberal or progressive person 00:47:09 How the different application of morals among a community can crumble a person's faith 00:50:41 How a friend's divorce became Elad's last straw 00:54:03 Feeling God for the first time again 01:00:37 How further isolation was necessary for growth 01:04:12 How Elad navigates spirituality today 01:12:48 Linda, listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.