Cults to Consciousness
Shelise Ann Sola
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 Rosales. C2C delves into the nuanced experiences of individuals who have escaped a broad spectrum of high-control groups and coercive environments. They are 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. Follow to join them on their advocacy mission.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 5, 2024 • 1h 20min
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...
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Apr 3, 2024 • 51min
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...
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Apr 2, 2024 • 1h 3min
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...
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Mar 15, 2024 • 1h 32min
“Let Us Prey” | Survivors Seek Justice Against IFB Youth Pastors
The podcast discusses the extreme views of the IFB church, focusing on the over-sexualization and victimization of young women. It highlights Kathy's experience of being blamed, shamed, and ostracized after seeking justice. The episode reveals the manipulation tactics used to cover up abuses, the support given to the perpetrator by church lawyers, and the challenges faced by survivors in seeking closure and validation. The narrative sheds light on the toxic environment within high-demand religious organizations and the journey towards healing and empowerment.
Mar 14, 2024 • 1h 24min
My IFB Youth Pastor Groomed Me. I Was Blamed.
Exploring the harmful culture of purity, grooming, and blaming in a strict religious organization. Kathy Durbin shares her survivor story in an IFB all girl's home with extreme punishments. Topics include indoctrination, blaming women, fear-driven rules, forced labor, and manipulation within cult-like church dynamics.
Mar 6, 2024 • 1h 25min
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 ...
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Mar 5, 2024 • 47min
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 ...
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Mar 4, 2024 • 55min
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...
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Feb 24, 2024 • 1h 2min
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...
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Feb 23, 2024 • 1h 12min
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 ...
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