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Artwork for Cults to Consciousness
Mental Health
Cults
Child Sexual Abuse
Jehovah's Witnesses
Child Abuse
Mormonism
Mormon Church
Polygamy
High-Control Groups
Abuse
Family Dynamics
Islam
Emotional Abuse
Christianity
Sexual Abuse
Teen Mania
Twelve Tribes
Trauma
Apostolic United Brethren
Purity Culture

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. The... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes424Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Cults to Consciousness

Latest Episodes

Layla recounts the harsh reality of entering plural marriage at 17 as Warren Jeffs’ 23rd wife, describing immediate emotional overwhelm, humiliation, and strict expectations of obedience. Instead of the supportive sisterhood she had been groomed to e... more

Layla Matson was born into a deeply entrenched, multi-generational polygamist FLDS family with direct ties to church leadership. From a young age, her life was shaped by strict religious expectations, economic hardship, and normalized control, rangin... more

YouTube

Mykelti Brown & her husband Tony Padron reflect on the behind the scenes of her upbringing in the polygamist family from TLC’s Sister Wives TV show.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch Mykelti's initial interview here

Follow and support Mykelti &... more

YouTube

Mykelti Brown Padron reflects on her upbringing in the polygamist family from TLC’s Sister Wives TV show, describing both the perceived benefits and deep challenges of that lifestyle. For her growing up, polygamy felt normal and even appealing due to... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Growing Up In PolygamyGrowing Up In Polygamy
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Mormon Stories PodcastDr. John Dehlin
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Recent Guests

Tony Padron
Husband of Mykelti, competes in chess professionally and runs related ventures
Self/Family
Episode: INSIDE “SISTER WIVES”: What the Polygamist TV Show Didn’t Show (Daughter Speaks Out)
Mykelti Padron
Former cast member of Sister Wives, public figure discussing her upbringing and wedding
Self/Family
Episode: INSIDE “SISTER WIVES”: What the Polygamist TV Show Didn’t Show (Daughter Speaks Out)
Mykelti Brown Padron
Child of Christine Brown, grew up in the polygamous Brown family
Family of Sister Wives (AUB polygamy context)
Episode: Inside SISTER WIVES: What It’s REALLY Like Being Kody Brown’s Daughter (ft. Mykelti Brown)
James Luceno
Former high-ranking member of OTO, guest on episode
Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO)
Episode: I Spent 11 Years Rising Rank Inside a SECRET OCCULT Society (Why Whistleblower is Speaking Out)
Anthony Ames
Survivor of NXIVM, co-author, speaker
NXIVM survivor, co-author of A Little Bit Culty
Episode: Recruiting For to Imprisoning NXIVM Cult Leader (exposing SEX CULT Hidden Inside Self-Help Program)
Désirée Ohrbeck
Professor, writer, and former Jehovah's Witness from Denmark
Independent/Academia
Episode: The Dark Truth on CONVERTING to Jehovah’s Witnesses in Denmark
Brielle Decker
65th wife to Warren Jeffs, founder of the Dream Center for ex-FLDS
Dream Center / Short Creek Dream Center
Episode: Warren Jeffs’ 65th (Ex) Wife REACTS to “Trust Me: The False Prophet”
Christine Marie
A survivor who infiltrated and helped bring down a FLDS prophet; later featured in the Netflix docuseries and advocacy work
Documentary subject, survivor advocate
Episode: Why We Infiltrated & TOOK DOWN FLDS Polygamous Cult Leader (My Story)
Chavie Weisberger
Former Hasidic Hasidic community member, speaker
Hasidic Hasidic community
Episode: 4 Former ULTRA ORTHODOX Women from 4 Sects Compare Notes

Host

Shelise Ann Sola
Host of Cults to Consciousness

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Meaningful

    This is so insightful and deep. Wonderful interviewer done w such empathy, knowledge, and care.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cattery77
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent podcast

    Shelise is very artful interviewer. She lets her guests speak while still helping to move the story along with thought and compassionate remarks. I hope she is able to continue to produce so many interviewers a week, it’s really impressive! I am always happy to see a new one appear

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    saraha15
    United Statesa month ago
  • Entertaining, but not well informed

    I started listening to this podcast bc I am interested in cults, cult behavior, and survivor stories. After binging a ton of these episodes, I have been disappointed at how many times the host says, “I don’t really know anything about this group” and proceeds to ask the guest to define the group. I would think she would want to have background on the group being accused instead of letting a victim be in full control of the narrative. Several of the groups who are exposed on here aren’t actually ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Listening L8dy
    United Statesa month ago
  • Best Interviews!

    Shelise conducts a master class on how to interview guests! I consume a lot of podcasts, but often find myself getting annoyed at interviewers who constantly interrupt their guests, derail the flow of the interviews, and do not allow their guest’s points to come to fruition.

    Shelise gives each guest the space to articulate the entirety of thoughts, and to let them process their emotions and recollections as they’re happening. She only asks follow up questions or comments when the guests come t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JT Mark17
    United States2 months ago
  • Fantastic podcast!

    Shellie does an excellent job at exposing all cults. She asks the questions we want answers to. Shes so respectful of her guests. Great job!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BeckDoh
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is a go-to for survivors seeking understanding and support.
Some criticism notes pacing or occasional off-topic moments, but the overall impact remains strong.
Listeners praise the host for respectful, empathetic interviewing and guest safety.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

I Spent 11 Years Rising Rank Inside a SECRET OCCULT Society (Why Whistleblower is Speaking Out)
Q: What qualifies one to move up to the next level?
Move-ups depend on sponsorship and an invitational system: you need two sponsors and an application for lower degrees, and higher levels are often by invitation from upper-degree members, with escalating fees and the expectation of loyalty.
I Spent 11 Years Rising Rank Inside a SECRET OCCULT Society (Why Whistleblower is Speaking Out)
Q: Did you know what the initiation would be before you did it?
I had a general sense of esoteric initiations from other groups, but I walked into a ritual scripted by Aleister Crowley with little concrete knowledge beyond probable blindfolding and spoken words, and I realized later it was designed to train obedience.
INSIDE “SISTER WIVES”: What the Polygamist TV Show Didn’t Show (Daughter Speaks Out)
Q: Do you think the religious aspects of polygamy will ever resurface in their lives?
They acknowledge that while polygamy as a practice isn't pursued, religious beliefs and spiritual connections persist, and there's openness to different spiritual paths rather than returning to formal polygamy or Mormon fundamentals.
INSIDE “SISTER WIVES”: What the Polygamist TV Show Didn’t Show (Daughter Speaks Out)
Q: What happened with the goodbye party and the 'tacos' at the wedding?
The family planned a large, expensive taco-focused celebration that was ultimately pared down after parental concerns about cost and leftovers, but the original vision had already influenced the taping and planning for the event.
INSIDE “SISTER WIVES”: What the Polygamist TV Show Didn’t Show (Daughter Speaks Out)
Q: What is the first thing you would like everybody to know about Sister Wives and how it was portrayed versus how it actually happened?
There were many small edits and cut words over the years, but a major example involved a goodbye moment with their mother that was meant to show a peaceful transition for the kids, yet the reality was more nuanced and complicated, involving discomfort and strategic family timing.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cults to Consciousness

What is Cults to Consciousness about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Cults-to-Consciousness offers deeply personal conversations with survivors, former members, and advocates who have escaped high-control religious and coercive environments. Episodes center on trauma, healing, accountability, and practical paths to autonomy, often weaving in themes like grooming, manipulation, polygamy, and systemic abuse within various groups. The show tends to feature firsthand survivor narratives, insider perspectives on cult dynamics, and calls for reform, while maintaining a compassionate, non-judgmental interview style that emphasizes resilience and practical guidance for listeners navigating similar journeys. A notable strength is its breadth of guests—from Twelve Tribes to FLDS to Assemblies of God—providing a broad ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cults to Consciousness?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cults to Consciousness:

1. A Little Bit Culty
2. Growing Up In Polygamy
3. Mormon Stories Podcast
4. Life After MLM
5. The Cult Next Door

How many episodes of Cults to Consciousness are there?

Cults to Consciousness launched 4 years ago and published 424 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Cults to Consciousness?

Recent guests on Cults to Consciousness include:

1. Tony Padron
2. Mykelti Padron
3. Mykelti Brown Padron
4. James Luceno
5. Anthony Ames
6. Désirée Ohrbeck
7. Brielle Decker
8. Christine Marie

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