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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes433Founded4 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Artwork for Cults to Consciousness

Latest Episodes

Is “Biblical patriarchy” stripping women of their autonomy? We’re joined LIVE today with former “Fundamentalist Trad Wife” and author, Tia Levings, to discuss Pastor Dale Partridge’s dangerous, prescriptive opinions for young girls.

Click here to ... more

Tia Levings discusses her new book “I Belong to Me” as a continuation of her healing journey after escaping a deeply controlling Christian patriarchal environment. Her first memoir, “A Well-Trained Wife”, focused on surviving abuse and indoctrinatio... more

“Scientology speed runs” are a new internet trend and protest where creators, streamers, and activists storm Scientology centers to see how quickly they can get confronted, removed, banned, or “declared suppressive” by staff or security—often while f... more

YouTube

James Luceno is a former fifth degree ranked member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), an initially welcoming, symbol-rich spiritual society rooted in Aleister Crowley’s philosophy of Thelema. Over time, what began as an immersive and meaningful com... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Claire Headley
Former Scientology member, author of Blown for Good
Blown for Good / Scientology Exposed
Episode: Is the Scientology SPEED RUN TREND Bad for Taking Down Scientology? (Ft. Claire Headley)
Jude Bateman
Former FLDS member; sister of Sam Bateman; returning guest
Cults to Consciousness / survivor advocacy
Episode: Sam Bateman’s Sister Opens Up on Growing Up With “The False Prophet” (Inside His Descent)
Layla Mattson
Former FLDS wife; survivor and speaker
FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints) survivor
Episode: I Was 17… He Was 46: My Life as the 23rd Wife to the FLDS Prophet
Layla Matson
A former FLDS member and Warren Jeffs wife
FLDS community
Episode: I Was “Turned In” to FLDS Cult Leader Warren Jeffs at 17
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)
Sarah Edmondson
Survivor of NXIVM and author
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)

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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience notes high-quality guests and thoughtful, respectful conversations.
Listeners consistently praise empathetic interviewing and careful handling of difficult topics.
Many listeners value the practical takeaways for healing and advocacy, plus credible context around sensitive subjects.
Critiques often reference pacing or topic focus, but overall appreciation for the host's compassionate approach.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Top 10 Reasons You Might Already Be in a “Cult” (And Not Know It) ft. Daniella Mestyanek Young
Q: How did Daniella's experience shape her approach to analyzing cult dynamics?
Her two extreme group experiences sharpened her pattern recognition and led her to develop a framework that identifies universal tactics used by high-control groups, from leadership charisma to sacred assumptions and labor exploitation.
Is the Scientology SPEED RUN TREND Bad for Taking Down Scientology? (Ft. Claire Headley)
Q: What is Leah Remini, the ex-Scientology community, take on this?
Leah Remini has voiced a position that supports exposing abuses and protest but advocates for approaches that are legal and constructive; she also published a clear stance on the matter in a concise video, emphasizing that drastic, illegal actions are not productive.
This Ruling Is Chilling: Jehovah’s Witnesses WIN Landmark Case—Backlash Begins
Q: Can you explain to everybody what it means if you're a child who is shunned? What actually looks like day to day in your household?
Shunning involves being largely cut off from family interactions and social life; even when living at home, the spiritual life is severed, you attend meetings but are not spoken to outside the home until reinstated, which can take many months to years depending on behavior.
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.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

Survivor-focused conversations that explore high-control groups, coercive systems, and the path to independence after leaving restrictive environments. Guests share firsthand experiences from a wide range of backgrounds, including polygamous families, Hasidic and Amish communities, Jehovah's Witnesses, NXIVM, FLDS, and other high-control groups, with emphasis on healing, autonomy, and accountability. The host fosters compassionate, non-judgmental dialogue that centers survivor narratives, practical resources, and public advocacy, while maintaining rigorous boundaries around sensitive topics. Notable throughlines include family dynamics under scrutiny, the impact of media exposure, the ethics of documentation and disclosure, and practical gu... 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. The Cult Next Door
4. Preacher Boys Podcast
5. Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation

How many episodes of Cults to Consciousness are there?

Cults to Consciousness launched 4 years ago and published 433 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. Claire Headley
2. Jude Bateman
3. Layla Mattson
4. Layla Matson
5. Tony Padron
6. Mykelti Padron
7. Mykelti Brown Padron
8. James Luceno

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