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Cults to Consciousness

Shelise Ann Sola
Mental Health
Cults
Child Abuse
Child Sexual Abuse
Mormonism
Mormon Church
Jehovah's Witnesses
High-Control Groups
Polygamy
Islam
Abuse
Family Dynamics
Emotional Abuse
Purity Culture
Christianity
Sexual Abuse
Teen Mania
Cult Dynamics
Twelve Tribes
Trauma

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes408Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Cults to Consciousness

Latest Episodes

Dr. Sara Glass knew she kept falling in love with women, but that didn’t matter. She knew her place as an Ultra Orthodox woman. She was placed into an arranged marriage to a man shortly after graduating high school and she painfully left her girlfrie... more

We celebrate our 300th episode with a panel of 4 incredible women bravely coming forward to share their thoughts and experiences growing up in various strict Orthodox communities. They compare notes while illustrating similarities and differences bet... more

Rachel was raised in Israel by Canadian parents who converted to strict Orthodox Judaism as adults. Girls were taught from a very young age that their primary purpose was to become wives and mothers, and the culture emphasized conformity, modesty, an... more

YouTube

Rachel was raised in Israel by Canadian parents who converted to strict Orthodox Judaism as adults. Girls were taught from a very young age that their primary purpose was to become wives and mothers, and the culture emphasized conformity, modesty, an... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Chavie Weisberger
Former Hasidic Hasidic community member, speaker
Hasidic Hasidic community
Episode: 4 Former ULTRA ORTHODOX Women from 4 Sects Compare Notes
Tee Murrin
Former Hasidic/Haredi community member, speaker
Hasidic/Charedi communities
Episode: 4 Former ULTRA ORTHODOX Women from 4 Sects Compare Notes
Shalom Shore
Former ordained rabbi from ultra-orthodox background, now deconstructing high-control environments
Independent
Episode: Confessions of a Former ULTRA ORTHODOX Rabbi
Priya Hutner
Author of Chasing Nirvana, former ashram member who became CEO of the community
Author
Episode: I Became CEO of a Cult & Didn’t Realize it (born & raised in the Ashram)
Ellen Huet
Investigative journalist formerly at Bloomberg News, author of Empire of Orgasm
Bloomberg News (former)
Episode: OneTaste Founder of Wellness Trend Turned Sex Cult is SENTENCED to 9 years
Elizabeth Smart
Survivor and author of Detours
Elizabeth Smart Foundation
Episode: Elizabeth Smart Recounts Her Kidnapping (9 months as a plural wife)
Eric from Preacher Boys Podcast
Guest expert on CSA cases and survivor advocacy
Preacher Boys Podcast
Episode: BREAKING: Joseph Duggar ARRESTED After CONFESSING to CSA (ft. Preacher Boys)
Amanda Rae Grant
Guest on the episode; advocate and former member of The Order
Amanda Rae Grant / The Order
Episode: Confronting My Polygamous Cult at a Funeral (ft. Amanda Rae Grant)
David Archuleta
Singer-songwriter and former American Idol finalist who discusses growing up Mormon, familial control, and coming out as bisexual
Self/Book: Devout
Episode: David Archuleta’s Painful Secrets: American Idol, His Father’s Obsession with Him, and Coming Out

Host

Shelise Ann Sola
Host of Cults to Consciousness

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Expertise is a major component

    Thank you for all of your HARD and dedicated work. This podcast shines brightly as a model of professionalism. I was greatly interested in the Twelve Tribes because we have a huge new multi-purpose building finished. There is a deli as well. Why here?! We are rural Southwestern Washington state. Thanks for your hard work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DBSLP5
    United States25 days ago
  • Empathetic and Ethical

    You do such a great job acknowledging other people’s voices and experiences. Monte Mader and Jamie Mustard are my favourite guests so far, but all of your guest do a wonderful job.

    I’m baffled however about why you bleep words like ‘abuse’ and ‘sexual assault’. Seems silly considering your content and context. You don’t censor the word rape though. I don’t think you should, it’s just very strange that you censor the other words.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gay Historian
    Australia2 months ago
  • Love

    This is an excellent podcast, I have learned so much, thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michael interrupts
    United States2 months ago
  • my favorite podcast

    the best podcast if you’re wanting to learn more about high control groups- shelise is very in depth and professional and takes care of her guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    audrey_10
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent Podcast

    I have learned so much from this podcast, and … as sad and horrible as some of the guests’ experiences have been, their resilience and positive messages of hope stand out equally. Shelise is an excellent host—on par with the best. Kudos to Shelise and Jonathan and all their wonderful guests and those who support them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A_digression
    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.

Confessions of a Top Recruiting Rabbi’s Wife
Q: How has leaving affected your children and family dynamics?
Leaving brought relief and greater presence for Raquel, with her children seeing her happiness and autonomy; it also created tension around religious identity and the need to allow choice between religious life and secular life within the family.
Confessions of a Top Recruiting Rabbi’s Wife
Q: What was the turning point that made you question the system?
Raquel describes realizing that while parts felt beautiful and meaningful, the system prioritized numbers and control over genuine wellbeing, leading to a shift toward authenticity and self-determination.
Confessions of a Top Recruiting Rabbi’s Wife
Q: What did the day-to-day look like for serving as a rabbi's wife involved in outreach?
The routine was highly structured and centered on hosting (Shabbat dinners, playdates, classes), planning and coordinating events, and maintaining a public persona of warmth and piety to attract and retain participants.
I Became CEO of a Cult & Didn’t Realize it (born & raised in the Ashram)
Q: What was the moment that made you realize you had to leave?
A devastating combination of a near-constant coercive climate, a powerful ultimatum, and a life-threatening personal struggle led to the decision to walk away.
I Became CEO of a Cult & Didn’t Realize it (born & raised in the Ashram)
Q: Do you feel like being part of the ashram was a positive experience overall, or was it too controlling?
It was both: there were meaningful acts of service and spirituality, but the control and coercion increasingly outweighed the positives as time went on.

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?

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. Was I In A Cult?
3. Life After MLM
4. Growing Up In Polygamy
5. Mormon Stories Podcast

How many episodes of Cults to Consciousness are there?

Cults to Consciousness launched 4 years ago and published 408 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. Chavie Weisberger
2. Tee Murrin
3. Shalom Shore
4. Priya Hutner
5. Ellen Huet
6. Elizabeth Smart
7. Eric from Preacher Boys Podcast
8. Amanda Rae Grant

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