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Artwork for Cults to Consciousness
Mental Health
Cults
Jehovah's Witnesses
FLDS
Mormonism
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Abuse
Polygamy
High-Control Groups
Family Dynamics
Warren Jeffs
Emotional Abuse
Teen Mania
Scientology
Twelve Tribes
Christianity
Apostolic United Brethren
Purity Culture
Seventh-Day Adventism
Sexual Abuse

For the curious & compassionate. Firsthand Survivor Stories of escaping cults, high-control groups & people.

The Cults to Consciousness Podcast (and YouTube channel) is Hosted by Shelise Ann Sola (a former devout Mormon / CSA survivor) and her Producer husband, Jonathan Rosales. Not anti-religious but firmly anti-abuse, they aim to shed light on manipulative practices and systems, while promoting... more

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Artwork for Cults to Consciousness

Latest Episodes

What happens when a church becomes more important than your marriage, your children, and even the birth of your baby? Adam and Kayleen Stillman share their experience inside the World Mission Society Church of God, also known as WMSCOG. Kayleen was f... more

Esperanza returns to dive deeper into the SYSTEM behind the World Mission Society Church of God, explaining how the church's control over members' relationships, money, careers, and personal decisions actually worked, while answering your biggest que... more

YouTube

Esperanza was a successful young woman working at an NBC-affiliated television station when she was introduced to the World Mission Society Church of God through a man she met online. Searching for faith, family, and belonging, she quickly became dev... more

YouTube

She escaped one of New Zealand's most controversial religious communities with 10 children. But leaving Gloriavale was only the beginning. Ginny returns to Cults to Consciousness LIVE to reveal what life has really been like since escaping, how her f... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ange Johnson
Survivor of the Gloria Vale community who left with her husband and children.
Episode: Arranged at 15: My FLDS Husband Became My Legal Guardian
Wendell Jeffs
Warren Jeffs's son and former FLDS member
Episode: Warren Jeffs’ Son & Sam Bateman’s 13th (Ex) Wife Reveal Their Unexpected Love Story
Nomz Bistline
FLDS survivor and former member of Sam Bateman's group
Episode: Warren Jeffs’ Son & Sam Bateman’s 13th (Ex) Wife Reveal Their Unexpected Love Story
Wendell Jeffson
Former FLDS member, son of Warren Jeffs, and former LDS missionary.
Episode: I Escaped My Father’s Polygamous Cult… Then Became a Mormon Missionary
Sonny Malvolio
Survivor of childhood grooming into his father's criminal world
Episode: My Criminal Father Groomed Me to Take Over His Empire
Jinjara Mitchell
Survivor of Narcissistic Parenting, author/creator
Self-identified as survivor and advocate
Episode: Growing Up With a Narcissistic Mother Everyone Else Worshipped (ft. Jinjara Mitchell)
Justin Shuey
Editor and guest on the show
Cults to Consciousness
Episode: When Being the “Perfect Mormon” Becomes an Obsession
Athena Grimes
Survivor of Mormonism; advocate and creator
Independent
Episode: Escaping the Mormon Home Where Mom Spoke for God (ft. Athena Grimes)
Lisa Mama Bear
Mother of the host, raised Mormon, later left the church
Former Mormon, now outside the church
Episode: How I Got My Mom to Leave Mormonism

Hosts

Shelise Ann Sola
Host of Cults to Consciousness
Jonathan Rosales
Producer

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Love this so informative

    Thank you for this brave and important podcast! Listening and learning in Sweden ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lollotheswede
    Sweden3 months ago
  • Smart, incisive

    This savvy show about systems of control is also deeply humane in its approach to survivors and frankly all of us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lulu the cat
    United States3 months ago
  • Helping Me Learn Language To Tell My Own Story

    So much is going on in my life right now and coming here and being able to identify and assign words to the things I’m struggling through is incredibly healthy and healing and assuring. Maybe one day I’ll reach out to see if I can tell my story…for right now I’m in the thick of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EmkLuv
    United States3 months ago
  • My favorite podcast show by far!

    I’ve always been super interested in the subject of cults, as well as the LDS church in general, and am fascinated by all that I’m learning from this show. It’s pretty much playing 5+ hours a day, and there are so many episodes and stories I can’t wait to get to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CamposQueen
    United States4 months ago
  • Best host for sensitive interviews

    I absolutely love this podcast and the host. She asks how people are doing instead of just focusing on their past traumas. We still also get the full story, but I just find her so charming, caring and charismatic.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tiner107
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Trauma-informed, compassionate hosting and thoughtful guest care.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Arranged at 15: My FLDS Husband Became My Legal Guardian
Q: What would you say was the most overwhelming part, moving your kids out? Was it getting them into public school and navigating that whole situation?
Johnson says the transition to school was a major concern, but her children thrived in a school that treated them kindly and encouraged their individual development. The family also had to adjust their parenting and help their children cope with new freedoms and separation from relatives.
Arranged at 15: My FLDS Husband Became My Legal Guardian
Q: When was it that you were like, I can't live here anymore. I can't raise my children here anymore?
Johnson says her doubts grew from 2015 onward. Her brother's removal, a sexual assault involving her 13-year-old daughter and the community's treatment of the girl led Johnson and her husband to leave in 2019 with their ten children.
INSIDE GLORIAVALE: Pregnant or Breastfeeding for 22 Years Straight (a Woman’s Harsh Reality)
Q: What would you say was the most overwhelming part moving your kids out? Was it getting them into public school and navigating that whole situation?
Ginny says schooling was a major concern, but the broader adjustment was difficult too. Her children missed relatives, struggled with unfamiliar food and routines, and some wanted to return. The family also had to learn new ways of parenting and help the children adjust to greater freedom.
INSIDE GLORIAVALE: Pregnant or Breastfeeding for 22 Years Straight (a Woman’s Harsh Reality)
Q: When was it that you were like, I can't live here anymore. I can't raise my children here anymore?
Ginny says her doubts grew from 2015 onward. After witnessing how Gloriavale treated her brother and his family, and then seeing leaders stigmatize her daughter after a sexual assault, she and her husband decided in 2019 to leave with their 10 children.
She Escaped Gloriavale With 10 Kids. What Happened Next?
Q: In the group, was there a lot of public shaming as punishment for not following the rules? Or do the family set their own rules and punishments?
Ginny says both community punishments and family punishments occurred. She recalls public humiliation, physical punishment of children, and teachings that encouraged people to blame themselves and accept mistreatment.

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?

A compassionate interview-driven series centered on firsthand survivor stories and expert context around cults, high-control groups, and coercive systems. Episodes emphasize healing, accountability, critical thinking, and practical guidance for those exiting or studying high-control environments, with a strong focus on survivor voices, therapy, and deconstruction. The show often blends personal narratives with analytic discussion to illuminate recruitment tactics, family dynamics, trauma, and pathways to rebuilding lives, while maintaining a trauma-informed, empathetic approach that listeners consistently praise for care and depth.

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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. Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation
4. Mormon Stories Podcast
5. Preacher Boys Podcast

How many episodes of Cults to Consciousness are there?

Cults to Consciousness launched 4 years ago and published 484 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. Ange Johnson
2. Wendell Jeffs
3. Nomz Bistline
4. Wendell Jeffson
5. Sonny Malvolio
6. Jinjara Mitchell
7. Justin Shuey
8. Athena Grimes

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