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

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

After escaping the FLDS at 18, Warren Jeffs’ son Wendell Jeffson, didn’t leave Mormonism behind… he joined the mainstream LDS Church and eventually became a Mormon missionary. In this follow up Part 2, Wendell reveals the strange transition from bein... more

Wendell Jeffson, son of notorious FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs, reveals what it was really like growing up inside his father’s isolated world. From being separated from his mother and hidden away on the Texas compound to believing his father spoke for G... more

YouTube

Sonny Malvolio grew up inside a world most children only see in movies. His father was a professional criminal who escaped prison, fled with the family to Mexico, gave his children new identities, and began grooming Sonny to become part of his crimin... more

YouTube

Jinjara Mitchell returns to go deeper into what it was like growing up with a narcissistic mother who was adored by the public but terrifying behind closed doors. She opens up about the manipulation, fear, and control that shaped her chiIdhood—and th... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Avid survivor of a high-control Mormon family; author/creator
Self/Content Creator
Episode: At 9 Years Old, My Mormon Mom Said God Wanted Her to Sacrifice Me
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
Justin Shoemaker
Member of Cults to Consciousness team, editor behind the scenes
Cults to Consciousness
Episode: The Mormon Mission That Sent Him Into a Mental Health Crisis
Mae Vanders
Creator of a personal channel sharing her survivor story; former child abuse survivor
Mae Vanders Channel / Maiden.photo (photography)
Episode: She Spent 16 Years Trapped in ONE ROOM by Her Tyrannical Hoarder Father
Donna Lamb
Survivor of sex work and Aesthetic Realism cult member
Aesthetic Realism (cult)
Episode: She Escaped a Pimp… Then Spent 30 Years in a Cult
Mitch Cunico
Former pastoral staff member in World Mission Society Church of God
World Mission Society Church of God
Episode: I Became a Leader in a Korean Cult — My Arranged Wife Was Used to Spy On Me
Christine Marie Katis
Infiltrated Sam Bateman's cult and helped expose him; featured in the documentaryTrust Me, The False Prophet
Cults to Consciousness (guest)
Episode: She Infiltrated Sam Bateman’s Cult and JUST Watched Him Get Sentenced

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
    Sweden2 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 States2 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 States3 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 States4 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.

Growing Up With a Narcissistic Mother Everyone Else Worshipped (ft. Jinjara Mitchell)
Q: What was it like growing up with a narcissistic parent who also presented a highly successful front to the world?
It felt like living in two realities: the outward, glamorous image visible to others and a home life where manipulation, fear, and neglect defined daily experiences. I learned to perform and protect that image, while slowly recognizing the cost to my own well-being and truth.
When Being the “Perfect Mormon” Becomes an Obsession
Q: What do you think is the hardest thing to shed after leaving the church?
The lasting sense of certain rules governing morality and what it means to be a decent person, particularly around language, music, and personal choices, while learning to set boundaries and redefine values with therapy and external support.
At 9 Years Old, My Mormon Mom Said God Wanted Her to Sacrifice Me
Q: What is your current relationship with your family, and how do you maintain boundaries?
Athena describes no-contact boundaries after years of manipulation, fear, and coercive control, emphasizing the importance of safety and self-care in recovery.
At 9 Years Old, My Mormon Mom Said God Wanted Her to Sacrifice Me
Q: What led you to join the military, and how did that impact your healing?
Military service became a means to prove self-reliance and survive, providing structure and a path away from home, while also exposing her to new traumas and a framework for processing old abuse.
At 9 Years Old, My Mormon Mom Said God Wanted Her to Sacrifice Me
Q: How did the temple experience affect your view of Mormonism and your family role?
She explains that the endowment ceremony and temple environment felt coercive and cult-like, making her question the devotion demanded by family and church at a critical turning point.

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?

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. Mormon Stories Podcast
4. Life After MLM
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 477 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Cults to Consciousness?

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What guests have appeared on Cults to Consciousness?

Recent guests on Cults to Consciousness include:

1. Jinjara Mitchell
2. Justin Shuey
3. Athena Grimes
4. Lisa Mama Bear
5. Justin Shoemaker
6. Mae Vanders
7. Donna Lamb
8. Mitch Cunico

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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