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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes445Founded4 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Artwork for Cults to Consciousness

Latest Episodes

Children in The Order, an incestuous polygamous break-off of the LDS church are tormented in every way possible for “the kingdom of God upon the Earth”. When they get the strength and courage to escape, they are met with total and complete exile. Wha... more

Liz Dieatrick grew up in an intensely fundamentalist Assemblies of God household, where she was told from childhood that God had uniquely called her to become a missionary. Raised by a pastor father and a deeply controlling, highly religious mother, ... more

Kathleen Brooks was drawn into Chi Alpha, a campus ministry affiliated with the Assemblies of God, while searching for purpose, belonging, and spiritual direction in college. What initially appeared to be a vibrant Christian community slowly evolved ... more

Sarah entered college with almost no religious background, hoping to find community and deepen her newfound Christian faith, only to be drawn into a highly controlling branch of Assemblies of God known as Chi Alpha at Murray State, a Christian Campus... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Amanda Rae
Guest on the episode discussing the Order/Kingston Clan and Mormon tithing
Episode: You Have to Pay HOW MUCH to Get Into Mormon Heaven? ft. Amanda Rae
Hoyt Richards
Former top-earning male model who joined and later escaped a long-running cultic group with extraterrestrial themes
Modeling industry / Documentary subject
Episode: I Gave an Alien Cult $5 Million and 20 Years (Confessions of a Male Supermodel)
Kyson Dana
Former Mormon missionary and filmmaker who spoke about his Russia mission and deconstruction
Self/Documentary creator
Episode: Why Devout Mormon Missionary Denounced it All
Mykelti Brown Padron
Reality TV figure from Sister Wives, discussing upbringing and motherhood
Sister Wives (TV show)
Episode: Growing Up On SISTER WIVES: The Dark Side of Parenting No One Talks About (ft. Mykelti Brown)
Sofia May Comedy
Comedian and survivor of Tara Mandala abuse
Self
Episode: My Buddhist Guru Convinced Me Her Abuse Was Enlightenment
Sofia May
Guest sharing her experience as Lama Sultrim's assistant at Tara Mandala
Tara Mandala / Lama Sultrim Allione
Episode: I Fell Prey to a Sadistic Guru in a Tibetan Buddhist Cult
Clark Fredericks
Survivor of CSA and advocate, author of Scarred
Author; Advocate for survivors of abuse
Episode: I Confronted My Abuser 30 Years Later… Everything Changed
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)
James Luceno
Guest expert with firsthand experience in OTO
Former member of OTO
Episode: What Really Happens During “Ordo Templi Orientis” Initiations? (Trapped in a Secret Society)

Host

Shelise Ann Sola
Host of Cults to Consciousness

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • 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 States21 days 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 Statesa month ago
  • Love it!

    I felt a little skeptical of this podcast at first because the photos and headlines kinda feel like tabloids, but the host is truly lovely and I’m very inspired by her. She listens to people with no personal agenda and because of that people can go deep in their sharing. Being fully listened to is very rare and it’s just beautiful to witness it. It’s a bit like listening to memoirs. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tegz24
    United States2 months ago
  • Professional, compassionate, insightful

    I appreciate the trauma informed approach this podcast takes. Shelise is compassionate, professional, well paced, and insightful in the way she guides interviews. Each person’s lived experience provides a through line to the intentionality of the podcast. Also, I appreciate the YouTube interviews, Q&A lives, and multiple streaming platforms

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Semi Techy Working Mom & Wife
    United States2 months ago
  • Meaningful

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cattery77
    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.

You Have to Pay HOW MUCH to Get Into Mormon Heaven? ft. Amanda Rae
Q: What is the origin of tithing in the church, and how does that history relate to current practices?
The hosts explain that tithing began as a way to fund clergy salaries and later evolved into a 10 percent contribution tied to temple access, with continued emphasis on surplus rather than net income; Amanda Rae adds perspective on whether this is still necessary or fair today.
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.

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. 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 445 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. Amanda Rae
2. Hoyt Richards
3. Kyson Dana
4. Mykelti Brown Padron
5. Sofia May Comedy
6. Sofia May
7. Clark Fredericks
8. Claire Headley

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