Cults to Consciousness

Tamara was a new mom seeking connection and community in a scary world where simplicity was romanticized. She was introduced to the Twelve Tribes by a family member and after some love bombing on some overnight trips, she was hooked. She convinced her husband to sell all they owned including their home and even clothes to leave society and move their family into a single bedroom in a communal TT home. Her son Emmet was less than 2 years old and he would come to live a difficult life in the strict boundaries of the cult. Tamara would come to regret her decision after the bait and switch had become clear, but it was too late. She went on to have more children and wouldn’t leave the cult with her family until 14 years later. Tamara and her son Emmet talk about what it was like going through it together. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Tamara's Interview Pt 1

Tamara's Interview Pt 2

Find Tamara!

FB: Tamara Mathieu Author 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tamaramathieu4/

Book: All Who Believed

Click here to watch Emmet’s interview 

Follow Emmet on social media:

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/milwalkietalkie

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milwalkietalkie

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@milwalkietalkie

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just before Emmet Mathieu was 2 years old, his mother Tamara longed for community and simple living, so she convinced her husband to permanently move into the Twelve Tribes commune. Immediate regret set in, but it was too late. Forced to conform to extreme chiId discipline, Emmet was punished every day just for doing developmentally normal things. Immediate compliance was mandatory and if not given he would be punished with the “rod”. He wasn’t allowed to have independent play, speak to other children, and was put to work as young as a toddler. Emmet explains how he learned to cope and the struggles he faced after his family escaped in his late teen years. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Follow Emmet on social media:

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/milwalkietalkie

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milwalkietalkie

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@milwalkietalkie

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:53 Emmet's summary of the 12 Tribes

00:08:07 CW: CA, Emmet's standout chiIdhood memories

00:16:36 Toxic productivity and schooling in the community

00:27:03 Friendships and secretly communicating with other chiIdren

00:32:41 Starting work as a chiId

00:36:08 Seeing the outside world, and the instability within the cult

00:45:53 Emmet's involvement with teaching chiIdren, and moving to Florida

00:51:30 Emmet's feeling he's carried with him since leaving & life in Florida

00:56:50 Emmet's family leaves the cult

01:01:13 Working, finishing school, and navigating high school sports

01:08:10 Dating and meeting girls

01:12:18 Gaming, streaming, and sharing his story

01:16:17 Emmet's Linda Listen and final thoughts

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After joining what Tamara Mathieu thought would be a wholesome, down to earth, communal family group in August of 2000, things quickly went downhill— she immediately regretted her decision.  At 23 years old, Tamara, her husband and their 17-month-old son gave up EVERYTHING to join the Twelve Tribes worldwide religious organization.  In return they received a militaristic, impossible-to-please hierarchy, where she worked constantly and had to employ harsh discipline on her children. 

Fourteen years went by and enough was enough. Find out how her family finally escaped the Twelve Tribes and learned how to once again be “of the world” with no jobs, money or housing. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch the interview with Tamara's son, Emmet

Watch pt 1

Find Tamara!

FB: Tamara Mathieu Author 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tamaramathieu4/

Book: All Who Believed

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:19:12 The "Prison of Specialness" & meeting good people

00:23:22 What adolescence looks like inside vs outside the 12 Tribes

00:30:47 The struggles adapting to living in the outside world

00:36:31 Repercussions on Tamara's family after leaving the community 

00:45:13 The Yellow Deli's

00:52:58 Food in the 12 Tribes

00:56:21 Tamara's passions and joys & adjustments she's still making

01:03:55 Tamara's Linda Listen and final thoughts

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lured into the TWELVE TRIBES (Yellow Deli) Cult

TIMESTAMPS UNAVAILABLE FOR THIS EPISODE

Tamara Mathieu was a new mother in a scary world where Columbine had just happened. Romanticizing a simple life and craving safety for her family, she began visiting the Twelve Tribes. She noticed a village raising the well behaved chiIdren, homemade food and happy families. Feeling alone, isolated and overwhelmed at home with her baby, she spent more and more time at their compounds. She was welcomed with open arms, given gift baskets and the women loved her chiId. It felt like home. She convinced her husband to leave his high paying job, sell their home and all their belongings and completely leave their modern life behind to move into the Twelve Tribes. Assigned one bedroom for their family, everything changed once they moved in. Work became excruciating, chiId discipline expectations were extreme and Tamara would see her husband even less than before. Regret set in, but it was too late. She wouldn’t escape the community until 14 years later.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch pt 2

Watch the interview with Tamara's son, Emmet

Find Tamara!

FB: Tamara Mathieu Author 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tamaramathieu4/

Book: All Who Believed

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Featured in the Shiny Happy People 2 doc-series, Cindy was deep in evangelical nationalism when she was hired as head of PR to silence whistleblowers from the Honor Academy at Teen Mania. She was told they were simply disgruntled chiIdren who were lying to defame the massive enterprise. Years later, she would realize, not only were the alumni telling the truth, but the upper management knew about the tort*re the chiIdren went through and did nothing to stop it, or change their practices for the following group. In fact, it was all part of the system to break the will of the interns and mold them into warriors for Jesus so they could penetrate all facets of society and create a Christian nation. Once Cindy’s eyes were opened, she took all their insider financial information to a news station to blast the story to the world. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Email Cindy:  [email protected]

Watch the interview with Mica Ringo

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mica Ringo was heavily invested in Teen Mania and went through the whole program completely ignoring xyr inner voice of authenticity. Being yourself was never an option in a group that specifically molds teens to be extremist warriors for Jesus. The program was grueling and even abusive in an attempt to break down the character of teens coming in.  Mica would go on to create the Recovering Alumni blog which would lead to the fall of Teen  Mania Ministries!

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find Mica on social media:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mx.micaringo/

Website: https://www.micaringo.com

Watch the interview with Cindy Mallette, the person hired to silence Mica

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 intro

00:05:46 Mica's upbringing

00:09:38 Things that lead Mica on the path towards Team Mania

00:15:27 Navigating Mica's s*xuality within purity culture

00:17:53 Mica's involvement in Team Mania

00:27:36 The Honor Academy

00:45:09 Mica's blog

00:56:55 Mica's Marriage & deconstruction

01:09:44 Mica goes to the press

01:15:04 Linda, listen

01:16:12 What brings Mica joy now

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TIMESTAMPS UNAVAILABLE FOR THIS EPISODE

Celebrating 250 episodes with these 5 incredible women!  We explore ways in which different Amish and sometimes Mennonite settlements had the same methods of control and even ab*se. We cover their rules, restrictions, medical allowances (or lack thereof), why CSA is rampant and how the perpetr*tors are often protected rather than truly held accountable. The stories and wisdom are beautifully shared amongst survivors supporting each other. They also share ways in which they believe women can take back their power in or outside a cult and gain clarity and freedom.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find and support our guests!

Lizzie Hershberger

Swartzentruber AMISH: The Unknown SINISTER Side of the Strictist Settlement 

Swartzentruber AMISH: Seeking JUSTICE Against the Strictest Settlement

Resources: https://www.theplainpeoplespodcast.com/resource

Her book: “Behind Blue Curtains: A True Crime Memoir of an Amish Woman’s Survival, Escape, and Pursuit of Justice” 

Website: https://www.lizziehershberger.com/

IG @lizzie.hershberger 

Naomi Swartzentruber

AMISH: How Growing Up in the Strictest Settlement Led to Dr*gs and S*x Work 

Naomi’s book:  The Amazing Adventures of an Amish Stripper 

IG & TT:  @AmishInspiration 

https://www.instagram.com/AmishInspiration

https://www.tiktok.com/@amishinspiration

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Aq4Tw6q9h/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Elizabeth Hilty

AMISH: Her Unlicensed Midwives Used Veterinary Tools 

Connect with Elizabeth on Facebook

Meg Delagrange-Belfon

“Sins of the Amish” Doc: Darker Details than They Were Willing to Release on TV 

Her artwork: https://www.coloringspirit.com/

Her Blog: https://blendedmix.life/

IG: @coloringspirit 

Plain Anna 

Mary Byler

AMISH Woman "Sinned" by Taking Her Brothers to Court for SA 

Mary's Website: https://www.themisfitamish.com/amishresources

IG @plainrainbows_mary 

Mary's Book: Reflections and Memories of An Amish Misfit: "My therapist says that’s not true, but I digress" 

Fb: https://www.facebook.com/Mary.A.Byler/

TikTok: the.misfit.amish

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following up our initial interview with the incredible April Ajoy, we go LIVE with her to further discuss her upbringing as a Christian Nation*list, in which they drilled into teens a persecution complex that would put their life on the line as a declared “believer”. Fresh off the heels of “Shiny Happy People: Teenage Holy War”, April is a successful content creator and podcast host, sharing stories from her past and how she flipped a 180 in her thinking and way of life.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch April’s initial interview

Find April:

Book: Star-Spangled Jesus 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/aprilajoy/

Podcast: The Tim and April Show

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints lost an appeal to remain blameless in the case of two bishops not reporting egregious acts of CSA in the state of Arizona.  Today we go in depth with former guest and current lawyer Kolby Reddish to further discuss the case and potential legal outcome.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Check out our interviews with Kolby:  

Mormon Church SUED for Not Reporting Unspeakable Confessions (the Verdict) ft. Kolby Reddish

Mormonism On Trial: Ex-Mormon Lawyer Challenges Truth Claims

How a Mormon Lawyer Lost His Faith Ft. Kolby Reddish

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After escaping the COG cult in Australia with her husband, Maria Esguerra spent years in higher education so she could become a psychologist and better understand her past. Her mission now is to help other survivors of high control groups and people, move through their trauma and find healing in understanding. She is even doing her best to help legally forge a path for those who are victims of coercive control and help the courts understand that crimes are not always so black and white. Our discussion covers the ways in which children's wiring is not only affected, but hijacked, when growing up in dangerous and or high control cults. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find and Support Maria!

The Olive Leaf Network: 

Linktr.ee https://linktr.ee/Mariaesguerra

IG @cultpsyc 

TikTok: @mariaesguerra13 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/maria.esguerra.75436

DeCult: www.decult.net

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness 

Host Instagram @sheliseann 

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ 

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness 

Twitter @cultstocon 

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.