Cults to Consciousness

By Shelise Ann Sola, Jonathan C RosalesSociety & Culture

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Typical duration
72 min
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Cults to Consciousness episodes

July 03 I Fell Prey to a Sadistic Guru in a Tibetan Buddhist Cult
A survivor of severe childhood abuse, Sofia May recounts how growing up in a violently dysfunctional and narcissistic family left her desperate for love, safety, and validation. After years of trying to earn protection from her parents by suppressing her own needs and identity, she became drawn to Buddhism because its teachings on dissolving the ego and transcending suffer*ng mirrored the self-erasure she had already been conditioned into.
Sofia found temporary healing and belonging at the Tibetan Buddhist retreat center Tara Mandala, where the peaceful environment, supportive community, and emphasis on the “sacred feminine” felt like an escape from her traumatic home life. Over time, however, under the thumb of Lama Tsultrim Allione, the teachings and culture slowly encouraged deeper submission, guru worship, and the abandonment of personal boundaries.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Watch pt 2
Website: sofiamaycomedy.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sofiamaycomedy/
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**

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.
1 hr 5 min
July 02 I Confronted My Abuser 30 Years Later… Everything Changed
(CW: CSA, Drug A, Self Harm, Suicide Ideation) For a boy growing up in the 1970s, rural northern New Jersey was a year-round playground, filled with secret fishing holes, enchanted woods, and private trails to explore with friends. But this childhood idyll was snatched from Clark Fredericks by a man he regarded as a local hero: Dennis Pegg, the town’s Boy Scout leader, a law enforcement officer with the Sussex County Sheriff’s Department, and, as Fredericks would discover, a serial predator. Through his teenage years and young adulthood, Fredericks kept silent about the horrific abuse he experienced turning to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sex addiction to numb the memories. For decades, he remained tormented by shame, unable to share the secrets that were eating away at his psyche—until he violently confronted his abuser. Following his timing in pr*son, Clark Fredericks and his story have inspired major reform of the statutes that once severely limited the rights of C.A. victims to sue their abusers.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Find Clark:
Book “Scarred”
Podcast “Free Like-Me”
Website: https://www.freelike-me.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/clarkfredericks/?hl=en
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@clarkfredericks3309
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
1 hr 29 min
July 01 Why He Thinks Daughters Should Parent Their Siblings (ft. Tia Levings)
Is “Biblical patriarchy” stripping women of their autonomy? We’re joined LIVE today with former “Fundamentalist Trad Wife” and author, Tia Levings, to discuss Pastor Dale Partridge’s dangerous, prescriptive opinions for young girls.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Watch the latest interview with Tia
Watch our initial interview with Tia
Pt 2 with Tia
Find and support Tia!
Order “I Belong to Me” (Book and website): https://tialevings.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tialevingswriter/
Substack: https://tialevings.substack.com/
Linktree: http://linktr.ee/TiaLevings
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
1 hr 2 min
June 30 Becoming a Fundamentalist Trad Wife Almost Killed Me
Tia Levings discusses her new book “I Belong to Me” as a continuation of her healing journey after escaping a deeply controlling Christian patriarchal environment. Her first memoir, “A Well-Trained Wife”, focused on surviving abuse and indoctrination, while the second book explores what comes after leaving: trauma recovery, identity rebuilding, and deconstruction. Tia describes how religious extremism, purity culture, and patriarchal systems shaped her from childhood into adulthood, conditioning her to suppress autonomy, accept abuse, and remain emotionally dependent. She shares how these systems impacted her development, relationships, sexuality, and sense of self, ultimately culminating in a near murder-suicide escape from her marriage and a decade-long process of healing.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Watch our follow up LIVE stream with Tia
Watch our initial interview with Tia
Pt 2 with Tia
Find and support Tia!
Order “I Belong to Me” (Book and website): https://tialevings.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tialevingswriter/
Substack: https://tialevings.substack.com/
Linktree: http://linktr.ee/TiaLevings
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
1 hr 32 min
June 24 Is the Scientology SPEED RUN TREND Bad for Taking Down Scientology? (Ft. Claire Headley)
“Scientology speed runs” are a new internet trend and protest where creators, streamers, and activists storm Scientology centers to see how quickly they can get confronted, removed, banned, or “declared suppressive” by staff or security—often while filming for livestreams or social media. Today we are joined LIVE with Claire Headley to discuss whether this is a good or bad thing for taking down the nefarious organization.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Watch our initial interview with Claire
Find and Support Claire!
The Aftermath Foundation:
http://www.theaftermathfoundation.org/
To volunteer: [email protected]
Website: https://blownforgood.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blownforgood
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blownforgood/
Twitter: @claireheadley
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
57 min
June 22 What Really Happens During “Ordo Templi Orientis” Initiations? (Trapped in a Secret Society)
James Luceno is a former fifth degree ranked member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), an initially welcoming, symbol-rich spiritual society rooted in Aleister Crowley’s philosophy of Thelema. Over time, what began as an immersive and meaningful community experience became increasingly controlling and ethically troubling, ultimately leading James to view it as a harmful, cult-like system. One in which he had to step away from, getting him ostracized from the community he invested 11 years into.
Today James joins us LIVE to dive deeper into the initiation rituals themselves— what he’s personally seen and experienced the rituals do to people, why they feel profound and transformative, and how the logic of initiation gradually extends beyond the rituals themselves to shape how members interpret the dysfunction and harm they experience in the Order.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Watch James’ initial interview here
Follow and support James!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Entelecheia
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/turningofthesky
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/turningsky/
X: https://x.com/LapisMercurii
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
1 hr 2 min
June 19 This Ruling Is Chilling: Jehovah’s Witnesses WIN Landmark Case—Backlash Begins
Since 2021, a case has been open against the Jehovah’s Witness Religion and a Norwegian state, claiming their practice of shunning is considered a violation of chiId rights. That case has been closed and left us all furious. Learn more as we are joined by Alissa Watson (@alissasawake) to discuss what this chilling ruling really means.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Find Alissa on Social:
YouTube: @athomewithalissa
IG: @alissasawake
TikTok: @alissasawake
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
45 min
June 17 Sam Bateman’s Sister Opens Up on Growing Up With “The False Prophet” (Inside His Descent)
Former FLDS member Jude Bateman recounts her upbringing in the polygamist FLDS community of Colorado City and the terrifying realities of life under Warren Jeffs’ increasingly extreme rule. She grew up in a household with two mothers and 17 children, where obedience and fear governed daily life as new rules and expectations became more radicalized. Jude explains how her brother, Sam Bateman — later infamous for leading his own sect — played a role in enforcing loyalty to the church, even taking her to “turn herself in” before Warren Jeffs at age 15. She shares the trauma of being sent to Bountiful, Canada under the guise of a vacation, only to discover she was being groomed for an arranged marriage. The conversation then shifts into a deeply personal examination of Sam Bateman’s transformation from a rebellious, thrill-seeking teenager into a dangerous cult leader.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Find and support Jude and Cherish Families:https://www.cherishfamilies.org/
Watch part 1 of our initial interview with Jude here
Watch part 2 here
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
1 hr 29 min
June 15 My Father is the ACTUAL Prophet of the FLDS (ft. Jaden Jeffs)
@JadenJeffs , Son of Warren Jeffs—the current imprisoned prophet of the FLDS—speaks out about Sam Bateman, another “False Prophet” who is also in prison for his crimes against children.
Click here to watch on YouTube
Find Jaden on Social Media!
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JadenJeffs
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jadenjjeffs100/
Watch our initial interview with Jaden
watch Jaden's last video with his younger sister, Sienna
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
57 min
June 12 Taylor Frankie Paul’s Super Secret Mormon Prophecy (ft. Alyssa Grenfell)
Did you know that all “righteous” members of the LDS (Mormon) church get a blessing that tells their future directly from God? It’s a coming of age ritual that requires one to fast in preparation for and no one is allowed to read it except for your parents and eventual spouse. Even though Taylor Frankie Paul is stepping away from the LDS church, people are shocked that she chose to post portions of her blessing on social media. @alyssadgrenfell gives us the full scoop!
Click here to watch on YouTube
Watch Alyssa's video for a deeper dive
Find Alyssa on social media!
YT: www.youtube.com/@alyssadgrenfell/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/alyssadgrenfell
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssadgrenfell

Thumbnail Photo of Alyssa provided by Ilana Panich-Linsman website
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: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**
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.
33 min