Cults to Consciousness

Featured in the new and second season of Shiny Happy People, Dani was determined to live a life dedicated to Jesus as a young teen. She attended Acquire the Fire events in her early years which eventually led her to officially joining the Teen Mania Honor Academy program. She spent years paying thousands to work for free to travel on a bus and put on these huge events weekends at a time. She would even hang lights as crew, before putting on hour long productions as an actress and singer. At the height of her seniority, someone in the town snitched on her for kissing a boy and her whole world came to a screeching halt. Her friends were no longer allowed to see or speak with her and her unpaid, yet highly coveted position at the Honor Academy was stripped away. Learn more about her journey of working her way back in, with a heavy heart, before finally unraveling it all years later. Click here to watch on YouTubeFind Dani on social media:IG: @daniroccamusicIG: @theworldinlights TT: @danirocamusic 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

Isolated within a world of a strict Independent Fundamental Baptist, Drew McCoy was more than invested in his beliefs. He would proselytize to anyone who needed God, even if it meant sacrificing his social status amongst non-believers. The closest he came to breaking the rules as a teen was hanging out with non-church friends who would smoke we*d in front of him.  A health scare drew him even closer to his faith and he attended a very strict Christian college that required even more time and devotion than his childhood. Everything came into question, however, when his family bought hard into Young Living Essential oils.  It became religion to them.  Drew did his research and found glaring issues with the founder, but when he confronted his family about it, they gave cultish responses that left him uneasy.  He had no idea that his entire reality was about to come into question. Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch Drew's Cult Leader confrontationFollow Drew on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@GeneticallyModifiedSkepticDrew’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/gmskeptic/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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:00:00 Intro00:03:46 Drew growing up as an Independent Fundamental Baptist00:06:15 The IFB uses the Bible as historical and scientific evidence00:10:21 Growing up as the "good kid" in Sunday school00:13:10 13 year old Drew defends the bible at skate camp00:17:31 What it was like for Drew being homeschooled and going to church youth group00:22:27 Was Drew ever worried about going to Hell?00:27:42 Drew didn't realize he was being indoctrinated with white supr*mecy propaganda00:34:32 Drew wanted many chiIdren because of the Quiverfull verse00:36:53 How the IBLP made an appearance in Drew's IFB experience00:39:54 What college was like for Drew00:44:32 When Drew started to feel that the environment may have been creating manufactured spiritual experiences00:48:03 Drew explains "Collective Effervescence"00:52:49 Drew's family's involvement in a pyramid scheme created a divide with him01:07:56 Drew's re-interpretations of what he once knew to be "true"01:15:19 Why Drew started his YouTube channel01:22:59 Is Drew's wife still a Christian?01:25:45 Linda, listenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Lebaron group fled the US after being excommunicated from the Mormon church for still practicing polygamy. While in Mexico, the group split and the Ervilite side started implementing blood atonement in an attempt to wipe out the other. Pamela Jones grew up in fear that the Ervilites would come for them any moment. To escape the extreme abuse, she got married at 15, not realizing she was entering into the Ervilite family. Her husband went on to marry 5 other women while keeping her and her family in forced poverty, even restricting water. Today we speak with two of Pamela's daughters who give us their perspective on the cult and fleeing to the US to start a new life.Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch part 1 of Pamela’s interviewWatch part 2 of Pamela’s interviewFind Pamela!Pamela’s website: www.Pamelaspeaks.livePamela’s book:  The Dirt Beneath Our Door https://www.pamelaspeaks.live/bookPamela’s Podcast:  Wicked Confessions Uncensoredhttps://www.wickedconfessionsuncensored.com/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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

In the Vampyre community that Father Sebastiaan was the head of, it was sometimes the case that the group rituals and spiritual practices were manipulated into something far more insidious. Khassa and Ashra describe what happened at the group ceremony called Babylon. They were each told something different by Father Sebastiaan about the intention of the ceremony concerning Khassa’s role. In the end, Khassa was severely compromised by him and left questioning everything. Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch Khassa + Ashra's interviews:https://youtu.be/R3SbSxyFews?si=JgIM7Uw8sLKM7l8Chttps://youtu.be/nivycAxCicE?si=du7_tIyQB03UNQTgFollow Khassa + Ashra on social media: IG: https://www.instagram.com/liana_elizabeth_omar/IG:  https://www.instagram.com/ashraduvide/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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Markers00:00:00 Intro00:03:38 Ashra's upbringing00:06:09 Ashra's introduction to occult practices00:08:30 Factors that may have contributed to her involvement with Vampyrism and Sebastiaan00:11:13 Getting involved with the Vampyre community and Father Sebastiaan00:18:24 Ashra's relationship with Father Sebastiaan00:24:23 Understanding how people can be susceptible to these kinds of groups00:26:08 How the relationship with Father Sebastiaan began devolving into something dark00:32:04 How women were treated by Father Sebastiaan00:37:53 How monogamy was viewed within the group00:42:49 Feeding practices between Ashra and Father Sebastiaan00:47:59 How Ashra was explo*ted by Father Sebastiaan00:51:18 The hold Father Sebastiaan has on people in the cult00:54:20 The final straw for Ashra00:59:47 Why Ashra decided to come forward and tell her story01:06:12 How Ashra is doing now01:08:59 Linda, ListenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ashra was looking for a sense of community and understanding when she came into contact with Father Sebastiaan, the most public face of the Vampyre community. Eager to learn from him, she entered into a mentor/mentee relationship. Things would eventually devolve into conversations about sex magick and rituals that he wanted her to be a part of. She didn’t realize she was being gro*med to be one of his many girlfriends. He would go on to tell her what to wear and confessed he liked dressing his girls like dolls. Ashra would also end up being exploited for her labor, expected to proofread and edit one of his manuscripts for free. After leaving and being lured back in, she would finally make her escape in 2024. Click here to watch on YouTubeFollow Ashra on social media: IG: @ashraduvide Watch Khassa and Ashra's follow up LIVE interviewSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

Growing up, Khassa’ Kaikesi's mother felt plagued by her abilities as a medium. Even though Khassa came from a long line of Magickal practitioners, when she started understanding her own gifts, she was left with no support and felt isolated. She was bullied for her practices and attended 4 different high schools because of it. Once introduced to Vampyrism, the spiritualism resonated and she found herself meeting “the face” and fang master of the Vampyre community, Father Sebastiaan. He quickly showed romantic interest, but Khassa tried to keep her distance as she sensed something was off about him. Serious about her practice and interested in building a community, she set aside her fears about him to help create the inner circle. After a few years, things would take a dark turn and lines between spirituality and self serving ego would be blurred, leaving Khassa as one of many women who would be taken advantage of in more ways than one. For the first time, Khassa steps into the light to expose the inner workings of Father Sebastiaan’s Vampyre community.Click here to watch on YouTubeFind Khassa on social media: IG: https://www.instagram.com/liana_elizabeth_omar/Watch Khassa and Ashra's follow up LIVE interview: https://www.youtube.com/live/t3jPKLfNhKA?si=ZJ66QhPV88vtQFEcSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

After 34 years of being abandoned, neglected, and brainwashed, Pamela Jones and her nine children escaped a fundamentalist cult out of Mexico and fled to a new life in the US. She had 2 cars and nothing more than $5 and two credit cards which she didn’t know how to use. Her biggest challenge was acclimating to a life of leadership and tasks she was never allowed to do in the cult. Getting the courage to order food at a drive through was her first huge undertaking. Pamela shares her struggles with helping her children learn in a public school, finding ways to feed and shelter her family, including almost joining an even more insidious polygamous group, and slowly finding her voice and value as a woman. She would go on to found a multimillion-dollar business, Exclusive Services by MyGirls, and has shared her story across the country to show how someone who came from nothing can truly have everything. Her family has grown to include 32 grandchildren, keeping Pamela busier, and more fulfilled, than ever.Watch part one (linked below) to learn more about her life growing up in isolation, hiding from a bl*od thirsty rival church and getting married off at 15 to escape her own familial abuse. Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch pt 1Watch part 3 with Pamela and her daughtersFind Pamela!Pamela’s website: www.Pamelaspeaks.livePamela’s book:  The Dirt Beneath Our Door https://www.pamelaspeaks.live/bookPamela’s Podcast:  Wicked Confessions Uncensoredhttps://www.wickedconfessionsuncensored.com/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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:00:00 Intro00:05:26 Discovering How To Live in America00:10:14 Practicing Reading & Writing00:15:12 The Order Cult Almost Recruits Pamela!00:22:59 The Struggles of Putting Her ChiIdren in Public Education00:28:17 Starting Her Business & How Her Influence Caused More Women to Leave00:37:25 Deconstructing the Religion00:43:53 Realizations After Leaving the Cult00:51:11 The Steps Pamela Continually Took to Heal 00:55:56 CW: CSA from her brother00:59:08 The Ways Cult Survivors Choose to Heal01:04:53 The Beginning of Pamela’s Business & Where It's at Now01:12:29 Finding Love After Being So Mistreated in Pamela’s First Marriage01:23:40 Pamela's Shares About Her ChiIdren01:29:50 Final Thoughts and Linda ListenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pamela Jones was born in Los Molinos, Mexico to members of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times,  a fundamentalist, misogynistic cult. She was the 11th of her abusIve father’s 57 biological children and 2nd of her mother’s thirteen children and it was from that moment on that Pamela held one single belief:  She existed for one reason and one reason only,  to be her eventual husband’s handmaid and to bear him as many children as possible.  Fast forward to age 10, Pamela was forced out of school to help her mom care for her 12 children,  giving her nothing more than a fifth-grade education.At age 15, Pamela married David Lebaron, the grandson of cult founder Alma Dayer LeBaron Jr.  and was pregnant 17 times in 18 years. After 9 childbirths and 8 miscarriages, Pamela felt she had enough children to make it to heaven, a fundamentalist belief. One day, she awoke her nine children to escape the neglect and ab*se from her husband, and make their way to the United States to start a new life.Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch part 2 of Pamela’s interviewWatch part 3 with Pamela and her daughtersFind Pamela!Pamela’s website: www.Pamelaspeaks.livePamela’s book:  The Dirt Beneath Our Door https://www.pamelaspeaks.live/bookPamela’s Podcast:  Wicked Confessions Uncensoredhttps://www.wickedconfessionsuncensored.com/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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:00:00 Intro00:10:31 CW: Murd*r, Pamela Explains the Practices of Blood Atonement and How it Impacted Her ChiIdhood00:15:08 Pamela Talks about the Raid on Los Molinos & Her Role of a Mother from an Early Age00:22:15 CW: CA,  The Ways Pamela’s Father Controlled and Ab*sed Her00:28:14 Pamela Shares More About Her Father 00:33:58 Pamela’s Father’s Reaction to Her Meeting Her Husband00:39:30 How Quickly Pamela’s Husband Changed on Her00:43:44 Pamela’s Husband's Actions and Infidelity00:49:09 How Pamela Was Treated as a Polygamous Wife00:54:16 Pamela Makes Plans to Leave Her Husband and the Cult01:02:30 CW: Mentions of R*pe, Pamela’s Father Supports Her Against Her Husband01:09:48 Pamela’s Escape Story01:18:12 Pamela’s Experiences After Leaving Mexico & The Fear that Gripped Her01:26:01 Final Thoughts and Linda ListenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Demetria is a survivor of an Oregon New Age group called TwinRay. She describes her journey into spirituality after reading Eckhart Tolle's works and being drawn to an online guru who claimed to have achieved spiritual liberation and later claimed he wasn’t even human. He introduced a woman (a former actress) to the leadership and claimed they were 'twin rays' with special spiritual knowledge. Demetria paid these self appointed Gurus $17,000 extra for life coaching and they put her on an all-fruit and charcoal pudding diet for 6 months, on top of charging $9,000 retreats where attendees were given a mysterious 'elixir’, later discovered to be DM.T. Once everyone was in an elevated state and under the influence, they would then make sales pitches for expensive products and future retreats. It was clear that the Twin Rays were living in luxury while their followers were exploited, used for labor, and not given a second thought. Click here to watch on YouTubeFollow Demetria on Substack: Demetriam.substack.comSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

Feeling worthless as a young single adult in the Mormon church, Katie was sucked into a relationship with a “worthy priesthood holder” from her ward. Once he discovered her SA, a trauma that others were blaming and shaming her for, he claimed he could cure her using OneTaste’s Orgasmic Meditation. Vulnerable and left in the dark with all things sex related, he groomed her into thinking she needed these sessions with him to release her trauma. Unbeknownst to Katie, OneTaste was another cult who was pushing harmful ideas about SA, exploiting women and much worse. These harmful practices and ideologies combined with his predatory nature, led him to steal her virginity while she was unconscious having a seizure. He later admitted to purposely impregnating her so she would be forced to marry him. Barely 18, with no real support, Katie was left picking up the pieces while continuously being monitored and berated by the Mormon ran Brigham Young University’s honor code office. Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch pt 1 of Katie’s interviewSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

Born and raised in a Mormon majority town, Katie was doing her best to be the most righteous and worthy Mormon she could be. Everything came crashing down when she was blamed by her mother and shamed by her bishop for being SA’d. They claimed her “purity was tainted” and she needed to repent. Upon graduation, she went to the Young Single Adults ward, where she was primed to be targeted by a “worthy priesthood holder” who tried to lure her into an orgasm cult with promises to “fix” her sexual trauma. Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch pt 2 of Katie’s interviewSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

Amanda Rae joins us to talk about the ways in which her former polygamous cult weaponizes ignorance and purposely withholds information about reproduction to keep women submissive to their husband. Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch Pt 2 on Amanda's channel:  https://www.youtube.com/live/Q_vdflUQ69Y?si=oyE3eTaPp0QMpbimFind Amanda:YouTube:   @TheAmandaRaeGrant         IG: @amandaraegrantSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.

Daryl Davis has spent decades infiltrating and befriending not only Klan members but Klan leaders, even going as far as to attend their rallies. On a quest to do nothing more than explore racism and gather information for his book, Klan-Destine Relationships, Daryl Davis eventually became the recipient of numerous robes and hoods given to him by Klan members who rescinded their beliefs after coming to know him. He had inadvertently stumbled upon a successful method of forming friendships between sworn enemies. His methods have made him the center of controversy in some circles where he is considered “politically incorrect,” but after proving his methods work, he has made supporters out of his detractors.As a race relations expert, Daryl Davis has received acclaim for his book, Klan-Destine Relationships and his work in race relations from many respected sources including CNN, NBC, Good Morning America, The Learning Channel, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun and many others. He is also the recipient of numerous awards including the highly prestigious Elliott-Black Award and the Bridge Builder Award presented by the American Ethical Union and Washington Ethical Society respectively, to name a few.  Filled with exciting encounters and sometimes amusing anecdotes, Daryl Davis’ impassioned lectures leave an audience feeling empowered to confront their own prejudices and overcome their fears, seeking to build a bridge and forge peace with their most unlikely adversaries.Click here to watch on YouTubeFollow Daryl:IG:  @realdaryldavis Website:  https://www.daryldavis.com/Daryl’s book:  The Klan WhispererSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:00:00 Intro00:06:12 Daryl’s First Time Experiencing Rac*sm00:10:43  The Question Daryl’s Tried to Answer His Entire Life 00:15:42 Daryl’s Thoughts of Why Someone May Join A Group Like the Kl*n00:24:55 Daryl Shares About His First Positive Interaction with a Kl*n Member00:33:39 Daryl Explains the Hierarchy and Organization of the Kl*n00:38:15 Daryl’s Efforts to Interview Members of the Kl*n and Gives Some Definitions of Their Beliefs00:42:57 Daryl Speaks on the State of Civil Rights for POC and Women in the US and Among the Kl*n00:49:36 Daryl Tells of His Methods for Changing Peoples Perspectives & The Justifications Some Kl*n Members Use00:55:55 Daryl’s Perspective On How to Change Someone's Faulty Perspective01:02:43 Daryl’s Interactions with a Major Kl*n Leader and His Family01:09:06 More Interactions with Kl*n Members and Some More Background on the Systematic Rac*sm in America01:18:30  Why Daryl Still Feels Safe While Attending Kl*n Rallies and Events01:23:36 The Significance of Cross Burning in the Kl*n and about Their Supposed Christian Faith01:28:44 How Faulty Information Makes Its Way into Belief Systems01:34:14 Linda, listenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Isolated in the Apostolic United Brethren, Janae’s father went unchecked when exploiting the nature of the religious group. With 4 wives and over a dozen children, he misused his power to control them all. “Life lessons” laced in traumatic experiences would leave the girls feeling helpless, scared and vulnerable without him, even when he was the true source of danger. Essentially acting as a cult leader within an already restrictive cult, Janae’s father took advantage of the system which had lasting negative effects. Click here to watch on YouTubeFind and Support Janae!IG: @janaedubose  Facebook: Janae DuBose Book:  “In The Cult Next Door”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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:00:00 intro00:04:07 How the AUB split from the mainstream LDS church00:08:43 Hierarchy in the church and how Janae’s father affected their family's place00:10:34 What Janae's father was like and how he got involved with the AUB00:13:18 How Janae's father exploited AUB rules for his benefit00:14:48 CW: CA Janae's father's man*pulation and ab*se tactics00:25:31 Janae's mom's reaction to her chiIdren's ab*se and how the AUB predisposed her to marrying Janae's father00:30:03 CW: CSA Janae's father's openness about his pred*tory behavior00:33:05 How Janae's father's lack of self awareness led to a projection of his own feelings and issues00:35:20 The use of other religious beliefs in the household00:37:07 CW: SA How their father's ab*se affected the boys and their relationships with their sisters00:40:06 The cycle of ab*se (or lack thereof)00:41:43 The constant vulnerability in the house00:43:22 Inability to understand AUB00:46:57 Janae’s feelings on being a plural wife 00:48:54 Janae's mother's search for answers led them to mainstream Mormonism00:56:03 CW: r*pe - Janae’s past left her vulnerable after escaping 01:01:41 Learning to stand in your power as a woman 01:04:13 How people from ab*sive situations can be targets for other ab*sers in the future01:08:47 Finding safety in yourself and life after a cult01:16:16 What makes Janae happy today01:17:50 Linda, listenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the Apostolic United Brethren, a break off from the mainstream Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), polygamy is not only expected, but a requirement to get into the highest level of heaven per the original prophet Joseph Smith. Women are also expected to “multiply and replenish the Earth”.  In this 2nd part to Emily’s interview, she delves into what it was like getting married at the age of 17, realizing her father was in fact “evil”, her reaction to him rising up as “Prophet” of the AUB, as well as what her deconstruction process has been like, and what’s it’s been like speaking out in recent years. Click here to watch on YouTubeWatch pt 1 of Emily’s interviewWatch Emily’s sister, Melanie’s interviewMelanie’s liveFind Emily on social media!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Good-Enough-444IG: @good_enough_444  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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Intro00:03:51 Emotional damage from purity culture after CSA00:06:01 Was Emily pushed into getting married at a young age?00:12:12 Emily's parents told her and her siblings they all lived polygamy in their own ways00:16:08 How much Emily knew about s*x Ed and getting pregnant at 1800:19:28 When Emily started to deconstruct00:24:54 Has Emily discussed what happened to her with her chiIdren?00:31:07 What made Emily decide to tell her story00:37:13 The "Without a Crystal Ball" interview00:39:34 What brings Emily joy now00:46:53 Emily's kind words about C2C00:50:41 Linda, listenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the Apostolic United Brethren, a break off from the mainstream Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), polygamy is not only expected, but a requirement to get into the highest level of heaven per the original prophet Joseph Smith. Women are also expected to “multiply and replenish the Earth”. Emily’s mother (the second wife) had 11 chiIdren and had to work 3 jobs to put what little food on the table she could. Even with the best of intentions and all the love she gave her chiIdren, it often left them hungry, delirious and malnour*shed. Emily was babysitting infants and toddlers at just 7 years old with no milk to properly care for them. On top of this, the man who would later become the prophet of the AUB, her father, would come home and rage on all his chiIdren. An emotional and physical tort*re that left them scared and scarred for years to come.Click here to watch on YouTubeFind Emily on social media!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Good-Enough-444IG: @good_enough_444  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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:00:00 Intro00:04:00 Emily explains the AUB00:06:42 Rac*sm when it's convenient00:12:19 Emily's family unit- How many moms/sister wives?00:16:37 CW: Depictions of CA- How Emily's father treated his chiIdren00:21:10 How their father's ab*se affected them long term00:27:13 Did Emily's mother try to step in to help?00:30:23 Core memory babysitting infants at 7 yrs old00:35:39 Limited access to food00:38:49 Effects of malnour*shment00:40:21 CW: CSA- why there is a high rate of CSA in the AUB00:51:13 Emotional dam*ge from purity culture after CSASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Born in 1968, Sarito spent her formative years constantly on the move with her mother, a young hippie in search of spiritual meaning. At just nine years old, what was intended to be a brief summer trip to India took an unexpected turn. Sarito and her mother joined the ashram of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, transforming that fleeting visit into a seven-year journey within the commune—first in Pune, India, and later in the notorious city of Rajneeshpuram in Central Oregon. While in the commune, Sarito was submerged in a world where devotion and freedom clashed with man*pulation, s*xual misconduct, and neglect. After the fall of Rajneeshpuram in 1985, sixteen-year-old Sarito was abruptly thrust into the “real world.” In her book “In the Shadow of Enlightenment” is the gripping story of Sarito’s chiIdhood inside the Osho Rajneesh cult—one of the most controversial spiritual movements of the 20th century.Click here to watch on YouTubeFollow Sarito on social media:Sarito’s memoir “In the Shadows of Enlightenment” Website: https://www.saritocarroll.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/saritocIG: @saritocarroll TikTok: @saritocarroll_authorSubscribe 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:00:00 Intro00:04:59 How Life Has Been Since the Release Of Sarito’s Book00:07:09 Sarito’s Family's Introduction to the Cult00:10:52 The Beginning of Sarito’s Time in India as a ChiId & Some of the Cults Practices00:17:50 CW: CSA, the Highly S*xual Nature of the Cult and the Attention Sarito Received00:21:15 Specifics About the Cult Leader00:25:59 The Cult Leaders Teachings on Materialism and Wealth00:32:30 The Us vs Them Mentality of the Cult00:36:58 CW: CSA, the Cult Settling into Oregon & the Beginning of Sarito Being Gr**med00:41:54 CW: CSA, More Details About the Gr**ming Sarito Received00:49:48 The Tumult of Growing Up without any Structure or Role Models00:53:23 The Excellent Organization of the Commune & Its Settling in Oregon01:00:50 The Stark Contrast in Wealth and The Cult Leader's Interactions with its Members01:10:40 The Conflict Between Different Members of the Cult & The Demise of the Cult01:15:58 Sarito’s First Steps Outside of the Cult at 1601:21:54 Sarito’s Interactions with The Cult After Leaving and Publishing Her Book01:28:43 Final Thoughts01:31:06 Linda, listenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin James Thornton grew up in a small Christian town in Indiana. His early life started at a Baptist church, but once he discovered a Mega Church focused on rock bands and the youth, he became enamored and doubled down on his faith. A Jesus loving, self motivated chiId then teen, he loved his fully immersive church and heavily partook in extremely questionable youth events, but something inside himself felt wrong. Driven by his desire to fit in and “fix himself” he wouldn’t even allow himself to have the thought that he was gay. He attended youth group bible study religiously and went to inner city parks in NYC dressed as “sin” clowns to perform “morality plays”. They even put on extreme HeII based haunted houses with graphic scenes played out by the youth.  Things started to feel grim for Kevin once the group graduated high school and the boys he had crushes on coupled up and got married, leaving Kevin feeling more alone than ever.  Always having buried who he really was, it wasn’t until he escaped to college and found himself in a new group within theater that the inner turmoil would subside.  Kevin dives into what it was like selling everything to move to LA to become a comedian, and how he blew up on TikTok during the pandemic by sharing his old bible study memories (with a splash of autotune).Click here to watch on YouTubeTour dates and tickets:  Websites: https://www.kevinjamesthornton.com/https://www.shamalahamala.com/Follow Kevin on social media:YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNQbKNgL8bcuH8z4pzh9flwIG: @kevinjamesthornton  TT: @kevinjamesthornton 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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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 Marks00:04:24 Kevin's early church experiences as a southern baptist00:06:58 How Kevin changed churches and why it appealed to him as a teenager00:09:40 How this mega church appeared to be less conservative but doctrinally the opposite00:10:50 What Kevin's parents thought about his dedication to church00:12:14 What the messages were like at the new church00:14:28 Youth group mission trips to inner cities00:19:10 Messages from the church and the pressure to proselytize and bring more people to the church through events00:22:35 Kevin's dissonance with his s*xuality00:26:56 The story about home bible study during youth group00:30:13 How people in the same situations can have different experiences00:33:25 The mega church's haunted houses for Halloween00:37:27 Kevin's feelings at the time on the haunted houses00:39:06 When Kevin started to realize there were issues with his church00:43:28 How seeing other gay people be acceptable helped Kevin accept himself00:47:14 How his old youth group felt about Kevin's new life in college00:49:56 How reaching out can make someone second guess the best path for themselves00:52:17 Kevin's shift from his old life into the comedy scene00:59:11 How an app and the pandemic changed Kevin's comedy01:06:08 How Kevin is doing today01:11:47 Linda, ListenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many of you have gotten knocks on your door lately (us included) by the Jehovah’s Witnesses inviting you to attend their upcoming weekend long convention in July. Our friend Jake at @altworldly found a LEAKED copy of their propaganda and promised it would deliver in absurdity and disgusting takes on the “apostates” who have left the religion. Join us as Shelise blind reacts to these videos.Click here to watch on YouTubePart 1 of the streamFollow  @altworldly  Other video collaborations:Ex-Mormon and Ex-Jehovah's Witness Compare CULTure (ft.  @altworldly  )Ex- Mormon and Ex-Jehovah's Witness Compare Doctrine (ft @altworldly)Fear of End Times: Ex-Jehovah's Witness Confessions ft. @altworldlyAn ex-Mormon and ex-Jehovah's Witness Compare Notes (w/ @CultstoConsciousness )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/cultstoconsciousnessVenmo @sheliseannFind 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.