Cults to Consciousness – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Shalom’s childhood and education were dominated by intense religious indoctrination. He attended a strict ultra-Orthodox school 365 days a year, where boys studied religious texts from early morning until late at night, with little secular education and frequent physical punishment from teachers. The rigid environment, lack of emotional support, and strict moral expectations led to anxiety, obsessive religious guilt, and deep internal conflict, particularly around sexuality and personal identity. The community’s teachings pushed him toward early marriage as a supposed solution to normal sexual urges and loneliness. He then became a Rabbi and eventually left it all behind. We discuss all the ways rigid patriarchy harms the men too and the consequences of strict gender roles void of choice. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch our initial interview with Shalom

Watch our recent panel with 4 Former Ultra Orthodox women

Find and support Shalom!

Shalom’s podcast, Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus

Instagram: @shalomshore

Personal website: shalomshore.com

Religion site: freidomfighter.com

Hypnosis site: navyahypnosis.com

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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.**

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Shalom Shore grew up in a strict ultra-Orthodox Jewish environment in Jerusalem connected to the organization Aish HaTorah, dedicated to its mission of bringing secular Jews back to strict religious observance. As the oldest of nine children, Shalom grew up in a household that appeared ideal, but was marked by emotional neglect, financial stress, and a constant focus on religious outreach.

Shalom’s childhood and education were dominated by intense religious indoctrination. He attended a strict ultra-Orthodox school 365 days a year, where boys studied religious texts from early morning until late at night, with little secular education and frequent physical punishment from teachers. The rigid environment, lack of emotional support, and strict moral expectations led to anxiety, obsessive religious guilt, and deep internal conflict, particularly around sexuality and personal identity. The community’s teachings pushed him toward early marriage as a supposed solution to normal sexual urges and loneliness. He then became a Rabbi and eventually left it all behind. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch our follow up LIVE with Shalom

Watch our recent panel with 4 Former Ultra Orthodox women

Find and support Shalom!

Shalom’s podcast, Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus

Instagram: @shalomshore

Personal website: shalomshore.com

Religion site: freidomfighter.com

Hypnosis site: navyahypnosis.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/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.

Escaping a cult and finding peace on the outside is one thing, but what happens when you feel obligated or even required to go back into the same environment that harmed you for so long? Amanda Rae was born and raised in The Order, a polygamous offshoot of Mormonism known for its incestuous marriages. Barely an adult, she escaped and made it her mission to expose the Order while helping other members find their way out. However, a death in the family led her back into the belly of the beast, where she had been shunned and cut off, forced to face the people and places that left physical and emotional scars. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find Amanda:

YouTube: @TheAmandaRaeGrant     

IG: @amandaraegrant

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.

As a 4th generation Jehovah’s Witness, Alissa Watson followed the path laid out before her and married young at a month past 19. Against the recommendation of the doomsday cult, she had chiIdren. During the birth of her first chiId, a pool of lost blood scared her husband into looking into the doctrine of blood transfusions being a punishable sin. Unwilling to lose the life of his wife or baby during the next delivery, he confessed to his wife that he would not be following the blood doctrine if it came down to it. Alissa agreed, but had no idea it had sent her husband down a slow and secret path of deconstruction, until she confronted him about his absence in the church. Research of rampant CSA coverups, a wishy-washy governing body leader under oath and more left her shocked. Their exit out of the religion was messy and hurtful, leaving behind their entire family who refused to even look at them due to the strict practice of shunning.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Why I Left the Jehovah's Witnesses: The Truth Behind My Exit

Find Alissa on Social:

YouTube: @athomewithalissa

IG: @athome_withalissa  

TikTok: @athomewithalissa 

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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

00:04:27 What it was like growing up as a Jehovah's Witness (pressures & disfellowshipping)

00:11:07 Why Alissa wanted to be homeschooled

00:13:16 Alissa meets her husband at 17 and doubles down on the religion

00:16:14 Dating as a Jehovah's Witness

00:18:33 The pressures of being a teenage girl having to get married

00:23:52 Alissa gets engaged, sins and thinks Satan is attacking her relationship

00:26:51 Jehovah's Witnesses discourage having chiIdren

00:30:43 The "no blood" rule causing a scare during birth

00:37:23 Alissa's husband starts secretly deconstructing

00:40:47 Was Alissa's husband filled with Satan??

00:42:47 Why Alissa's testimony crumbled overnight

00:47:59 What it was like when Alissa and her family were shunned

00:57:31 Setting boundaries and making mental health a priority

01:06:09 Why Alissa decided to start speaking out on social media

01:14:53 How Alissa's life has changed for the better

01:18:34 Linda, Listen

01:20:40 Find and support Alissa!

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During WWII the horrific extermination of religious and ethnic groups forced people to denounce their faith and hail Hitler for their own survival. Owen Morgan, former JW and successful YouTuber  @OwenMorganTelltale  dove into the rabbit hole to extensively research the position and stories of the JW people at the time. He explains how Joseph Franklin Rutherford, the second leader of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, made an attempt to align with the Nazi regime to  maintain freedom of worship. However, he took things a step further, actively harming the witnesses and taking the religion in a cultic direction. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch our initial interview with Owen:

The Extremely Isolated Life of Growing Up Jehovah's Witness

Find Owen on Social Media:

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@OwenMorganTelltale

IG: @owenmorgantelltale 

Website:  www.owenmorgan.com

Book: Was Hitler an Atheist? 

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

00:03:09 Owen's motivation for researching the N*zi's treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses during World War II

00:04:26 Owen's reasons for leaving the church

00:06:36 German Christian national*sm and H*tler's connection to the Jehovah's Witnesses

00:10:53 Rutherford's letter to H*tler

00:12:10 JW's support of N*zism vs the well known rule of no politics

00:15:44 Frank's story as a JW  in N*zi Germany

00:21:24 Paul Balzereit's story

00:23:40 How JW's were forced into signing the declaration to H*tler

00:25:35 How Rutherford came into leadership and the changes he brought

00:31:51 Why Rutherford released the statement and the resiliency of JW members

00:37:44 Corruption in leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses vs Mormonism

00:41:15 Rac*sm in the Jehovah's Witness religion and Mormonism

00:44:46 Different schisms of Jehovah's Witnesses and their similarities with the main group

00:48:17 Word of wisdom hot drinks vs caffeine debate in Mormonism

00:51:44 How and why trivial religious rules and how they can dictate people's entire lives

00:57:21 Other recent changes to the religion

01:00:05 Financial holdings and corruption in the JW religion

01:07:17 Guilt and being a good person as a Jehovah's Witness

01:13:03 Linda, listen

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Bethany was raised in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, only to realize she had been part of a cult for thirty years. The psychological pressure cooker exploded in her 20s with quickly deteriorating mental health. The faux perfectionism drove her into an eating disorder as a means to gain any form of control over her life. When she could no longer pretend anymore, questioning authority and pursuing her personal freedom cost her, her devout family.  She now has a YouTube channel where she discusses the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ harmful policies.

Today we are going LIVE with Bethany to further dive into how the Jehovah’s Witnesses completely ruined her relationship with her parents.  

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch the initial interview here  

Find Bethany on social media:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bethanyleger

website: www.bethanyleger.com

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@stoptheshunning

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

Bethany’s book: Physically In, Mentally Out: Navigating Your Exit From Watchtower

The best way to reach her is via email: bethanylegerwriter@gmail.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/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.

Bethany Leger was raised in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, only to realize she had been part of a cult for thirty years. The psychological pressure cooker exploded in her 20s with quickly deteriorating mental health. The faux perfectionism drove her into an eating d*sorder as a means to gain any form of control over her life. When she could no longer pretend anymore, questioning authority and pursuing her personal freedom cost her, her devout family.  She now has a YouTube channel where she discusses the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ h*rmful policies.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find Bethany on social media:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bethanyleger

website: www.bethanyleger.com

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@stoptheshunning

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

Bethany’s book: Physically In, Mentally Out: Navigating Your Exit From Watchtower

The best way to reach her is via email: bethanylegerwriter@gmail.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/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

00:04:25 Defining the Jehovah's Witness religion as a cult-like group

00:06:02 What Bethany's family was like growing up

00:11:08 Core beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses

00:15:23 Bethany's gut feelings about the church and the obligation to fulfill duties

00:23:20 CW: ED Developing h*rmful behaviors and realizing how being a JW makes Bethany really feel

00:25:21 CW: ED Bethany's experience in high school that led her to evaluate the Jehovah's Witnesses

00:38:45 What Bethany's mom did to keep her in the religion

00:41:16 Bethany's parents' conflicting values and where that confusion ultimately led her

00:46:26 How self policing kept Bethany as a Jehovah's Witness after high school

00:49:30 The tension in Bethany reaches a breaking point CW: su*cid*l ideation

00:51:54 The last time Bethany stepped foot in a Kingdom Hall

00:58:29 The moment that changed Bethany's perspective forever

01:02:02 CW: SA Jehovah's Witness SA cases in Australia

01:03:12 CW: SA The two witness rule and how it allows rampant ab*se to fester for years

01:06:10 Barbara Anderson's story

01:13:59 New changes to how shunning works

01:19:09 How Bethany is doing now

01:22:51 Linda, listen

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Melanie and Cory grew up in the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) at the Montana compound. They wouldn’t  meet, however, until long after leaving the cult and all their family behind. Almost a polygamous wife, Melanie had a horrible arranged marriage at a young age and did whatever it took to get out and become free. Now, we look at what happens when a funeral brings them both back to the compound to face estranged family members as apostates. How did their families react to them now that they have a YouTube channel exposing the AUB? Tune in to find out! 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch Melanie’s initial interview

Follow Melanie on Social Media:

https://www.youtube.com/@NotestoSelf444

IG: @Notestoself444 

https://www.tiktok.com/@NotestoSelf444

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.

One of the polygamous offshoots of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) where the famous Kody Brown and Sister Wives come from. Melanie grew up in this group with 4 mothers and 34 and counting siblings. Her Father was an apostle when she was growing up, but would go on to become the prophet. A position that is said to commune directly with God and Jesus themselves. The highest calling on Earth. Melanie and her siblings were shocked when such an ab*sive man would be given such a sacred calling. Melanie, destined to become a plural wife herself, would have to put up with her spouse courting a 16 year old girl while she was pregnant! She lived a life full of grief and pain and void of real romantic love, until she gained the courage to escape and leave her entire family and community behind. 

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch Melanie and Cory in our LIVE interview

Follow Melanie on Social Media:

https://www.youtube.com/@NotestoSelf444

IG: @Notestoself444 

https://www.tiktok.com/@NotestoSelf444

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

00:03:36 Why Melanie Started Sharing Her Story; Her ChiIdhood

00:08:07 Melanie’s Father Had a Favorite Wife and How it Impacted Her as a ChiId

00:16:40 Specifics about the AUB and Melanie’s First Marriage

00:22:42 Melanie’s First Husband, and How Her Mother Taught Her Not to See Race

00:25:39 CW: CSA, SA, Beginning of Melanie’s First Marriage & How She Avoided Getting Pregnant

00:30:55 CW: Mentions of Self-H*rm, Melanie Shares How Marriage was as a Teenager in the AUB and How It Impacted Her

00:38:15 What it Was Like Dating Her First Husband and a Potential Plural Wife

00:46:28 CW: CA, Melanie’s Faith Crisis After Her Father Became an Apostle & Her First Time Leaving the AUB

00:52:35 Returning to the AUB for A Time After Her Son was Born

00:56:03 Getting Divorced and Meeting Her 2nd Husband

01:05:47 Melanie’s Deconstruction & Her Father Becoming Prophet of the AUB

01:11:04 Shocking Information about Her Best Friend

01:18:15 Melanie’s Life Now and the Progress She's Made

01:27:06 Final Thoughts and What Brings Melanie Joy

01:29:40 Linda, listen

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Shannon Foley Martinez was a vict*m of CSA at age 14.  Never quite able to meet her parent's expectations, Martinez sought out other angry teens. By 16 she was a sk*nhead spouting white supremac*st rhetoric, giving stiff-armed N*zi salutes and tagging public property with swast*kas. Fortified by the love of an adopted family, Martinez left the sk*nheads behind, and today is committed to devoting the rest of her life to helping dismantle the culture of white suprem*cy, as well as helping others find their way to the other side of a life of hate.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find Shannon on Social Media:  

IG: @shannon_foley_martinez

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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

00:03:27 Shannon's chiIdhood and vulnerabilities that led her to joining a Neo N*zi group

00:12:06 How sports helped Shannon

00:15:34 How moving during a vulnerable developmental age effected Shannon

00:24:39 What high school was like for Shannon

00:28:35 A night that changed Shannon's life at 14

00:30:42 CW: r*pe How Shannon's traum*tic experience at a party led to h*rmful behaviors

00:35:34 Shannon's mom blamed her for be v*ctimized

00:43:32 How Shannon's undirected anger led her to the wrong crowd

00:49:16 How rac*sm come into play for Shannon

00:55:15 What a woman's role in the movement looks like

01:00:50 How Shannon found her way out

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