Cults to Consciousness

Latest Episodes:

Swartzentruber AMISH: My Midnight Escape From One of the Strictest Settlements ft. Lovina Zook Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

No electricity, no running water, no indoor plumbing. Lovina Zook grew up in one of the strictest Amish settlements started by her own family. It was common to marry cousins as most people there were related by blood and a woman would be considered an “old maid” if still single by 24 yrs old. Lovina discusses the hardest parts including struggling with mental heath, strict rules and not receiving any love or affection from parents of family members. As soon as she turned 18, she ran away in the middle of the night with the intention to become more than the Amish would ever allow. Lovina would then find a massive following on social media.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch our follow up LIVE with Lovina answering your questions

Find Lovina on social media!

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@lovina_zook/videos

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

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovina_zook

Website: https://socialsbylovina.com/

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

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Venmo @sheliseann

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Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_

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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.**

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:17 Lovina's Amish settlement

00:06:01 How leadership is determined

00:10:52 Strict dress code

00:17:18 Importance of covering hair in Amish tradition

00:20:42 What family like was like for Lovina

00:26:30 Lack of affection within the household

00:34:17 Hygiene standards within the community

00:42:38 Why she ran away

00:48:52 Marrying cousins & s*xual repression

00:55:46 Smuggl*ng books

00:58:10 Why Lovina didn't want to be baptized

01:04:25 When Lovina left

01:15:29 Difficulties after leaving

01:28:01 How her parents treated her after leaving

01:33:15 Linda, listen

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

LDS Abuse Coverups: Protecting Predators & Assets ft. Alyssa Grenfell Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

Surviving Mormonism is a new limited series hosted by Real Housewife of Salt Lake City Heather Gay where she interviews people with harrowing stories of how the LDS church failed them. It is a heartbreaking series that reveals the reality of a systemic problem that is not only covered up by church officials, but amplified by their only true intentions…avoiding lawsuits and avoiding bad media. Thousands of people have shared their stories of abuse and coverups at the hands of their leaders who were supposed to protect them. In a church that claims to be the one true church of God, their priorities of protecting their assets over their most vulnerable members, leaves us all bewildered and angry. Episode by episode, Alyssa Grenfell and Shelise recount these stories as shown on the show and give their thoughts as former Mormons.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Check out Alyssa interview’s with Shelise on her Channel: https://youtu.be/YEoxZu4Q8Ws

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

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:52 Who is Heather Gay

00:07:20 How Mormon critics of the Church are shut out and silenced

00:11:28 Did Alyssa feel she knew enough about the truth behind Mormonism when she served a mission trip

00:13:43 Mormonism equates secrets with spirituality

00:17:24 Bishops are instructed to call the law firm instead of report SA cases

00:21:35 The church doesn't recognize being gay (David Matheson)

00:45:37 Nick Jones, the former Bishop, who stepped down for moral reasons

00:51:16 CW: CSA Cover up- Episode 3

01:00:40 Cognitive dissonance from the church members

01:07:41 How dissenters and critics have changed LDS policy

01:15:29 The insane ending to the show!

01:19:09 Linda, Listen

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

I Was Groomed & Trafficked into a TANTRIC YOGA SEX CULT Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

In 2017, Miranda signed up for classes at Tara Yoga Centre in London — a studio associated with the larger network Atman federation (also sometimes called MISA in other countries). At first, the classes were marketed as esoteric or tantric yoga — spiritual practices about inner work, self-improvement and body awareness. As time went on, students were encouraged to date the teachers, blurring lines and creating a toxic power dynamic. Only the true seekers attended the many expensive retreats, which groomed her into desiring a tantric session with the all powerful Guru nobody had met. Slowly, things would become more sexual in nature and those who didn’t participate were seen as prude. After demonstrating her devotion, she was sent to meet the Guru in Paris at an undisclosed location with blacked out windows and other women coming and going blindfolded. She would then be forced into a “spiritual initiation” with the Guru which left her feeling empty and confused. After the ritual, most women were taken to another location where they were told to liberate the world, they needed to be Cam girls. In November 2023, Bivolaru was arrested in France along with many associates. Authorities accused him and the group of kidnapping, trafficking, and sexual exploitation of women under the guise of spiritual practice. Miranda continues to speak out about her experiences.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find Miranda on Social Media!

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

https://www.facebook.com/usyogaacademy US Branch atmancultalert.org

https://atmanyogafederation.org

https://atmancultalert.org resources in multiple languages with media on the organization to date

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

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:33 Miranda's experience telling her story

00:10:07 Group background

00:14:11 How Miranda got involved

00:15:46 When Miranda realized what she'd gotten into

00:26:03 Miranda's experience at the retreat

00:36:19 Meeting the "spiritual guide"

00:54:05 Noticing red flags

01:12:21 How Miranda felt after leaving

01:15:40 Miranda's deconstruction

01:21:30 Prosecution

01:27:29 What brings Miranda joy now

01:32:22 Linda, Listen

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

How the Billion Dollar “Troubled Teen” Industry Scams & Profits From Parents’ Desperation Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Alexandra struggled with her parents’ treatment of her, as well as suffering SA which led to a deterioration of her mental health. Her parents then took drastic measures by paying for her to be kidnapped and taken to a wilderness camp in the dead of Utah winter. They were forced to hike every other day further into the mountains carrying a 60 pound backpack with very little food and warmth for 13 weeks straight. When hazardous conditions resulted in sores on their bodies, they would be asked to strip down in a tent where photos would be taken and sent off.

Alexandra will share the detrimental effects during college while deconstructing her total of 9 months in the TT industry and we will further discuss better alternatives. Now, Alexandra is a Youth Rights Activist who advocates about the troubled-teen system— typically residential treatment centers, wilderness-therapy programs, “boot camps,” and therapeutic boarding schools aimed at adolescents deemed “at risk,” “troubled,” or having behavioral, emotional, substance-use, or academic issues. She calls for awareness and reform speaking out about her time in TTI on social media. Less than a week ago (after 4 years) she has unmasked.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch Alexandra's initial interview

Follow Alexandra on social media!

Instagram: IG @trail.seasoning

TikTok: @trailseasoning

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

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

Surviving the Troubled Teen Industry: A 16 Year Old’s Fight to Escape Nine Months in Hell Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Alexandra struggled with her parents’ treatment of her, as well as suffering SA which led to a deterioration of her mental health. When she asked her parents for help, she was either dismissed or laughed at. When she was finally given some psychiatric care, it didn’t last long before her parents chose to instead hand over custody and ship her to Utah during winter for a wilderness camp. What was supposed to last 8-10 weeks went on for 13, deep in the snowy mountains with only a tent and utensils they cleaned with dirt. Compliance was expected and mental health ignored. However, even after Wilderness camp was over, she wouldn’t be permitted to go home. Instead she was taken to another facility for 6 months where her will was further broken and symptoms ignored.

Now, Alexandra is a Youth Rights Activist who advocates about the troubled-teen system— typically residential treatment centers, wilderness-therapy programs, “boot camps,” and therapeutic boarding schools aimed at adolescents deemed “at risk,” “troubled,” or having behavioral, emotional, substance-use, or academic issues. She calls for awareness and reform speaking out about her time in TTI on social media. Less than a week ago (after 4 years) she has unmasked.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Follow Alexandra on social media!

Instagram: IG @trail.seasoning

TikTok: @trailseasoning

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

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:05:31 Alexandra's background

00:08:55 Dealing with a SA experience

00:11:31 How Alexandra's parents reacted to her as*ault

00:22:13 Why her parents sent her away

00:23:26 Getting k*dnapped

00:26:32 Experience at the wilderness camp

00:28:25 Strip searched and pan*cking when reality sets in

00:34:02 Daily life at camp

00:43:21 The food they had to eat

00:47:38 "Therapy" at camp

00:53:12 Alexandra thought she was free after wilderness camp....

00:56:11 The second program Alexandra was forced into

01:08:33 They trained them like dogs

01:13:25 What returning home was like

01:23:41 How Alexandra's parents have taken accountability

01:25:31 How Alexandra is doing now

01:27:39 Linda, listen

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

Teen Mission for Martyrdom: How Superstar Mega-Pastor Glorified Avoidable Medical Neglect Abroad Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Raised in the “Holy War” and recruited as a soldier for Jesus, Philip Boltz, son of famous Christian singer Ray Boltz, was deeply invested in changing the world. He went on multiple mission trips abroad, ready to give everything, including his life for the cause. However, the goal to become a martyr was closer than he realized, when an emergency surgery leading to severe infection and medical neglect in India led him to be hospitalized. Ron Luze, the mega pastor leading this enormous teen-based corporation, even praised him for his valiance. This would cause him to double-down in his faith and be spiritually ready to go back to India the next year. More about Teen Mania can be found in the new docu-series Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War, of which he is a part.

Click here to watch on YouTube

TikTok: @suprfil

Website: https://www.philboltz.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

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:12 Phil's experience being part of the documentary & his religious upbringing

00:08:50 Phil's introduction to Teen Mania and mission trips

00:17:26 Appendectomy in India

00:23:08 Phil's infection and near de*th experience after surgery

00:30:41 Leadership's responsibility for the safety of youth

00:34:34 The Honor Academy and LTE's

00:39:32 Abnormal patterns and practices in the organization

00:51:05 Phil's teenage evangelizing and his stance now on high-control groups

00:59:41 The beginnings of Phil's deconstruction

01:05:52 Phil & who he is today

01:09:20 Final thoughts and Phil's "Linda Listen"

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

Saved or Shattered? A Teenager’s Descent Into Evangelical Extremism Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Liz Boltz Ranfeld, who was featured in the recent Shiny Happy People 2 documentary, was fully immersed in the “Teen Mania” lifestyle. She went on several overseas mission-trips that caused more fear and guilt due to the inability to faith heal on the spot, however it opened her eyes to other cultures that were being labeled as “demonic”. Her father was a well known Christian singer/song writer, Ray Boltz, which put all eyes on her to be a perfect example. Fully blind to the harms being caused at Teen Mania, she only started deconstructing after her parents forbid her from doing the full time-year-long-internship after her brother nearly died and she was stranded overnight at a busy airport with no help from the organization. Her father later came out as gay just as their whole family was doing away with Christian Fundamentalism and she would end up being one of the most critical voices against TM.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find and Support Liz

TikTok @lizboltz

IG @liz_boltz_ranfeld

Website https://www.lizbr.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

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:19 Liz' upbringing and childhood

00:05:06 First impressions of Acquire the Fire

00:11:21 Liz' mission trips

00:21:30 Liz' parents influence

00:27:07 Teen Mania

00:32:03 How Columbine affected Liz

00:35:24 Liz' begins to question Teen Mania

00:42:32 Why Liz wasn't able to continue with Teen Mania

00:47:57 Liz' deconstruction

00:52:34 Recovering Alumni blog

00:55:02 Growing from the experience

01:00:13 What Liz hopes people get out of the documentary

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

How She Helped TAKE DOWN Pedo Cult Leader of the La Luz Del Mundo Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

CW: Mentions of CSA, SA, ED & Suicide Ideation. Sochil Martin was born and raised in the worldwide church known as La Luz del Mundo. At age 9 she started to become groomed to be a concubine to the Apostle who was their living prophet on Earth. Her own aunt took her to him, because that’s what had happened to her and her family as young girls. They were not only expected to comply, it was considered a great blessing to be chosen and used. They were then considered an “unconditional” which meant their life was not their own and all choices would be made by the Apostle, including who they would eventually marry. However, even after marriage, the SA would not end. It wasn’t until Sochil’s husband rang the alarm that what was happening was not ok, that Sochil realized her adolescence was a horrible lie. Sochil then went on to help put some of the leadership in jail which will be covered in a livestream with her.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find Sochil on social media:

IG: @sochilmartin.healing

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

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:04:56 La luz del mundo

00:18:51 Sochil's upbringing

00:28:32 The draw of the church

00:39:12 What unconditional means in LDM

00:47:36 CW: Mentions of ED

00:58:48 How Sochil was paired with her husband

01:11:26 Sochil's husband finds out what's going on

01:17:34 Trying to warn parents to no avail

01:23:22 Linda, Listen

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

9 yr Old Given as One of Many “Concubines” to Apostle in La Luz Del Mundo Cult Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

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

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

9 yr Old Forced by Cult to Become Chess Master to Convert the World (ft. Danny Rensch) Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Born into the Church of Immortal Consciousness, Danny Rensch spent his childhood navigating the isolated confines of a cult. Despite psychological manipulation, physical abuse, and neglect, he persevered. An international chess master and world-class commentator, Rensch’s remarkable journey led him to being the face of Chess.com, one of the largest online gaming platforms in the world.

Rensch recounts his life, starting from the moment he discovered chess in the summer of 1995, all the way up to being at the center of the most explosive cheating scandal in chess history. He chronicles the traumas of being “special” in a cult that forced separation from his mother. Mentored by an alcohol*c, Russian chess master, he found solace alongside suffer*ng in his obsession for an ancient game, and chess became his only escape. Rensch rose through the chess ranks until a medical emergency nearly took him out of the game forever. And it almost did, until Chess.com came along.

Deeply heartfelt, keenly reflective, and haunting, today Danny dives further into the details of his book, Dark Squares, and the never-before-told story of Danny Rensch’s resilience, survival, and his enduring love for the game that saved him.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Danny's Book Amazon: Dark Squares

Follow Danny on Social Media!

IG: @dannyrensch

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