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    Religion & Spirituality

    Cults to Consciousness

    For the curious & compassionate. Firsthand Survivor Stories of escaping cults, high-control groups & people. 

    The Cults to Consciousness Podcast (and YouTube channel) is Hosted by Shelise Ann Sola (a former devout Mormon / CSA survivor) and her Producer husband, Jonathan Rosales. Not anti-religious but firmly anti-abuse, they aim to shed light on manipulative practices and systems, while promoting understanding and accountability. C2C has attracted a kind and engaged community who thoughtfully support their guests. Hit follow to join them on their advocacy mission! 

    Advertise

    Copyright: © 2024 Cults to Consciousness

    • Apple Podcasts
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    Latest Episodes:
    They Convinced Me My Father Was the Leader of a Torturous Satanic Cult Jul 07, 2025
    Show notes

    Lydia Knight grew up in a pioneer stock Mormon (LDS) family, but layered on top of that was a twisted, fabricated reality that her father was actually the leader of a Satanic cult who had v*olently ab*sed her as a baby. Lydia’s mother said she had received revelations of these horr*fic things and Lydia’s grandmother capitalized on this by gaining love and adoration from the LDS church members by appearing as a savior to the ab*sed chiIdren. Kidn*pped from Lydia’s father by her mother at 2 years old, she was told he was always searching for her so he could continue his Satanic practices.

    Not only was Lydia dealing with these imposed traumas, she was told if she ever broke the rules of Mormonism or told someone about her past, her whole family would be tracked down by the Satanists and k*lled. Fear and terror ruled her life until she finally decided to look for the evidence. What she found crumbled her entire reality and she began the search to reconnect with her father.

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Watch Lydia's follow up Q&A

    Find and support Lydia!

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

    Resources & Memoire Split: theshecenter.org/podcast

    Website TheSheCenter.Org

    LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/lydia-knight-tsc/

    TikTok - The She Center

    TikTok - Cult Stories

    Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheSheCenter

    Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/CenterOfShe

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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

    00:03:32 Lydia Shares the Background of Her Charismatic Grandmother (Rac*sm)

    00:08:04 CW: Mentions of CA, Lydia Shares About Her Family Dynamics Amidst the Satanic Panic

    00:12:41 CW: Mentions of CA & CSA, Lydia Explains the Satanic Panic of the 80's and Her Early Memories

    00:16:45 CW: Mentions of R*pe, CA & CSA, Lydia Shares the Manipulation and Mental States of Her Mother and Grandmother

    00:22:03 Lydia Shares the Harm Caused by Her Mother's Obscure "Revelations"

    00:27:59 Lydia Shares About the Interactions Between Mormonism and The Satanic Panic

    00:33:18 CW: CA, Lydia's Talks about Her Grandma's Manipulation and Need for Importance

    00:39:09 Lydia Expands on Her ChiIdhood Isolation and Other Difficulties Growing Up

    00:43:59 CW: Mentions of R*pe & CSA, Lydia Shares the About Her Mormon Baptism & the Made Up Stories of Her Ab*se

    00:48:11 Lydia's First Time Out of The House Attending BYU & First Contact with Her Father

    00:53:13 Lydia's Mother's Extreme Measures to Protect Her & Beginning to Doubt

    00:58:16 CW: Mentions of R*pe, Lydia Decides to Uncover the Truth and Exposes the Lies

    01:03:55 Lydia Confronts Her Mother and Grandmother & Contacts Her Father

    01:07:28 Lydia's Beautiful Reunion with Her Father After 25 Years

    01:11:24 Lydia's Healing Journey & Helping Others

    01:16:26 Lydia Shares How She Ensures She Won't Repeat the Cult Cycle with Her Coaching

    01:18:58 Final Thoughts & Lydia's "Linda, Listen"

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    Cracking Open My "Prophet" Grandfather's Holy Book Jul 04, 2025
    Show notes

    Sami's grandfather, who lived with Schizophrenia, compiled a 2422 page book of holy scripture in a failed attempt to start his own religion. Heavily inspired by Mormonism, yet drawing from almost every religion, it's full of many surprises. We can't wait to crack it open with all of you and find out what's inside.

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Watch the full interview with Sami and her father, Adrian, here

    Sami’s go fund me to get the book digitized

    Find Sami on social media:

    www.youtube.com/@mildwestsami

    IG: @mild_west_sami

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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.**


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    Reacting to Harmful Religious Indoctrination Cartoons with Owen Morgan Telltale Jul 03, 2025
    Show notes

    Watch the first half of this episode at @OwenMorganTelltale here

    The youth have become more and more of a target since adults are leaving religions at an exponential rate. If they can indoctrinate them young enough, they just might have tithe paying members for life. Shelise and Owen Morgan from @owenmorgantelltale will be reacting to a Jehovah's Witness animated series called Caleb and Sophia and will discuss just how psychologically harmful they can be.

    Find and Support Owen!

    YouTube: @OwenMorganTelltale @owensfiresidechat @owenunfiltered @TelltaleReads

    Watch a full interview with Owen Here

    Watch Shelise on Owen's Channel Here

    Resources: https://jwfacts.com/

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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.**


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    8 Women from 8 Cults Compare Notes Jul 02, 2025
    Show notes

    Celebrating 200 episodes with these 7 other incredible women! We explore ways in which women are harmed, silenced and exploited within 8 different cults from their unique perspectives. The stories and wisdom were beautifully shared amongst survivors supporting each other. They also share ways in which they believe women can take back their power in or outside a cult and gain clarity and freedom.

    Click here to watch on YouTube


    FIND AND SUPPORT OUR GUESTS!


    Daniella Mestyanek-Young: previous interviews

    IG: @daniellamyoung_

    TikTok: search #groupbehaviorgal

    Website: https://www.uncultureyourself.com/

    Amazon: "Uncultured: A Memoir"


    Tia Levings: previous interview

    Website and book: http://tialevings.com/book

    IG: @tialevingswriter

    https://substack.com/@tialevings


    The Anti-Fundamentalist

    Amanda Rae Grant: previous interviews

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

    IG: @amandaraegrant


    Sarah Edmondson: Previous interview

    Instagram: @SarahEdmondson @ALittleBitCulty

    Website: https://alittlebitculty.com/

    Website for book: https://www.sarahedmondson.com/book


    Beatrice Weber: previous interviews

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bweber

    Website: https://beatriceweber.com/about/


    Jasmin Faulk: previous interview

    IG: @jasmin.faulk

    Website: http://www.jasminfaulk.com/

    Book: The Last Sandstorm

    Podcast: I Want you to Meet


    Jasper Hoffman: previous interview

    Website: https://www.theplainpeoplespodcast.com

    IG: @ThePlainPeoplesPodcast

    @jasper.c.hoffman


    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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.**

    00:00:00 Intro

    00:03:01 How did your cult use fear to keep women passive and obident?

    00:17:44 The various ways your cult used Information Control to keep you isolated and unaware of the world

    00:48:26 What are the "rewards" in heaven for women in your cult?

    01:19:35 What made you want to finally escape your cult?

    01:45:35 Words of advice to those currently in a cult that want to leave

    01:53:54 Linda, listen


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    THE ORDER: “I’m a Direct Descendant of Jesus Christ” ft. Amanda Rae Jul 01, 2025
    Show notes

    "The Order" or the "Kingston Clan" is known for their incestuous practices of polygamy in an effort to keep their "bloodline pure". They are a fundamentalist branch of Mormonism in Salt Lake City, where marrying 1st cousins and even half siblings, is seen as perfectly fine. Amanda Rae @TheAmandaRaeGrant , who was raised in this group, escaped at 17 and was seen on the TV show "Escaping Polygamy" helping others to do the same. Amanda explains the Kingston Clan's fundamental belief system, their concept of "Numbered Men”, inbreeding within, how they bring in new women to mix up the gene pool, and why the cult believes they are descendants of Jesus Christ himself.

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Find and support Amanda:

    YouTube: ​⁠​ @TheAmandaRaeGrant

    IG: @amandaraegrant

    If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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

    00:02:52 The Kingston Clan's fundamental beliefs

    00:05:48 "Numbered Men" explained

    00:09:31 How The Order believes they are descendants of Jesus Christ

    00:14:39 Inbreeding in The Order

    00:20:19 Amanda explains how procreating is of the utmost importance in the order

    00:30:45 Commenting on coming to terms with realizing things were wrong in The Order

    00:33:14 Amanda shares her story on how she left The Order

    00:36:45 Amanda explains how The Order brings in new women to mix up the gene pool

    00:37:49 Racism in the order

    00:52:06 Trying to apply critical thinking to the beliefs of the order


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    Kicked Out of "The Order" Incestuous Polygamous Cult for Being Gay Jul 01, 2025
    Show notes

    Forced to suppress who he really is, Val Snow escaped the cult that almost put him through conversion therapy, and is now living a fulfilled life. Ask him your questions!

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Resource for those escaping polygamy: Holding Out Help

    Check out our in depth interview with Val here

    Val's youtube Channel

    IG: @valiantunicorn

    Get more of Val's story on Amanda Rae's channel

    How Do People Get Brainwashed

    Unicorn t-shirt: Version 1 Version 2

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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.**


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    The Stigma of Men Speaking Out On Their CSA: “Children of God” Cult Survivor Opens Up Jun 30, 2025
    Show notes

    CW: CSA, SA, mentions of suicide…. Philip Seibel was born into the Children of God sex cult and survived many instances of CSA at the hands of his own parents. This was all part of the cult’s mentality “God is love and love is sex”. Our first episode together details his childhood and escape attempts. When he was able to get out successfully, he had no idea about the outside world. At the age of fifteen he ran away from his abusive parents and began to wander this world as a homeless street musician, learning how to survive.

    Now Philip is an outspoken critic of the statutes of limitations for crimes against children. Currently he lives in Switzerland, proud father and author, singer, songwriter, artist, wearable designer and hobby sound technician

    His books include The monsters that kiss you good night, The monsters that walk with me and his third book in this series currently in progress "No one speaks about the monsters"

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Watch his first interview here

    Find and Support Phil:

    Website with his singles: https://www.philipseibel.com/singles

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Philip-Seibel

    Books: The Monsters that Kiss You Goodnight

    The Monsters that Walk With Me

    A Broken Poet

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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

    00:04:42 Philip's childhood in COG

    00:11:29 How Philip processes what happened to him

    00:16:37 How Philip managed as a 15 year old runaway

    00:16:55 CW: CSA

    00:19:56 Philip recounts his CSA

    00:21:32 CW: CSA - The reason Philip remembers is CSA so well

    00:29:37 The consequences Philip's dealt with for telling his story

    00:31:51 CW: Society desensitized to women's SA and not men's

    00:34:56 CW: mentions of suic*de

    00:38:43 Philip felt he couldn't open up about CSA he experienced while dating

    00:42:37 What it was like writing his first book - Philip comments on the responses people get when disclosing their trauma

    00:46:19 Philip's thoughts on whether continuing to speak out will further hinder his success

    00:55:51 How Philip is doing now

    00:57:11 Linda, Listen

    01:02:49 Philip sings and plays Little Black Sheep on his guitar


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    Children of God: Inside the Mind of a Faceless Cult Leader Jun 27, 2025
    Show notes

    Within The Children of God, also known as The Family International, the members blindly followed the leader David Berg. They weren’t even allowed to know what he looked like. Only a select few were chosen to be in his presence and can tell the story of who “Grandpa” really was. He was a twisted man who married children, including our guest Serena Kelley who was only 3 years old. Serena is the only person left who is able to tell these stories. She explains what it was like being considered a “celebrity” in the group and how she had to mentally split herself and dissociate to survive.

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Watch pt 1 of Serena’s interview here

    Watch pt 2 of Serena’s interview here

    Find Serena:

    IG: @serkelley

    Substack: https://substack.com/@serenakelley

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

    Website: https://serenakelley.com/

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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.**


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    3 Year Old Bride to Cult Leader Speaks Out Jun 27, 2025
    Show notes

    CW: CSA, SA, Mentions of drug use- From the ages of 6 to 12, up to when the cult leader, Berg, died, Serena Kelley hid her identity. She was born as a chiId celebrity in the notorious The Children of God cult, known for their extreme abuse practices of polygamy, pedophilia, forced chiId marriages, religious prostitution, and chiId trafficking. Daughter to Sara Kelley— part of leadership, and writer of “The Davidito Book”(CSA manuscript)— when Serena left the compound she continued to lie about who she was. As she had been brainwashed to lie, it was hard for her to track when she should tell the truth, which created a warped sense of identity.

    Serena describes how she worked her way back into the cult to retrieve a boy that she liked, what it was like escaping for a second time, and what it was like being out in the world, on her own, free to do whatever she wanted for the first time. Going from the sex cult to now a fully sexually charged environment in a club, she explains her methods at the time of processing the horrific things she went through as a child, involving numbing with drug use, and dancing away the trauma.

    Serena also recounts what it was like when just months before his murder-suicide, an adult Ricky Rodriguez, whom “The Davidito Book" was written about, contacted her wanting to know where the author (her mother) was.

    Serena reveals her journey with healing from the trauma, dealing with ill-equipped therapists, to ultimately finding plant medicine. Serena is now a writer and Trauma Recovery Specialist, helping others heal past traumas using methods to connect the mind, body, and soul to find peace and purpose in life.

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Watch pt 1 of Serena’s interview

    Serena dives further, answering your questions LIVE

    Find Serena:

    IG: @serkelley

    Substack: https://substack.com/@serenakelley

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

    Website: https://serenakelley.com/

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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

    00:08:15 CW: CSA, ChiId Traff*cking, CA, the Moment Serena Knew She Wanted to Leave the Cult

    00:11:55 CW: ChiId Marriage, Serena Rebelling & Engagement to Berg

    00:24:02 CW: CSA, Serena Realizing How Much Better Things Were Outside the Cult

    00:32:50 CW: SA, Serena Finds Freedom in the Club Scene

    00:37:20 CW: SA, Serena Takes Positive Lessons About Her Worth from Her Negative Cult Programming

    01:21:03 CW: CSA, SA, Closing Thoughts

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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


    My Mother Wrote the Horrific CSA Handbook for Children of God Cult Jun 27, 2025
    Show notes

    CW: CSA, SA, ChiId Trafficking- David Brandt Berg, also known as King David, Dad, or Grandpa to followers, was the founder and leader of the cult generally known as the Children of God. In 1968 it began as a new religious movement focused on spreading the Christian message. As the decades progressed, the group targeted vulnerable people and devolved as a counter to purity culture in which Berg pushed the idea that God is love, and love is sex, therefore members should have sex with everyone. COG attracted the attention of the international media, and a British court case would find the group to be an authoritarian cult which engaged in the systematic physical and sexual abuse of children, resulting in lasting trauma among survivors.

    Today’s guest, Serena Kelley, was born and raised in the cult, and along with her mother, Sara, were two of the select few people in David Berg’s inner circle. When Ricky Rodriguez (another chiId within the cult) was ten months old, Berg asked Sara, one of Ricky's nannies, to start creating a document titled "The Davidito Book" (also referred to as "The Story of Davidito"). The book contains descriptions of adults CSA-ing Rodriguez, describing this ab*se in a "celebratory" tone. Serena’s mother would end up writing the horrific CSA handbook for the Children of God Cult, and was even proud of the fact, becoming known as “Sara Davidito”.

    Serena recounts what it was like growing up in the cult, alongside her brainwashed mother, facing constant mental, physical and sexual abuse, while being forced to appear in CSA videos, and how at the age of 3, Serena was “given” to Berg as a chiId bride and told she was going to be his forever.

    Click here to watch on YouTube

    Watch pt 2 of Serena’s interview

    Serena dives further, answering your questions LIVE

    Find Serena:

    IG: @serkelley

    Substack: https://substack.com/@serenakelley

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

    Website: https://serenakelley.com/

    We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

    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

    00:10:45 CW: CSA, Serena Explains Children of God CSA Origins & Practices

    00:15:26 CW: CSA, Serena Shares her mother's involvement with creating a CSA Manuscript

    00:20:00 CW: CSA, SA, Serena Shares Her Earliest Memories in the Children of God Cult

    00:26:53 CW: CA, CSA, Serena Shares About Constant Fear and Her Engagement as a Toddler

    00:32:09 CW: SA, CSA, Homophob*a, The Children of God's Bizzarre S*xual Practices & Beliefs

    00:36:07 CW: Incest, CSA, C recordings, Serena Shares about Cover-Ups and Beginning to Doubt

    00:40:36 CW: CA, ChiId Traff*cking, Serena Shares About Her Time in the Japan Commune

    00:48:32 CW: ChiId Traff*cking , Serena Talks about the Fear Tactics Used and Being Traff*cked

    00:51:42 CW: CSA, Serena's Transition from Japan to Brazil

    00:55:23 CW: CA, Serena Shares About Her "Celebrity Status" and Being Trained to Lie

    01:02:52 CW: CA, Bullying, Berg's Death & Cult Leadership Makes Serena's Identity Public

    01:10:59 CW: CSA, The Cult's New "Rules" About S*x


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