Cults to Consciousness

Former supermodel Hoyt Richards recounts how a seemingly ideal upbringing, success at Princeton University, and a promising modeling career left him unexpectedly vulnerable to manipulation by a mysterious man. As a teenager searching for purpose and identity, he was drawn into the orbit of the charismatic spiritual leader, Frederick von Mierers, who used flattery, exclusivity, and promises of enli...

When a 19 year old was sent to a war zone in a Russia for his mission, the deep need to remain “faithful” left him scarred when he finally made it home. Years later, his faith would unravel, causing massive shockwaves amongst his family.  Following up our enlightening interview with filmmaker Kyson Dana, today we go LIVE with him to further discuss life after his traumatic Mormon Mission. Cli...

Raised in a deeply devout Mormon family in Idaho, Kyson Dana was taught from childhood that serving a mission was not a choice but a sacred duty and a defining milestone of a faithful life. When he was called to serve in southwest Russia, he believed he had been specially chosen by God to bring people the only path to salvation. Mission training reinforced the idea that success or failure depended...

In this follow up interview with Mykelti Brown Padron, she reflects on growing up in the polygamist Mormon offshoot featured on the TLC series Sister Wives, describing a chaotic childhood where older children were often forced to raise younger siblings. Mykelti recounts how the constantly shifting parenting styles between her different mothers created anxiety and emotional instability, how she too...

Sofia May describes how the abuse at the Tibetan Buddhist retreat center, Tara Mandala, escalated into full psychological control after the guru reframed her suffering as a form of “spiritual advancement.” After months of isolation, humiliation, sleep deprivation, impossible work demands, and emotional manipulation, the guru finally told her she had intentionally been “triggering” her to accelerat...

A survivor of severe childhood abuse, Sofia May recounts how growing up in a violently dysfunctional and narcissistic family left her desperate for love, safety, and validation. After years of trying to earn protection from her parents by suppressing her own needs and identity, she became drawn to Buddhism because its teachings on dissolving the ego and transcending suffer*ng mirrored the self-era...

(CW: CSA, Drug A, Self Harm, Suicide Ideation) For a boy growing up in the 1970s, rural northern New Jersey was a year-round playground, filled with secret fishing holes, enchanted woods, and private trails to explore with friends. But this childhood idyll was snatched from Clark Fredericks by a man he regarded as a local hero: Dennis Pegg, the town’s Boy Scout leader, a law enforcement officer wi...

Is “Biblical patriarchy” stripping women of their autonomy?  We’re joined LIVE today with former “Fundamentalist Trad Wife” and author, Tia Levings, to discuss Pastor Dale Partridge’s dangerous, prescriptive opinions for young girls.  Click here to watch on YouTube Watch the latest interview with Tia Watch our initial interview with Tia Pt 2 with Tia Find and support Tia! Order “I Belong...

Tia Levings discusses her new book “I Belong to Me” as a continuation of her healing journey after escaping a deeply controlling Christian patriarchal environment.  Her first memoir, “A Well-Trained Wife”, focused on surviving abuse and indoctrination, while the second book explores what comes after leaving: trauma recovery, identity rebuilding, and deconstruction. Tia describes how religious...

“Scientology speed runs” are a new internet trend and protest where creators, streamers, and activists storm Scientology centers to see how quickly they can get confronted, removed, banned, or “declared suppressive” by staff or security—often while filming for livestreams or social media.  Today we are joined LIVE with Claire Headley to discuss whether this is a good or bad thing for taking d...

James Luceno is a former fifth degree ranked member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), an initially welcoming, symbol-rich spiritual society rooted in Aleister Crowley’s philosophy of Thelema.  Over time, what began as an immersive and meaningful community experience became increasingly controlling and ethically troubling, ultimately leading James to view it as a harmful, cult-like system. On...

Since 2021, a case has been open against the Jehovah’s Witness Religion and a Norwegian state, claiming their practice of shunning is considered a violation of chiId rights. That case has been closed and left us all furious. Learn more as we are joined by Alissa Watson (@alissasawake) to discuss what this chilling ruling really means. Click here to watch on YouTube Find Alissa on Social: YouTube:...

Former FLDS member Jude Bateman recounts her upbringing in the polygamist FLDS community of Colorado City and the terrifying realities of life under Warren Jeffs’ increasingly extreme rule. She grew up in a household with two mothers and 17 children, where obedience and fear governed daily life as new rules and expectations became more radicalized. Jude explains how her brother, Sam Bateman — late...

​ @JadenJeffs , Son of Warren Jeffs—the current imprisoned prophet of the FLDS—speaks out about Sam Bateman, another “False Prophet” who is also in prison for his crimes against children. Click here to watch on YouTube Find Jaden on Social Media! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JadenJeffs IG: https://www.instagram.com/jadenjjeffs100/ Watch our initial interview with Jaden watch Jaden's last video wit...

Did you know that all “righteous” members of the LDS (Mormon) church get a blessing that tells their future directly from God? It’s a coming of age ritual that requires one to fast in preparation for and no one is allowed to read it except for your parents and eventual spouse. Even though Taylor Frankie Paul is stepping away from the LDS church, people are shocked that she chose to post portions o...

Cult survivor, military veteran, and bestselling author of Uncultured & The Cutting of America, Daniella Mestyanek Young further dives into the investigation of invisible systems of control shaping our lives. Raised in the notorious s*x cult the ChiIdren of God, she escaped to America as a teenager—only to find herself inside another rigid institution: the U.S. Army. Years later, as a Harvard-...

Layla recounts the harsh reality of entering plural marriage at 17 as Warren Jeffs’ 23rd wife, describing immediate emotional overwhelm, humiliation, and strict expectations of obedience. Instead of the supportive sisterhood she had been groomed to expect, she encountered competition, hierarchy shifts, and public shaming. Jeffs exerted control through constant criticism, especially about her body...

Layla Matson was born into a deeply entrenched, multi-generational polygamist FLDS family with direct ties to church leadership. From a young age, her life was shaped by strict religious expectations, economic hardship, and normalized control, ranging from modesty rules and limited education to chiId labor and rigid gender roles. Sacrifice was emphasized, while serious issues like infant de*ths, l...

Mykelti Brown & her husband Tony Padron reflect on the behind the scenes of her upbringing in the polygamist family from TLC’s Sister Wives TV show. Click here to watch on YouTube Watch Mykelti's initial interview here Follow and support Mykelti & Tony! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/u85780932 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mykeltip/ Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! Support...

Mykelti Brown Padron reflects on her upbringing in the polygamist family from TLC’s Sister Wives TV show, describing both the perceived benefits and deep challenges of that lifestyle. For her growing up, polygamy felt normal and even appealing due to the built-in community, multiple parental figures, and constant companionship, but also reveals significant downsides including emotional neglect, la...

James Luceno is a former fifth degree ranked member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), an initially welcoming, symbol-rich spiritual society rooted in Aleister Crowley’s philosophy of Thelema.  According to James, it gradually reveals a hierarchical, secretive structure emphasizing obedience, loyalty, and authority through rituals and initiations, while presenting ideals like personal freedom...

Following up our recent interview​  @lovina_zook   about Amish pregnancies, today we are going LIVE with her to further discuss what it was like being parented in the strictest Amish settlement— the Swartzentruber Amish— versus how she now plans to parent outside of it. Click here to watch on YouTube Watch our initial interview with Lovina Watch our follow up LIVE with Lovina answer...

Lovina Zook grew up in a strict Amish community where sex education was virtually nonexistent and anything related to the body, sex, or pregnancy was treated as taboo and often shameful. ChiIdren were not taught basic anatomy or reproduction, forcing her to piece together understanding through secretly reading books, accidental discoveries, and observation, often leading to confusion and misinform...

Meg was raised in the Jehovah’s Witnesses and grew up under intense pressure, surveillance, and emotional control.  Her upbringing lead to isolation, fear, and a lack of understanding around autonomy and consent.  After experiencing SA in young adulthood, she blamed herself due to purity-based teachings and remained in the relationship out of guilt before ultimately confessing to church...

Sarah & Nippy, creators of the podcast “A Little Bit Culty” and former NXIVM members, reveal how people are drawn into high-control groups and how manipulation operates beneath the surface. What started as an empowering, goal-driven self-improvement program in NXIVM gradually revealed itself as a calculated system of manipulation, where trust, financial commitment, and personal vulnerabilities...