Cults to Consciousness

Anne Gollert Hill was searching for direction when a seemingly harmless life coach introduced her to Scientology without revealing what she was being taught. After spending nearly 20 years inside the organization and rising to a senior editor responsible for Scientology's international publications, Anne reveals the financial manipulation, psychological control, and disturbing experiences that ultimately led her to walk away. Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/c4ltycot #CashAppPod Code: CASHAPP10 Find and support Anne! Website: https://annegollerthill.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annegollerthill Chapter Marks 00:00:00 INTRO - Inside Scientology 00:01:39 Introduction to Anne Gollert 00:02:39 Working with Claire Headley at Scientology's secret base 00:04:13 Anne's childhood and early life 00:05:25 A controlling marriage and a downward spiral 00:08:20 Searching for answers and purpose 00:10:46 How Scientology first approached Anne 00:11:41 A life coach secretly teaches Scientology 00:14:01 The personality test recruitment tactic 00:17:18 A devastating loss changes everything 00:18:32 Dianetics auditing and the promise of relief 00:22:17 The hidden cost of suppressing emotions 00:24:41 How Scientology gets increasingly expensive 00:27:08 The $25,000 credit card manipulation 00:29:43 The endless promises of spiritual advancement 00:32:07 Joining Scientology staff 00:34:05 Recruitment into the Sea Org 00:38:09 Sacrifices and interrogations to reach the top 00:42:07 Reaching Clear inside Scientology 00:44:10 Producing Scientology's international magazines 00:48:05 How Scientology's propaganda keeps members in 00:50:08 Punishment, confinement and forced labor 00:54:15 Anne's encounter with David Miscavige 00:57:13 The dangers of Scientology leadership 00:58:03 A new assignment under Miscavige 01:02:00 Reconnecting with family in Florida 01:06:11 The moment Anne decided she was done 01:08:02 Escaping Scientology's psychological control 01:12:12 Rebuilding life after leaving 01:15:13 Why Anne kept her past a secret 01:18:18 Rediscovering joy and trusting herself 01:21:06 Confronting Scientology's financial contradictions 01:24:03 Final advice for people trapped in high-control groups 01:24:44 Closing remarks Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/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. 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.**

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star and bestselling author Heather Gay joins Shelise for a revealing conversation about growing up Mormon, serving a mission in France, and the pressure to become the perfect wife and mother. Heather exposes the psychological tactics she used as a missionary, the painful realities of her temple marriage, and how reality television unexpectedly gave her the courage to publicly leave Mormonism. They also explore Utah's beauty culture, the expectations placed on Mormon women, and the freedom of finally reclaiming your identity. The Korean skincare brand everyone is talking about. Our listeners get 20% off their entire order by using code CULTFREE at https://www.jiyuskin.com/cultfree #JIYU #ad Find and support Heather! https://www.instagram.com/heathergay/ Chapter Marks 00:00:00 INTRO: Heather Gay's most shocking confessions 00:02:24 Introducing Heather Gay 00:05:43 Growing up a true-believing Mormon 00:07:36 Why BYU was the ultimate goal 00:09:39 Mormon temple baptisms at age 12 00:11:15 Suppressing her true personality 00:12:32 Why Mormon girls were taught to dream small 00:13:57 Sponsor break 00:15:21 Have expectations for Mormon women changed? 00:18:01 Feeling invisible at BYU 00:19:42 Why Heather became a Mormon missionary 00:21:35 The shocking reality of missionary work 00:23:30 Being called brainwashed in France 00:24:46 The 60-second prayer tactic 00:30:00 Cognitive dissonance and defending the faith 00:35:00 Changing herself to find a Mormon husband 00:40:05 Regretting her marriage 00:45:07 Questioning Mormon temple practices 00:50:05 Raising daughters in Mormonism 00:54:03 Beginning to leave the church 00:57:16 The fallout from leaving 01:00:07 Rebuilding life without a roadmap 01:05:04 Writing fiction after Bad Mormon 01:10:02 Mormonism and Utah beauty standards 01:15:05 Beauty as social currency 01:20:12 Legal battles over the word Mormon 01:24:02 Why Mormon survivors deserve to be heard Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/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. 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.**

What happens when a church becomes more important than your marriage, your chiIdren, and even the birth of your baby? Adam and Kayleen Stillman share their experience inside the World Mission Society Church of God, also known as WMSCOG. Kayleen was first approached on a college campus, and Adam joined after the couple met. Together, they spent years immersed in a community they believed held the truth. They dive into their experiences around parenting, finances, holidays, and the group’s end-times beliefs. When Kayleen began researching the church’s history, she found information that made her question everything. But leaving wasn’t something they were immediately able to do together. Find and support Adam and Kayleen! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@FindingtheAlternative95 IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingthealternativeyt/ Chapter Marks 00:00:00 INTRO 00:01:51 Introduction 00:03:11 Adam’s YouTube channel and Finding an Alternative 00:04:26 Their Mormon backgrounds 00:08:52 How Adam and Kayleen met 00:09:06 Kayleen is approached on a college campus 00:13:45 Introducing Adam to the church 00:17:00 The Bible studies and Adam’s doubts 00:20:00 Love bombing and family concerns 00:21:00 The birthday request that brought Adam back 00:23:00 Baptism and life as a couple in WMSCOG 00:23:20 End-times beliefs and having chiIdren 00:26:00 How much time the church demanded 00:27:00 Marriage and parenting inside the church 00:29:00 Their daughter is injured at church 00:31:00 Fasting and concerns for chiIdren 00:34:00 Adam leaves Kayleen at the hospital during labor 00:36:00 Kayleen describes being alone in the hospital 00:37:00 Holidays and the effect on their chiIdren 00:40:00 Tithing and the financial demands 00:43:00 Visiting “God the Mother” in Korea 00:44:00 Having three chiIdren and pressure on parents 00:46:00 A mother’s instincts versus church expectations 00:50:00 Their family’s weekly schedule 00:53:00 What first made Kayleen question the church 00:55:00 The book that raised more questions 00:57:00 Discovering alleged failed prophecies 01:00:00 Adam struggles to accept what Kayleen found 01:02:00 Testing the church’s changing beliefs 01:04:00 Kayleen sends an anonymous message 01:06:00 The leader’s response to the message 01:09:00 A close call with a church member’s phone 01:12:00 Kayleen confronts a leader 01:15:58 Kayleen leaves, but Adam stays 01:17:31 Adam faces a choice between church and family 01:18:42 Adam decides to leave 01:19:22 Rediscovering joy and creativity 01:22:00 Adam on the freedom to put his family first 01:23:27 Their “Linda, Listen” moments 01:25:12 Where to find Adam 01:25:39 Their beliefs today 01:26:28 Closing thoughts Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/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. 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.**

Esperanza returns to dive deeper into the SYSTEM behind the World Mission Society Church of God, explaining how the church's control over members' relationships, money, careers, and personal decisions actually worked, while answering your biggest questions. Watch our initial interview with Esperanza: https://youtu.be/H1p3Ll6A9W4 Follow and support Esperanza! TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@espyyfoodfreak IG: https://www.instagram.com/espyyfoodfreak/ Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/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. 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.**

Esperanza was a successful young woman working at an NBC-affiliated television station when she was introduced to the World Mission Society Church of God through a man she met online. Searching for faith, family, and belonging, she quickly became devoted to a religious organization that taught the world was coming to an end. Within months, Esperanza had walked away from her career, devoted nearly every waking hour to the church, and been encouraged to surrender her entire paycheck. Things took an even darker turn when church leaders arranged her marriage to an abus*ve man she barely knew. Esperanza shares disturbing allegations of surveillance, reproductive control, and manipulation and ab*se within her marriage, along with the extraordinary journey that eventually led her to question everything she believed. Follow and support Esperanza! TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@espyyfoodfreak IG: https://www.instagram.com/espyyfoodfreak/ Chapter Marks 00:00:00 Preview 00:02:23 Introduction to Esperanza 00:03:19 ChiIdhood, Adoption & Searching for Family 00:05:41 Finding Belonging in the Church 00:07:23 Online Dating Leads to a Doomsday Cult 00:09:47 The Bible Study That Changed Everything 00:12:02 Discovering God the Mother 00:15:03 Origins of the World Mission Society Church of God 00:16:30 How the Church Took Over Her Life 00:20:37 Giving Up Her Career 00:24:09 Surrendering Her Paycheck 00:25:43 The Invitation to Live at Church 00:27:08 The Marriage Ultimatum 00:30:03 Choosing a Husband She Didn't Know 00:33:11 A Legal Marriage to a Stranger 00:35:11 Pregnancy and Abortion Instructions 00:37:29 Spouses Reporting on Each Other 00:39:26 Abuse Inside the Marriage 00:43:45 Lockdown and Escalating Control 00:45:35 Discovering Secret Photos 00:48:04 Seeking Help and Divorce 00:52:00 Leaving and Coping With Trauma 00:55:29 Reconnecting With Church Members 00:57:00 Preaching to Mormons 01:02:30 Beginning to Question the Church 01:06:00 Breaking Away 01:08:11 Researching Her Own Religion 01:10:00 Rebuilding Life After the Cult 01:11:47 Finding Joy and Independence 01:13:21 Where to Find Esperanza 01:13:58 Linda, Listen 01:15:17 Closing Remarks Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/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. 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.**

She escaped one of New Zealand's most controversial religious communities with 10 chiIdren. But leaving Gloriavale was only the beginning. Ginny returns to Cults to Consciousness LIVE to reveal what life has really been like since escaping, how her family has adapted to freedom, and what she's learned about the community she once called home. We'll also discuss her ongoing fight for accountability, the challenges of rebuilding a life outside a high-control religion, and answer your questions LIVE! Watch our initial interview with Ginny: https://youtu.be/qb-9yBL2sXQ Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/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. 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.**