Cults to Consciousness Shelise Ann Sola

Joined for a second time by Mary (former Amish) and Hannah (former Holdeman Mennonite), we discuss the ways in which being gay/bi in their settlements harshly affected them and how queer plain people are generally erased from society. Bringing awareness and visibility to the LGBTQ community, they share their experiences openly and shed light on the disproportionate harm they faced.

Watch Mary's original episode
Watch Hannah's original episode

https://www.lgbtamish.com/
The Trevor Project

Hannah's book
Follow Hannah on social media:
TikTok: @hannahprosser_beat

Mary’s Book
Follow Mary on Social:
IG @plainrainbows_mary
Fb: https://www.facebook.com/Mary.A.Byler/
TikTok: the.misfit.amish
The Misfit Amish Podcast


Our C2C vacation where we can meet you in real life and go on adventures together has 5 spots left!  Click here to go to the official booking page 


Hannah explains some basic rules about her Holdeman Mennonite settlementMary explains the basic rules in her Amish settlementModesty and hyper-sexulization of womenMarriage without courtship in MennonitesCourtship in Mary's Amish settlementsTW: CSA-“Sex education" booklet for parents to teach kidsWhen Hannah recognized she had feelings for girls The consequences of Mary coming out to her parents at 5 yrs oldTW: LGBTQ suicide- The Trevor ProjectHow strict gender roles affected Mary's mentalitySome Amish are run out of their settlement when it's found out they are gayTW: Rape- Do the Amish have conversion therapy?Mary's advice for anyone leaving the Amish trying to find themselvesMary's activismOur Merch!
Patreon: Patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness
Venmo @sheliseann
Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast
Website CultsToConsciousness.com

Find Shelise on Social media!
Instagram @cultstoconsciousness
Host Instagram @sheliseann
TikTok @cults.to.consciousness
Twitter @cultstocon

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**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.**

*Content Warning : SA, CA, CSA, mentions of rape* After enduring an excruciating youth at the hands of her mother and step father, isolated on a mountainside, Misty was forced into an Amish settlement at 18 years old. Though in many ways this new lifestyle was far more liberating than what she was used to, it came with darker days than she could’ve ever imagined. Hurt and blamed by those most trusted she took a risk and tried to escape.


Http://www.Change.org/childrightsact to sign Misty’s petition to get congress to come in and protect the youth locked in cults

Find and Support Misty!
Buy her book "Tears of the Silenced"
IG @mistyelainegriffin
Facebook: Misty Griffin
Website: https://www.mistygriffin.com

Our C2C vacation where we can meet you in real life and go on adventures together has 5 spots left!  Click here to go to the official booking page


Misty's early youthWhy did Misty's father become Amish?Misty's father tries everything to keep her isolatedAmish homeschool educationThe neighborhood knew and did nothingMisty's dad was sabotaging herHow Misty adjusted to being a teen in one of the strictest Amish communities in the U.S.What it was like going from isolation to lots of siblingsNot knowing how to use money or a phone"The woman is the temptress"Amish protocols for handling CSA "The entire community was in on the plot"TW: CSAMisty couldn't report her ab*ser without being blamedSA, CSA (Misty catches the bishop with his daughter) This has got to stopTW:SA (Misty runs away during an ass*ult)Misty's neighbor drives her to the policeAmish are treated like a sovereign nationThere are 7 little ones still living in that houseMisty leaves the AmishPerps get a slap on the wrist in the AmishHow Misty adjusts to life outside the AmishMisty's motivation to speak outMisty finds herselfMisty's book makes an impactThe bishop's ch*ldren reach out to MistyDoes Misty feel like she got justice?TW: CSAWhy is ab*se so prevalent in Amish communities?What can be done to help Amish youth?Our Merch!
Patreon: Patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness
Venmo @sheliseann
Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast
Website CultsToConsciousness.com

Find Shelise on Social media!
Instagram @cultstoconsciousness
Host Instagram @sheliseann
TikTok @cults.to.consciousness
Twitter @cultstocon

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**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.**

*Content Warning: sexual assault, rape, prostitution, attempted murder* Due to lack of education when she left the strict Swartzentruber settlement, Naomi slipped into exotic dancing, prostitution, drugs, and almost getting murdered.  In this episode, she opens up about her trials and tribulations with growing up Amish, her dark reality afterward, and eventually finding the light at the end of the tunnel.

Naomi’s book:  The Amazing Adventures of an Amish Stripper

Find and support Naomi:
IG & TT:  @AmishInspiration
https://www.instagram.com/AmishInspiration
https://www.tiktok.com/@amishinspiration


How strict Swartzentruber Amish are raisedNaomi's exposure to the outside worldSwartzentruber Amish Purity CultureHow the Amish talk about pregnancyTW: SA, Rape Frequency in Amish CommunitiesTW: SA Correlation To Sex EducationSleeping In The Same Bed Before MarriageBuying English Panties For The First TimeThe Amish Time Of The MonthNaomi's relationship with her parentsWhen Naomi started to rebel / first sexual experienceNaomi decides to leave the settlementTW: ProstitutionNaomi moves states with her boyfriendNaomi finds ways to make moneyTW: Naomi's first exotic dancing experienceNaomi's Empowerment With Her SexualityDid Naomi feel like she had no other option than to dance?Naomi's first time with a woman and other "why not" momentsTW: Drugs, ProstitutionTW: Attempted murderNaomi moves to California and moves onNaomi decides to go to collegeNaomi's Experience With PolyamoryNaomi's Powerful StatementHow is Naomi doing now?Our Merch!
Patreon: Patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness
Venmo @sheliseann
Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast
Website CultsToConsciousness.com

Find Shelise on Social media!
Instagram @cultstoconsciousness
Host Instagram @sheliseann
TikTok @cults.to.consciousness
Twitter @cultstocon

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**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.**

*Content Warning: eating disorders, mentions of homophobia* In this follow up episode we’re going to continue with Oceana’s story growing up under the strict Institute in Basic Life Principles run by Bill Gothard who was recently exposed for preying on young girls.  She opens up about coming home from the IBLP training camps, her parents’ reaction, how it led to further untreated eating d*sorders, how all of the programming and IBLP culture permeated into her adult life, and how it’s still affecting her now. Oceana discussing becoming an exotic dancer, how she uncovered her s*xuality, understanding that she was gay, and how she was able to ultimately deprogram from the IBLP.

Watch PT 1 with Oceana here

Find and Support Oceana
YouTube: @oceana33
IG: @witchybishhh_
TT: Ana.Oceana

Our C2C vacation where we can meet you in real life and go on adventures together has 5 spots left!  Click here to go to the official booking page


Young Oceana holding everything in and having night terrorsTW: Self harm. Did Oceana's parents notice what she was going through?TW: Ocean struggled with eating disordersOceana battling with eating disorders in her twentiesBill Gothard's Red Flags cause Oceana's family to leave the IBLPOceana's life after IBLPOceana started exotic dancing part timeTherapy and meditation has helped Oceana since leaving the IBLPOceana coming into her sexualityWhat brings Oceana peace nowOur Merch!
Patreon: Patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness
Venmo @sheliseann
Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast
Website CultsToConsciousness.com

Find Shelise on Social media!
Instagram @cultstoconsciousness
Host Instagram @sheliseann
TikTok @cults.to.consciousness
Twitter @cultstocon

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**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.**

*Content Warning: eating disorders, self harm* Further shedding light on the Institute in Basic Life Principles run by Bill Gothard who was recently exposed for preying on young girls, is Oceana who grew up living by their rules. Extreme patriarchy, silencing and sexualization of women and blaming those who are being hurt, are just a few things that create compounded trauma. Oceana fought through untreated eating d*sorders, because therapists were considered sinful, as well as the mental health struggles that came with the strict confines of the religious practices and IBLP training centers.


Watch Pt 2 with Oceana here

Find and Support Oceana
YouTube: @oceana33

Our C2C vacation where we can meet you in real life and go on adventures together has 6 spots left!  Click here to go to the official booking page 


The IBLP patriarchal rules that affected Oceana growing upGrowing up with 6 siblings, the older ones having to parenHow to Train Up book was used in Oceana's houseThe various punishments Oceana would receiveWhat it was like being home schooled under IBLP The homeschool Wisdom booklets are inaccurate, filled with brainwash and teach victim blamingThe case of JD and his predatory behaviorHow Oceana received much unwanted attention from men growing upTW: When her eating disorders startedSent to the IBLP training centerTW: Eating disorder being a sinProblematic conditions at the training centerTW: mentions of self harm & an eating disorderOur Merch!
Patreon: Patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness
Venmo @sheliseann
Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast
Website CultsToConsciousness.com

Find Shelise on Social media!
Instagram @cultstoconsciousness
Host Instagram @sheliseann
TikTok @cults.to.consciousness
Twitter @cultstocon

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**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.**

The Independent Fundamental Baptist church is known for having extreme views on “worldly” things. Women are over-sexualized to the point where even the very young are blamed and punished for “temping” men into hurting them. Kathy was one of those young women. Her pastor purposely protected the perp and she was ostracized by family, friends and other church members. Our previous episode with her (linked below) illustrates the awful details of her childhood. In this episode, we speak more on the blaming, shaming, and further victimization of other girls who sought justice.

Watch Part 1 on YouTube Here: My IFB Youth Pastor Groomed Me. I Was Blamed.
Watch her on the documentary called “Let Us Prey” on Max

Find and support Kathy
IG: @montanamom4
FB: Kathy Durbin

Our C2C vacation where we can meet you in real life and go on adventures together has 5 spots left!  Click here to go to the official booking page 


Kathy was yelled at by the Pastor's wife for what he did to herThe Pastor asked young Kathy afterward if she was pregnantKathy was punished with choresChurch lawyers explain they are supporting the perpPastor Goddard manipulated everyone to cover it upKathy's sister's boyfriend took notes from Kathy's perpWhy IFB can be considered a cultKathy's BIL is suspiciously announced to be starting a churchMultiple women came forward with SA allegations against Kathy's BILHow Kathy was ostracized and picked on because of her abuseTW: thoughts of suicideKathy was completely alone in her strugglesTW: thoughts of suicide 30 yrs later, Goddard continues to lie and cover up Kathy's abuseHow Kathy emotionally handled her story being brought out againHer BIL pleading guilty- not that brightInvestigators had Kathy call her perp to get a confessionKathy gets some justice almost 30 years later!When did Kathy start to see the IFB for what it really was?The court gave no mercy to her abuserHow Kathy is doing nowFind and support Kathy!Our Merch!
Patreon: Patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness
Venmo @sheliseann
Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast
Website CultsToConsciousness.com

Find Shelise on Social media!
Instagram @cultstoconsciousness
Host Instagram @sheliseann
TikTok @cults.to.consciousness
Twitter @cultstocon

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**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.**