A Little Bit Culty

Jared Van Driessche, a survivor of childhood abuse in a high-control religious environment and an executive protection expert, shares his harrowing journey. He discusses the impact of parental and emotional abuse, and the struggle to heal while navigating a faith that prioritized belief over safety. Jared sheds light on how he transformed his trauma into a career protecting others and his upcoming film project about breaking cycles of family pain. He encourages fellow survivors to seek help and challenge stigmas around vulnerability.

Jared Van Driessche, a former cult kid turned executive protection specialist, shares his harrowing childhood in a Baha'i offshoot under his father's authoritarian rule. He contrasts the religion's ideals of unity with the abuses he faced at home, detailing how he navigated a toxic environment of secrecy and fear. Jared opens up about the severe impacts of childhood trauma, including forced rituals and grooming, and reflects on the complexities of his parental relationships. His journey highlights the need to break intergenerational cycles of abuse.

In this engaging conversation, Shelise Ann Sola, an ex-Mormon and creator of the Cults to Consciousness podcast, shares her journey of leaving the LDS Church and navigating life afterwards. She discusses the reclaiming of body and sexuality, the challenges of healing from religious trauma, and how her creative work—like memes and TikTok—helps build community. Shelise also dives into the controversial realms of ayahuasca experiences in Peru and the importance of self-care after intense discussions, all while exploring what it means to find personal spiritual grounding.

Shelise Ann Sola, a former Latter-day Saint and creative force behind the Cults to Consciousness podcast, dives deep into her journey of deconstruction from Mormonism. Growing up in a strict LDS environment, she faced intense pressures from modesty culture and purity messaging that left lasting impacts on her identity. Shelise shares her revelations about temple rituals and the psychological control exerted by the church. Now, she channels her experiences into humor and storytelling, helping others navigate their own paths away from high-control religions.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Elicia Ybarra, she unpacks her path to healing through EMDR trauma therapy. She realized how buried triggers from years of grooming and abuse sabotaged her marriage and self-defense curriculum development, leading to a near-separation and inability to be touched even by her son. She broke down her "Pretty Hands, Hard Punches" empowerment model. We also discussed why stats show 975/1000 sexual assault perpetrators walk free, the red flags of abuse, multi-layered boundaries (emotional, time, social), and the "think, yell, run, fight, tell" progression with simple, realistic strikes like palm heels to the nose (tested by board-breaking!).Elicia shared red flags for parents: how to check for safe martial arts schools (check one-star reviews, watch instructor interactions, run background checks via Academy Safe, avoid MMA locker-room culture), how unquestioning obedience grooms kids to ignore gut instincts, and practical family rules like no adult secrets with children and always respecting "no" to hugs.Be sure to follow Elicia on her website, prettyhandshardpunches.com, or on Facebook or Instagram @prettyhandshardpunches.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual assault statistics and low conviction rates, trauma triggers/panic attacks, strangulation, and stalking/harassment.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 1 of our conversation with martial artist and empowerment self-defense instructor Elicia Ybarra, we trace how a childhood love of ninja turtles and karate turned into a 30-year journey through grooming, coercive control, and abuse in multiple martial arts settings, and how she eventually turned all of it into a curriculum to help other women fight back before it ever gets physical.Elicia described being groomed by a trusted instructor from ages 13–16, losing her community when she tried to set boundaries, getting pulled into a second “family” TaeKwonDo organization where a grandmaster weaponized rank, money, and humiliation, and how those patterns set her up for an extremely violent relationship she barely escaped. She walked us through the turning points: postpartum depression, COVID, therapy, watching cult docs (shoutout, The Vow), quitting smoking, and finally building “Pretty Hands, Hard Punches” and an empowerment self-defense model that starts with boundaries, intuition, and situational awareness—not just throat punches and palm strikes.Be sure to follow Elicia on her website, prettyhandshardpunches.com, or on Facebook or Instagram @prettyhandshardpunches.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual abuse, statutory rape, workplace sexism and harassment, intimate partner violence, and suicide.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:You’re going to love Hungryroot as much as we do. For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/culty and use code culty.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this festive bonus chat, the hosts humorously banter about holiday traditions while navigating the sensitive terrain of NXIVM-related legalities. They reflect on memorable episodes from the past year and touch on listener voicemails revealing personal stories and critiques about recent cult discussions. Exciting plans for 2026 include a new book release and a live Patreon event. With their signature gallows humor, they tackle intricate topics like consent and accountability within cult dynamics, all wrapped up in a cozy holiday vibe.

In this episode, Cheryl Tuppa joins the pod to tell the story of her niece Briana’s seven-year entanglement with Twin Flames Universe—from a late-night Google search about soulmates to a full-blown high-control group that nearly swallowed her life and savings. A longtime cybersecurity specialist, Cheryl walks us through how a close, resourceful New England family still missed key early signs, then organized “Team Briana” behind the scenes, contacting ex-members, law enforcement, journalists, and cult consultants (Sarah included), and ultimately helped Briana escape and rebuild her life. We get into money, “divine dish” food control, the pressure to stalk “twin flames,” Jeff and Shaleia’s role in mass gender transitions and the Mind Alignment Program, recent FBI action against the group, and why being a “safe place to land” may be the single most important thing loved ones can do.​We also mention therapist and cult specialist Rachel Bernstein, who worked with Briana and has been a guest on our show. Also check out our previous episodes with ex-Twin Flames Universe member Keely Griffin and journalist Alice Hines, who both helped expose the group’s abuses and digital reach.And for creative arts therapy approaches, look up clinical psychologist Jennifer French.Be sure to follow Cheryl’s YouTube channel and join her mission to expose cults and other high control groups.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of gender transition under high-pressure conditions, and disordered eating and food control.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code CULTY at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Andrew-Ryan Profaci, we pick up right where things get extra bananas: the “quantum hoax,” the moment he pulled back the curtain on Love Has Won’s manufactured enemies, fake spiritual threats, and collective delusion. Andrew-Ryan realized the whole thing was a miniature version of the way abusive systems run in the wider world. We walk through how he went from compliant “Father God” to sabotaging the belief system from the inside, confronting Amy’s contradictions, and trying to protect vulnerable newcomers like Bill, a 55-year-old who liquidated his house and retirement for the group and died with nothing left. He shares the heartbreaking endgame—Amy’s denied medical care, her mummified body found in a shrine, zero accountability for the remaining members—and how he rebuilt his life, survived stage 4 cancer, and distilled it all into a core message about authenticity, belonging, and why cults are a magnified version of dynamics most of us already live in.Be sure to read Andrew-Ryan’s book, The War on Love, and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of medical neglect leading to death.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this captivating discussion, Andrew-Ryan Profaci, a cult and cancer survivor, shares his gripping journey within the Love Has Won movement, led by the self-proclaimed Mother God. He dives into how personal vulnerabilities, like addiction recovery and job loss, led him to the chaotic group. Andrew recounts his surreal experiences, from the moment he joined a disheveled house in Colorado to the intense spiritual encounters that kept him engaged. He reveals shocking power dynamics, financial manipulations, and the mind-bending 'quantum hoax' that unraveled his world.