Digital Social Hour
Shelise Ann Sola: What Cult Survivors Know That Outsiders Don’t | DSH #1700
21 Dec 2025
Chapter 1: What are the hidden realities of modern cults?
What people don't realize is the effect it has on children because when you're born into Scientology you're not wanted.
They even, if you're in the Sea Org, you're not allowed to have children and so when they do get pregnant they usually get kicked off or like taken somewhere else and the kids are just like dropped into this orphanage situation and they're raised by people around them who aren't really watching them so they're severely neglected in every sense.
medical neglect, emotional neglect, education neglect. All of those things and the stories you hear about the children are so heartbreaking because, again, they don't really know any different.
Okay, guys, we got Chalice from the Cults to Consciousness podcast. We're going to be talking about some interesting stuff today.
Chapter 2: How do cults use information control to maintain power?
Thanks for coming on.
Thanks for having me. I was really excited when you reached out because you have such a colorful array of guests that I was like, all right, what are we going to talk about?
All sorts of perspectives, too.
Chapter 3: What are the modesty rules in Mormonism and their impact?
I got some Mormons, some Christians, some Islam, you know, got a little bit of it all.
Yeah.
So your audience is more like, like, well, how would you describe it, I guess?
Our audience is comprised of a few different things. I would say we do have a large majority of people who have left cults themselves because we interview cult survivors.
Chapter 4: How do missions serve as indoctrination boot camps?
So we have people who find solidarity and understanding and validation in our guests and their stories. And then we have people who are more interested in true crime who just like to hear the interesting stories that happen to real people. And other than that, I think people are just interested in cults or people who want to be advocates.
We have an amazing community who rallies around our guests. And so it helps our guests feel supported and willing to come on and share the deepest, darkest parts of their life because we get so many positive comments, which, as you know, is pretty rare for a social media platform to get mostly positive comments.
Chapter 5: What are the psychological effects of polygamy and sexual control in cults?
I would say that's like one of one.
I know, it's crazy. I don't know how it happened, but we just always, I guess we start every show off with encouraging people to leave positive words of encouragement. And so I think they see how much it helps. And we also have people sharing their own stories in the comments. And so I think them feeling safe enough to do that says a lot about the community.
Yeah, you're providing like a safe space almost, right?
Chapter 6: Why do children suffer the most in cult systems?
Yeah. I bet the only hate you get is from the cult leaders themselves.
Yeah.
Exactly. Yeah, not so much from the cult leaders themselves. I think they couldn't be bothered to do that. But the people who are still involved in the cult in some way, maybe just haven't seen all of the information yet. And We get it because I've been there myself where I defended Mormonism to the death and I was like, you guys don't understand. You have it wrong.
Not realizing that I was the one that was misinformed. I was the one who was lied to by the church itself. So whenever I see those comments, I can still have compassion for them because I know that they don't have the full story.
Chapter 7: What role does shame play in the experience of cult survivors?
Right. Wow. So you used to defend Mormonism.
Oh, 100 percent.
From what age range?
All the way until I left.
Wow.
I actually lived in Vegas. I lived out here, and this is when I decided to leave. There was a bishop that was just harping on me super hard, and I thought I was doing everything right. I was living in Sin City and still never drank alcohol or smoked weed. The only rules I was breaking would be the modesty rules. What's that? What's the modesty rules? So this shirt would definitely not be allowed.
It has to be a sleeve, and it can't be sheer. When you get married in the temple, which is like the highest honor, it's what everyone hopes to achieve one day, you get what's called garments. So you may have heard of them.
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Chapter 8: How can we recognize cult dynamics in everyday life?
It's like an undershirt and undershorts that you wear as your underwear, men and women. And so you have to follow the modesty. It helps you be modest because if they're showing, then you're sure it's not modest enough.
Wow.
So it's like a t-shirt. But the funny thing is they recently changed them to tank tops or they gave options for tank tops and everyone is rejoicing. Which is great. I love that they're being more progressive, but also all of us who were shamed and ridiculed for having tank tops are like, are you kidding me? It doesn't even matter anymore. What's going on?
I think all the social media pressure is forcing them to make some changes, right?
I think so. Social media... In some ways, they are loosening up, and then in other ways, they're doubling down. So there was something that came out recently. It was like a leaked publication to the bishops and the ones in charge of the different congregations.
And they were saying that you can't give temple recommends to women who are using the yoga pants loophole because you don't have to wear your garments. There's like the four S's or something. I'm sure everyone will correct me in the comments, but there's like sweating, which is working out, sex, swimming, and showering. I think those are the main ones.
And so if you just put on yoga pants, it's like, well, I'm about to go to the gym. And so you don't ever wear them because you're just in workout clothes all day. So there was something that came out where the higher council was telling the bishops, hey, guys, if they're not wearing their garments and they're doing the yoga pants, then you can't give them a temple recommend.
which is a really big deal in Mormonism, because if you can't go to the temple, that means you're not going to be able to go to the highest level of heaven if you're not consistently going and doing the endowments for the dead and all of that. So, yeah, it's a harsh punishment when you can't go to the temple. Wow.
Did that ever happen to you where you weren't allowed to go?
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