Cult Diaries

What Happens Inside a Secretive Cult Like SIST?

In this deeply powerful and possibly triggering episode, (trigger warning) we sit down with Martha Glory Kartaoui, a cult survivor who has transformed unimaginable experiences into a life devoted to healing, truth, and empowerment. Martha courageously shares her story of life inside Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology (SIST)—a secretive, fundamentalist group based in Shawano, Wisconsin. Led by Avraham Cohen (formerly R.C. Samanta Roy or Rama Behera), the group has been described by former members and media as a cult, with allegations including emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and severe physical torture. This conversation goes beyond headlines and into the lived reality of what it means to be inside a high-control environment—and what it takes to break free from it. Martha’s journey didn’t end with escape. After more than 14 years of deep, intentional healing, she has become a powerful leader in the trauma-healing space. She is the creator of Unbound, an immersive experience designed to help individuals release the past and reclaim their power, and the founder of Unbound: The Collective, a global community of “battle angels” rising into wholeness. She is also an international bestselling author, speaker, trauma-informed coach, and host of Let Glory Shine, using her voice to awaken, empower, and guide others back to themselves. In this episode, we explore:– What it really takes to break free from cult programming– The long and layered process of healing the mind, body, and nervous system– Reclaiming identity after control, fear, and conditioning– And how to rise into purpose after surviving the unimaginable This is more than a story—it’s a reclamation. If you’ve ever felt controlled, silenced, or disconnected from your truth, this episode will meet you there—and gently guide you forward. Because healing isn’t just about surviving what happened it’s about becoming who you were always meant to be. Grab her book or listen to her show below: https://lnk.bio/MarthaGloryKartaoui [https://lnk.bio/MarthaGloryKartaoui]

Inside the Cult On The Cape

In this haunting and deeply powerful episode, I sit down with Bonnie Zampino, a domestic violence and cult survivor who shares the unimaginable reality of life inside the Community of Jesus. What Bonnie endured is almost impossible to comprehend. For three years, she was held in isolation—locked in a basement and only brought out for chants and rituals. Her world was controlled, her mind targeted through repetitive recordings designed to condition and break her. But in the darkest place, she found something that would ultimately help her survive, a small music recorder filled with musicals. That became her lifeline. A quiet act of resistance. A way to protect her mind from the psychological programming she was subjected to daily. This episode is not just about survival, it’s about the resilience of the human spirit. Today, Bonnie has rebuilt a powerful and purpose-driven life. She is the voice behind the podcast The Cult on the Cape, where she sheds light on cult dynamics and gives others the courage to question, speak out, and heal. Beyond her story, Bonnie brings a wealth of experience in human resources, nonprofit leadership, and workforce development, especially supporting individuals facing barriers to employment. She has written for Huffington Post, contributed extensively to autism awareness, and played a role in advancing anti-stalking laws and protections under the Violence Against Women Act. She is also a relentless researcher with a gift for uncovering truth through public records, and in 2024, she co-founded Rock Harbor Truth with Shawn DeLude. She has created a survivor led space to help others heal and deconstruct from religious trauma. This conversation is raw, eye-opening, and deeply moving. It’s about control, survival, truth, and ultimately-freedom. If you’ve ever questioned your reality, your past, or the systems you were raised in… this episode will speak directly to your soul. Non- Profit for Cult Survivors http://www.rockharbortruth.org/ [http://www.rockharbortruth.org/] Cult On The Cape Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs?si=79268051ca604793 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6JnIrHq9MiKi6DNxsXdRUs?si=79268051ca604793]

Inside A Doomsday Cult: Escaping The House of Yaweh

Welcome to Season 2! I have finally been able to sit down and make space for some new interviews and this season is going to be a wild ride! I have some amazing guests that I have throughly enjoyed learning from, because their experience has opened my eyes to the common thread between all cult survivors. In this deeply powerful episode, I sit down with Melody Post, a survivor of the polygamist doomsday cult known as House of Yahweh, a high-control religious group rooted in extreme beliefs and rigid control. Melody’s story is one of lost innocence, survival, and profound resilience. She was pulled into the cult at just 15 years old, engaged by 16, married at 18 to the leader’s son, and a mother by 19. By 20, she was excommunicated and cast out of the only world she had known. Inside the cult, life was dictated by fear, control, and deeply disturbing teachings, where underage marriages were normalized, women were treated as “unclean,” medical care was forbidden, and families were separated both physically and psychologically. But this episode isn’t just about what Melody endured it’s about what she rebuilt. Today, Melody is the co-host and producer of the Cultimatum Podcast, and the founder of a thriving support community for survivors. Through her work, she gives voice to those who have been silenced, helping others break free from coercive control and reclaim their lives. This conversation is raw, eye-opening, and deeply human. If you’ve ever questioned belief systems, navigated trauma, or are on a journey of healing this episode will stay with you. Cult Escape & Recovery Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2575419069406501 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/2575419069406501] Cultimatum Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1910498486077283 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1910498486077283]

Deconstructing Faith Without Losing Your Soul

In this episode, Brooke sits down with Bre Hamilton ( Religious Trauma Coach), who grew up deeply embedded in fundamentalist evangelical Christianity—where identity, belonging, and moral value were measured by submission and spotless rule-following. When their questions began, it wasn’t just beliefs that unraveled; it was an entire sense of self. What makes their story unique is what happened next: they didn’t walk away from spirituality—they reclaimed it. Through curiosity, nervous-system healing, and radical self-honesty, Bre rebuilt a relationship to the sacred that’s consent-based, embodied, and free of coercion. Today, they’ve created a life and business devoted to healing, purpose, and community for others on a similar path. We cover: * The quiet mechanics of control: purity culture, gender roles, and “worthiness” as performance * Deconstruction without collapse: nervous-system tools for safety, grief, and reorientation * Reclaiming spirituality on your terms—rituals, values, and inner guidance you can trust * Building ethical, non-coercive community and safeguards against recreating harmful dynamics * Practical first steps for listeners beginning to question Connect with your host, Brooke Kekos here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠https://www.lifecoachinggoddess.com/⁠⁠] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@brookekekos?_t=8UL4XMCBiu3&_r=1] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachinggoddess⁠⁠] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/brooke.kekos/⁠] Take the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Emotional Trauma Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jhykotbfc3r.typeform.com/to/E4AbIBFp⁠] to gain clarity on where you’re struggling, identify the hidden blocks keeping you from thriving, and learn how to begin rewriting your story. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.lifecoachinggoddess.com/healing-meditation-series]: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace! Shattered, Broken, and Beautiful: Losing My Religion and Finding Faith. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab your copy!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1960930184?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_mwn_dp_EBJYAFTFY73A2STPXZ2H&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_mwn_dp_EBJYAFTFY73A2STPXZ2H&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_mwn_dp_EBJYAFTFY73A2STPXZ2H&bestFormat=true&language=en-US] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Warrior Goddess Circle for Book Club⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.lifecoachinggoddess.com/warrior-goddess-circle] Connect with Bre: ⁠Website⁠ [https://soulfulyoucoach.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacyj_6XOvhAs0FtKyoiBh4w2ipMLi7eT8cgMnQq_vZSxebF_-rty_ks3jm5NQ_aem_6ypelnU3mVtpBQdu9D0rPA] ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/soulfullybre] ⁠Tik Tok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@soulfullybre] ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@soulfullybre] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brehamilton/]

Freedom From Australia MegaChurch

What happens when the church you dedicate your life to turns out to be a cult? In this episode of Cult Diaries, I sit down with Elise Heerde, who courageously shares her story of growing up in and ultimately escaping the grip of an Australian Mega Church cult. Elise opens up about the unraveling of belief, the painful process of uncovering the truth, and the courageous steps it took to finally break free. Together, we explore what it means to heal after religious trauma, how cult conditioning impacts the nervous system, and how reclaiming authenticity becomes the foundation for real freedom. Elise Heerde (she/her) is a Certified Coach and qualified Mental Health Practitioner in Melbourne, Australia. She is the Co-founder of The Religious Trauma Collective, where she supports people recovering from religious trauma and cults. With both lived experience and professional training, Elise brings compassion, authenticity, and even a touch of sarcasm to her work — creating safe, judgment-free spaces filled with hope. This conversation is for anyone who has ever questioned their faith, struggled with the aftermath of religious control, or is seeking the courage to heal and rebuild their life beyond indoctrination. Elise’s journey will inspire you to trust your inner knowing, reclaim your voice, and remember that freedom is always possible. Connect with your host, Brooke Deanne here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠https://www.lifecoachinggoddess.com/⁠⁠] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@brookekekos?_t=8UL4XMCBiu3&_r=1] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachinggoddess⁠⁠] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/brooke.kekos/⁠]Take the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Emotional Trauma Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jhykotbfc3r.typeform.com/to/E4AbIBFp⁠] to gain clarity on where you’re struggling, identify the hidden blocks keeping you from thriving, and learn how to begin rewriting your story. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.lifecoachinggoddess.com/healing-meditation-series]: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace! My Book is finally here: Shattered, Broken, and Beautiful: Losing My Religion and Finding Faith ⁠⁠⁠Grab your copy!⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1960930184?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_mwn_dp_EBJYAFTFY73A2STPXZ2H&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_mwn_dp_EBJYAFTFY73A2STPXZ2H&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_mwn_dp_EBJYAFTFY73A2STPXZ2H&bestFormat=true&language=en-US] Connect with Elise: Website [https://www.eliseheerde.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eliseheerde/]