
THE INSTASCAMMER · August 31 · 40 min
Brick by Brick - THE INSTASCAMMER (Liana Shanti) Ep 3
0:00-40:44
transcript
show notes
By the late 2010s, Liana Shanti’s world had become a full digital ecosystem — multiple platforms, multiple entry points, all leading to the same place.
This episode follows how people arrived (through illness, exhaustion, grief, or simply the algorithm) and how the “mother wound” and “father wound” teachings gradually reframed ordinary childhood moments as trauma — and, some former members and families describe, led to recovered “memories” of abuse that the people accused dispute. Where allegations are contested or unproven, we make no finding, and every contributor speaks for themselves.
Content note: this episode includes discussion of recovered-memory and childhood-sexual-abuse allegations. Support resources are below.
Sources & credits:
A short excerpt of Liana Shanti’s own audio recording is used as her own words for the purpose of criticism, comment and review under fair dealing (UK) / fair use (US), credited below.
• Archive from Liana Shanti, Deep Throat: And By That I Mean Throat Chakra (“Episode Six”), 2023.
About this series:
THE INSTASCAMMER is an audio documentary based on interviews, recordings, documents and public records. The experiences you hear are the accounts of the people who lived them. Where possible we distinguish personal testimony from expert opinion and verified records. Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect contributors and third parties. Any ongoing legal matters referenced are just that — ongoing; we do not speculate on outcomes, and nothing in this series should be understood as a statement of criminal guilt. When we use the term “InstaScammer” we are not alleging a criminal conviction. Have you experienced something like this?
Support & resources:
If anything in this episode resonates with your own experience, you are not alone, and help is available.
• Recovering from a cult or coercive group: R.A.I.S.E. CIC (UK) — cultic-abuse support and peer-led recovery — recoverautonomy.org.
• Internationally: the International Cultic Studies Association — internationalculticstudies.org, hello@internationalculticstudies.org.
• If you’ve lost a loved one to a cult or coercion: The Family Survival Trust (UK) — thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/support.
• Childhood or sexual abuse: US — RAINN, 1-800-656-4673 (24/7). UK — NAPAC, 0808
801 0331.
• In emotional distress or crisis (including suicidal thoughts): UK & ROI — Samaritans,
free on 116 123, 24/7. US — 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988, 24/7.
• Domestic abuse or coercive control: UK — National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge),
0808 2000 247, 24/7. US — National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233.
(If you are in immediate danger, contact your local emergency number.)
Verification & evidence:
Much of what is described in this series is supported by recordings, documents, court filings and public records. If you are a journalist, researcher, or someone personally affected and you would like to verify what you’ve heard, you can reach the production at cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com.
A note on names:
To protect the privacy and safety of contributors and their families, some names and identifying details have been changed. Where individuals appear under their real names, they have consented to do so.
This episode follows how people arrived (through illness, exhaustion, grief, or simply the algorithm) and how the “mother wound” and “father wound” teachings gradually reframed ordinary childhood moments as trauma — and, some former members and families describe, led to recovered “memories” of abuse that the people accused dispute. Where allegations are contested or unproven, we make no finding, and every contributor speaks for themselves.
Content note: this episode includes discussion of recovered-memory and childhood-sexual-abuse allegations. Support resources are below.
Sources & credits:
A short excerpt of Liana Shanti’s own audio recording is used as her own words for the purpose of criticism, comment and review under fair dealing (UK) / fair use (US), credited below.
• Archive from Liana Shanti, Deep Throat: And By That I Mean Throat Chakra (“Episode Six”), 2023.
About this series:
THE INSTASCAMMER is an audio documentary based on interviews, recordings, documents and public records. The experiences you hear are the accounts of the people who lived them. Where possible we distinguish personal testimony from expert opinion and verified records. Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect contributors and third parties. Any ongoing legal matters referenced are just that — ongoing; we do not speculate on outcomes, and nothing in this series should be understood as a statement of criminal guilt. When we use the term “InstaScammer” we are not alleging a criminal conviction. Have you experienced something like this?
Support & resources:
If anything in this episode resonates with your own experience, you are not alone, and help is available.
• Recovering from a cult or coercive group: R.A.I.S.E. CIC (UK) — cultic-abuse support and peer-led recovery — recoverautonomy.org.
• Internationally: the International Cultic Studies Association — internationalculticstudies.org, hello@internationalculticstudies.org.
• If you’ve lost a loved one to a cult or coercion: The Family Survival Trust (UK) — thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/support.
• Childhood or sexual abuse: US — RAINN, 1-800-656-4673 (24/7). UK — NAPAC, 0808
801 0331.
• In emotional distress or crisis (including suicidal thoughts): UK & ROI — Samaritans,
free on 116 123, 24/7. US — 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988, 24/7.
• Domestic abuse or coercive control: UK — National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge),
0808 2000 247, 24/7. US — National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233.
(If you are in immediate danger, contact your local emergency number.)
Verification & evidence:
Much of what is described in this series is supported by recordings, documents, court filings and public records. If you are a journalist, researcher, or someone personally affected and you would like to verify what you’ve heard, you can reach the production at cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com.
A note on names:
To protect the privacy and safety of contributors and their families, some names and identifying details have been changed. Where individuals appear under their real names, they have consented to do so.