Out of the Rubble - THE INSTASCAMMER (Liana Shanti) Ep 9

Leaving is rarely the end of the story — it’s the start of rebuilding a life while untangling what was real and what wasn’t.

This episode follows Riley out of the community: the house in Florida, the slow accumulation of small moments that broke the spell, and one of the darkest threads in the series — the teaching that remembering could kill you. Riley’s father disputes the account of abuse, and the two have since reconnected; the series makes no finding on what did or did not happen. Every contributor speaks for themselves, and contested matters are left contested.

Content note: this episode includes discussion of recovered-memory and childhood-abuse allegations, family estrangement, and suicidal ideation. Support resources are below.

Sources & credits: This episode includes a short audio recording of Liana Shanti, in her own voice, provided to the production and confirmed by former members as her own words, used for the purpose of criticism, comment and review. All other audio is the contributors’ own accounts.

About this series: THE INSTASCAMMER is an 11-part investigative audio documentary from The Cult Vault podcast into Liana Shanti (legal name Liane Wilson), the online wellness figure behind HMI Wellness, the Health Mastery Institute and Life Mastery Network. Built on court records, documents, recordings, former members, experts and the families affected, the series traces how a juice-cleanse following became a coaching business and a closed community. Hosted and produced by Kacey Baker, Vault Productions.

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, [email protected].

• 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 [email protected].

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.