Structural Damage - THE INSTASCAMMER (Liana Shanti) Ep 7

The aftermath of the fire.

This episode follows what happened next for Tom and Joanne — the insurance, the fundraiser, the letters, a welfare check, and the public posts that followed — as a rental arrangement built on trust came apart. Where officials have not stated a cause, we say so; where an account is one person’s recollection or estimate, we attribute it plainly; and where an allegation is unproven, we make no finding.

Content note: this episode includes references to a house fire, significant financial loss, disputed allegations, and family estrangement. Support resources are below.

Sources & credits: This episode draws on the contributors’ own interviews together with court filings and public records. No third-party audio clips are used.

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.