Most people in this series waited outside the wall. Zach went in after her.
When the community began to absorb his wife — his partner since high school — into its daily life, Zach did something almost no one else did: he quietly joined the group himself and watched from the inside, as, in his account, she was coached line by line on what to say and what to file, his own marriage discussed in real time by people who didn't know he was there. This is his story, told alongside his sister Jackie... about what it is to watch someone you love be rewritten from the other side of a wall, and how far a person will go to reach them.
Content note: this episode includes discussion of recovered-memory and childhood-sexual-abuse allegations, domestic abuse, family estrangement, and references to suicidal ideation. Support resources are below.
Sources & credits:
A short excerpt of Liana Shanti’s own publicly published 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 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, 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.
