The finale.
Across ten episodes we followed the people drawn into the community around the online wellness figure known as Liana Shanti; here we step back and ask who she is, and how the pattern worked. Drawing on the public record — court files, business filings, and published reporting — and on cult recovery specialists who lay out the mechanics of coercive influence, this episode traces the shape of the whole story, and ends with the plea of a mother still hoping to hear from her daughter. Where a matter is contested or unproven, the series makes no finding; facts are drawn from the record and attributed to it, and the experts speak in their professional opinion.
Content note: this episode includes discussion of coercive control, recovered-memory and
childhood-abuse allegations, and family estrangement. 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. Expert commentary is from original interviews conducted for this series. Published reporting referred to in this episode is credited below.
• Archive from Liana Shanti, Healing from Narcissistic Relationships (Session Five),
n.d.
• Jennings Brown, The Daily Beast (2023)
Joe Szimhart - Joseph Szimhart - YouTube
Gerette Buglion - Home | Gerette Buglion | Cult-Recovery Specialist
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.
