Go to http://ground.news/C2C for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link. After escaping the COG cult in Australia with her husband, Maria Esguerra spent years in higher education so she could become a psychologist and better understand her past. Her mission now, is to help other survivors of high control groups and people, move through their trauma and find healing in understanding. She is even doing her best to help legally forge a path for those who are vict*m to coercive control and help the courts understand that crimes are not always so black and white. Our discussion covers the ways in which chiIdren’s wiring is not only affected, but hijacked, when growing up in dangerous and or high control cults. Find and Support Maria! The Olive Leaf Network: Linktr.ee https://linktr.ee/Mariaesguerra IG @cultpsyc https://www.instagram.com/cultpsych/ TikTok: @mariaesguerra13 https://www.tiktok.com/@mariaesguerra13 FB: https://www.facebook.com/maria.esguerra.75436 DeCult: www.decult.net We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page: https://trovatrip.com/trip/north-america/mexico/mexico-with-shelise-sola-oct-2025 Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/cultstocon Chapter Marks 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:16 How Maria's mom got involved in COG 00:16:39 How indoctrination starts slow 00:21:27 Maria's family moves to the Philippines 00:27:15 Demands placed on young teens and chiIdren in the cult 00:33:17 The effects of cult life on chiIdren 00:43:39 Maria's teen years 00:57:36 Maria becomes pregnant, gets married 01:03:01 Maria's experience leaving the cult with her husband and chiIdren 01:08:56 Coercive Control Legislation 01:19:25 Maria's experience parenting 01:27:13 Maria's POV as a mother now that she's left the cult 01:37:14 Linda, Listen **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**