Cults to Consciousness

Her ISOLATION in a Strict Mennonite Cult Led to Madness

Shelise Ann Sola/ Jasper Hoffman Season 1 Episode 90

From an atheist household to strict Mennonite, Jasper had an incredible amount of adjusting to do as a teenager. Her love for riding horses and asking questions branded her with “unruly” and “rebellious”. Anyone who got close to her was shipped away and eventually, due to lack of socialization and acceptance, her mental health quickly deteriorated. She now hosts “The Plain People’s Podcast” where she platforms former Mennonite and Amish so they may tell their stories.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find and Support Jasper!

Website: https://www.theplainpeoplespodcast.com
Resources: https://www.theplainpeoplespodcast.com/resources

IG: @ThePlainPeoplesPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theplainpeoplespodcast/
@jasper.c.hoffman

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/theplainpeoplespodcast

  • Why would a family outside the church join into a cult?
  • The home school movement in California in the 90s
  • The catalyst for Jasper's mom to head to religion
  •  Introduced to the Mennonites
  • What it was like to go from Atheist to Christian to Mennonite
  • Jasper's father became sober when they became Mennonites
  • Jasper's mother enjoyed the initial love overload when first joined
  • Jasper came home one day to her clothes changed to all dresses
  • Jasper was no longer allowed to ride horses because it was un-lady like
  • How the Mennonites incorporated IBLP practices
  • The dark ways Jasper's life changed once she became Mennonite
  • Jasper's family was the first to join this particular church
  • The library had removed and censored pages in encyclopedias
  • They tried to control Jasper immediately
  • Controlling how she walked...
  • Published example of being too prideful
  • Why Jasper wasn't allowed to go to 10th grade
  • Where Jasper's mental health really took a turn
  • Was Jasper encouraged to homeschool on her own?
  • They started shipping away all her friends
  • They tried to send Jasper away, then forbidden therapy
  • Her difficult dating/courtship experience
  • When Jasper realized she had to leave the Mennonites
  • How Jasper got out
  • A divided family
  • Jasper got accepted into college 
  • Jasper had to move BACK in!
  • Her post-cult journey
  • Jasper starts her own podcast
  • The patterns and through-lines Jasper has noticed in h

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Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**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.**