E42 Behind the Curtain: ISTA, Accountability, and Speaking Out w/ Dave Booda

In this candid conversation, Anne and guest Dave Booda explore the dynamics of ISTA, a school focused on sexuality and personal development, and the challenges faced by individuals within such organizations.

Dave, a musician and retreat facilitator, describes how he helped create a volunteer group (3SC) to challenge harmful practices at ISTA—a prominent sexuality and spiritual training organization modeled partly on large group awareness trainings like EST.

Together, they reflect on the difficulty of addressing systemic harm in these groups, the resistance leaders show to meaningful change, and the challenge of separating genuine transformational value from abusive practices.

Dave details the mediated conversations they initiated, the joint statement they co-authored with ISTA leadership, and how even modest attempts to foster accountability triggered backlash from both critics and loyalists. Both Anne and Dave emphasize how speaking out created space for others to come forward, and they explore the broader responsibility of using their relative privilege to push for safety and integrity in transformational spaces.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Check out Dave’s writings here https://boodaism.com/

His initial paper “Reflections on 30+ Hours of Mediated Conversation with ISTA Leadership” https://boodaism.com/reflections/

Read Anne’s Book Is This A Cult: Confronting the Line Between Exploitation and Transformation and find other pods and resources → https://isthisacultbook.com/

If you or someone you know is wrestling with recovery after being involved in a high-control group, relationship or any organization, check out the Healthy Healing and Recovery Group w/ Rachel Bernstein https://ilumn8.life/op/lgat-recovery-group/

MODERATION NOTE:

While healthy debate and discussion regarding the topics being discussed is encouraged, personal (ad hominem) attacks on people, places or things will be deleted.

FINALLY

Please consider supporting this channel which helps us to offer more and better content and resources such as the healing group w/ Rachel. Contributing also supports the learning and healing needs of folks, no matter their ability to pay, who are waking up to and leaving high demand and cult(ish) groups. Learn what you can do HERE.

https://ilumn8.givingfuel.com/ilumn8giving