Shortcut: Escaping a Cult Posing as a Yoga Movement - ATC International

Shortcut: Escaping a Cult Posing as a Yoga Movement - ATC International

Author: Bravecasting May 6, 2026 Duration: 13:57

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.

Ashleigh Freckleton was 25, living alone in London after a breakup, when she was drawn into what seemed like a spiritual yoga community. 

To immerse herself fully into that community, Ashleigh travelled to Romania to practice its teachings. 

Now featured in Apple TV's Twisted Yoga, she shares how that experience escalated into an alleged world of coercion, exploitation, and psychological control that followed her across Europe.

You can watch Twisted Yoga on Apple TV and follow Ashleigh on Instagram @afreckle_ and CULTivate Awareness @cultawareness_

You can watch our episodes by visiting our Youtube Channel here.

Join our Facebook Group here.

Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.

Wanting to hear about certain kinds of crime? Check out our Spotify playlists for a curated list of our episodes.
For Support:

Lifeline  on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie

Guest: Ashleigh Freckleton

Producer: Ruby Bartzis


GET IN TOUCH:

https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook 

Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com


For those drawn to the shadows that linger just beyond the backyard fence, Australian True Crime offers a compelling and often unsettling exploration. Hosted by Meshel Laurie, whose genuine fascination with the genre drives every conversation, this podcast delves into the stories that unfold in the very streets and suburbs we think we know. It moves beyond the headlines to examine the intricate, human details of cases that have shocked the nation. Laurie’s approach is characterised by thorough research and a commitment to presenting multiple perspectives. Each episode is built around interviews with a range of voices, including journalists who have covered the cases, investigators who worked the scenes, and at times, the victim survivors or even perpetrators themselves. This method provides a multi-faceted view, probing the underbelly of Australian communities to uncover the complex realities behind the crime. Listening to this podcast feels like sitting down for a deep, sometimes difficult, but always engrossing discussion about the darker threads woven into the fabric of Australian life. It’s for anyone who understands that true crime is, at its core, about people and place, and that the most mysterious tales are often those closest to home.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

Australian True Crime
Podcast Episodes
Escaping a Cult Posing as a Yoga Movement - ATC International [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:24
Ashleigh Freckleton was 25, living alone in London after a breakup, when she was drawn into what seemed like a spiritual yoga community. To immerse herself fully into that community, Ashleigh travelled to Romania to prac…
Introducing: True Crime Tonight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
Record a voice message for us on Speakpipe here. ATC Plus subscribers can listen to this episode ad free here. You can watch our episodes by visiting our Youtube Channel here. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have in…
True Crime Tonight: The Epstein Files [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:52
Hosted by Australia’s queen of true crime, Meshel Laurie, the show airs Sundays from 6–7pm on KIIS, unpacking the cases everyone’s talking about. From headline making crimes and celebrity scandals to the trials dominatin…
The Epstein Files with Tara Brown - ATC International [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
Tara Brown, senior reporter for 60 Minutes, joins us to unpack the Epstein files. We focus on her documentary The Reckoning: Inside the Epstein Files, exploring the network and influence of Jeffrey Epstein, the experienc…
Shortcut: The Epstein Files with Tara Brown - ATC International [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:40
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Tara Brown, senior reporter for 60 Minutes, joins us to unpack the Epstein files. We…
Defending Criminals and Examining the Deceased [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
Have you ever wondered what kind of person could defend a murderer? Have you ever wondered what kind of person does autopsies for a living? On today's episode, you're about to meet one of each. ATC Plus subscribers can l…
Shortcut: Defending Criminals and Examining the Deceased [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:00
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Have you ever wondered what kind of person could defend a murderer? Have you ever won…
Shortcut: The True Story of the Postcard Bandit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:16
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Brenden Abbott is one of Australia’s most infamous bank robbers, a figure whose crime…
The True Story of the Postcard Bandit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:33
Brenden Abbott is one of Australia’s most infamous bank robbers, a figure whose crimes, repeated prison escapes, and years spent evading capture throughout the 1990s turned him into something of an outlaw legend. To unpa…
He Was My High School Teacher, Then My Husband [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:52
Sarah Kopp was groomed from the age of 15 by her high school PE teacher, Paul Grealy, beginning an unlawful relationship that continued into adulthood. ATC Plus subscribers can listen to this episode ad free here. You ca…