Afleveringen
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Previously on the Podcast, Anne Peterson introduced her new memoir, "Is This A Cult?" about her many years of involvement with Landmark. Anne joins the podcast again to discuss the response to her memoir, including a flood of messages from other ex-Landmarkians saying "same here!" Anne also shares what she's learned since her book launch that has given her even more clarity about her own experience and what needs to happen going forward to create a more ethical self-help industry.
SEEK is excited to share that Anne is launching the Safe Practitioners Workshop, an 8-session program for self-help practitioners and consumers, designed around the tenets of the SEEK Safely Promise. Sign up for one or all sessions here. The Workshop starts June 5th. Listen for more on what Anne sees as the SEEK Safely Movement.
A couple of corrections/clarifications to things said in the episode:
- We slightly misspoke on the specifics of the financial arrangements around the sale of WEA (Werner Erhard & Associates) to Landmark, and understated the amount. Here is the legal case in which the specific of the deal were reported: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/16/410/491724/
- We conflated The Goddard School with Bill Gothard IBLP religious schools discussed in the doc-series Shinny Happy People. The Goddard School is a private pre-school company with an excellent reputation and has no affiliation to the Gothard schools.
Mentioned on the Episode:
To Read:
"Is This a Cult: Confronting the Line between Transformation and Exploitation"
To Listen:
Previous Episode with Anne about her Memoir
Anne on A Little Bit Culty
To Watch:
The Program
To Learn:
ilumn8.life
The SEEK Safely Promise
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
Here is Part 2 with Brit Barkholtz.
Brit Barkholtz is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma and eating disorders, active in the Twitter therapist community as The Caffeinated Therapist. Brit shares her take on MLMs, self-help exploiting trauma, âcultyâ stuff, and Taylor Swift as a tool of trauma recovery.
This episode is Part 1 of 2.To Read:
Britâs thoughts on The Tortured Poetâs Department on HuffPo
PESITo Listen To:
SEEK Podcast Episode on MLMs
SEEK Pod Episode on Trauma
Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poetâs Department
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Brit Barkholtz is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma and eating disorders, active in the Twitter therapist community as The Caffeinated Therapist. Brit shares her take on MLMs, self-help exploiting trauma, âcultyâ stuff, and Taylor Swift as a tool of trauma recovery.
This episode is Part 1 of 2.To Read:
Britâs thoughts on The Tortured Poetâs Department on HuffPo
PESITo Listen To:
SEEK Podcast Episode on MLMs
SEEK Pod Episode on Trauma
Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poetâs Department
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
Bypassing is, essentially, avoidance. It's something we all do from time to time as a response to something unpleasant in our lives. But sometimes bypassing can cause us to go too far, putting off challenge for later that we'd be better off dealing with now. And sometimes in the self-help world, bypassing is either encouraged or deeply embedded in the thought system being pushed.
Dr. Glenn highlights how spiritual bypassing, emotional bypassing, and reality bypassing are all especially dangerous for trauma survivors. Have a listen so you can be prepared to recognize bypassing and know whether or not it's a potential red flag situation.
On another note, special thank you to everyone who donated to Dr. Glenn's birthday fundraiser to benefit SEEK! We are always so grateful for the support!To Read:
âThe Road Less Traveledâ by M. Scott Peck
âIs This a Cultâ by Anne L. Peterson https://isthisacultbook.com
About EMDR Therapy
About Somatic Therapy
âWaking the Tigerâ by Peter LevineTo Listen To:
SEEK Safely Podcast Interview with Anne Peterson Part 1, Part 2
The Deep End by Jennings BrownLearn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
Continuing our conversation with Anne Peterson, who has decades of involvement with Landmark, one of the original large-group awareness training (LGAT) companies, including experience producing a breakthrough leadership program developed for Landmark's founder, Werner Erhard. She tells her story in her memoir, âIs This A Cult: Confronting the Line Between Transformation and Exploitation.â This episode is Part 2 of 2. Listen to Part 1 if you havenât already!
To Read:
https://isthisacultbook.com
iLumn8.life, Anneâs safer self-help platform
Rick Alan Ross
âOutrageous Betrayalâ by Steven Pressman
The SEEK Safely Promise
âThis Sweet Lifeâ by Ginny and Jean Brown
About LGATs
To Watch:
I Am Not Your Guru
To Listen:
Anneâs First Interview on the SEEK Safely Podcast
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website -
Anne Peterson has decades of involvement with Landmark, one of the original large-group awareness training (LGAT) companies, including experience producing a breakthrough leadership program developed for Landmark's founder, Werner Erhard. Millions (3.5 million, according to Landmark's press packet) have passed through its trademark Landmark Forum training, many of them having positive experiences. But after her many years of working with Landmark as a facilitator and program producer, Anne began to see some of the cracks under the surface, particularly with its very guru-y founder, Werner Erhard (aka Jack Rosenberg). Anne is now telling her storyâand in the process, raising many red flags for other seekers of personal growthâin her memoir, âIs This A Cult: Confronting the Line Between Transformation and Exploitation.â This episode is Part 1 of 2.
To Read:
https://isthisacultbook.com
Rick Alan Ross
âOutrageous Betrayalâ by Steven Pressman
âThe Programâ by Toni Natale
The SEEK Safely Promise
âThis Sweet Lifeâ by Ginny and Jean Brown
About LGATs
To Watch:
I Am Not Your Guru
To Listen:
Anneâs First Interview on the SEEK Safely Podcast
Guru Podcast
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website -
This episode is a throw-back to our annual fundraiser, Kirby Jam, in October 2023. We had live-streamed on a different topic each night, and on this night, Monday, October 16th, we discussed our effort to pass self-help consumer protection legislation. Dr. Glenn, Jean, and SEEK Founder Ginny Brown talk about why we feel the legislation is necessary, what our effort has looked like, and the bill that we are hoping will make it to the floor in the New York State Legislature in 2024. (And please give us a bit of grace for extraneous noises, etc, as what you are hearing was live-recorded!)
To Read:
About Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos
About SEEKâs Consumer Protection BillTo Listen To:
SEEKâs Kirby Jam first night broadcast
S2E2 Glenn and Jean Spoil 'The Secret' on the SEEK Safely PodcastLearn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
Our resident self-help geeks, Dr. Doyle and Dr. Christine Whelan, along with Jean, talk about self-help books that arenât self-help booksâthat is, books that were not written to be self-help books but have been adopted into self-help culture, or society at large, as self-helpy how-to life manuals. Some are about other aspects of mental health and wellness, some are memoir or autobiography, some are straight-up fiction, but somehow they either took on a self-help life of their own, or have been readily adopted by the self-help industry, or launched the author into the self-helpisphere.
The rest of the notes are just links.
So. Many. Links.
To Read:The Bible by God(?)
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
The Power of Purpose by Richard J. Leider
Self-esteem by Nathaniel Branden
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Brandino
The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Art of the Deal by Tony Schwartz and Donald Trump
Iâm Ok; Youâre Ok by Thomas Harris
The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Get the links to the rest of the books we mention on our website... -
Did you set a New Yearâs resolution that is already floundering? Have you been inundated by self-help/wellness/woo-woo New Yearsy stuff, too? Or maybe peri-menopause supplements⊠The self-help industry loves a New Yearâs resolution, so Jean and Glenn talk all about resolutionsâtheir own takes and advice for resolutions, red flags to watch for in scammy self-help world, and some thoughts on how to approach this interesting, sometimes inspiring, sometimes overwhelming, time of year!
Also Mentioned in this Episode -
To Read:Jeanâs Blog www.theselfstyledlife.com
Glennâs Blog www.useyourdamnskills.com
To Listen To:
Glenn on the GutWizdom podcast
To Help you Move Your Body:
Mommastrong (the fitness program Jean mentions)
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Also, please let us know where the burr goes!
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Glenn and Jean tackle the cosmic matchmaking self-help group/cult, Twin Flames Universe. Much has already been written and said about this fascinating/terrifying group. But on the SEEK Safely Podcast, the focus is on what this Twin Flames phenomenon says about self-help, and what it illuminates about why and how people get into self-help groups that turn out to be cults.
Also Mentioned in this Episode:
To Read:
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus by John Gray
The 5 Love Languages by Gary ChapmanTo Watch:
Escaping Twin Flames Docuseries on NetfliX
Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe Docuseries on PrimeTo Listen To:
A Little Bit Culty Episode with Alice Hines about Twin Flames Universe
A Little Bit Culty Episode with Kelly Griffin about Twin Flames UniverseLearn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown -
This is the continuation of the first episode of the 3rd season! It picks up where the first episode left off, deep into Tony Robbinsâ assent into self-help superstardom. Tony Robbins was Dr. Glennâs first stop in the wide world of self-help, and in many ways, he is arguably one of the best known and most successful self-help personalities ever. He put the modern self-help industry on the trajectory of providing The Answer to Everything in your lifeâa âkitchen sinkâ approach, as Dr. Glenn calls it.
Tony went from the best-selling book model, to stadium events, to QVC, to expensive retreats, to appearances at other peopleâs events, to endorsements, to⊠flirting with anti-vax and gender essentialism stuff? In diving into the story of Tony Robbins, we consider where self-help has been, where it is today, and (maybe) where itâs going from here.
Also Mentioned in this Episode:
Dr. Christine Whelan
To Read:
Tony Robbins Wikipedia Page
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Buzzfeed investigation into misconduct allegations
The Program by Toni Natale
Fit For Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond
Behind Tony Robbinsâ Dangerous Approach to the Pandemic by Zoe Schiffer for The Verge
To Watch:
Sarah Edmonsonâs TedX Talk on Cult Literacy and Seeking Safely
The Problem with Tony Robbins (Part 1) by MĂŒnecat on YouTube
âI Am Not Your Guruâ docu-series on Netflix
To Listen To:
SEEK Safely on A Little Bit Culty
Unleash the Power WIthin Tony Robbins audio series
âI Am⊠I Saidâ by Neil Diamond
SEEK Safely Episode on the Manosphere
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Insta
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Jean and Glenn kick off the third season of the SEEK Safely Podcast, diving right in with a chat about Dr. Glennâs favourite self-help author, Tony Robbins. Robbins has been one of the biggest names in self-help for decades. His success has inspired numerous other would-be gurus and has shifted the self-help industry in many ways. His career tells a story about the evolution of self-help, from the tape-series model to stadium events to guest appearances... anywhere. This is part 1 of 2. Watch for Part 2 on December 18th.
Also Mentioned in this Episode:
Dr. Christine WhelanTo Read:
Tony Robbins Wikipedia Page
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Think and Grow Richby Napoleon Hill
Awaken the Giant WIthinby Tony Robbins
Buzzfeed investigation into misconduct allegations
The Programby Toni Natale
Fit For Life by Harvey and Marilyn DiamondTo Watch:
Sarah Edmonsonâs TedX Talk on Cult Literacy and Seeking Safely
The Problem with Tony Robbins (Part 1) by MĂŒnecat on YouTube
âI Am Not Your Guruâ docu-series on NetflixTo Listen To:
SEEK Safely on A Little Bit Culty
Unleash the Power WIthinTony Robbins audio series
âI Am⊠I Saidâ by Neil Diamond***
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
Before we take a quick podcast break, Glenn and Jean go back through the episodes from Season 2, reviewing some of the highlights and favorite moments. They also take a look at what theme emerged from this collection of discussions and interviews.
Weâd love to hear what your favorite moments from this season were! Let us knowâsend us a message or even leave a voicemail.
Weâll be back with new episodes in October! Thanks for listening!
Also mentioned in this Episode:
Read:
The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on the Dark Side of Yoga by Joelle Tamraz
Life 101 Series by Peter McWilliams
Self-help Books and the Quest for Self-control in the United States 1950-2000 Dr. Christine Whelanâs Doctoral Dissertation
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
About The Art of the Deal
Watch:
Enlighten Us documentary by CNN Films
LuLaRich docu-series on Amazon Prime
The Deep End docuseries
Listen:
The Gateway podcast by Jennings Brown for Gizmodo
Conspirituality Podcast
Guru Podcast by Wondery Media
Learn:
Dr. Christine Whalenâs website
Dr. Steven Hassanâs Freedom of Mind Resource Center
SEEKâs Red Flags
The SEEK Safely Promise
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected]
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âNot unlike the tactics used by cults, who often exploit people who are seeking meaning, The Manosphere and the alt right provide meaning in the form of misogyny and white supremacy, creating an âaffective fabricâ that binds them together.â
Julia DeCook for boundary2.org, linked in notes
Jean and Dr. Glenn dive into the murky waters of the Manosphere, specifically where it overlaps with the self-help world, traditionally an industry geared towards women. They discuss how the rise of this segment of the industry may indicate a reaction to recent womenâs rights action like the #MeToo movement, and even, more recently the Barbie movie! From Masculinity Bro accounts to Wellness Bro influencers peddling absurd wellness hacks, this male-directed segment of self-optimization content is not necessarily new, but it is concerning in how it tends to be a gateway into more extreme, misogynist views.
Please note, there are some spoiler-ish points in our conversation about the Barbie movie!
Show Notes:
Podcasts:
Jordan Harbinger
Conspirituality episode about Bro Science
Youâre Wrong About Podcast
Websites:
Wikipedia Entry on the Manosphere
Wikipedia Entry on Bro Culture
Articles:
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/3/4/18246518/man-cave-boom-pre-recession-masculinity-male-friendship
https://impakter.com/from-incels-to-tradwives-understanding-the-spectrum-of-gender-and-online-extremism/
https://www.boundary2.org/2019/11/julia-decook-how-deep-does-the-rabbit-hole-go-the-wonderland-of-r-theredpill-and-its-ties-to-white-supremacy/
https://www.gq.com/story/mouth-tape-for-sleep-hostage-tape
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected]
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In 2016, CNN Films released a documentary entitled âEnlighten Us,â which followed James Rayâs attempted comeback after his short imprisonment for negligent homicide. That conviction was the result of the deaths of 3 people at Rayâs Spiritual Warrior personal development retreat in Sedona, Arizona, in 2009. The film features interviews with survivors as well as James Ray as he attempted to rebuild his personal development business.
Jean discusses what always frustrated her about the film, particularly how it left out the voices of victimsâ families as well as context about James Rayâs prior knowledge of how dangerous his event was.
Along with the perspectives and wisdom of Dr. Christine Whelan and Dr. Doyle, this episode examines what James Rayâs evolving efforts to return to guru-hood reveal about the current state of the broader self-help world.
Also mentioned in this Episode:
Enlighten Us documentary by CNN Films
In Enlighten Us, Disgraced Guru Fails to Find Redemption article by Matt Stroud for The Verge
âTragedy in Sedonaâ by Connie Joy
Self-help Books and the Quest for Self-control in the United States 1950-2000 Dr. Christine Whelanâs Doctoral Dissertation
The SEEK Safely Promise
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected]
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Jean and Dr. Glenn speak with author Joelle Tamraz, whose gripping memoir details her time with a âyoga guruâ who became her life and business partner. Through her compelling storytelling, it becomes clear that it was not weakness or desperation, but a heady mix of idealism, openness to possibility, and a desire for meaningful connection that put Joelle in the path of Arun, who promised to guide and love her, but instead exploited her faith and abused her trust.
Joelleâs personal experience under the control of a charismatic partner illuminates another, wider issue: how ânew ageâ movements like yoga and meditation have been weaponized by charismatic leaders in the popular and lucrative world of self-help. The means in which Arun manipulated Joelle also resemble how âgurusâ and predatory self-help organizations manipulate wider audiences.
In this interview, Joelle, Jean, and Dr. Glenn discuss Joelleâs experience, focussing on the problems with yoga, how the popular practice fits under the umbrella of self-help, and why it deserves as much criticism as any other corner of the industry. Joelle also shares a number of tips and red flags to help other seekers avoid unethical and dangerous âgurus.â
âThe Secret Practiceâ releases in August 2023, and is now available for pre-order.
Also mentioned in this Episode:General info:
SEEKâs Red Flags
Post about Harmful Yoga on SEEKSafely.org by Sarah Jean White
Books:
âTragedy in Sedonaâ by Connie Joy
Documentaries:
âThe Secrets of Hillsongâ
âHoly Hellâ
âWild, Wild Countryâ
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
In this episode, Dr. Glenn takes us through the fascinating tale of Peter McWilliams who was both the author of the best-selling âLife 101â series and a victim in many ways of his guru/cult leader, John-Roger.
The story of Peter McWIlliams is sad and interesting; but importantly, it demonstrates so many of the recurring themes of how the self-help industry operates:
Large Group Awareness Trainings (LGATs) as a gateway into more insidious and culty self-help self-help gurus fabricating an origin storythe ways in which manipulative leaders divert and exploit the talents of their followershow self-help continuously recycles (and/or plagiarizes!) the same old contentthe readiness with which self-help organizations use law suits for intimidation and self-protectionIn telling the story of McWilliams, we also take a walk through some of the biggest self-help books, leaders, and movies of the last ~35 years! Be sure to check out the links below!
Also mentioned in this Episode:
Books:
Life 101 Series by Peter McWilliams
"The Personal Computer" by Peter McWilliams
âGetting Things Doneâ by David Allen
âTragedy in Sedonaâ by Connie Joy
âThe Road Less Traveledâ by M. Scott Peck
âAinât Nobodyâs Business if you Doâ by Peter McWilliams
âFit for Lifeâ by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond
Info Pages and Articles:
About Life 102: What to do When Your Guru Sues You by Peter McWilliams
Insight Seminars
Large-group Awareness Trainings definition
MSIA
Erhard Seminar Trainings (est)
Behavioural Activation
LA Times article about allegations against John-Roger
Review of I Am Not Your Guru documentary about Tony Robbins
Podcasts:
A Little Bit Culty podcast
< -
Given how much of a buzzword TRAUMA is in the self-help/wellness/self-improvement world and even more broadly in our culture, weâre lucky that Dr. Glenn happens to be a trauma specialist!
A lot of gurus and New Age love-and-light types are talking about trauma these days. One in particular stands out. Although there has been a lot of coverage of Teal Swan, the SEEK Safely Podcast has not addressed this very popular online persona who has made her name talking specifically about trauma. Jean and Dr. Glenn talk in this episode about what Teal Swan represents vis a vis trauma and the self-help world.
They also discuss more broadly this question of why trauma has become a more open conversation in our cultureâfor better and worse. In particular, they get into the difference between how self-help tends to address trauma and mental health in general, versus how addressing trauma would look in a clinical setting with a licensed therapist or psychologist. While there might be some initial catharsis in diving into your trauma at a self-improvement retreat over a weekend, there are reasons why self-help consumers need to be really careful with this approach.
Please be aware that we do refer extensively to suicide and trauma in this episode.
Also mentioned in this episode:
About Trauma and Psychology:
Jonathan Shedler
âRecollections of Sexual Abuseâ Christine A. Courtois
âTrauma and Recoveryâ by Judith HermanAbout Teal Swan:
The Deep End docuseries
The Gateway podcast by Jennings Brown for GizmodoAbout James Ray:
âTragedy in Sedonaâ Connie Joy
Guru PodcastDr. Glenn Patrick Doyle at Insight Therapy Solutions
Learn more about SEEK Safely
on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected] -
Conspiracy theories are on the rise in many areas of our society, and this holds true within the self-help industry, especially since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Jean and Glenn discuss this situation, shedding some light on why it is that conspiracies fit so easily into the realm of self-helpâan industry that has often presented itself as an alternative to the mainstream.
But while the fringes have long been comfortable territory for self-help, these conspiracy theories seem to be taking up more space and pushing the industry into more political territory as well, which feels like a newer development. Ultimately, we find ourselves asking more questions than offering answers at this point.
Also mentioned in this episode:
âThe Problem with Tony Robbinsâ by MĂŒneCat on YouTube
â$10.4 Billion Self-improvement Market Pivots to Virtual Delivery During the Pandemicâ by John LaRosa for MarketResearch.com
âWe Need to Talk about the Rise of White Supremacy in Yogaâ by Arusha Wijeyakumar in InStyle
@ShantiWithin on Instagram
âHow Dangerous is Jordan B. Peterson, the Rightwing Professor who âHit a Hornetâs Nest'?â
in The Guardian
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Read the memoir âThis Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedâ by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown
Donate to support SEEKâs mission
To Contact SEEK email [email protected]
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In Part 1 of our interview with Dr. Christine Whalen, self-help researcher and SEEK Safelyâs newest Board member, we discussed her background in researching self-help, how she got connected with SEEK Safely, and a bit about what sheâs learned about how to be a best-selling self-help author.
In Part 2, we really get into whatâs going on with self-help today. This packed conversation covers:
the new social-media fuelled trajectory for becoming a self-help guruwhat weâre currently seeing in the gender-izing of self-helpthe stickiness of the Law of Attractionthe role self-help plays in the lives of young peoplewhy the term âself-helpâ guru doesnât even capture whatâs really happening with the industryYouâll see why we are so excited to have Dr. Whalen with us!
If you missed Part 1, find it here.
Quoted in this episode:âTo say âI love youâ one must first know how to say the âI.â The meaning of the âIâ is an independent, self-sufficient entity that does not exist for the sake of any other person. A person who exists only for the sake of his loved one is not an independent entity, but a spiritual parasite. The love of a parasite is worth nothing.â - Ayn Rand
About Dr. Whelan:
Dr. Whelan is a clinical professor in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin â Madison, and director of MORE: Money, Relationships and Equality. She earned a masters and doctorate from the University of Oxford and has held teaching positions at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Iowa and Princeton University. She has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The New York Times, among other national outlets. She has appeared live on television programs and radio programs across the nation. Read more about Dr. Whelan on her website. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Also mentioned in this episode:
âIn Therapy We Trustâ by Eva Moskowitz
âThe Road Less Traveledâ by M. Scott Peck
âPoor Richardâs Almanacâ by Benjamin Franklin
Learn more about SEEK Safely on our website
Follow SEEK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Follow Dr. Glenn on
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