Despite its name, the Law of Attraction will come to you in your self-help journey, whether you’ve asked for it or not. It’s a big part of SEEK’s story, given that James Arthur Ray’s rise to fame came from his involvement with the self-help phenomenon of the early 2000’s, “The Secret.” Jean and Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle break down this enduring “law” in self-help thinking–where and when the concept has popped up in self-help history, as well as more broadly in philosophy, literature, and religious...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 2
The SEEK Safely Podcast is back for a 2nd season! Life’s been busy! Feedback for the podcast has been so encouraging, and we’re happy to be back! We’ve got some exciting discussions for you. On this first episode, we touch base with what’s been happening in the self-help world in the last few months, what has come out of the first season for us, and what we hope to achieve with our second season. Some highlights of the upcoming season: we’ll talk recurring themes in self-help, like the Law of At...
Apr 03, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this final episode of the SEEK Safely podcast’s first season, hosts Dr. Doyle and Jean share some of their lasting impressions from the previous episodes of the podcast. Big themes that came through: SEEK has gained many allies in this effort to scrutinize and improve the self-improvement industry Not all self-help is culty, but a lot of self-help does culty stuff There is still so much to unpack as we look at the industry and imagine a better future for seekers Podcasting is a great vehicle ...
Dec 12, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Anne Peterson has worked in and around the self-help industry for decades. Anne has designed and delivered programming for her own company as well as for some of the most prominent self-help gurus and one of the largest international self-development organizations in the world. Anne is hard at work to impact and improve this industry where she has spent so much time and, like us, sees so much potential. On this episode, Jean, Glenn, and Anne, chat about what a better self-help industry could loo...
Dec 05, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 11
August McLaughlin is a nationally recognized health and sexuality journalist and host and producer of the podcast, Girl Boner Radio, which offers a spicy blend of personal stories, in-depth reporting and inspiration. Dr. Glenn and Jean chat with August about mental health, seeking, and finding real, lasting empowerment. August shares her personal story of grappling with undiagnosed ADHD, an eating disorder, and the general challenges of adolescence and young adulthood that put her on the seeking...
Nov 28, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Jennifer French is a psychologist who focuses on helping victims of cultic abuse. She got into the field after her own experience with a cult group. She is also the creator and host of the Project Hope podcast. In this second episode of two, Jean and Jennifer discuss this new era of cults, and Dr. Doyle pops in to share his thoughts! They chat about: The implications of social media for cult activity Legislation as the next phase of the fight against abusive self-help and cult abuse Advice for s...
Nov 21, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Jennifer French is a psychologist who focuses on helping victims of cultic abuse. She got into the field after her own experience with a cult group. She is also the creator and host of the Project Hope podcast. In this first episode of two, Jean and Jennifer discuss Jennifer’s experience and how it led her to undertake a Masters degree in Psychology of coercive control. They chat about: how and why people get into abusive groups "cult hopping” why Jennifer signed the SEEK Safely Promise and how ...
Nov 14, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Dr. Glenn and Jean share their thoughts about the first two episodes from Season Two of “ The Vow ," HBO’s docu-series detailing the public downfall of the cult NXIVM. The NXIVM story has been a big part of our collective education about cults. But on its surface, NXIVM was just another self-help organization offering leadership development courses to thousands of people throughout North America. SEEK has followed and shared the NXIVM story for many reasons: as another example of the type of “wo...
Nov 07, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Dr. Glenn and Jean chat with Eva Collins about her experience in the self-help/online coaching/wellness world, why she left her coaching business, and what it has been like pushing back against unethical practices and teachers in these industries. About Eva Collins: Eva is the creator of the Instagram account and podcast called "why don't you say something.” After 20 years in the spiritual, self help, and yoga world and 8 years working as an online coach, she started to see so many issues in the...
Oct 31, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Dr. Glenn and Jean chat with Eva Collins about her experience in the self-help/online coaching/wellness world, why she left her coaching business, and what it has been like pushing back against unethical practices and teachers in these industries. About Eva Collins: Eva is the creator of the Instagram account and podcast called "why don't you say something.” After 20 years in the spiritual, self help, and yoga world and 8 years working as an online coach, she started to see so many issues in the...
Oct 24, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Dr. Glenn and Jean discuss the growing feeling that more people are joining in scrutinizing the self-help industry. They discuss some of the contributing factors to this, including recent culty docuseries and a more nuanced cultural understanding of how people get involved with questionable leaders and groups. Jean also discusses how, 13 WHOLE YEARS after the Sedona (not-a-)sweat lodge deaths, more people than ever are reaching out not just to express condolences over the loss of her sister, but...
Oct 17, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Life sends millions of people into the *whisper* ~self-help section~ at the bookstore/on Instagram/on Youtube, etc. So many of us feel kind of ashamed about that, and yet we’re spending billions of dollars per year on our journeys of self-improvement and discovery. Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle shares his personal journey with self-help, starting in his teen years when self-help literally saved his life, to when he finally joined forces with SEEK Safely. His story mirrors the stories of many seekers–p...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Welcome to the second episode of the SEEK Safely Podcast, where we aim to empower seekers of self-improvement and discuss the abuses of this billion dollar industry. In this episode, hosts Jean Brown and Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle continue diving into the problems with the self-improvement industry that were revealed by the “Sedona sweat lodge deaths” at James Ray’s 2009 Spiritual Warrior retreat. This tragedy launched SEEK Safely Inc.–a non-profit org founded by the family of one of the sweat lodg...
Oct 03, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to the first episode of the SEEK Safely Podcast, where we aim to empower seekers of self-improvement and discuss the abuses of this billion dollar industry. In this episode, hosts Jean Brown and Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle dive straight into the problems with the self-improvement industry that were revealed by the “Sedona sweat lodge deaths” at James Ray’s 2009 Spiritual Warrior retreat. This tragedy launched SEEK Safely Inc.–a non-profit org founded by the family of one of the sweat lodge v...
Oct 03, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 1
The SEEK Safely podcast is the official voice of the nonprofit organization SEEK Safely Inc, which advocates for ethics and accountability in the self-help industry, and empowers seekers to have safe and effective self-improvement journeys. Jean Brown and Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle peel back the layers of the largely unregulated, multi-billion dollar self-help industry, discussing the patterns of exploitation and deception that pervade the industry and allow self-help gurus to thrive at the expense...
Sep 26, 2022•1 min
