One of the things SEEK Safely has always said about self-help is that it is not a separate culture--it IS very much a part of mainstream culture. It is, then, unsurprising when it gets wrapped up in news stories of the day, such as the Epstein Files (if you hadn't heard, a prominent "Old Guard" self-help guy makes a disturbing appearance in the Files, as does a newer wellness guru).

Glenn and Jean discuss the long standing relationship between self-help and celebrity--how self-help figures have courted celebrities and political figures for clout and legitimacy, and how celebrities and other public figures have used self-help guru to show their... philosophical? spiritual? deep? side.

Notes:

To Watch:

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich Netflix Docuseries

To Read:

Peter Atia, the Epstein Files, and the Lie Propping Up Big Wellness by Jessica Grose for The New York Times

Melania Had Herself a Movie Night! by Danielle Han for Yahoo News

How Celebrity Life Coach Tony Robbins Started Working with Bill Clinton by Richard Feloni for Business Insider

Tragedy in Sedona by Connie Joy

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 “This Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby died” by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown

To Contact SEEK email info@seeksafely.org

Dr. Doyle and Jean discuss some of the points of intersection between the self-help industry and climate change and environmental issues in general. How do these things relate, you might ask. The self-help industry is in many ways a reflection of larger patterns in the world and society. Some of the problems that have contributed to climate change are also seen in the self-help industry.

But perhaps more interestingly, when we imagine a better future for both our environment and the self-help industry, we see parallels there, too. In this discussion, we hope to inspire some thought about what a better self-help future looks like. This conversation was largely inspired by the book “What if We Get it Right? Visions of Climate Futures” by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. A sobering but also very hopeful and inspiring read!

Show Notes:

To Read:

“What if We Get it Right? Visions of Climate Futures” by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

“Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins

"This Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby died” by Ginny Brown and Jean Brown

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey

“Don’t Call it a Cult” by Sara Berman

Sunk Cost Fallacy

Floorball

To Watch:

SEEK Week 2025 on YouTube

Escaping Twin Flames on Netflix

The Vow on Netflix

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 “This Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby died” by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown

Donate to support SEEK’s mission

To Contact SEEK email info@seeksafely.org

It’s time for SEEK’s annual fundraising push! We just finished up our annual SEEK Week fundraiser, which features a different live-streaming topic each night for a week. You can watch the recordings on our YouTube channel. And we're planning ahead for a second SEEK Summit. Glenn, Jean, and Anne Peterson chat about these events: what to expect, why they’re important, and how you can get involved. And because this is the SEEK Safely podcast, you’ll also get some food for thought about what’s up in this complicated, often problematic but (we believe) potentially great industry.

The SEEK Safely podcast comes to listeners ad-free. But it does cost money to produce a podcast, run a website, and run an organization! We need your help! Please consider joining us for these upcoming events. You can also support SEEK by sharing information about our organization and becoming a contributor. Thanks for listening!

Show Notes:

To Listen:

Confronting the Line Anne Peterson’s podcast

A Little Bit Culty podcast

WTF is On My Mind? Mark Vicente’s Podcast

SEEK Safely’s “Manosphere” episode

To Read:

Norman Vincent Peale

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 “This Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby died” by Jean and her mom, Ginny Brown

Donate to support SEEK’s mission

To Contact SEEK email info@seeksafely.org