Napoleon Hill, ever heard of him? He wrote "Think and Grow Rich," one of the favorite self-help handbooks of all time. His fans include Tony Robbins and life coaches of all stripes. But Napoleon Hill was not a genius of self-help. He was a scam

S1 E11: And That’s When I Woke Up

Dec 3rd, 2018 38m 53s

When a job becomes a hobby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 E3: The MLM-to-coaching pipeline

Sep 20th, 2023 48m 19s

Jennifer Rajala got sucked into the MLM-to-coaching pipeline. A social worker from northern Michigan, Jennifer rose quickly through the Arbonne ranks. She earned the right to lease an Arbonne branded Mercedes. But she still wasn’t making any re

S3 E1: Becoming a #Boss

2 Sep 13th, 2023 35m 50s

What's it like to hand your life over to someone who claims they’ll make it better? Jessie Lee Ward, the self-proclaimed “#1 network marketer in the world,” charges her coaching clients thousands of dollars for a trip to Colombia that's describ

S2 E6: Magnets: How Do They Work?

Jan 27th, 2020 41m 4s

The road to wellness is paved with particles and protons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S1 E8: Destination Amazing

2 Nov 5th, 2018 39m 4s

The road to success is paved with convention tickets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S1 E3: Yes, I Would Like To Swim In Cash

1 Oct 1st, 2018 40m 34s

The fortune you seek can be yours for just $169 down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S1 E2: Women’s Work

1 Sep 24th, 2018 39m 29s

When opportunity knocks, open the front door.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S1 E1: Wanna Swim in Cash?

1 1 Sep 24th, 2018 40m 53s

There’s nothing as intoxicating as piles of money, unless the Feds are watching you count it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 E6: The MVP of NLP

2 Oct 11th, 2023 35m 28s

Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, is the communication technique used by coaches and cult leaders alike. John James Santangelo—a fan of Napoleon Hill— is an NLP expert who gives Jane a crash course. Jane is mesmerized, and according to Sant

S2 E1: What’s Your Frequency?

2 Dec 9th, 2019 30m 52s

Products and cures you can’t find at the doctor might just be the medicine you want.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 E8: Striving Is Bad for Your Health

Oct 25th, 2023 41m 26s

Who does coaching work least well for? Turns out it’s the exact people who could benefit most from it, according to the industry. Dr. Sherman James and Dr. Arline Geronimus discuss the downsides of positive thinking, bootstrapping, and mindset

S2 E9: Drowning in the Conspira-Sea

1 Feb 17th, 2020 27m 8s

How a few bad seeds became a movement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 E5: Birthing a Bad Dream

Jan 20th, 2020 37m 18s

Welcome to one of the cutest cults of wellness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S1 E10: The American Way

Nov 26th, 2018 37m 3s

The dream of our founders is alive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 E5: I Never Said Hate

Oct 4th, 2023 35m 14s

Now a life coach herself, Jennifer Rajala is lauded at Rankmakers; she’s a hustler who can inspire others to buy coaching packages better than just about anyone else. That is, until she realizes she’s selling empty promises.See omnystudio.com/l

S2 E10: Caveat Beware

1 Feb 24th, 2020 41m 30s

Who do you trust in a world with little information?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 E10: We Die The Way We Lived

Nov 1st, 2023 45m 27s

Days after the debut of this season, Jessie Lee Ward, who was featured in episodes one and nine, passed away after a short battle with cancer. Jane reconnects with Erin Bies to discuss her former friend’s legacy and talks with Death Coach, Mega

S3 E9: Coaching the Uncoachable

Nov 1st, 2023 34m 31s

To our surprise, the OG coach Jessie Lee Ward agrees to an interview. She seems surprised to find out that Jane is not a fan of her work. It turns out that the feeling goes both ways. After ugly exchanges with Jessie Lee, Jane checks back in wi

S2 E7: Green Eggs and Scams

Feb 3rd, 2020 34m 57s

Influencing a new generation of wellness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 E3: Magic Little Pills

Jan 6th, 2020 32m

Can powders, pills and juices deliver on the promise to live longer and look younger?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S1 E9: Leave a Message

Nov 12th, 2018 30m 2s

A wise woman once said, “You need to go.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S1 E7: Lazy, Stupid, Greedy or Dead

Oct 29th, 2018 51m 28s

What’s holding you back from reaching your full potential?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 E7: The Inmates Running the Asylum

Oct 18th, 2023 33m 47s

Who becomes a life coach? Jane talks to Patrick Sheehan, a researcher who has found a surprising answer: many coaches couldn’t find success elsewhere. Why do people who can’t do teach? We also learn more about Jane’s life coach, her bona fides,