Learn Speak Teach

Ben Albert of Real Business Connections
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Learn Speak Teach by Real Business Connections brings you real conversations with internationally known mentors, entrepreneurs, executives, authors, speakers, behavior experts, and wellness voices who have earned their wisdom through experience. Hosted by Ben Albert, each episode compresses decades of lessons into conversations that help you learn faster, think deeper, speak with more confidence, and grow with more purpose. We talk business, leadership, personal growth, networking, human behavior, resilience, communication, public speaking, and the real stories behind success. Come to learn. Leave inspired, equipped, and ready to teach what you now see differently. This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

  1. 4d ago

    Nippy Ames of A Little Bit Culty: Cults, Control & Coercion Unfiltered (LST #164)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #164 with Nippy Ames of "A Little Bit Culty" on the Real Business Connections Podcast. Cults, control, and coercion are not always as obvious as we think. In this unfiltered conversation, Ben Albert sits down with Nippy Ames, co-host of "A Little Bit Culty" and co-author of "A Little Bit Culty: Navigating Cults, Control and Coercion," to explore how high-control groups, online gurus, word salad, love bombing, extreme belief systems, and unchecked authority can pull people in. Nippy breaks down why people do not join cults because they are stupid. They often join because they are looking for purpose, community, structure, meaning, healing, or belonging. Ben and Nippy also talk about Scientology, Twin Flames, sovereign citizens, gaslighting, social media grifts, and the subtle ways culty patterns can show up in business, politics, wellness, relationships, and personal development. This episode is about pattern recognition, human susceptibility, and the wisdom that comes from asking better questions. You will learn what makes something culty, why people stay, how to help someone without pushing them further away, and what reclaiming your life can look like after leaving a high-control environment. Content note: This conversation includes discussion of cults, coercive control, abuse, manipulation, politics, and strong language. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer + Intro [00:58] Reacting to Online Gurus [01:47] Word Salad and Abstract Authority [06:28] Sovereign Citizens and Culty Logic [15:24] What Makes Something Culty? [20:14] Why People Join Cults [27:50] Helping Someone in a Culty Group [31:05] Scientology and Normalized Abuse [35:52] Looksmaxing and Susceptibility [41:23] Twin Flames and Love as a Hook [44:43] When Beliefs Lose Reality [58:36] How to Leave a High-Control Group [01:03:21] A Little Bit Culty Resources [01:03:55] Life After Leaving [01:07:00] Gaslighting and Word Salad Key Takeaways:   • “Word salad is you are auditioning your intelligence, I think, and trying to sound intelligent to an audience, but have no substance in what you're saying.” ~Nippy Ames • Culty behavior often starts when an authority figure cannot be questioned. ~Nippy Ames • Extreme belief systems become dangerous when people replace their own principles with the values and doctrine of the group. ~Nippy Ames • People often join cults because they are looking for purpose, community, structure, meaning, or belonging. ~Nippy Ames • If someone you love is in a culty situation, do not attack them head-on. Ask questions, stay curious, and remain in their life. ~Nippy Ames • Cults do not hook people because they are stupid. They hook people through pain, purpose, trust, identity, and blind spots. ~Nippy Ames • Culty patterns are not limited to cults. They can show up anywhere authority, power, identity, and belonging go unchecked. ~Nippy Ames • The first step to leaving a high-control group is getting to physical safety, then rebuilding slowly with trusted support. ~Nippy Ames People Mentioned An Other Resources: A Little Bit Culty: https://alittlebitculty.com/ A Little Bit Culty Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-little-bit-culty/id1553334816 A Little Bit Culty Book: https://alittlebitculty.com/book Cult Recovery Resources: https://alittlebitculty.com/resources A Little Bit Culty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/ A Little Bit Culty Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alittlebitculty Sarah Edmondson: https://www.instagram.com/sarahedmondson/ The Vow: https://www.hbo.com/the-vow Keep In Touch with Nippy Ames: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyames11/ — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/ - This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES.

    Nippy Ames of A Little Bit Culty: Cults, Control & Coercion Unfiltered (LST #164)

  2. Jul 27

    AI Can Edit Your Videos, But It Can’t Create Connection w/ Descript CEO Laura Burkhauser (LST #163)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #163 with Descript CEO Laura Burkhauser on the Real Business Connections Podcast. AI can make video editing faster, easier, and more accessible than ever, but real growth still comes from creating content people actually connect with. In this episode, Ben Albert sits down with Laura Burkhauser, CEO of Descript, to talk about content creation, AI video editing, storytelling, leadership, and why connection still matters in a world full of automation. Laura shares how Descript helps creators, podcasters, business owners, and marketing teams turn messy ideas, livestreams, podcasts, and long-form videos into polished, shareable content. She also breaks down why editing is still an art, why taste matters, and how AI can support creators without replacing the human eye, ear, and voice behind the work. Ben and Laura also dive into her path from product manager to CEO, the responsibility of leadership, the importance of becoming your own customer, and why showing up on video can help you grow your business, build confidence, and create stronger connection with your audience. If you have a lot of ideas but struggle to turn them into content, this conversation will help you stop overthinking, start creating, and use tools like Descript to share your message with more clarity, consistency, and connection. — Descript Promo Code: Promo Code: Learnspeakteach Get a creator account free for 3 months. Sign up for monthly billing, enter promo code Learnspeakteach, and you’ll get 3 months free. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer + Intro [01:25] Too Many Content Ideas [02:17] Why Creators Get Stuck [04:42] Script Readers vs. Ramblers [05:58] Editing Video Like a Doc [10:09] Editing Is an Art [13:07] AI Still Needs Taste [14:08] Laura’s Path to Descript [22:29] From Product Manager to CEO [30:07] Climbing Cringe Mountain [34:38] Descript’s Next Mountain [40:41] The 90-Second Video Challenge [43:26] Connect with Laura Key Takeaways:   • Creators usually do not struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because turning those ideas into shareable content has too many obstacles. ~Laura Burkhauser • Descript was built around a simple idea: make video editing feel as easy as editing a document. ~Laura Burkhauser • “Editing is not an algorithm. Editing is an art.” ~Laura Burkhauser • AI can help creators move faster, but strong content still needs taste, judgment, and a human eye or ear guiding the final result. ~Laura Burkhauser • Natural pauses can make content feel more human, emotional, and conversational when they are used with intention. ~Ben Albert • The first mountain is easier with peers, and mentors can help you bridge the discouragement dip before the next mountain. ~Ben Albert • The best way to understand your customer is to become the customer and feel the same friction they feel. ~Laura Burkhauser • The easiest first step is to make one 90-second video teaching a skill related to your business and see what happens. ~Laura Burkhauser People Mentioned An Other Resources: Descript: https://www.descript.com/ Descript YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/descript Descript Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/descript_app/ Descript Linktree: https://linktr.ee/descript Laura’s New YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraDescript Social Media Week Lima: https://sociallima.com/ Keep In Touch with Laura Burkhauser: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burkhauser/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraDescript — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/- This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

    AI Can Edit Your Videos, But It Can’t Create Connection w/ Descript CEO Laura Burkhauser (LST #163)

  3. Jul 20

    Black Sheep Sales: Win Clients Without Acting Like a Douche w/ Aleasha Bahr (LST #162)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #162 with Aleasha Bahr on the Real Business Connections Podcast. Sales does not have to feel pushy, fake, scripted, or aggressive. In this episode, Ben Albert sits down with Aleasha Bahr, founder of Black Sheep Sales, to talk about alternative ways to win clients without acting like a douche. Aleasha helps entrepreneurs, business owners, and sales professionals grow by selling in a way that actually fits their personality, values, and strengths. Aleasha breaks down why every personality can be great at sales, why introverts often make incredible salespeople, and why sales is really about curiosity, empathy, passion, and fit. Instead of forcing people through a script or “overcoming objections” like a battle, Aleasha shows how better questions, honest conversations, and clear expectations can create more trust and better clients. Ben and Aleasha also talk about rejection, bad-fit clients, deliverables vs. results, customer retention, sales positioning, and why being willing to repel the wrong people can actually help you attract the right ones. If you want to grow your business, win more clients, and sell with confidence without becoming someone you’re not, this Black Sheep Sales conversation is for you. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer + Intro [01:10] Ben’s Bad Sales Scripts [03:10] Why Pushy Sales Fails [05:08] The Perfect Way to Sell [06:37] Why Introverts Sell Well [08:33] Stop Fighting Objections [10:34] If It’s a Fit, It’s a Fact [11:37] Finding the Right Fit [14:53] Rejection Goes Both Ways [18:25] Sales Is More Than the Sale [24:07] Positioning and Expectations [28:05] Turn Deliverables Into Results [31:34] Repelling the Wrong Clients [32:52] Trust What Feels Aligned [35:33] Connect with Aleasha Key Takeaways:   • “Sales is listening, not talking.” ~Aleasha Bahr • Every personality can be great at sales when they understand their strengths and weaknesses. ~Aleasha Bahr • The perfect way to sell is the way that feels aligned with you while still clearly communicating the heart of the message. ~Aleasha Bahr • Curiosity turns objections into conversations instead of battles. ~Aleasha Bahr • “If it’s a fit, it’s a fact and there’s no selling involved.” ~Aleasha Bahr • Rejection goes both ways. You also have the power to decide if a prospect is the right fit for you. ~Aleasha Bahr • Deliverables do not sell as well as outcomes. People want the result behind the meeting, kickoff, or process. ~Aleasha Bahr • What is in alignment for you is usually what will work best in sales. ~Aleasha Bahr Keep In Touch with Aleasha Bahr: Website: https://aleashabahr.com/ Black Sheep Sales Book: https://blacksheepsalesbook.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleashabahr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleashabahr/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-is-not-a-dirty-word/id1440616027 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bahraleasha/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aleashabahr — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/- This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

    Black Sheep Sales: Win Clients Without Acting Like a Douche w/ Aleasha Bahr (LST #162)

  4. Jul 13

    Mercy Isn’t Weakness w/ The Mercy Queen Shabana Serang (LST #161)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #161 with The Mercy Queen Shabana Serang on the Real Business Connections Podcast. Mercy is not weakness. It is not naivety. And it does not mean losing yourself to save everyone else. In this powerful conversation, Ben Albert sits down with Shabana Serang, also known as The Mercy Queen, to talk about mercy, self-worth, faith, forgiveness, mental health, human connection, and the deeper work of healing yourself while still serving others. Shabana shares why mercy belongs to all of us, but also why mercy has to start with the self. She opens up about bullying, depression, self-love, spirituality, food, family, and the mission behind Mercy Mindset, Miracles 4 Mercy, Mercy Mediterranean, Luna’s Halal Taqueria, and her upcoming book, Love Me First, Love Me Last. Ben and Shabana also explore how food can become a vehicle for service, how small daily acts of kindness can create real human connection, and why being seen, heard, respected, and valued can change someone’s life. This episode is about mercy without self-abandonment, compassion without losing your dignity, and growth that starts with remembering your own value. Content note: This conversation includes discussion of depression and suicide. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer + Intro [01:21] What Mercy Really Means [05:13] Mercy Beyond Kindness [07:43] Mercy Is Not Naivety [12:05] Learning Self-Mercy [13:40] Seeing Human Value [15:41] When “Not My Problem” Shows Up [18:34] Food as a Mission [24:05] The Mercy Mission [25:59] Service Without a Price Tag [29:12] Money as an Amplifier [34:20] Giving When It Costs You [39:38] Love Me First, Love Me Last [43:41] When Someone Is Losing Hope [48:10] Helping Without Judgment [50:00] Dance, Faith, and Healing [52:43] Closing Reflections Key Takeaways:   • Mercy is not weakness. Real mercy includes self-awareness, self-compassion, and enough dignity to not abandon yourself. ~Shabana Serang • Mercy belongs to everyone, but one of the hardest forms of mercy is learning how to offer it to yourself. ~Shabana Serang • Small acts of kindness can make people feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. ~Shabana Serang • Food can become more than a meal. It can become a way to break bread, build connection, and serve a bigger mission. ~Shabana Serang • “The more you give, the more you will always receive because it is the inevitable reward for goodness.” ~Shabana Serang • “You say you're just a meager soul, but within you lies the keys to the universe.” ~Shabana Serang Keep In Touch with Shabana Serang: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMercyQueen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabanamarkar/ Mercy Mindset: https://mercymindset.com/about/ Miracles 4 Mercy: https://miracles4mercy.com/ Mercy Mediterranean: https://mercymediterranean.com/ Luna’s Halal Taqueria: https://www.lunashalaltaqueria.com/ — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/ - This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

    Mercy Isn’t Weakness w/ The Mercy Queen Shabana Serang (LST #161)

  5. Jul 6

    Psychologist Says Treat Business Like A Sport And Play To Win w/ Michael Ceely (LST #160)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #160 with Michael Ceely. Business is a sport, and if you want to perform at a higher level, you have to train like a business athlete. In this episode, Ben Albert sits down with Michael Ceely, licensed psychotherapist, cognitive behavioral therapist, and executive coach, to talk about pressure, performance, leadership, and what it really takes to thrive without burning yourself out. Michael shares what racing against Lance Armstrong taught him about extra gears, why your morning routine matters more than you think, and how leaders can stop making fight-or-flight decisions in business. He also breaks down the difference between coaching and therapy, the power of authoritative leadership, and how belief systems quietly shape the way we lead, work, and grow. Ben and Michael also dive into Michael’s upcoming book, The Only Way Is Up, inspired by the rock climber who helped save his life, and how that moment became a powerful metaphor for business, courage, and playing to win. If you want to thrive in your career without being stressed out all the time, this episode will help you rethink pressure, performance, and what it means to lead from a stronger place. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer [00:59] Racing Against Lance Armstrong [03:51] Business as a Sport [05:11] Ten Minutes for Yourself [06:34] Your Next Day Starts the Night Before [09:37] From Therapy to Coaching [13:01] The Problem with Hustle Culture [15:49] Coach vs. Mentor [17:32] Authoritative Leadership [20:25] Becoming a Better Leader [25:22] Stress and Decision-Making [28:30] Are Some People Built Different? [31:10] Telling the Truth [35:20] Inner Critic and High Performance [38:02] The Rock Climber Who Saved His Life [42:29] The Only Way Is Up [47:02] Coaching vs. Therapy [50:27] Connect with Michael Key Takeaways:   • Treating business like a sport starts with daily performance: sleep, food, breaks, and a morning routine that puts you in control. ~Michael Ceely • “If you don’t have 10 minutes in the morning for yourself, you don’t have a life.” ~Michael Ceely • Hustle culture can become unhealthy when success means sacrificing your marriage, health, joy, or peace of mind. ~Michael Ceely • Authoritative leadership means being clear and firm while still respecting people’s autonomy and helping them thrive. ~Michael Ceely • Stress can push you back into old programming, so better decisions often start with waiting, breathing, and getting calm. ~Michael Ceely • The best leaders are willing to tell the truth, even when it is uncomfortable or risky. ~Michael Ceely • High performers need a healthier relationship with failure, disappointment, and their own inner critic. ~Michael Ceely • “The only way is up.” ~Michael Ceely Keep In Touch with Michael Ceely: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJkDEDNR6KI Website: https://www.michaelceely.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ceely/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.ceely.coaching — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/ - This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

    Psychologist Says Treat Business Like A Sport And Play To Win w/ Michael Ceely (LST #160)

  6. Jun 22

    How to Scale Solo Without Burning Out w/ Pia Silva (LST #159)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #159 with Pia Silva. Scaling does not have to mean hiring a team, building a big agency, or burning yourself out trying to serve everyone. In this episode, Ben Albert sits down with Pia Silva, entrepreneur, author of Badass Your Brand and Scale Solo, host of The No BS Agency Podcast, and founder of No BS Mastery. Pia helps expert-led service providers build profitable businesses that stay small on purpose. Her approach challenges the common “scale or fail” advice and gives consultants, strategists, designers, coaches, and agency owners a simpler path to more profit, more freedom, and less BS. In this conversation, Pia breaks down how to scale solo without burning out, why your clients probably do not want your proposal either, and how to get paid before you ever pitch the full project. She also explains her Lead Product Method, why premium clients want speed and clarity, and how to compete when AI is free and fast. Ben and Pia also workshop real examples around podcast production, retainers, recurring revenue, authority content, and how service providers can package their expertise into clear, high-value offers. If you sell your expertise and want a business that gives you more freedom instead of more complexity, this episode is a must-listen. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer and Intro [01:12] Why everyone keeps talking about Pia [02:59] What makes Pia Silva different [03:37] More impact with less energy [05:08] Can you scale solo and still have big impact? [07:28] Ben’s story about impact through business [09:29] What Scale Solo is really about [10:53] The 50-25-25 rule [13:05] Why experts struggle to charge [18:43] Replacing free calls with a lead product [22:54] Why clients don’t want proposals [24:13] The problem with retainers [27:16] Thinking annually like a CEO [30:21] Can you have recurring revenue and scale solo? [32:44] Compressing projects into two days [36:20] Scale Solo and intensive delivery [38:01] How AI changes expert services [40:38] Trust, authority, and AI noise [44:17] Why relationships still win [48:25] Where to find Pia’s book Key Takeaways:   • You can scale solo, but the business has to be designed around profit, freedom, and fewer moving pieces. ~Pia Silva • “You must make all of the revenue you need in maximum 50% of your working hours or less.” ~Pia Silva • Experts often struggle to charge for what feels easy to them, but clients are paying for the process, confidence, leadership, and clarity behind the work. ~Pia Silva • A lead product builds trust before the pitch because the client pays for the strategy instead of receiving a free proposal they may not value. ~Pia Silva • “When we think monthly, we’re thinking like employees. And when we think annually, we’re thinking like CEOs.” ~Pia Silva • AI can speed up expert services, but premium clients still pay for discernment, curation, confidence, and human strategy. ~Pia Silva Keep In Touch with Pia Silva: Website: https://www.piasilva.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pialovesyourbiz Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/badassyourbrand/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pia-silva-86b2723/ Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B06XHL8F3G YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pialovesyourbiz/videos People Mentioned and Other Resources: Scale Solo Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B06XHL8F3G No BS Mastery: https://www.piasilva.com/ Badass Your Brand: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B06XHL8F3G The No BS Agency Podcast: https://www.piasilva.com/ — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/ - This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player.

    How to Scale Solo Without Burning Out w/ Pia Silva (LST #159)

  7. Jun 15

    Successful But Disconnected? Feeling Lonely Even When You’re Surrounded w/ Lilian Riad-Allen (LST #158)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #158 with Lilian Riad-Allen. You can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone. Not because something is wrong with you, but because loneliness is not always about proximity. It is about belonging, connection, and whether you feel truly seen in the moment you are living. In this episode, Ben Albert sits down with Lilian Riad-Allen, host of Lil on Life Pod, People & Culture executive, behavioural neuroscientist, and ICF-certified coach, for a grounded conversation about loneliness, life transitions, authenticity, and what it really means to live a life well lived. Lilian shares why so many successful people still feel disconnected, how social media can become a substitute for real connection, and why journaling, music, nature, and small moments of presence can help us come back to ourselves. She also opens up about grief, immigration, embracing her “corporate hippie” side, and learning to be her own cup of tea. Together, Ben and Lilian explore how to stop outsourcing validation, build deeper connection, and create a life that feels meaningful in the everyday moments, not just the big milestones. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer + Intro [00:56] Feeling lonely in a crowd [02:42] What loneliness really means [06:48] Journaling through music [09:08] Life Transition Compass [10:26] Climbing cringe mountain [11:16] Signs of a life transition [15:05] A life well lived [17:29] Success, achievement, and disconnection [20:01] Wonder in everyday moments [23:19] Becoming a corporate hippie [24:48] Grief and authenticity [27:50] Being your own cup of tea [31:51] Lilian’s immigration story [33:23] Asking what really matters [35:09] Finding your values [37:57] Embracing the journey [39:33] Connect with Lilian [41:16] Integration assignment Key Takeaways:   • Loneliness is about belonging. You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone when you do not feel connected. ~Lilian Riad-Allen • Isolation is being alone when it is not your choice. Solitude is intentionally spending time with yourself. ~Lilian Riad-Allen • Journaling does not have to mean writing in a notebook. It can happen through music, playlists, reflection, and paying attention to your body. ~Lilian Riad-Allen • A life well lived is built through authenticity, connection, presence, vulnerability, and the courage to ask for help. ~Lilian Riad-Allen • “We’re not actually meant to evolve, to do things on our own.” ~Lilian Riad-Allen • “You don’t have to be everybody’s cup of tea. I’m not, and that’s okay. I’m my own cup of tea and that’s what matters.” ~Lilian Riad-Allen • If your best day feels too big or far away, start with one small step or one millimeter of movement toward it. ~Lilian Riad-Allen Keep In Touch with Lilian Riad-Allen: Website: https://lilonlife.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LilonLifePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilonlifepod/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilian-riad-allen-6997a011/ Life Transition Compass App: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/life-transition-compass/id6760262141 Email: lilonlifepod@gmail.com — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/ - This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

    Successful But Disconnected? Feeling Lonely Even When You’re Surrounded w/ Lilian Riad-Allen (LST #158)

  8. Jun 8

    Wait, Is This a Cult? Landmark and the Line Between Help and Harm w/ Anne Peterson (LST #157)

    Learn Speak Teach Episode #157 with Anne Peterson. What happens when personal growth crosses the line into manipulation? In this episode, Anne Peterson shares her experience inside Landmark, why she now questions the harm caused by certain high-control groups, and how charisma, coercion, and intensity can get mistaken for transformation. Today, we are thrilled to have Anne Peterson on the show, author of Is This a Cult? and a coach, consultant, and advocate for safer, more ethical personal and professional development. In this episode, Anne breaks down Landmark, large group awareness trainings, informed consent, coercive control, and the difference between healthy growth and harmful leadership. She also shares what people should look for in ethical communities, how to spot red flags, and what to do if something feels off. This conversation is for anyone interested in self-help, leadership, personal development, community, psychology, or the line between support and exploitation. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer [01:26] Landmark’s Bankruptcy and the Texas Two-Step [03:51] Is Landmark a Cult? [04:53] The Origins of EST, Landmark, and Large Group Awareness Trainings [11:48] “Wait, Is This a Cult?” [16:27] Peak Experiences, Breakthroughs, and Unintended Harm [20:07] Why We Miss Manipulation [24:32] Where Cults Cross the Line [35:33] The Cost of High-Control Leadership [37:05] Duty of Care and Ethical Practice [42:10] Anne’s Work, Book, and Safer Solutions [45:06] What Healthy Ethical Leadership Looks Like [48:39] How to Leave a Harmful Group [52:52] Intuition, Community, and Final Thoughts Key Takeaways:   • “Wait, I think I just spent 27 years and became a senior leader and raised a lot of money for a group that is actually a harmful cult, a destructive cult.” ~Anne Peterson • “We haven’t been trained how to see the exploitive side. We haven’t been trained how to separate charisma from character. We haven’t trained ourselves to see manipulation.” ~Anne Peterson • “Who paid the price for my signing away and doing that was my daughter and my son who didn’t have their mom.” ~Anne Peterson • “When the doctor gives me a medication, they have to tell me the side effects. Why? Because in that profession, there’s a standard for informed consent. Why is there not a standard for informed consent in self-help?” ~Anne Peterson • “If the attention is on you, that’s a great teacher.” ~Anne Peterson • “If you get a sense like, ooh, something doesn’t seem right here, listen to that.” ~Anne Peterson Keep In Touch with Anne Peterson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annepeterson2/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anne.l.peterson1 Book, Podcast, and More: https://linktr.ee/anne_l_peterson Marketplace Website: https://ilumn8.life/ Seek Safely Workshops: https://ilumn8.life/lp/seek-safely-programs/ People Mentioned and Other Resources: A Little Bit Culty: https://alittlebitculty.com/ Rachel Bernstein: https://www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/ Seek Safely: https://www.seeksafely.org/ Anne Peterson’s Marketplace: https://ilumn8.life/ Safe Seeking Workshops: https://ilumn8.life/lp/seek-safely-programs/ — Follow Balbert… Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Website:  https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ – LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/ - This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

    Wait, Is This a Cult? Landmark and the Line Between Help and Harm w/ Anne Peterson (LST #157)
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About

Learn Speak Teach by Real Business Connections brings you real conversations with internationally known mentors, entrepreneurs, executives, authors, speakers, behavior experts, and wellness voices who have earned their wisdom through experience. Hosted by Ben Albert, each episode compresses decades of lessons into conversations that help you learn faster, think deeper, speak with more confidence, and grow with more purpose. We talk business, leadership, personal growth, networking, human behavior, resilience, communication, public speaking, and the real stories behind success. Come to learn. Leave inspired, equipped, and ready to teach what you now see differently. This feed is JUST LEARN SPEAK TEACH EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Albert of Real Business Connections
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    169
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Real Business Connections & Balbert Marketing LLC
  • Show Website
    Learn Speak Teach