Seek Safely

Jean Brown & Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle
  • 4.8 (36)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 of their customers and followers. Along the way we’ll have discussions with people who care as much as we do about the self-help industry being held accountable for the promises it makes–and we lay out our vision of a world in which seekers are respected and protected.

  1. 11/03/2025

    Climate Change and Self-help? Yep!

    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

    54 min

  2. 10/14/2025

    Chatting about SEEK Week and the Upcoming SEEK Safely Summit with Anne Peterson

    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 and Empowerment Workshop. Find links on our website. 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

    1h 1m

  3. 10/06/2025

    The Celebrity Guru

    Glenn and Jean dive into the phenomenon of the celebrity turned self-help guru. As trust in traditional authorities breaks down, we turn to other sources, like celebrities. But what happens when a celeb with notoriety in one area starts talking up a self-help storm? It's a tale as old as self-help time... We get into Goop, The Biggest Loser and early 2000s weight loss culture (yikes), and even the celebrity to self-help to politician pipeline.  Show Notes: To Watch: The Biggest Loser Docuseries, Fit for TV To Read:  Jean's thoughts on Netflix's Goop Series Article About Tracy Anderson in The Atlantic Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill About The Art of the Deal Book 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

    54 min

  4. 09/01/2025

    Guru Origin Stories

    Jean and Glenn talk guru origin stories—from the dubious to downright fantastical. Why do they do this? What is the point, and what could be the harm?

    53 min

  5. 06/23/2025

    AI: The Shiny, Environmentally Destructive Magic 8 Ball

    AI is suddenly everywhere it seems, and the self-help world is no different. A low-cost machine that can pump out a nearly endless string of word salad "content" to push on a willing audience? Perfect! Jean and Glenn chat about the implications of AI for self-help and how we are already seeing it wend its way into the industry and the wider mental health industry. Tony Robbins has created an AI Tony app! As a fun little experiment, Jean asks ChatGPT how it would go about creating an AI guru. So before you go ahead and pay for any AI self-help tools, have a listen! Show Notes:  To Listen To:  A Little Bit Culty Podcast To Read:  "AI has started ignoring human instruction and refuses to turn off, researchers claim" in The Daily Mail To Watch: Silicone Valley on HBO The Terminator 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

    50 min

  6. 04/21/2025

    Talking ICSA 2025: the International Cultic Studies Association's Annual Conference

    Glenn and Jean talk about the upcoming International Cultic Studies Association's annual conference in July, where Jean is presenting on behalf of SEEK for the third year in a row. Since 1979, ICSA has been building an international network of resources for cult survivors, educators, and researchers. SEEK's presence at the conference since 2023 has been about drawing a link between the self-help industry and cults. This year's conference focusses on the role of the media in the cult conversation. Jean will present on the media's role in SEEK's origin, right from the start-when Kirby first saw James Ray on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Into the present day, SEEK sees a role for an ever-changing media to help people draw a connection between cults and self-help. To Learn: International Cultic Studies Association To Listen To: Jennifer French on The SEEK Safely Podcast A Little Bit Culty Podcast 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

    52 min

  7. 03/31/2025

    Mid-season Check-in (aka SEEK Safely Podcast Pajama Party)

    Jean’s in her PJs. Glenn is wearing sweats. Because we’re all tired…  In this episode, the podcast is checking in on how we’re all coping (or not) in this very busy, constantly “breaking news” era. It is precisely in these moments of uncertainty that the self-help world typically kicks it into overdrive. So beware! We also talk about this interesting development we’re seeing–the self-helpification of US government.  And finally, we offer a few thoughts on how to manage in overwhelming times. Thanks, as always, for being our community!  Show Notes:  To Listen To:  If Books Could Kill Podcast The Huberman Lab Podcast To Read: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson About Dianetics on Wikipedia About 12-Step Programs on Wikipedia About Internal Family Systems Model on Wikipedia To Watch: The Resurrection of Jake the Snake documentary 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

    52 min

  8. 03/10/2025

    Dr. John Hunter Explains how Self-help Events are “Manufacturing Mania”

    How do smart, motivated, successful people get pulled into spending thousands of dollars, many years, and lots of trust on a self-help program or teacher? Psychologist Dr. John Hunter applies the dopamine hypothesis to explain how these events may be messing with our brain chemistry in a way that puts us into a manic or hypomanic state. If you are curious about cults or if you’re a self-help person, this is a must-listen! Finally, we have a psychological explanation for what is actually going on in your brain when exposed to certain types of self-help. Dr. John Hunter’s book is “Manufacturing Mania: The Dopamine Hypothesis of Religious Experience.” His research has focussed on LGATs (Large Group Awareness Trainings) and neurology, providing an important link to understand how anyone is susceptible to the power of these events. Show Notes:  To Read: Manufacturing Mania: The Dopamine Hypothesis of Religious Experience by Dr. John Hunter LGATs and Fight Club. Dissecting a Delusion by Dr. John Hunter for The Fincher Analyst To Learn: Explanation of the Dopamine Hypothesis on Wikipedia 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

    1h 11m
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4.8
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

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 of their customers and followers. Along the way we’ll have discussions with people who care as much as we do about the self-help industry being held accountable for the promises it makes–and we lay out our vision of a world in which seekers are respected and protected.

Information

  • Creator
    Jean Brown & Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Seek Safely
  • Show Website
    Seek Safely