Seek Safely Jean Brown & Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle

Before we take a quick podcast break, Glenn and Jean go back through the episodes from Season 2, reviewing some of the highlights and favorite moments. They also take a look at what theme emerged from this collection of discussions and interviews. 
We’d love to hear what your favorite moments from this season were! Let us know–send us a message or even leave a voicemail. 
We’ll be back with new episodes in October! Thanks for listening! 


Also mentioned in this Episode:
Read: 
The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on the Dark Side of Yoga by Joelle Tamraz
Life 101 Series by Peter McWilliams
Self-help Books and the Quest for Self-control in the United States 1950-2000 Dr. Christine Whelan’s Doctoral Dissertation
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
About The Art of the Deal 


Watch:
Enlighten Us documentary by CNN Films
LuLaRich docu-series on Amazon Prime
The Deep End docuseries 
Listen:
The Gateway podcast by Jennings Brown for Gizmodo
Conspirituality Podcast
Guru Podcast by Wondery Media


Learn:
Dr. Christine Whalen’s website
Dr. Steven Hassan’s Freedom of Mind Resource Center
SEEK’s Red Flags
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

“Not unlike the tactics used by cults, who often exploit people who are seeking meaning, The Manosphere and the alt right provide meaning in the form of misogyny and white supremacy, creating an “affective fabric” that binds them together.”
Julia DeCook for boundary2.org, linked in notes


Jean and Dr. Glenn dive into the murky waters of the Manosphere, specifically where it overlaps with the self-help world, traditionally an industry geared towards women. They discuss how the rise of this segment of the industry may indicate a reaction to recent women’s rights action like the #MeToo movement, and even, more recently the Barbie movie! From Masculinity Bro accounts to Wellness Bro influencers peddling absurd wellness hacks, this male-directed segment of self-optimization content is not necessarily new, but it is concerning in how it tends to be a gateway into more extreme, misogynist views. 


Please note, there are some spoiler-ish points in our conversation about the Barbie movie!


Show Notes: 
Podcasts: 
Jordan Harbinger
Conspirituality episode about Bro Science
You’re Wrong About Podcast


Websites:
Wikipedia Entry on the Manosphere
Wikipedia Entry on Bro Culture


Articles: 
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/3/4/18246518/man-cave-boom-pre-recession-masculinity-male-friendship


https://impakter.com/from-incels-to-tradwives-understanding-the-spectrum-of-gender-and-online-extremism/


https://www.boundary2.org/2019/11/julia-decook-how-deep-does-the-rabbit-hole-go-the-wonderland-of-r-theredpill-and-its-ties-to-white-supremacy/
https://www.gq.com/story/mouth-tape-for-sleep-hostage-tape


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

In 2016, CNN Films released a documentary entitled “Enlighten Us,” which followed James Ray’s attempted comeback after his short imprisonment for negligent homicide. That conviction was the result of the deaths of 3 people at Ray’s Spiritual Warrior personal development retreat in Sedona, Arizona, in 2009. The film features interviews with survivors as well as James Ray as he attempted to rebuild his personal development business. 


Jean discusses what always frustrated her about the film, particularly how it left out the voices of victims’ families as well as context about James Ray’s prior knowledge of how dangerous his event was.
 
Along with the perspectives and wisdom of Dr. Christine Whelan and Dr. Doyle, this episode examines what James Ray’s evolving efforts to return to guru-hood reveal about the current state of the broader self-help world.


Also mentioned in this Episode:
Enlighten Us documentary by CNN Films
In Enlighten Us, Disgraced Guru Fails to Find Redemption article by Matt Stroud for The Verge
“Tragedy in Sedona” by Connie Joy
Self-help Books and the Quest for Self-control in the United States 1950-2000 Dr. Christine Whelan’s Doctoral Dissertation
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

Jean and Dr. Glenn speak with author Joelle Tamraz, whose gripping memoir details her time with a “yoga guru” who became her life and business partner. Through her compelling storytelling, it becomes clear that it was not weakness or desperation, but a heady mix of idealism, openness to possibility, and a desire for meaningful connection that put Joelle in the path of Arun, who promised to guide and love her, but instead exploited her faith and abused her trust. 
Joelle’s personal experience under the control of a charismatic partner illuminates another, wider issue: how “new age” movements like yoga and meditation have been weaponized by charismatic leaders in the popular and lucrative world of self-help. The means in which Arun manipulated Joelle also resemble how “gurus” and predatory self-help organizations manipulate wider audiences.

In this interview, Joelle, Jean, and Dr. Glenn discuss Joelle’s experience, focussing on the problems with yoga, how the popular practice fits under the umbrella of self-help, and why it deserves as much criticism as any other corner of the industry. Joelle also shares a number of tips and red flags to help other seekers avoid unethical and dangerous “gurus.”

“The Secret Practice” releases in August 2023, and is now available for pre-order.

Also mentioned in this Episode:
General info:
SEEK’s Red Flags
Post about Harmful Yoga on SEEKSafely.org by Sarah Jean White

Books:
“Tragedy in Sedona” by Connie Joy

Documentaries:
“The Secrets of Hillsong”
“Holy Hell”
“Wild, Wild Country”

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

In this episode, Dr. Glenn takes us through the fascinating tale of Peter McWilliams who was both the author of the best-selling “Life 101” series and a victim in many ways of his guru/cult leader, John-Roger.
The story of Peter McWIlliams is sad and interesting; but importantly, it demonstrates so many of the recurring themes of how the self-help industry operates: 
Large Group Awareness Trainings (LGATs) as a gateway into more insidious and culty self-help self-help gurus fabricating an origin storythe ways in which manipulative leaders divert and exploit the talents of their followershow self-help continuously recycles (and/or plagiarizes!) the same old contentthe readiness with which self-help organizations use law suits for intimidation and self-protectionIn telling the story of McWilliams, we also take a walk through some of the biggest self-help books, leaders, and movies of the last ~35 years! Be sure to check out the links below! 


Also mentioned in this Episode:
Books: 
Life 101 Series by Peter McWilliams
"The Personal Computer" by Peter McWilliams
“Getting Things Done” by David Allen
“Tragedy in Sedona” by Connie Joy
“The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck
“Ain’t Nobody’s Business if you Do” by Peter McWilliams
“Fit for Life” by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond 


Info Pages and Articles:
About Life 102: What to do When Your Guru Sues You by Peter McWilliams
Insight Seminars
Large-group Awareness Trainings definition
MSIA
Erhard Seminar Trainings (est)
Behavioural Activation
LA Times article about allegations against John-Roger
Review of I Am Not Your Guru documentary about Tony Robbins


Podcasts:
A Little Bit Culty podcast

Given how much of a buzzword TRAUMA is in the self-help/wellness/self-improvement world and even more broadly in our culture, we’re lucky that Dr. Glenn happens to be a trauma specialist! 
A lot of gurus and New Age love-and-light types are talking about trauma these days. One in particular stands out. Although there has been a lot of coverage of Teal Swan, the SEEK Safely Podcast has not addressed this very popular online persona who has made her name talking specifically about trauma. Jean and Dr. Glenn talk in this episode about what Teal Swan represents vis a vis trauma and the self-help world. 
They also discuss more broadly this question of why trauma has become a more open conversation in our culture–for better and worse. In particular, they get into the difference between how self-help tends to address trauma and mental health in general, versus how addressing trauma would look in a clinical setting with a licensed therapist or psychologist. While there might be some initial catharsis in diving into your trauma at a self-improvement retreat over a weekend, there are reasons why self-help consumers need to be really careful with this approach. 
Please be aware that we do refer extensively to suicide and trauma in this episode.
Also mentioned in this episode: 
About Trauma and Psychology:
Jonathan Shedler
“Recollections of Sexual Abuse” Christine A. Courtois
“Trauma and Recovery” by Judith Herman 
About Teal Swan:
The Deep End docuseries
The Gateway podcast by Jennings Brown for Gizmodo
About James Ray:
“Tragedy in Sedona” Connie Joy
Guru Podcast
Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle at Insight Therapy Solutions
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