Taking on the 'Giant Within' Self-help: Tony Robbins (PART 2) Artwork

Seek Safely

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.

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Seek Safely

Taking on the 'Giant Within' Self-help: Tony Robbins (PART 2)

December 18, 2023 • Jean Brown & Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle • Season 3 • Episode 2

This is the continuation of the first episode of the 3rd season! It picks up where the first episode left off, deep into Tony Robbins’ assent into self-help superstardom. Tony Robbins was Dr. Glenn’s first stop in the wide world of self-help, and in many ways, he is arguably one of the best known and most successful self-help personalities ever. He put the modern self-help industry on the trajectory of providing The Answer to Everything in your life–a “kitchen sink” approach, as Dr. Glenn calls it.

Tony went from the best-selling book model, to stadium events, to QVC, to expensive retreats, to appearances at other people’s events, to endorsements, to… flirting with anti-vax and gender essentialism stuff? In diving into the story of Tony Robbins, we consider where self-help has been, where it is today, and (maybe) where it’s going from here.

Also Mentioned in this Episode:

Dr. Christine Whelan

To Read:

Tony Robbins Wikipedia Page

Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Buzzfeed investigation into misconduct allegations

The Program by Toni Natale

Fit For Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond

Behind Tony Robbins’ Dangerous Approach to the Pandemic by Zoe Schiffer for The Verge

To Watch: