Trash Talk: Where Self-Help Cliches Go to Die

What if the so-called “truths” about growth and success are actually keeping you playing small?

On Trash Talk, hosts Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas unpack empty platitudes and tired cliches that dominate the business and personal development world. These ideas might be popular, but that doesn’t mean they’re useful.

Who listens to Trash Talk?

Skeptics and Questioners of hollow advice
Those asking why self-help advice fails
People done with toxic self-help culture
Anyone who wants a place to finally talk openly about all the advice that makes you roll your eyes

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Trash Talk: Where Self-Help Cliches Go to Die

"Let Them" / Mel Robbins

September 09, 2025 • Erin Thomas + Erica Breuer • Season 2 • Episode 17

Erica and Erin are back from summer break and they’re examining the lifecycle of a cultural darling, “Let Them.” In this episode, they explore why society (sometimes) eats meaning for breakfast.

If you’ve ever wondered why some advice hits hard one day and feels hollow the next, you’ll enjoy their examination of how “Let Them” and other cliches become wallpaper for the internet.

Resources & Mentions:

→ “Let Them” poem (2019) by the original author, Cassie Phillips:

“Just let them.

If they want to choose something or someone over you, LET THEM.

If they want to go weeks without talking to you, LET THEM.

If they are okay with never seeing you, LET THEM.

If they are okay with always putting themselves first, LET THEM.

If they are showing you who they are and not what you perceived them to be, LET THEM.

If they want to follow the crowd, LET THEM.

If they want to judge or misunderstand you, LET THEM.

If they act like they can live without you, LET THEM.

If they want to walk out of your life and leave, hold the door open, AND LET THEM.

Let them lose you.

You were never theirs because you were always your own.

So let them.”

→ Cassie Phillips Contact Links

https://www.instagram.com/cassie.phillips.letthem

https://www.tiktok.com/@cassiephillips.letthem

https://www.cassie-phillips.com/

→ “Public Pressure & Mel Robbins”

https://sagejustice.substack.com/p/public-pressure-and-mel-robbins

The Life Cycle of a Cliché: Breaking Down Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” Theory

Trash Talk — Episode 17 | September 2025

Episode Summary

We’re kicking off Season 2 by breaking down Mel Robbins’ viral Let Them Theory and exploring how advice evolves from fresh insight to tired cliché. We unpack the six-phase lifecycle of cultural phrases, why nuance gets lost, and what this means for relationships, boundaries, and personal growth. Plus, we revisit YOLO as the perfect case study in phrase mutation.

Table of Contents

[00:00:00] Intro: Welcome Back and Summer Recap
[00:03:45] Main Topic 1: What Is the Let Them Theory?
[00:07:20] Main Topic 2: The Lifecycle of a Cliché
[00:15:40] YOLO as a Case Study in Phrase Mutation
[00:25:00] Real-Life Implications of “Let Them”
[00:36:10] Key Takeaways and How to Apply This
[00:40:00] Call to Action + Hotline Details

[00:00:00] Intro: Welcome Back and Summer Recap

We’re back! It’s September, and it’s been 63 days since you last heard from us. Erin shares her whirlwind summer of an international move, new pets, and family transitions. Erica talks about hiking, biking, and a paint project that didn’t quite stick. Both hosts reflect on how fast summer flew by—and why that led them to kick off this season with something juicy.

[00:03:45] Main Topic 1: What Is the Let Them Theory?

Mel Robbins introduced the Let Them Theory in 2023, framing it as a way to reclaim your energy:

“The fastest way to take control of your life is to stop controlling everyone around you.”

It’s about letting people make their own choices, instead of over-functioning in relationships. Sounds empowering—but as Erica and Erin point out, advice like this can quickly lose nuance when it goes viral.

[00:07:20] Main Topic 2: The Lifecycle of a Cliché

Phrases like Let Them follow a predictable six-phase pattern:

Origination – Someone coins a phrase with nuance.
Adoption – Early fans spread it enthusiastically.
Abstraction – Meaning starts to strip away.
Mainstreaming – It shows up everywhere (headlines, captions, merch).
Overuse/Cliché – It becomes cultural wallpaper.
Mutation – It’s used ironically or sarcastically.

The hosts break down where Let Them is in this cycle now—and why it matters.

[00:15:40] YOLO as a Case Study in Phrase Mutation

Remember YOLO? Originally a motivational phrase from Drake’s 2010 track, it spiraled into mainstream culture—and eventually became ironic and meme-worthy. Erica and Erin explore how this mirrors what’s happening with Let Them right now.

[00:25:00] Real-Life Implications of “Let Them”

The hosts dive into how this advice shows up in relationships, friendships, and professional settings:

When does “letting them” protect your energy?
When does it excuse bad behavior or silence necessary confrontation?
Who benefits when you default to letting things slide?

They share personal stories, regrets, and the tension between taking the high road and teaching people how to treat us.

[00:36:10] Key Takeaways and How to Apply This

Let Them can be healthy—but context matters.
Before defaulting to this advice, ask:
- Am I avoiding growth or conflict that matters?
- Is silence perpetuating harm or inequality?
The average phrase-to-cliché lifecycle is 3–7 years—expect Let Them to mutate by 2030.
Instead of “Let Them,” try: What feels best for me in this moment?

[00:40:00] Call to Action + Hotline Details

Love this conversation? Subscribe to Trash Talk wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy clichés:

719-819-2175