We’ll give it to Tony Robbins–he’s trying really hard to stay relevant in a rapidly changing self-help environment. Most recently, he’s joined in with a bunch of tech bros to build a therapizing, AI guru. What could go wrong?!

Glenn and Jean chat about this latest development in the saga of AI and self-help, raising some important questions about what’s happening. The merging of two un- or at least underregulated industries, both of which are hard-selling consumers by promising them what they want to hear but not proceeding with much if any integrity, feels like a potentially dangerous direction to head in. But, what do we know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

To Listen:

“AI’s Musical Analysis Stinks” on PodSaveAmerica

“AI: The Shiny, Environmentally-destructive Magic 8 Ball” on the SEEK Safely Podcast

To Watch:

Finding Michael Documentary

To Read:

“Good Sugar, Bad Sugar” by Alan Carr

“The Path, Founded by Tony Robbins and Calm Alums, Hopes to Offer Safer AI Therapy” by Julie Bort for TechCrunch

“Dozens Injured After Walking on Hot Coals at Tony Robbins Event” by Catherine Thornebeck for ABC News

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

To Contact SEEK email info@seeksafely.org

Make a secure donation to support the SEEK Safely Podcast on SEEKSafely.org

Jean and Glenn revisit some recent examples of supposedly visionary individuals whose grand plans led to disaster. It’s a sort of wishful thinking, fake-it-till-you-make-it, “manifest it” mindset that is not only a hallmark of modern self-help, but also seems to be pervasive in modern culture. What are the implications of this type of thinking, especially as we train LLMs and AIs from the content output of this culture?

Also… Join us on May 30th for the SEEK Safely Summit! We’ll be talking about solutions for building a better self-help world.

To Listen:

The Dropout Podcast

The Workers Letting AI Do Their Jobs on The Daily Podcast

To Watch:

Finding Michael Documentary

To Read:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

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

To Contact SEEK email info@seeksafely.org

Make a secure donation to support the SEEK Safely Podcast on SEEKSafely.org

Jean and Dr. Doyle discuss the recent appointment of Tony Robbins to the HHS and CMS Mental Healthcare Advisory Committee on Mental Health and Wellness. A lack of qualifications never stopped Tony—why stop now?! Mostly, it’s a point of curiosity. But importantly, it’s yet another example of the ways in which the self-help world are not distinct from the rest of our world. And this is why the work of SEEK Safely matters.

We also talk quickly about the upcoming SEEK Safely Summitt, featuring prominent voices in the self-help and wellness world who, like SEEK, want to bring about a better, safer, more effective and ethical self-help industry. Join us on May 30th. Get tickets here.

Show Notes:

To Read:

The Agenda by Bob Woodward

My Life by Bill Clinton

How to Get Control of Your Time & Life by Alan Lakein

Jean's Open Letter to Oprah

To Listen:

Be Your Own Guru (bc your other guru might be in the Epstein Files) SEEK Safely Podcast

SEEK Safely Pod Episode about MLMs

To Watch:

Jim Rohn on YouTube

To Learn:

Annette McGivney

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

To Contact SEEK email info@seeksafely.org

Make a secure donation to support the SEEK Safely Podcast on SEEKSafely.org