The Slippery Slope from Coaching Program to Cult with Melinda Van Fleet

Girl Boss Red Flags Podcast with Erin Billings and Tay Francis

In this episode, Erin and Tay chat with Melinda Van Fleet, an intuitive and energetic empowerment coach, about the warning signs of coaching programs that start to feel like cults, the manipulative language often used, and the importance of trusting your intuition when making decisions.

Melinda also talks about the challenges of dealing with isolation and the shame that can come from investing in coaching programs that don't pay off. The episode is packed with practical tips and insights to help listeners avoid scams and make confident choices in their personal and professional lives.

CHAPTERS

08:27 Breaking Free: Regaining Intuition and Identity

13:11 The Epidemic of Consumption and Outsourcing Authority

24:34 Manipulative Language

31:19 Shame and Regret in Coaching Investments

47:22 Green Flags in Hiring a Coach

Connect with Melinda on her website here

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ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Erin Billings is a producer that gained her expertise working in music, media, and entertainment working with artists from American Idol, The Voice, America's Got Talent, and Grammy and Tony Award Winners. Erin has also worked in corporate and non-profit spaces, working with agencies, production houses, and houses of worship, producing anything from podcasts to stage productions to conventions and conferences, both live and virtual. She is the Founder of CLIQ Management, a boutique media and talent management agency with done-for-you services performed by entertainment industry professionals for speakers, podcasters, artists, and business owners.

Tay Francis (she/they) is a Self-Empowerment Strategist whose life’s work is supporting trauma survivors and raising awareness about Global North-Global South power dynamics. She is a certified professional life coach and Human Design reader with a background in psychology, development studies and 10 years of experience as a mental health and social impact researcher. Her insights on Human Design and astrology have appeared in publications such as Yahoo and Best Life Magazine.

CREDITS

Artwork - Diana Pietrzyk

Music - Erin Billings

Post Production - Isaac Moreno

Copy - Tay Francis

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Girl Boss Red Flags Disclaimer and Trigger Warning

Some of the topics that we talk about in this episode may be triggering or distressing. If you find yourself experiencing strong emotions at any point during listening, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Secondly, nothing that we discuss in this episode constitutes legal, medical, or professional mental health advice. We are not lawyers, we are not doctors, and we are not clinical mental health professionals. If you think that you or someone you know may have been scammed, please consult the relevant professionals so that you can get the advice that you need for your situation.

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