The Dream

This week, host Jane Marie talks to Senior White House Correspondent for The Independent, Eric Garcia, who was recently charged with covering the Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr's, autism press conference. Eric, who is himself autistic, breaks down the pseudoscience and misinformation RFK Jr has been using the power of his office to disseminate, as the two of them search for the motives behind his crusade.You can find more from Eric Garcia here: Instagram: @ericmgarcia14Twitter: @ericmgarciaThe Independent: https://www.the-independent.com/author/eric-garciaWebsite: http://www.ericmgarcia.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Jane Marie combines two of her favorite things - magic and scam debunking - in an interview with mentalist and known psychic-skeptic, Dustin Dean.You can find more of Dustin's work here:TikTok: @dustindeanmentalistInstagram: @dustindeanmentalistYouTube: @DustinDeanMentalistWebsite: https://www.dustindeanmentalist.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About 10 years ago, Jane Marie was doing pretty damn good for herself. She was on her own, had a new baby and was working hard as an editor at the feminist website, Jezebel. Then, it all came crashing down when an editor at Gawker, the umbrella site Jezebel was published under, released a story about a recently discovered Hulk Hogan sex tape - including footage.Enter Peter Theil, who had been looking for a reason to settle a score with Gawker when the Hulk scandal fell squarely in his lap. Theil ended up funding Hollywood Hulk's long, costly legal battle and when it was all said and done, Gawker couldn't keep up with the Theil money being thrown at them. They also made a few mistakes during depositions and trial testimony out of, let's just say, hubris, that didn't curry favor with the Judge deciding the case. When Gawker fell, it took everyone associated with the site down with it.On this week's episode, Jane sits down with the once cocky and brash Gawker editor, AJ Daulerio (the one who decided to publish the Hogan story), to talk about the where and the why of it all and find out if anything's changed in AJ's life since the heady days of the 2010's.You can find more from AJ and his current work with The Small Bow here:Substack: https://www.thesmallbow.com/Instagram: @smallbownewsletterPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Olivia Howell joins host Jane Marie to talk about divorce, what support really means after a breakup and Olivia's company "Fresh Start", which offers a Divorce Support Network featuring a Divorce Registry, Resources, Education, and Support for Every Step.To learn more about Olivia and Fresh Start:https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Spring Break and Jane and I are taking the week off along with our kids. This week we're bringing you a rerun of Episode 8 from Season 2 - Your Call Is Important To Us. We love caller episodes, so please continue to call or write! We listen, and much of your subject manner and personal experience finds it way to the show, if not turning into a dedicated episode, which has also happened plenty of time! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's science season! I made that up, but after talking to physicist Dr. Liam Bollmann-Dodd on last week's episode, this week host Jane Marie sits down with Dr. Chem Thug, a PHD chemist trying to do the good work of explaining chemistry online to the rest of us online in ways that we can actually understand. There will be some debunking. There will be some making chemistry interesting to those of us who slept through (and were subsequently kicked out of) Chemistry class in high school. And! There will be some serious "Please god, do not do that.", that many of us could use a healthy dose of.You can find more of Dr. Chem Thug's work here:TikTok: @chem.thugYouTube: @ChemThugInstagram: @chem.thug Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Jane Marie talks to particle scientist and friend of the show, Dr. Liam Bollmann-Dodd, to talk about the Trump administration's war on words and the effects the banned word list will have on science and research around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*THE DREAM AUDIENCE SURVEY LINK* http://bit.ly/thedream-surveyOn today's episode, host Jane Marie sits down with Jennifer Romolini, podcast host - Everything Is Fine - and author to talk about her 2024 book “Ambition Monster,” a memoir about chronic overwork that was named one of the best books of the year by Esquire and Harper’s Bazaar. You can find more from Jenn (including links to her books) here:Instagram:@jennromolinihttps://www.jenniferromolini.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and current single payer healthcare advocate, Gina Viola, joins host Jane Marie to talk about what keeps her motivated to do good work.You can find out more about Gina's work here:Insta: @ginaforla...and more about single payer healthcare here:https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2018, the podcast turned Bravo / Netflix series "Dirty John" was ubiquitous - at least in LA, where you couldn't go two blocks without seeing a billboard for the show. This week, the survivor of "Dirty" John Meehan's bloody attack, Terra Newell, talks to host Jane Marie about her experience being interviewed by an LA Times journalist for what she thought was only going to be a print piece in The Times, before watching her family's story explode into something much, much bigger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of the newest member to host Jane Marie's family, a little munchkin born over the weekend, this week we're revisiting Episode 2 of The Dream Season 1.Jane takes us back to her hometown, Owosso, MI as we get to know the town and people that helped shape her award winning career in journalism. Along the way, we also get a glimpse into her family's history with Multi Level Marketing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This past year Charlotte Isenberg, a once-popular teen anti-abortion activist, found herself switching sides in this national debate. What happened to her next is unprecedented and a warning for parents and kids alike.Find Charlotte on Tik Tok here:@blueridgejewess Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How a few bad seeds became a movement. Over and over and over and over and over... - dann g 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five years ago, in season two of this show, we invited Mother Jones senior editor Anna Merlan on to talk about the rise of dangerous health conspiracies in the U.S. and now that a famous anti-vaxxer, RFK Jr., has been confirmed as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, we've sat down again to discuss what... like, WHAT?You can find more from Anna Merlan here:X: @annamerlanBluesky: @annamerlan.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Jane Mare interviews Amanda Lee about her struggles with addiction, her involvement in the Washington DC based "Midtown" Alcoholics Anonymous cult and, ultimately, her path to recovery.Amanda Lee Socials:Tiktok: @amandadarbylee(The Most Wanted RN)Insta: @alabamaamandaFacebook: @alabamaamanda Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've known about it for almost 20 years and yet there is still very little being done to combat Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - more commonly none as CTE. And if you think this only affects NFL players, think again. CTE is available in all shapes and sizes - whether it's youth hockey, high school football, club soccer leagues, or professional wrestling, so many of our young athletes are in the line of fire. Thankfully, for most of those twenty years, former college football player and professional wrestler - turned anti-CTE advocate and head of Boston University's CTE center - Chris Nowinski, has taken it upon himself to stare this issue down and make sure parents, coaches and athletes have accurate information about what happens when someone suffers continual head injuries. Chris even managed to get a Phd in behavioral neuroscience along the way, so that he could understand and further the science behind CTE research. Today he joins host Jane Marie to talk about his career, his advocacy and what we know about the current state of CTE in sports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"How is this legal?"That question has been haunting host Jane Marie since the day she started researching Multi Level Marketing seven years ago. Since then, it feels like every company, industry or product she looks into is a scam. Let's be clear, they often are.This week, she stares straight into the Ivy League Bro eyes of private equity, looking for an answer to that same simple question that's been pinballing around her brain for seven years.Comic, writer, podcaster (and more!) Meredith Lynch has been following private equity money for years and this week she and Jane will try to untangle the mess this shady industry has made of pretty much everything it's touched. It's coming for all of us. We might as well try to understand what the hell it is.Find Meredith at:https://www.meredithlynch.com/IG & TikTok: @meredithmlynch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you rebuild your life after 13 years and 6 companies worth of Multi Level Marketing indoctrination? The Dream (we're back!) host Jane Marie talks to former MLM devotee and current anti MLM crusader, Erin Bies, about the state of the MLM industry and the work Erin is now doing to take it down. And you might just learn a little something about exogenous ketones along the way....Find out more about the work Erin is doing:https://www.erinbies.com/TikTok: @erinbiesIG: @therealbiestmodewww.youtube.com/@ErinBies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dream is back! Starting Monday, January 20th, we'll be releasing all new weekly episodes.The Dream as a weekly interview podcast with guests and segments about.... whatever we want! We'll still be focused on the "American Dream" and all the assholes that make it infinitely harder to achieve. We'll just have a bit more freedom in how we present it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dream fans....WE ARE BACK!We're reimagining The Dream as a weekly interview podcast with guests and segments about, I don't know.... whatever we want? Don't worry! We'll still be focused on the "American Dream" and all the assholes that make it infinitely harder to achieve. We'll just have a bit more freedom in how we present it.Also, today we're bringing you an episode of a podcast I've been producing about abortion, called "Outlawed":Join two OB-Gyns as they explain the science and stories of abortion in the US. Misinformation is unfortunately everywhere. Listening to this podcast will give you the knowledge and tools you need to help navigate these difficult conversations with family and friends at the dining room table. Throughout the season we will interview physicians, researchers, advocates and experts, as we navigate this contentious topic and make sense of the reality of abortion care in the US.And DO NOT forget to check back in a few weeks for new episodes of The Dream! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A chapter from Jane Marie’s forthcoming book. Preorder at jane-marie.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dream listeners called in to share their own experiences with life coaches: the good, the bad and the absurd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Edmonson publicly left NXIVM, a life coaching MLM made famous by the HBO documentary, The Vow, in 2017 shortly after being branded with the founder's initials. Jane and Sarah sit down to discuss the fine line between coaching and culting. Sarah and her husband, Nippy Ames, host the podcast A Little Bit Culty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Days after the debut of this season, Jessie Lee Ward, who was featured in episodes one and nine, passed away after a short battle with cancer. Jane reconnects with Erin Bies to discuss her former friend’s legacy and talks with Death Coach, Megan Carmichael, about what to make of death when you had a complicated relationship with the person who has passed on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To our surprise, the OG coach Jessie Lee Ward agrees to an interview. She seems surprised to find out that Jane is not a fan of her work. It turns out that the feeling goes both ways. After ugly exchanges with Jessie Lee, Jane checks back in with her coach and with Dann. Has Jane actually improved as a person? Is she better or worse after six months of self-improvement?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who does coaching work least well for? Turns out it’s the exact people who could benefit most from it, according to the industry. Dr. Sherman James and Dr. Arline Geronimus discuss the downsides of positive thinking, bootstrapping, and mindset culture. For some people, striving has negative impacts on health and happiness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who becomes a life coach? Jane talks to Patrick Sheehan, a researcher who has found a surprising answer: many coaches couldn’t find success elsewhere. Why do people who can’t do teach? We also learn more about Jane’s life coach, her bona fides, and what sets her apart from the scammers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, is the communication technique used by coaches and cult leaders alike. John James Santangelo—a fan of Napoleon Hill— is an NLP expert who gives Jane a crash course. Jane is mesmerized, and according to Santangelo, might've even been hypnotized.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now a life coach herself, Jennifer Rajala is lauded at Rankmakers; she’s a hustler who can inspire others to buy coaching packages better than just about anyone else. That is, until she realizes she’s selling empty promises.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Napoleon Hill, ever heard of him? He wrote "Think and Grow Rich," one of the favorite self-help handbooks of all time. His fans include Tony Robbins and life coaches of all stripes. But Napoleon Hill was not a genius of self-help. He was a scam artist who never practiced what he preached. Journalist Matt Novak tells Jane what he’s found (and what he hasn’t) about one of the biggest architects of modern coaching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer Rajala got sucked into the MLM-to-coaching pipeline. A social worker from northern Michigan, Jennifer rose quickly through the Arbonne ranks. She earned the right to lease an Arbonne branded Mercedes. But she still wasn’t making any real money. Then Jenn discovered Rankmakers, the life coaching program that promised to truly maximize her potential.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite regular therapy, Jane is in a funk. She and Dann discuss what's happened to them, and what she hopes (and fears) life coaching might do for her — or teach her to do for herself. Jane embarks on a hunt for a professional life coach of her own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's it like to hand your life over to someone who claims they’ll make it better? Jessie Lee Ward, the self-proclaimed “#1 network marketer in the world,” charges her coaching clients thousands of dollars for a trip to Colombia that's described like a work retreat. The reality is more like a brutal 15 hour hike, with late night hypothermia. Is this what it takes to be successful in life and business?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Little Everywhere and Pushkin Industries, and hosted by Jane Marie, comes the third season of The Dream. Past seasons of this award-winning investigative podcast looked at pyramid schemes and the world of wellness. This season we're getting to know the gurus and life coaches who claim they know the secret to living our best lives. Is it all in our mindset? Or our privilege? Or are we all under a spell? Find out this September.If you want to binge the entire season early and ad-free starting September 13, sign up for Pushkin+ on our Apple Show page or at pushkin.fm/plus now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who do you trust in a world with little information?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How a few bad seeds became a movement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Shills and Sugar Pills will make you feel better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Influencing a new generation of wellness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The road to wellness is paved with particles and protons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to one of the cutest cults of wellness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when no one is looking out for you?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can powders, pills and juices deliver on the promise to live longer and look younger?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opportunity might still be knocking… we’ll be back with new episodes in January.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Take a walk and find a crystal. Who knows, it might just heal you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Products and cures you can’t find at the doctor might just be the medicine you want.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oils, crystals, juices and more have been said to bring us eternal happiness and health- but how much of that is based in truth? Who benefits and loses from the wellness industry as a whole? We’ll be talking to some familiar voices and new ones about broader questions like these in Season 2 of the Dream- premiering December 9th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaving an MLM can be the hardest part of the business. This is 4 of 4 bonus episodes we’re releasing as additional reporting from season 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s no better way to build a loyal downline than with a magnetic atmosphere and a magnetic leader. Creating devotion to the cause is one technique that keeps the recruits flowing and the pipeline growing. This is 3 of 4 bonus episodes we’re releasing as additional reporting from season 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unbelievable origin story of LulaRoe. This is 2 of 4 bonus episodes we’re releasing as additional reporting from season 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happened when LulaRoe tried to save their business by operating less like an MLM? Exactly what you think if you’ve been listening long enough. Although this time, there are people in power that are mad, like file-a-lawsuit mad. This is 1 of 4 bonus episodes we’re releasing as additional reporting from season 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.