Snake oil, leggings, and even eternal love: 8 podcasts about pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes, and MLMs gone wrong

Who doesn’t love a little true crime tale about bad business practices? These are podcasts about MLMs gone wrong. Whether they’re selling leggings, a way to get out of debt, or even eternal love, we’re all dreading that “Hey girlie,” DM on Instagram or Facebook from a girl we haven’t talked to since high school.

All jokes aside, this type of bad business typically targets women by feeding off of society’s expectations of them. Whether it’s love, entrepreneurship, or simply needing something to do besides taking care of children, when MLMs go bad, they are predatory and fraudulent.

Hear from podcasts honing in specific multi-level marketing businesses with podcasts like “The Rise and Fall of LuLaRoe,” or get a taste for bad business across the board with “iilluminaughtii.” Check out these 8 podcasts about MLMs gone wrong.

iilluminaughtii

“iilluminaughtii” knows a thing or two about bad business. She describes herself as a “pyramid against pyramid schemes.” From multi-level marketing to ponzi schemes to business disasters, this podcast is looking at fraud at every level.

The Rise and Fall of LuLaRoe

When it comes to MLMs gone very, very bad, none come to mind quicker than LuLaRoe. In “The Rise and Fall of LuLaRoe,” host Stephanie McNeal tracks LuLaRoe’s swift rise to the top of the clothing market before lawsuits and allegations began rolling in from their own retailers about the company being a pyramid scheme. She speaks with women who found themselves thousands and thousands of dollars in debt to the predatory company.

Twin Flames

Yeah, we’re calling the “Twin Flames” Universe a pyramid scheme. While they didn’t sell a physical product besides their classes, it is certainly a coercive group that demands more money as time goes on. Jeff and Shaleia Ayan rope women in and don’t let them leave, promising things that they have absolutely no control over. This Wondery podcast is an incredible look into this shady business.

The Dream

In the first season of “The Dream,” the podcast dives into the dark world of snake oil salesmen, shifty millionaires, struggling single moms, and even a few kindly grandmothers. They look at all sorts of pyramid schemes that marketed themselves as get-rich-quick multi-level marketing companies, even if they weren’t even selling anything! And the second season of “The Dream” hones in on one of the biggest shams of all: wellness.

Downline

“Downline” gets straight to the point every episode. This podcast is looking at bad business practices from companies like Beachbody, Cutco, Monat Global, and more. Not only that, but this podcast is also debunking MLM myths, youth recruitment, mob mentality, and more.

Toxic Positivity

In Lillian Lalo’s “Toxic Positivity,” she’s exploring the pitfalls of the multi-level marketing business model about how it can easily become predatory and manipulative. This is definitely a no-prior-knowledge-needed podcast, Lillian takes a kind and understanding, yet extremely journalist approach to explaining the MLM way.

Illegal Tender

“Illegal Tender” dives into the mysteries and scandals behind business, finance, and more. This Yahoo Finance podcast is diving into private prisons, the short-lived Trump University, the fake puppy crimes of quarantine, and more. Season four of this podcast honed in on MLMs that are leaving women broke and friendless, interviewing real women who fell victim to predatory MLMs and telling their stories.

Life After MLM

Roberta Blevins hosts “Life After MLM,” a podcast all about recovering from insidious cults that disguised themselves as legitimate business. When it comes to podcasts about MLMs, this one is all about compassion. She speaks with survivors, advocates, and experts about it, from reintegrating into the regular world to overcoming what feels like failure in a “business model” designed around your failure.