75. Multi-level Marketing Schemes (and support for getting out) with 'Hey Hun' author, Emily Lynn Paulson
Please note that while the ultimate goal is to hold MLMs accountable for harm, this is a KIND, SAFE SPACE to talk about MLMs - aka "Multi-Level Marketing" schemes.
My hope is that this conversation offers clarity, hope, and encouragement to anyone who's been part of, or negatively affected by, this sneaky, insidious system. Part research, part personal story, part recovery journey...this one is a biggie, folx.
Content advisory for this episode: Addiction, alcoholism, recovery, emotional abuse, and cults.
My guest today is Emily Lynn Paulson. She's a mom of 5, two-time TEDx speaker, founder of Sober Mom Squad, and the author of "Hey Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, & Other Lies behind Multi-Level Marketing".
We don't cover this story in the episode, but when I read it, it stopped me in my tracks: Emily was in the "million dollar club" in her MLM. One day, her MLM presented her with a "free" Lexus and held her up as an example of what could happen if you "worked hard enough".
What no one knew was that Emily had to pay for the down payment, taxes, and registration fees for the car herself. She had also paid to cater the party at the car dealership, as well as countless other costs to keep up appearances.
And shortly after driving away in her "free car," she was pulled over for a DUI.
This is Emily's story of recovery from alcohol, which led to her "amends" for - her words - the very great level of harm she did while inside an MLM.
I want to stress that if you or someone you love has been drawn in by an MLM, I really hope you stay open and stick around for this conversation. Even better, I hope you avail yourself of the recovery resources listed below.
RECOVERY RESOURCES:
Private FB group for MLM Support and Recovery: https://www.facebook.com/groups/986465288555141/
"Cutting Ties: A Workbook for Helaing After MLM" by Megan Williams, MSCMHC (Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L9TBZYG?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_78JDFM9F2WESBQTKJS58
Reddit Community: MLM Recovery https://www.reddit.com/r/MLMRecovery/
Explanation of the BITE model of Authoritarian Control (Behavior, Information, Thought, Emotion): https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/
Daily Reader; "Courage to Change: One Day At A Time in Al-Anon": https://a.co/d/eKMQ3RE
CONNECT WITH EMILY:
https://www.instagram.com/emilylynnpaulson
Emily's book, "Hey Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, & Other Lies Behind Multi-level Marketing": https://a.co/d/fV3c5Vt
Sober Curious? Learn more about "Rewind: Freedom From Alcohol" an 8-week course and group coaching program that explores our relationship to drinking: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwStmmQMXhQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
CONNECT WITH KELSEY:
http://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes
