Search a title or topic

Over 20 million podcasts, powered by 

Player FM logo
Artwork

Content provided by The Reference Desk. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Reference Desk or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!

Multi-Level Marketing Schemes: History, How They Work, and a Leggings Horror Story

1:14:38
 
Share
 

Manage episode 393297215 series 2895644
Content provided by The Reference Desk. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Reference Desk or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this episode, Katie is bewitched (more like deeply bothered) by multi-level marketing.
MLMs are synonymous with #bossbabes, promises of easy money, and uncomfortable sales pitches that make it hard to say no. But below the pyramid, er, surface, MLMs are far more insidious. In this first episode of a two-part series, we cover the history of multi-level marketing from its connection to direct selling, the genius of Brownie Wise, and the birth of Amway. We also take a look at the structure of MLMs, including how the promises in glossy onboarding pamphlets play out in actual income, what the top tier folks are really selling, and why it’s so easy to get caught up - and then trapped- in the MLM world. Finally, we’ll put it all together with a look at the horror story that is LulaRoe, an MLM leggings company that made billions in profits before they lost the trust of their consultants and customers with moldy clothing, pressure to lose weight, and financial manipulation.

Staff picks:

Katie: The Free People’s Village by Sim Kern

Hailee: Scamanda [Lionsgate Sound, hosted by Charlie Webster]

Sources:
The Tools Cult: History of the Amway Motivational Tape Scam
All other sources

Support the show

  continue reading

91 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 393297215 series 2895644
Content provided by The Reference Desk. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Reference Desk or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this episode, Katie is bewitched (more like deeply bothered) by multi-level marketing.
MLMs are synonymous with #bossbabes, promises of easy money, and uncomfortable sales pitches that make it hard to say no. But below the pyramid, er, surface, MLMs are far more insidious. In this first episode of a two-part series, we cover the history of multi-level marketing from its connection to direct selling, the genius of Brownie Wise, and the birth of Amway. We also take a look at the structure of MLMs, including how the promises in glossy onboarding pamphlets play out in actual income, what the top tier folks are really selling, and why it’s so easy to get caught up - and then trapped- in the MLM world. Finally, we’ll put it all together with a look at the horror story that is LulaRoe, an MLM leggings company that made billions in profits before they lost the trust of their consultants and customers with moldy clothing, pressure to lose weight, and financial manipulation.

Staff picks:

Katie: The Free People’s Village by Sim Kern

Hailee: Scamanda [Lionsgate Sound, hosted by Charlie Webster]

Sources:
The Tools Cult: History of the Amway Motivational Tape Scam
All other sources

Support the show

  continue reading

91 episodes

All episodes

×
 
Loading …

Welcome to Player FM!

Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.

 

Copyright 2025 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | | Copyright
Listen to this show while you explore
Play