The Memory Maker | Part I | 41

Scamfluencers

Wondery

Society & Culture

4.1 • 7K Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2023

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

After surviving a difficult childhood, Teal Swan starts a family and reinvents herself as a spiritual leader for the Internet age. She gains a huge following by talking openly about a wide-range of topics, including taboo mental health issues. In her videos, she’s warm, candid, and relatable. But her unconventional approach may have some dark consequences.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. The U.S. National Alliance on Mental Illness is available at 1-800-950-6264. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline in the US by calling 1-800-656-4673. That's 1-800-656-4673.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, scam influencers fans, Sachi here.
0:02.2	If you live for the outrageous stories and unbelievable cons that we cover, you need Wendry Plus.
0:07.2	It's like sitting in the room with us as we unravel every twist, ad free a week ahead of everyone else,
0:12.7	and packed with exclusive content you won't hear anywhere else.
0:16.1	Start your free trial in the Wendry app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify now.
0:19.9	A note to our listeners, today's
0:21.7	episode includes discussions of mental health, self-harm, suicide, child abuse, sexual
0:27.1	assault, and violence. Please listen with care. Sachi, I have a question for you. If you're ever going through it, how likely are you to turn to YouTube or TikTok for advice?
0:45.3	No, I wouldn't do it. I am in the same boat, as you know, TikTok does scare me. To be fair, there are legit therapists and professionals who do guide people to seek help.
0:56.6	But the person I'm about to introduce you to is safe to say, not one of those people.
1:02.3	Yeah, I figured.
1:04.2	Well, this woman alleges to have a supernatural gift she uses to heal the world and, of course, becomes super famous along the way.
1:16.8	In November 2013, a striking willowy woman in her 30s with cat-like eyes and long, dark hair,
1:25.1	strides onto a stage in London. She's wearing glittery sandals and a dress that looks like a watercolor painting.
1:31.9	She sits down in one of two chairs in the center of the stage,
1:35.7	flanked by flowers and healing crystals.
1:38.3	She's grinning from ear to ear, soaking up the applause from the crowd of more than 400 people.
1:44.8	This is the woman who will come to be known as Teal Swan.
1:48.7	Teal's a spiritual teacher with a huge online following,
1:52.7	and her most dedicated fans pay to see her in person at workshops like this one.
1:57.8	She's a natural on stage.
1:59.6	She's warm, a good listener, and she makes people laugh.
	...

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