

iilluminaughtii
Blair Zoń
Welcome to iilluminaughtii, the podcast that is all about debunking bad business. Whether it's a pyramid scheme or a charity stealing money, everything (and anything) business-related is on the table. Blair Zoń is ready to dig into the underbelly of the business world to find out where your money and time really goes. Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss any of episodes delivered fresh every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 3, 2023 • 35min
This Judge Was Paid To Imprison Kids | Multi Level Mondays
Go to http://joinhoney.com/mlm to get Honey for free!Go to http://dipseastories.com/MLM for an extended 30 day free trial.Welcome to Multi Level Mondays, a weekly series all about multi level marketing, pyramid schemes, and ponzi schemes.From 2004 to 2008, Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan executed a scam that ruined thousands of young people’s lives. In return for money, the two judges sentenced kids to juvenile detention facilities for incredibly minor infractions. Eventually, they were caught in the act when the Juvenile Law Center sprang into action after learning what had been going on. What followed was years of litigation and a scandal that rocked the country. Now, the saga seems to finally be over. Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/aztx5Writers/Researchers/Helpers:Jess HubbertAlbum cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 2022 • 31min
Its a Miracle No One Died On The Biggest Loser | Corporate Casket
Go to http://dipseastories.com/casket to get a 30-day free trial.Welcome to the Corporate Casket, a semiweekly series where bad businesses go to die. We will discuss any and everything from bad charities, terrible CEOs, and businesses that have a lot to hide. The biggest loser is known for turning weight loss into the ultimate competition. Is it important to be healthy? Yes. But there’s so much more to health than a number. When you watch the show with a critical eye, it’s obvious why critics say it’s a miracle no one’s died during filming. Unfortunately, there has been damage done, to contestants, and to how we see health.Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/bod5tWriters/Researchers/Helpers:Ali Z-BAlbum cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 28, 2022 • 32min
The Story of Peloton’s 3-Year Nightmare | Corporate Casket
Go to http://dipseastories.com/casket to get a 30-day free trial.Welcome to the Corporate Casket, a semiweekly series where bad businesses go to die. We will discuss any and everything from bad charities, terrible CEOs, and businesses that have a lot to hide. Years ago, the home exercise giant Peloton seemed to be the toast of the town. Everyone was enamored with the rapid rise to success of the company that sold luxury bicycles and treadmills and their skyrocketing profits seemed to reflect consumers' undying love. But, as their orders grew they found themselves enthralled with a whole new host of issues. They scaled way too fast, had one PR blunder after another, and soon lawsuits came flooding in. What’s that saying? What goes up must come down. Yeah, it seems like we might be in the “down” part of Peloton’s story. Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/ccrteWriters/Researchers/Helpers:Jess HubbertThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 26, 2022 • 28min
The Princess House MLM is Cooking Up Scams | Multi Level Mondays
Go to http://hellofresh.com/mlm21 and use code mlm21 to get 21 free meals and free shipping. Welcome to Multi Level Mondays, a weekly series all about multi level marketing, pyramid schemes, and ponzi schemes.Princess House is a crystal MLM turned kitchenware MLM. It sounds harmless enough, unlike the supplement companies we’ve covered, but this MLM has some questionable things cooking behind the scenes: a slew of shady lawsuits, a murky history, and a CEO that misleads consumers, to start with.Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/8fudaWriters/Researchers/Helpers:Ali Z-BThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2022 • 30min
The Make-A-Wish Clone Who Pockets The Money | Corporate Casket
Go to http://hellofresh.com/casket18 and use code casket18 for 18 free meals plus free shipping!Go to http://masterclass.com/casket to gift one annual MasterClass membership and get another free!Welcome to the Corporate Casket, a semiweekly series where bad businesses go to die. We will discuss any and everything from bad charities, terrible CEOs, and businesses that have a lot to hide. Kids Wish Network is known as the worst charity in the US. They’re largely considered the ‘evil twin’ of Make a Wish. They spend less than 3 cents to the dollar on their program and most of their money goes towards solicitors. Dishonest and scummy, Kids Wish Network only deserves one thing: their title of the worst charity.Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/chvbqWriters/Researchers/Helpers:Ali Z-BThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 21, 2022 • 35min
The Downfall of Jerry Springer | Corporate Casket
Go to http://hellofresh.com/casket18 and use code casket18 for 18 free meals plus free shipping!Go to http://masterclass.com/casket to gift one annual MasterClass membership and get another free!Welcome to the Corporate Casket, a semiweekly series where bad businesses go to die. We will discuss any and everything from bad charities, terrible CEOs, and businesses that have a lot to hide. We all know Jerry Springer as the television show where anything goes: guests attack one another and the drama is ramped up to a thousand. But this isn’t what Jerry Springer always used to be. So how did controversial and thoughtful debates turn into screaming matches? Is this what Jerry Springer wanted, and is it as bad as it looks?Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/279jhWriters/Researchers/Helpers:Ali Z-BThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 2022 • 30min
Mushroom Coffee With a Side of Blood Thinners | Multi Level Mondays
Go to http://hellofresh.com/mlm18 and use code mlm18 for 18 free meals plus free shipping!Welcome to Multi Level Mondays, a weekly series all about multi level marketing, pyramid schemes, and ponzi schemes.Organo Gold is a coffee MLM made with mushrooms. While it sounds harmless (and gross) enough, these mushrooms do have hidden dangers—as does their business model. Not only are higher-ups chronically leaving mushroom coffee companies to start their own, but each one of them seems to make the same misleading claims.Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/brz1xWriters/Researchers/Helpers:Ali Z-BThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 18, 2022 • 36min
TV Ghost Hunting is a Scam | Dark Dives
Go to http://mintmobile.com/casper to get 3 months free when you buy any 3-month Mint Mobile plan.Ghost hunting may be fun, goofy, and entertaining. But when does it cross a line into misleading and dangerous? Between broken technology and using real-life people’s tragedies for profits, there are a lot of aspects to ghost hunting that simply aren’t discussed enough.Welcome to the Corporate Casket, a semiweekly series where bad businesses go to die. We will discuss any and everything from bad charities, terrible CEOs, and businesses that have a lot to hide. Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/ausgqWriters/Researchers/Helpers:Ali Z-BThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas RoweAdditional Credits:“The Devil Doctor” – The Witch’s Tale – January 8, 1934by Alonzo Deen Cole“The House on Lost Man’s Bluff” – From the The Hermit’s Cave – 1937 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 16, 2022 • 34min
How TurboTax's “Free” Services Got Them Sued | Corporate Casket
Go to http://hellofresh.com/casket18 and use code casket18 for 18 free meals plus free shipping!Go to http://joinhoney.com/casket to get PayPal Honey for free.Tax season in the United States of America is a time of year filled with dread, confusion, and an avalanche of stress. But, when products like Turbo Tax came along we all thought life was going to get a little easier. Now, the American people didn’t have to go to an expensive accountant to get their taxes done, they could do it themselves! For Free! There was a tiny issue though; these services weren’t actually what was promised and they certainly weren’t free. Oh yeah, and those very same companies that claimed they were coming to save the day were actually lobbying against the people they were claiming to help. Welcome to the Corporate Casket, a semiweekly series where bad businesses go to die. We will discuss any and everything from bad charities, terrible CEOs, and businesses that have a lot to hide. Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/d49dsWriters/Researchers/Helpers:JessThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 14, 2022 • 39min
How Corporations Made Pollution a YOU Problem | Corporate Casket
Go to http://joinhoney.com/casket to get PayPal Honey for free.Go to http://hellofresh.com/casket18 and use code casket18 for 18 free meals plus free shipping!Welcome to the Corporate Casket, a semiweekly series where bad businesses go to die. We will discuss any and everything from bad charities, terrible CEOs, and businesses that have a lot to hide. For nearly 50 years, the burden of the climate crisis has been placed on individuals. Recycle your plastic. Reduce your carbon footprint. We have heard it time and time again. But, in the last few years, people have begun to scratch their heads. Why, is climate change placed solely on individuals? With studies popping up showing the massive impact on the environment from companies and billionaires alike, it seems the burden should be primarily placed on them. But, it’s not. How did pollution become an individualized problem, rather than a collective one? Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/iilluminaughtiiSources: https://justpaste.it/a5mk6Writers/Researchers/Helpers:Jess HubbertThis episode was edited and mixed by:@GThomasCraig Album cover art created by:Betsy PrimesIntro Song Credits:Last to Fall- Will Van De CrommertOutro Song Credits:Sacred and Profane- Nicholas Rowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices