iilluminaughtii
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.
151
Your Dead Loved Ones Are Being Sold To The US M...
When you hear the words ‘donating your body to science’, maybe you picture a bunch of people in lab coats around a cadaver, studying a brain and how the human body works. But the reality may be far more gruesome.
33 min
152
How Bangs Profits Went Flat | Corporate Casket
Bang energy was promoted as the healthiest energy drink of all time and for a short while, everyone believed the hype. But, as lawsuits ontop of lawsuits started pouring in, chipping away at the company’s various health claims the company found itself crashing. Hard.
32 min
153
How The “No Child Left Behind” Act Failed on Ev...
For many, No Child Left Behind has become the epitome of a misnomer. While it was supposed to promote equity and improve educational opportunities in the United States, it seems to have done anything but.
31 min
154
The Dirty Business of Black Oxygen Organics (Th...
BOO! No, it’s not a ghost, it’s a miracle dirt company that claims to cure all illnesses. But, since the discovery that their “dirt” contained wildly dangerous ingredients and shockingly didn’t cure anything, it’s safe to say that BOO is scarier than any ghost you’ll ever hear about.
33 min
155
Stop Romanticizing Serial Killers. | Dark Dives
Romanticizing serial killers goes beyond disrespect; it’s dangerous, too.
27 min
156
The Horrifying Abuses of the Provo Canyon Board...
Provo Canyon School has been a horror house for the children who went there for decades but it took a celebrity speaking out for anyone to take notice. Now, the true atrocities of the supposed “teen treatment” center are coming to light, and it's worse than we could have ever imagined.
32 min
157
Its time for Judge Judy’s Day in Court | Corpor...
Judge Judy has become a legendary figure on daytime television. She’s seen as the queen of common sense, but does she really deserve that title when, behind the scenes, Judy herself has been unusually cruel and hypocritical?
31 min
158
The "Angel" Who Brought Many to Death Door For ...
Angel’s Landing was a cult surrounded by accidental deaths. Seemingly accidental, anyway. A young girl had been forced to become an accomplice to murder and insurance fraud kept the cult living in the lap of luxury for years.
30 min
159
How Jordan Peterson Became a Pseudo-Intellectua...
He’s the hero to Incels, the pipeline to the far-right, and—--a professor of Psychology? It’s Jordan Peterson, and there’s almost nothing that he’s afraid to attack—except actual problems.
35 min
160
The Disaster that Could Have Been: Kid Nation
Today we take a dive into the controversial CBS reality show Kid Nation where 40 kids are tasked with running a small town on their own without any adult assistance. How did things go? Let’s find out.
24 min
161
The Televangelist Who Sold "Miracle" Spring Wat...
Infamous Peter Popoff was thought to be long gone after his scams were revealed in the late 1980s. But, he has somehow made a comeback, and now he has a new stick: selling “miracle water” that will spontaneously heal you from disease, save you from debt, and of course, put money in his pocket.
26 min
162
The Bizarre Cult Who Mummified Their "God"
When you hear “Love Has Won”, I imagine you picture happy people going about their lives, pushing for love, acceptance of kindness. But in reality, the Love Has Won cult grew into a hotbed for wild conspiracy theories, constant abuse, and a mummified leader. What can I say, can’t judge a cult by its name.
27 min
163
Craigslist: Anything (including children) for s...
Craigslist is the old newspaper column of the internet; anything and everything is available, all of the time.
26 min
164
The Dark Business of Dark Tourism | Corporate C...
Haunted tourism, as I understand it, is more ‘ghost hunting’ vibes. Dark tourism is more places of dark historical significance, like concentration camps versus haunted houses, in a way. As there’s plenty of overlap, the terms are often used interchangeably.
27 min
165
Pink-Washing Breast Cancer One Scam at a Time |...
‘Thinking Pink’ and supporting breast cancer awareness can be a fantastic thing, but it can also be a ripe mindset for those with ill intentions to prey upon.
26 min
166
The Horrifying Story of the Manson Family's Vic...
The Manson Family. Charles Manson himself was seen as the epitome of evil, the angel of death, and the undying support from his family drew the world in. But, who were they really?
30 min
167
Money Rich, Morally Poor: Elon Musk | Corporate...
Elon Musk. He may be the wealthiest man in the world regarding money, but when it comes to morals, he might be one of the poorest. If you name it—he’s probably done it.
29 min
168
Your Tequila Is Probably Vodka (or just ethanol...
Pull up a chair and take a drink. Today we’re taking a shot of the tequila industry and with crime, cultural appropriation, and workers' rights all in the mix—we’re in for a wild ride.
24 min
169
Balloon Boy, The Hoax Within a Hoax | Multi Lev...
The Balloon Boy Hoax is the story of a child allegedly trapped in a homemade saucer. But why would anyone do this, and how did they get away with it?
27 min
170
The Wild (and Terrible) Legacy 4Loko Left Behin...
Is Four Loko, the “blackout in a can”, to blame for its consumer's deaths, or could they be avoided if people drank responsibly?
25 min
171
How Joe Rogan Became a Weaponized Fool | Corpor...
What happens when you give a world-famous comedian and UFC commentator a 100 million dollars and a microphone? Apparently, misinformation, questionable guests, and multiple transphobic comments. That’s right, it’s time for Joe Rogan.
28 min
172
Crisis Pregnancy Centers: A Wicked Twist on Big...
What do you get when you mix fake doctors, constant misinformation, and a business plan dedicated slowly to tricking people into walking in the doors? A Crisis Pregnancy Center.
32 min
173
The MLM Exploiting A Celerity Death For Profit ...
It’s Trim-Spa Baby! As Anna Nicole Smith took the diet industry by storm, Trim Spa was just hanging on to her coattails. But, everything wasn’t all as it seemed and it certainly wasn’t as it was advertised.
25 min
174
How a Doping Scandal Ruined Livestrong | Corpor...
After Lance Armstrong admitted to cheating for his titles, his foundation, Livestrong, was caught in the crosshairs.
27 min
175
Why does Wells Fargo Suck? Let’s Find out. | Co...
Banks are meant to simply be a reliable place to store our money, and maybe if we’re lucky garner a little bit of interest on it. But, for Wells Fargo, a bank is a place to scam their customers, racial discriminate, and find every possible way to find themselves in lawsuits. Somehow, they seemed to horribly misunderstand the assignment.
28 min