Duped: The Dark Side of Online Business

Hosted by Michelle Mazur and Maggie Patterson

Business

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

If you've ever felt like you've been duped by a celebrity entrepreneur or coach, or watched with wonderment as people do downright dirty things to grow their business online, this is the show for you. When it comes to starting and growing a business online, there's no denying the appeal of a flexible, freedom-filled life where you can make more money than you ever imagined. But behind the glossy images on Instagram and big promises, there's a dark side. In Duped, your hosts Dr. Michelle Mazur and Maggie Patterson do a deep dive into everything that's wrong with the online business world. From scammy life coaches to sleazy sales practices to cult and MLM style tactics we talk about all of it. You'll learn what to watch for as a consumer so you can protect yourself from falling prey to these tricks and tactics.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 202632 min

Celebrity Entrepreneurship: New Faces, Same Old Playbook

Celebrity entrepreneurship didn't disappear. It just got a rebrand. The flashy gurus may be gone, but the playbook is alive and well…now it's just wrapped up in personal brands, creator businesses, and AI offers. In this episode, we're revisiting celebrity entrepreneurship in 2026, exploring how it's evolved, why it still works, and what business owners need to understand to avoid getting caught up in the hype. Topics Covered: How celebrity entrepreneurship has evolved (but still follows the same playbook). The rise of personal brands, creator CEOs, and audience-first businesses. Why visibility, popularity, and credibility are not the same thing. How AI is creating new opportunities—and new celebrity entrepreneurs. What to watch for to avoid getting caught up in online business hype and expert culture. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

June 1, 202639 min

The Grift of Audience Growth: 2026 Edition

It's 2026, and people are still selling the fantasy that you can throw up a course, membership, or low-ticket offer and make easy money online. What do they leave out? If you don't already have an audience, none of it works — and building one now is harder than ever. Back in 2023, we called out the audience growth grift. Three years later, the lie is still the same, so in this episode, we're exploring how the system around it is just way worse in 2026. Topics discussed: Why "no audience, no problem" is still a lie. How AI and vibe-coded apps are supercharging online business grifts. Why growing an audience in 2026 is harder than ever. How burnout and economic anxiety fuel scammy marketing. Red flags to watch for before buying business programs. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

May 18, 202645 min

The Income Claim Cycle (And Why It's Worse Right Now)

Suddenly, everyone online is having their "biggest month ever." More money. Less effort. Faster results. And somehow, this flood of income claims is happening at the exact moment the economy feels shakier than ever. So what's really going on? In this episode, we're unpacking why income claims are everywhere right now, how they shape what you believe is possible, and what to watch for in an AI-fueled online market. Topics discussed: Why income claims explode during times of economic uncertainty. How income claims are designed to sell certainty, speed, and escape. The connection between self-help culture, personal responsibility, and online business marketing. How AI is amplifying income claims, authority, and perceived social proof Red flags to watch for when evaluating big revenue and "overnight success" stories. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

May 4, 202645 min

Why We Trust Influencers Over Experts & What It Costs

Why are we taking advice from people we've never actually vetted? They feel familiar. They feel trustworthy. And that's exactly the problem! Inspired by Michelle's TEDx talk, this episode dives into why confident influencers often win over actual experts and what that's costing you. We're breaking down the psychology behind it, and how to stop getting duped. Topics discussed: Why we trust influencers over experts and what's really driving it. How familiarity and parasocial relationships create false credibility. The expertise paradox: why real experts struggle to explain (and sell) what they do. What happens when confidence replaces competence—and who pays for it. How to actually vet who you trust before making big decisions. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

April 20, 202645 min

Amanda Frances and The Worship of Wealth

What happens when a money manifestation coach tries to sell her beliefs to an audience that doesn't already buy in? When Amanda Frances stepped onto The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the response wasn't admiration…it was scrutiny. And suddenly, the usual messaging didn't hold up the same way. In this episode, we're breaking down the worship of wealth, how it's packaged as empowerment, and why it unravels the moment someone asks a real question. Topics discussed in this episode: How Amanda Frances's message holds up outside the online business bubble on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Core beliefs: wealth as identity, not strategy. Why her approach breaks under scrutiny. Wealth as both proof and marketing. Red flags in money mindset offers. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

January 5, 202650 min

2025 Year in Review

2025 didn't end the grifting….it exposed it. This was the year accountability was rebranded as "mean girl marketing," trust became a trendy talking point instead of a lived practice, and expertise became whatever played best with the algorithm. Today, we're unpacking what actually went down, what it signals for 2026, and why there's still something worth believing in beneath the noise. Topics discussed in this episode: Why 2025 wasn't the end of the grift. How "trust," AI, and urgency became cover for bad behavior. Why critique was reframed as harm, and who that protects? What we think actually gets worse in 2026 (and why). Where real hope still lives: discernment, reputation, and asking better questions. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

December 15, 202536 min

You Can't Sit With Us: Inside Mean Girl Marketing

There's a new kind of online business drama in town, and it's not girlbossing. It's "Mean Girl Marketing." Is "mean girl marketing" actually a problem? Where did it come from? And why is it suddenly everywhere? That's what we're exploring in this episode. Topics discussed in this episode: What Mean Girl Marketing really is (and what it isn't). How exclusivity, shame, and status get weaponized in sales. Why these tactics work and how they manipulate belonging. The biggest red flags to spot before you get pulled in. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

December 1, 202538 min

Everyone's an AI Expert Now (Except…They're Not)

AI "experts" are multiplying faster than the tech itself — but most of them are just three prompts ahead of you. And when AI touches your data, your clients, and your entire business infrastructure, bad advice isn't just annoying…it's risky. In this episode, we break down what's real, what's hype, and how to spot who actually knows their stuff. Topics discussed in this episode: The rise of fake "AI experts" who are only three prompts ahead. The real risks bad AI advice creates for your business. How the hype cycle pushes people into tools they don't need. Red flags that your AI guru isn't legit. The questions that reveal who actually knows their shit. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

November 17, 202538 min

The Grift of Program Promises

Everywhere you look in online business, someone's promising the moon — a 6-figure month, a personality overhaul, maybe even a cellular glow-up. But here's the real question: are these programs actually delivering or just selling hype? In this episode, we break down how program promises went from helpful clarity to manipulative fantasy — and how to spot the difference before you buy (or sell). Topics discussed in this episode: How online programs went from "helpful promises" to hype machines. The psychology that makes big claims so tempting. Red flags that signal a promise you shouldn't trust. How to spot real value vs. dream-selling. What ethical, grounded promises look like. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

November 3, 202548 min

Everybody's Lying (and We're All Tired of It)

Scroll your feed, watch the news, open your inbox — and you'll see why we're in the middle of a Trust Recession. Everyone's performing honesty, but few are actually telling the truth. In this episode, we're breaking down what you need to know about the current Trust Recession. Topics discussed in this episode: What is the Trust Recession (and why is everyone talking about it)? Why "authenticity" is the new sales tactic. How celebrity entrepreneurs weaponize trust. How do you identify the red flags before clicking "buy now"? For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.