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.

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.

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.