Wait, Is This a Cult? Landmark and the Line Between Help and Harm w/ Anne Peterson (LST #157)

Wait, Is This a Cult? Landmark and the Line Between Help and Harm w/ Anne Peterson (LST #157)

From Real Business Connections by Ben Albert

June 8, 2026 · 55 min

About this episode

Anne Peterson discusses the fine line between personal growth and manipulation, sharing insights from her experience with Landmark and high-control groups.

Learn Speak Teach Episode #157 with Anne Peterson. What happens when personal growth crosses the line into manipulation? In this episode, Anne Peterson shares her experience inside Landmark, why she now questions the harm caused by certain high-control groups, and how charisma, coercion, and intensity can get mistaken for transformation. Today, we are thrilled to have Anne Peterson on the show, author of Is This a Cult? and a coach, consultant, and advocate for safer, more ethical personal and professional development. In this episode, Anne breaks down Landmark, large group awareness trainings, informed consent, coercive control, and the difference between healthy growth and harmful leadership. She also shares what people should look for in ethical communities, how to spot red flags, and what to do if something feels off. This conversation is for anyone interested in self-help, leadership, personal development, community, psychology, or the line between support and exploitation. Timestamps: [00:00] Trailer [01:26] Landmark’s Bankruptcy and the Texas Two-Step [03:51] Is Landmark a Cult? [04:53] The Origins of EST, Landmark, and Large Group Awareness Trainings [11:48] “Wait, Is…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Albert

Guest: Anne Peterson

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Landmark

Books & works: Is This a Cult?

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