In this episode, host Rachael Wonderlin sits down with returning guest Leah Peysha, a former stay-at-home mom turned corrections officer, to unpack one of the most predatory corners of the self-improvement industry: fitness MLMs.
From Instagram hashtags like #FitMom and #BoyMom to auto-pay "coaching" subscriptions that never end, Leah shares how she was targeted by a recruiter from a fitness conglomerate while navigating new motherhood, and why she got out after six months. They talk about how the "coaching the coaches" model still thrives online, why new moms are such an easy target, and how shame and self-comparison keep the cycle going.
Spoiler Alert: starving yourself on $40 shake powder isn't self-care… it's manipulation wrapped in "empowerment."
Key Takeaways:
– MLM "fitness coaching" programs prey on postpartum insecurity, promising quick results and flexible income.
– Behind the "boss babe" branding is a pyramid model, where most participants lose money while enriching those at the top.
– False claims like "get your body back fast" exploit vulnerable new moms under the guise of empowerment.
– If a product requires recruitment or constant check-ins from a "coach," it's not mentorship. It's control.
– The best protection against manipulation? Supportive friends who question what sounds too good to be true.
Memorable Quotes:
"Anything that promises you quick results or quick money is lying to you. Nothing good happens fast."
"It's so nasty that they target moms. You've just done the craziest thing your body can do, and someone's already trying to monetize your insecurity."
"I thought I was joining a fitness program, but I was really joining her income stream."
"If your coach's success depends on you buying more powder, she's not a mentor — she's your subscription service."
About the Guest:
Leah Peysha is a Cleveland-based former stay-at-home mom turned corrections officer. A returning guest from the inaugural season of "I Can't Hustle Any Harder Than This," she candidly shares her experience being recruited into a fitness MLM and how she got out, offering clear-eyed advice for new moms navigating "coach" culture online.
About Rachael:
Rachael Wonderlin is a dementia care consultant and gerontologist. She founded her consultancy, Dementia By Day, in 2014. She is the author of When Someone You Know is Living in a Dementia Care Community, Creative Engagement, and The Caregiver's Guide to Memory Care and Dementia Communities.
Find out more at www.rachaelwonderlin.com and Instagram.com/dementiabyday.
