What is the appeal of Glennon Doyle

[Anonymous]

Poster above....ok, it's social work.

[Anonymous]

The critiques of Glennon are all valid I suppose since she has put herself out there. Maybe I am not highbrow enough to want more, but I do find her insights meaningful to my own life. Her podcast in particular is pretty good and I listen. It does seem like women in general like to mean girl on her, which I don’t quite get. Seems like when a woman is successful, other women are uncomfortable with that. If the comments about her were based in any kind of hurt or pain she caused others, it would be one thing, but she literally is trying to harness her celebrity to band people together to handle the tough stuff in life? Not doing anyone harm. There are so many horrible people out there actually causing people harm day to day, I just don’t see any reason to tear GD down.

** I am in no way affiliated with GD or anyone involved in her enterprise. Just a podcast consumer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're all like therapy horoscopes. Sounds lovely and those searching for inspiration or guidance will find some nugget to be all "OMG SO TRUE!!!" over. I find Doyle and Hollis in particular to be toxic in their self-absorption and feel sorry for their families/the people they leave in their wake. Brown has some clips that I like - the one about sympathy vs. empathy, for example - but agree that a lot of her other stuff doesn't hold up to real-world applications the way she seems to think it should.

Psychologist in my 50's here...I guess it really for me never felt like her work was particularly original or innovative. Shame was a huge topic in the 80's and 90's during the huge "inner child movement". Multiple self help writers covered shame, everyone from Harriet Lerner, to John Bradshaw. New age writers talked about shame too and still do..hell Freud discussed the difference between shame and guilt nearly 100 years ago and in psychology this area blossomed in the 80's as the topic of narcissism skyrocketed in the United States. Is it that her work is in a department like Education, so she does not cross over with the psychological literature as much as one would think? This baffles me....now she's talking shame in working. Meanwhile Industrial psychologists I woukd think study this in depth and have been for years. I get that most people reading her were not reading self help in the 80's...for me, I feel like many others have said what she is saying. But obviously, she has tapped a market and her work touches people which is an accomplishment in and of itself. I am curious...What academic dept was Brown in? Does anyone know?

I think Brown holds a lot of appeal for people a bit younger than you. I’m 37 and was introduced to her by a counselor. She packages things in a very accessible way. I don’t know if that’s also true of the people you are referencing because I was not conscious of their work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're all like therapy horoscopes. Sounds lovely and those searching for inspiration or guidance will find some nugget to be all "OMG SO TRUE!!!" over. I find Doyle and Hollis in particular to be toxic in their self-absorption and feel sorry for their families/the people they leave in their wake. Brown has some clips that I like - the one about sympathy vs. empathy, for example - but agree that a lot of her other stuff doesn't hold up to real-world applications the way she seems to think it should.

Psychologist in my 50's here...I guess it really for me never felt like her work was particularly original or innovative. Shame was a huge topic in the 80's and 90's during the huge "inner child movement". Multiple self help writers covered shame, everyone from Harriet Lerner, to John Bradshaw. New age writers talked about shame too and still do..hell Freud discussed the difference between shame and guilt nearly 100 years ago and in psychology this area blossomed in the 80's as the topic of narcissism skyrocketed in the United States. Is it that her work is in a department like Education, so she does not cross over with the psychological literature as much as one would think? This baffles me....now she's talking shame in working. Meanwhile Industrial psychologists I woukd think study this in depth and have been for years. I get that most people reading her were not reading self help in the 80's...for me, I feel like many others have said what she is saying. But obviously, she has tapped a market and her work touches people which is an accomplishment in and of itself. I am curious...What academic dept was Brown in? Does anyone know?

I think Brown holds a lot of appeal for people a bit younger than you. I’m 37 and was introduced to her by a counselor. She packages things in a very accessible way. I don’t know if that’s also true of the people you are referencing because I was not conscious of their work.

Yes that's a great point, she is accessible and a clear communicator and her work resonates.

[Anonymous]

I just finished untamed. You would not take me to be someone who would fan girl or love GD or her books.
But I'm 37 with a 3 year old, an underemployed lazy husband, and I've had doubts about so many things for years in this marriage.
I have suppressed my thoughts and bitten my tongue. I have stayed up doing things for my family while my husband lounges/sleeps in.
I am a person who hates live laugh love mugs and #mombosswarrior culture.
After reading untamed, I have found my voice. Or rather, rediscovered it. I have found the courage to start speaking up again about things that do not serve me. Dynamics that are unfair.
I am no longer afraid to point out and address the truth, even if it makes people uncomfortable.
This expression is corny, but after reading the book, I felt seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished untamed. You would not take me to be someone who would fan girl or love GD or her books.
But I'm 37 with a 3 year old, an underemployed lazy husband, and I've had doubts about so many things for years in this marriage.
I have suppressed my thoughts and bitten my tongue. I have stayed up doing things for my family while my husband lounges/sleeps in.
I am a person who hates live laugh love mugs and #mombosswarrior culture.
After reading untamed, I have found my voice. Or rather, rediscovered it. I have found the courage to start speaking up again about things that do not serve me. Dynamics that are unfair.
I am no longer afraid to point out and address the truth, even if it makes people uncomfortable.
This expression is corny, but after reading the book, I felt seen.

I'm really happy for you!

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of the criticism comes from people who either haven't had to deal with hard things in life, or who aren't self-aware enough to acknowledge that those things were hard and are impacting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never read her, but I've heard/read some excerpts from her writing and I thought they were well-done.

I cannot stand Elizabeth Gilbert. I actually read her book Eat, Pray, Love and found that she treated her ex so cruelly at the beginning of the book just because she didn't have the ovaries to call it quits. So hurt him, humiliated him, spoke badly about him in the book and then she wants us to celebrate that she found joy in life? Like you couldn't have done all of these things while married?

I generally like Brene Brown, although I feel like she's been forced to extend her space and presence and it doesn't work anymore. But overall, especially when she first "came out" I read some of her stuff and was really touched by her analysis.

here's some tea for you, DCUM. I actually knew Elizabeth Gilbert's first husband at the time of their divorce. He was visibly devastated. He is a super nice guy. So I was mortified when I saw her book come out, could not stand to even touch it because of feeling so badly for him. Then one day years later I ran into him ... and he was doing fabulously! Married a accomplished woman and has a couple of kids, I think. He had the last laugh in just being a better person. The funny thing was, when I ran into him, I was at a DC cafe and I had JUST seen this chick across from me reading Eat Pray Love and run throught that entire thought process again in my head.

I actually think that the one thing Gilbert did well in that book is to not blame her ex or make him look bad. She said she was desperate for a no-fault divorce because she didn't see any fault, but she had to come up with shit because New York didn't have a no-fault divorce option at the time and having to find fault for the divorce papers made her physically ill. I interpreted her words as her taking full accountability for the divorce, but maybe others read it and think she was actually being unfair to her husband, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to find mommy and inspirational bloggers to be a guilty pleasure - like Glennon Doyle, Brenee Brown, etc. But now I just can't really get anything out of it because it's so clear they are messed up personally.

I never got the enormous appeal of brenee brown, probably because she reminds me of many other ph.d.'s in the psychology field and personally she always struck me as thin skinned, defensive and insecure. She seems to have softened but star quality and the enormous national stage she commands? Baffled. I think personally she probably struggles with it too...I have known other clinicians and faculty/researchers who are so wise, warm and charismatic. Life is funny, these things don't always square.

I can't with Brene Brown either. Ugh.

A few points: Brene Brown is a social worker, not a psychologist. She also has a Ph.D. and a legitimate faculty appointment at an actual university. Finding her style grating is a matter of personal preference, but it's not the same as someone like Glennon Doyle, who has no robust credentials in anything while putting forth the illusion of expertise. That may be part of her charm, in the way that some people find Sarah Palin or Kim Kardashian charming: they're complete BS artists. It's one thing to find people like that entertaining, but thinking they provide actual expert advice in things that matter is troubling. Hard pass.

But whether their advice is actually "expert" or not, if someone finds it helpful, what does it matter? What's the actual harm?

You don't see an issue with people following the advice of someone with no legitimate credentials on a topic? Plenty of things can "seem" helpful that actually aren't. Our country has a weird fixation with ignoring actual experts and thinking they know best, to no one's benefit.

I think it's weird to gatekeep what's helpful and what isn't based on academic credentials.

Also note that Brene Brown loves Glennon Doyle, so there's that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to find mommy and inspirational bloggers to be a guilty pleasure - like Glennon Doyle, Brenee Brown, etc. But now I just can't really get anything out of it because it's so clear they are messed up personally.

I never got the enormous appeal of brenee brown, probably because she reminds me of many other ph.d.'s in the psychology field and personally she always struck me as thin skinned, defensive and insecure. She seems to have softened but star quality and the enormous national stage she commands? Baffled. I think personally she probably struggles with it too...I have known other clinicians and faculty/researchers who are so wise, warm and charismatic. Life is funny, these things don't always square.

I can't with Brene Brown either. Ugh.

A few points: Brene Brown is a social worker, not a psychologist. She also has a Ph.D. and a legitimate faculty appointment at an actual university. Finding her style grating is a matter of personal preference, but it's not the same as someone like Glennon Doyle, who has no robust credentials in anything while putting forth the illusion of expertise. That may be part of her charm, in the way that some people find Sarah Palin or Kim Kardashian charming: they're complete BS artists. It's one thing to find people like that entertaining, but thinking they provide actual expert advice in things that matter is troubling. Hard pass.

But whether their advice is actually "expert" or not, if someone finds it helpful, what does it matter? What's the actual harm?

You don't see an issue with people following the advice of someone with no legitimate credentials on a topic? Plenty of things can "seem" helpful that actually aren't. Our country has a weird fixation with ignoring actual experts and thinking they know best, to no one's benefit.

I think it's weird to gatekeep what's helpful and what isn't based on academic credentials.

Also note that Brene Brown loves Glennon Doyle, so there's that.

The two podcast episode sparkling and has Bernet on a really good. I encourage you guys to check it out.

[Anonymous]

^siri was drunk. The two podcast episodes were Glennon has Brené on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^siri was drunk. The two podcast episodes were Glennon has Brené on

Ah thank you. I will look at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished untamed. You would not take me to be someone who would fan girl or love GD or her books.
But I'm 37 with a 3 year old, an underemployed lazy husband, and I've had doubts about so many things for years in this marriage.
I have suppressed my thoughts and bitten my tongue. I have stayed up doing things for my family while my husband lounges/sleeps in.
I am a person who hates live laugh love mugs and #mombosswarrior culture.
After reading untamed, I have found my voice. Or rather, rediscovered it. I have found the courage to start speaking up again about things that do not serve me. Dynamics that are unfair.
I am no longer afraid to point out and address the truth, even if it makes people uncomfortable.
This expression is corny, but after reading the book, I felt seen.

I'm really happy for you!

Thanks! Recent example from just this AM. My DH tried to scapegoat me for something. Details not important. But bottom line is that it was easier for him to blame me/pretend I was the reason He wasn't doing something. I called him out on it. Not in a rude or cruel way, but just stated matter of factly. You have the time ability and opportunity to do xyz action. You choose to allocate your time in other ways. I am not the reason xyz isn't getting done. You are the reason. I can cheer you on, but the individual action is up to you.

In past times, I would have stayed quiet and let him vent. Whatever.
Now, I speak up for myself. I say the truth. Even if it makes myself or him uncomfortable. I am breaking old patterns and ways of thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished untamed. You would not take me to be someone who would fan girl or love GD or her books.
But I'm 37 with a 3 year old, an underemployed lazy husband, and I've had doubts about so many things for years in this marriage.
I have suppressed my thoughts and bitten my tongue. I have stayed up doing things for my family while my husband lounges/sleeps in.
I am a person who hates live laugh love mugs and #mombosswarrior culture.
After reading untamed, I have found my voice. Or rather, rediscovered it. I have found the courage to start speaking up again about things that do not serve me. Dynamics that are unfair.
I am no longer afraid to point out and address the truth, even if it makes people uncomfortable.
This expression is corny, but after reading the book, I felt seen.

I'm really happy for you!

Thanks! Recent example from just this AM. My DH tried to scapegoat me for something. Details not important. But bottom line is that it was easier for him to blame me/pretend I was the reason He wasn't doing something. I called him out on it. Not in a rude or cruel way, but just stated matter of factly. You have the time ability and opportunity to do xyz action. You choose to allocate your time in other ways. I am not the reason xyz isn't getting done. You are the reason. I can cheer you on, but the individual action is up to you.

In past times, I would have stayed quiet and let him vent. Whatever.
Now, I speak up for myself. I say the truth. Even if it makes myself or him uncomfortable. I am breaking old patterns and ways of thinking.

That's awesome! And I think it's really easy for somebody who has never been trained to avoid making others uncomfortable, or who has never been made to believe that it's better to repeatedly "let things slide" for the sake of easy feelings, to realize that this is a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to find mommy and inspirational bloggers to be a guilty pleasure - like Glennon Doyle, Brenee Brown, etc. But now I just can't really get anything out of it because it's so clear they are messed up personally.

I never got the enormous appeal of brenee brown, probably because she reminds me of many other ph.d.'s in the psychology field and personally she always struck me as thin skinned, defensive and insecure. She seems to have softened but star quality and the enormous national stage she commands? Baffled. I think personally she probably struggles with it too...I have known other clinicians and faculty/researchers who are so wise, warm and charismatic. Life is funny, these things don't always square.

I can't with Brene Brown either. Ugh.

A few points: Brene Brown is a social worker, not a psychologist. She also has a Ph.D. and a legitimate faculty appointment at an actual university. Finding her style grating is a matter of personal preference, but it's not the same as someone like Glennon Doyle, who has no robust credentials in anything while putting forth the illusion of expertise. That may be part of her charm, in the way that some people find Sarah Palin or Kim Kardashian charming: they're complete BS artists. It's one thing to find people like that entertaining, but thinking they provide actual expert advice in things that matter is troubling. Hard pass.

But whether their advice is actually "expert" or not, if someone finds it helpful, what does it matter? What's the actual harm?

You don't see an issue with people following the advice of someone with no legitimate credentials on a topic? Plenty of things can "seem" helpful that actually aren't. Our country has a weird fixation with ignoring actual experts and thinking they know best, to no one's benefit.

I think it's weird to gatekeep what's helpful and what isn't based on academic credentials.

Also note that Brene Brown loves Glennon Doyle, so there's that.

Isn't Glennon's shtick pretty much about listening to your inner voice, or something along those lines? I'm all for credentials when it comes to health or investment advice, but that?