Trashfire The BetterHelp, CreatorHealth, InfluenceLogic Rabbit Hole - Candid 2.0, brought to you by Joel Robbinson

[vhstape]

I will continue doing videos on this as more people are sending me info on twitter and email, but I have decided to try and only cover stuff I am being sent, the rest of the info is already more than covered by you guys. So, I hope there is no problem linking people to this thread for more information?

Some good info in this thread I haven't seen covered anywhere else yet, so you have a lot to work with if you have the time to look at the past 22 pages which would be nice to see more people see if it fits within the videos you are making.

Half tempted to make a video on this fiasco.

DeFranco's response was so unsatisfactory (he doesn't seem to mention all the cash he must be raking in from other creators - and what about the privacy concerns?), I can't help but feel he's already made his mind up (his little investigation will be little more than a PR exercise to demonstrate what a fair-minded and independent journalist he is).

There's also, as serious as this is, a comical ridiculousness to all this - Betterhelp honestly expected people in dire mental straights to have the initiative to carry out thorough background checks on their own, supposed, counsellor? ---- "Forget your dead kids for a second whilst you cross examine Mystic Meg's psychology credentials"

Go for it, more info and videos out there the better

 

[heathercho]

That fuckhead is loaded, over $100 million net worth but can't stop shilling his Patreon where he gets 50k monthly.

$100m?
Where'd you get that number from?

 

[the_watcher]

Most net worth estimates list DeFranco at 6M which would be more along his ballpark, considering his company size, the companies he has sold etc. - For reference - Kendrick Lamar has a net worth of 45M and Drake has a net worth of 100M - so claiming that DeFranco has the same net worth as Drake would be ludicrous, considering how Drake markets himself via music and brand deals.

 

[Opinions Still Hurt]

I had to revise this reply multiple times. Apparently they are different, but they both use the comma. After comparing Compile, Inc (Matas) and the other Compile, Inc on the CA sec state site (also should have double checked the Foreign Registration, Matas is from Delaware and the other from Nevada). The difference is WILL DO BUSINESS AS. I should have doubled check that and will revise my post. I still think this is about data and the other Compile, Inc is shady (and in healthcare data too).

Oh I agree with that. Whatever they're doing, its fucked. Preying on kids and suicidal people....makes me fuckin sick.

Her profile on betterhelp.com has some information: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/marie-miguel/

View attachment 559402

Seems she's from the Philippines - St. Paul College is a Catholic girls' school, St. Benilde a Catholic college (which acording to Wikipedia dropped the "University" from its name in 2004, maybe she graduated pior to that).

She does not claim any background in mental health (most of her profiles describe her occupation as an "avid internet researcher") but has had her content "published on mental health authorities[!] like TheMighty, Yahoo, GoodMenProject, ADAA, CCPA-ACCP, Silverts, AMHCA, etc...".

The information in that profile might be enough to find her linkedin if she has one, St. Benilde also has lists of gradutes and dean's lists discoverable through google if anyone wants to dig through that (not that it would be much use without knowing her maiden name).

The key with that profile is the first sentence. If she's been writing for a decade, why can't I find ANYTHING on her pre-2016? I think that's a made up story. I think she's fictional.

If she had a twitter, facebook, linkedin...anything....but nothing exists on this woman pre 2016 that I can find.

 

[Nobunaga]

The key with that profile is the first sentence. If she's been writing for a decade, why can't I find ANYTHING on her pre-2016? I think that's a made up story. I think she's fictional.

If she had a twitter, facebook, linkedin...anything....but nothing exists on this woman pre 2016 that I can find.

Are we reaching phils catfish levels of deep?

 

[DudeIsWade]

id suggest looking into BetterHelp's parent company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teladoc as they do the same practice as BetterHelp but with MEDICAL CARE!

 

[Cromagnon]

id suggest looking into BetterHelp's parent company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teladoc as they do the same practice as BetterHelp but with MEDICAL CARE!

Which means they're likely covered by HIPAA for data protection/privacy concerns- whilst Betterhelp, despite it's frequent lauding of the 'HIPAA certified' status, likely isn't, right?

 

[Opinions Still Hurt]

What would the legal ramifications be if he were found guilty of fraud for this?

https://www.shouselaw.com/fraud.html
Info can be found there. I'm no lawyer, but if anyone decided to take DeFranco to court on this, could turn out dirty...
What he did fits the criteria for fraud to the letter. To what degree, that's debatable.

Edit: In reviewing his video from yesterday, he says he explained the back end deal from the beginning, so Ill work on trying to corroborate that claim.

Edit 2: The fact Boogie admitted to not knowing about the DeFranco link makes me think other creators were not made aware.

Edit 3: in listening a few more times to the video, its unclear what he means when he says "and all that explained from the get-go..."...The get-go of the explanation, or the get-go of the deal? Foggy at best. Maybe i'll just ask him.

 

[vhstape]

Teladoc
http://fotune.com/2014/09/24/obamacare-telemedicine-doctors-booming/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...-study-says/6diNv6DNvlF7k6Vxsz9EnN/story.html

https://globenewswire.com/news-rele...al-Virtual-Care-Provider-Advance-Medical.html

website of Advance Medical
https://www.advance-medical.net
Terms of Use
https://archive.is/7WHPp

reviews of teladoc
https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/teladoc-c404932.html
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Teladoc-Health/reviews

lawsuits
https://seekingalpha.com/article/42...ggressive-behavior-maybe-bigger-storm-brewing
https://www.mobihealthnews.com/cont...les-suit-against-teladoc-overcharges-tortious
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/te...inancial-telehealth-contract-value-based-care
https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/...ehealth-firm-claims-dallas-company-stole.html

 

[judgehate]

This antitrust lawsuit from teladoc is fucking awful
https://www.businesswire.com/news/h...ladoc-moves-block-Medical-Board-rule-restrict
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20161018/NEWS/161019900
TL;DR version teladoc say texas healthcare providers regulations on telehealth are a monopoly and are stopping thier global telehealthcare (monopoly)

oh and apple want in on the telemedicine market too http://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2018/01/26/apple-health-care-data

 

[Opinions Still Hurt]

Half tempted to make a video on this fiasco.

DeFranco's response was so unsatisfactory (he doesn't seem to mention all the cash he must be raking in from other creators - and what about the privacy concerns?), I can't help but feel he's already made his mind up (his little investigation will be little more than a PR exercise to demonstrate what a fair-minded and independent journalist he is).

There's also, as serious as this is, a comical ridiculousness to all this - Betterhelp honestly expected people in dire mental straights to have the initiative to carry out thorough background checks on their own, supposed, counsellor? ---- "Forget your dead kids for a second whilst you cross examine Mystic Meg's psychology credentials"

Pay close attention to whatever "journalist" he brings with him to the meeting. I think he intentionally didn't mention who the journalist is in that video so they had time to scrub any trace links between himself, Better Help, and the journo. That's what i'll be watching.

 

[anon2083]

$100m?
Where'd you get that number from?

Philip D and several others sold their company Maker Studios to Disney a few years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Digital_Network

 

[Tanner Glass]

Philip D and several others sold their company Maker Studios to Disney a few years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Digital_Network

Looks like he was one of 8 owners when the company sold for an undisclosed amount (500 million with contact stuff in place that could have made it 950million - 1.1 billion). He likely was a larger owner as well; it's unlikely they had an exact and equal 8 way split of the company.

100 million might be on the conservative side because that doesn't account for his own personal ad revenue from YouTube or any merch sales over that time period, or his current $600,000/year from Patreon alone.

The network in question also was involved with some pretty huge youtubers (Shane Dawson and Pewdiepie come to mind) so there's his revenue stream from that as well.

Him being worth $120 million really makes him look more like a piece of shit when you consider he's shilling Betterhelp for $200 a signup because he really doesn't need the money that badly and it isn't like he couldn't court better advertisers.

 

[Stalovna]

Apparently, Doodletones, who is the tranny that got into a slap fight with Metokur over the diaper furs and has a thread here (https://kiwifarms.net/threads/doodletones-susanne-hembree-sean-hembree.24380/), was turned down twice for Better Help.
http://archive.is/mn5Z4
http://archive.is/zvug6

 

[Splendid]

I'm really fucking happy Phillip linked that page because at the very very bottom of those thousands and thousands of extremely qualified people who I'm sure their full time staff of 10 or so manage to deal with adequately, there's this notice.

View attachment 558201

The TeleMental Health Institute is shilled by BetterHelp, which is owned by the parent company TelaDoc, directly promoted by InfluenceLogic.

When I saw this I didn't think it had anything to do with TeleDoc because it looks like just the shittiest fucking scam site in the world. It also lists BetterHelp as an affiliate on their affiliate page.

View attachment 558205View attachment 558239

You be accredited for just $400 on this shit looking site.

One of the other sites CreatorHealth.org promotes is this other company, not that they want to admit it because they have deleted their partner list, (fake!) media mention list, and partner company list since yesterday.

View attachment 558208View attachment 558211

Got the receipts tho nigga.
Special mention of them deleting this, which I cannot corroborate being real.

View attachment 558212

The other two sites they advertise are Counseling Near Me and Free Online Therapy.

View attachment 558214 View attachment 558215

Interesting, so this Free Online Thera -- wait what the fuck

View attachment 558218

PSYCHICS? I thought this was for therapy!

View attachment 558219

This links to this other site called Keen which is owned by Ingenio, LLC.

View attachment 558221View attachment 558223 View attachment 558224View attachment 558225

Ingenio, LLC appears to be a lot like TelaDoc in that they sell self-help shit.

I should mention at this point that every single one of these websites is using GoDaddy as a registrar and has paid-for WHOIS protection. None of these websites are at all transparent about who operates them and from where.

This entire rat nest just seems like a circlejerk of inadequate service providers using some slick marketing group to penetrate a very large and valuable audience of depressed kids to rob them of their fucking college grocery money.

Award yourself an achievement rating for this post.

 

[CupcakeBitch]

Another little mystery is a woman named Marie Miguel.

Mystery blogger with no background beyond promoting Better Help on dozens of mental health sites.

While looking into this, most of her articles are related to mental health, but then there are a few articles attached to her name that a little weird (compared to a vast majority of her usual work)

Spoiler

"Are ghosts Real" article | Archive

"Nintendo Therapy" Article | Archive

On a related note, up until her association with BetterHelp, this has been her "about me" section for every article she has written for various websites.

It's a little weird that they keep using the same picture for her or a slightly modified version of the same black and white, edited photo. (There could be earlier pictures of her, but this is the one attached to articles from as early as 2017 to this year)

Edit: And this "person" is getting a lot more strange.

Spoiler: begging to write 'unique content' in the comment section of an article

It's really weird how she keeps saying how much she wants to contribute "unique content" and the wording on it is really weird for someone who claims to write topics related to mental health.
And the link that is attached to her name is digital marketing website that's been around since 2003, called "noreazon"
And that reply is just a copy/paste of a comment she made two minutes before

Looks like she forgot to add the creepy profile pic and link to the marketing site.

The article she's begging on | archive of article

 

[DrJonesHat]

I would interested in what institutions awarded these therapists their credentials. I'd be willing to lay money on the possibility more than one is from a diploma mill and aren't actually licensed by the state.

 

[wes]

I've compiled a list of podcasts that have affiliate links with BetterHelp. I haven't listened to any of them, just archived the first link I could. This is in no way an exhaustive list and probably has multiple people already listed in the thread. I did this all on mobile, so if some links are fucked up, that's why.

The misc. spoiler contains information & links that I didn't want to put with the podcasts, but might be of interest.

Spoiler: Podcast Shills

Ask Steve Austin
- /AskSteveAustin
- &utm_campaign=Steve+Austin
- Example (archive)

Awesome at Your Job
- /Awesome
- &utm_campaign=Adopter+Media
- Example (Failed to archive)

Bitch Sesh
- /HOUSEWIVES
- &utm_campaign=housewives
- Example (archive)

Buffering the Vampire Slayer
- /BUFFY
- &utm_campaign=BufferingtheVampireSlayer
- Example (archive)

Crybabies
- /CRYBABIES
- &utm_campaign=crybabies
- Example (archive)

Complexities Podcast
- /complex
- &utm_campaign=Complexities+Podcast
- Example (Failed to archive)

Deeply Curious
- /jensen
- &utm_campaign=Cody+Jensen
- Example (archive)

Ear Biscuits
- /earbiscuit / /Ear
- redirects to front page
- Example (archive)

Fake the Nation
- /FAKE
- &utm_campaign=fake
- Example (archive)

FEMINASTY
- /FEMINASTY
- &utm_campaign=feminasty
- Example (Failed to archive)

Get Happy With J
- /gethappywithj
- &utm_campaign=Get+Happy+With+J
- Example (Failed to archive)

Interviews with Exes
- /IWE
- &utm_campaign=Interviews+With+Exes
- Example (archive)

The Lavendaire Lifestyle
- lavendaire.com/betterhelp
- &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC
- Example (archive)

Majority Report
- /Majority
- &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC
- Example (archive)

Mental Illness Happy Hour / Paul R. Gilmartin
- /mental
- &utm_campaign=Paul+R+Gilmartin
- On Twitter (archive)
- On his website (archive)
- So many episodes are shills for BetterHelp, so here's just one example (archive)

The Mom Hour
- /mom
- &utm_campaign=Adopter+Media
- Example (archive)

Off Book: The Improvised Musical
- /OFFBOOK
- &utm_campaign=offbook
- Example (archive)

The Radical Transformation Project
- betterhelp.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=239
- &utm_campaign=Radical+Transformation+Project
- Example (archive)

The O.L.D. Podcast / The OLD Podcast
- /optimal
- &utm_campaign=Adopter+Media
- Example (archive)

Once Upon A Crime
- /ONCE
- &utm_campaign=Adopter+Media
- Example (archive)

Really Famous Podcast
- /reallyfamous
- &utm_campaign=Really+Famous
- Example (archive)

Self-Helpless
- /selfhelpless
- &utm_campaign=Algebra+Media+Inc
- Example (archive)

shondaland
- referral link
- Example (archive)

This Past Weekend
- /theo
- &utm_campaign=Algebra+Media+Inc.
- Example (archive)

Throwing Shade
- /SHADE
- &utm_campaign=shade
- Example (archive)

Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories Podcast
- /unsolved
- &utm_campaign=unsolved
- Example (archive)

VGT Podcast
- uses tryonlinetherapy.com/nipnops
- &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC
- Example (archive)

We're All Mad Here
- /AllMadHere
- &utm_campaign=We’re+All+Mad+Here+Podcast
- Example (archive)

Wisecrack Podcast
- /wisecrackpod
- &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC
- Example (archive)

WokeNFree
- uses tryonlinetherapy.com/faith_plusfashion
- &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC
- Example (archive)

Woody Woodrow / WoodyWoodrow
- uses betterhelp.go2cloud.org/SH5v
- &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC
- Example (archive)

Workationing
- /workationing
- utm_campaign=Workationing
- example (archive)

Spoiler: Removed Podcasts

These are no longer functional, but I was able to archive them via Google Cache.


CULTS Podcast / Cults with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson (DOWN AS OF OCTOBER 5)
- /CULTS (referral link still active as of Oct. 5)
- &utm_campaign=Cults
- Cached copy, Text only cached copy with visible referral link
- current podcast location

Munchie Run by BatGirl (DOWN AS OF OCTOBER 5)
- Referral link
- &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC
- Cached Copy

Spoiler: misc.

Mr. Creepypasta
- https://facebook.com/MrCreepyPasta/posts/2193748163970251
- http://archive.is/8FfAk
- uses "https://www.influencerlink.org/SH1L"

AMSA / American Medical Student Association
- Partner page with BetterHelp (Failed to archive)
BetterHelp is "AMSA’s Online Counseling & Therapy Partner" It contains no special referral link.

Dr. Drew's Podcast (archive)

The Mighty has a few articles about BetterHelp, but this one about black suicide is the only one to contain a referral link. (archive)

I found a referral link for /Akana that's tied to YouTube, but I didn't investigate further. It contains &utm_campaign=Influence+Logic+LLC in its URL.

Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor Haesue Jo is a Community Support Manager at BetterHelp. She guests on this (archive) episode of GROUP podcast. This (archive) is her profile on the BetterHelp website.

2016 QZ article discussing possible privacy concerns with websites like BetterHelp and Talkspace (archive)

Online Counselling Directory (archive) is also a partner of BetterHelp.

Websites Possibly/Probably Connected
All of these have similar WHOIS profiles and use very similar language.
- hellopriizm.com (archive)
- healthycounselingcenter.com (archive) (Telehealth is in the inline Google ad)
- counselingondemand.com (Failed to archive)
- etherapypro.com* (archive)

*eTherapyPro is interesting. It has apps on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. The Google Play app has an address connected to it:
30 N GOULD ST STE R
Sheridan, Wyoming 82801-6362
However this address is for a mail forwarding service in Wyoming named (wait for it) Wyoming Mail Forwarding LLC.

 

[Gent]

I dont see why people should be forced into doing all this research on somebody when the site should be doing it for them. This isn't Tinder, it's a site where people should be able to find as much help as they can possibly get at an affordable price.

Ive had my own fair share of experiences with therapist, psychologist, and all the like. The work they do does not qualify for me to be paying more than 100 dollars a month to tell me things I only want to hear. Ive had a few wake ups but nothing has ever been because of a therapist and their advice.

BetterHelp shouldnt have people go out of their way to verify people. They should instead be going ahead and setting up some expectations and what kind of people they'll allow on their site. I saw PhillyD's response and it doesn't really do any justice in maling the situation better.

Not only did he neglect to mention other complaints like the extra billings, but the CEO saying that many companies use this strategy should not be an excuse for why you are too fucking lazy to write up your own application and set your own standards for what kind of therapist should be allowed on your site.

This whole thing is just about greed. The site, the youtubers, the therapist, the whole industry behind mental health and illness in general. It makes me fucking disgusted and sick to my stomach.

 

[Opinions Still Hurt]

While looking into this, most of her articles are related to mental health, but then there are a few articles attached to her name that a little weird (compared to a vast majority of her usual work)

Spoiler

View attachment 559770
"Are ghosts Real" article | Archive

View attachment 559771
"Nintendo Therapy" Article | Archive

On a related note, up until her association with BetterHelp, this has been her "about me" section for every article she has written for various websites.
View attachment 559776
It's a little weird that they keep using the same picture for her or a slightly modified version of the same black and white, edited photo. (There could be earlier pictures of her, but this is the one attached to articles from as early as 2017 to this year)

Edit: And this "person" is getting a lot more strange.

Spoiler: begging to write 'unique content' in the comment section of an article

View attachment 559794
It's really weird how she keeps saying how much she wants to contribute "unique content" and the wording on it is really weird for someone who claims to write topics related to mental health.
And the link that is attached to her name is digital marketing website that's been around since 2003, called "noreazon"
And that reply is just a copy/paste of a comment she made two minutes before
View attachment 559796
Looks like she forgot to add the creepy profile pic and link to the marketing site.

The article she's begging on | archive of article

Did you happen upon the other bloggers that exhibit the same behavior? I just reverse image searched that pic, and everything was there. I'm sure you did that already. Thanks for the deeper dive!

Edit: ill look and post what I find...im just drunk and lazy right now...(took out gay bullshit sentence excusing myself for being lazy)