Episode 1: Anti Self-Help: The Revolution Begins!

Welcome to the very first episode of Human Not Hacked: The Anti Self-Help Podcast!

In this launch episode, co-hosts Amy Lombardo and Jillian Arena pull back the curtain on why they felt called to create a podcast that directly challenges the self-help industry—and what they hope it will inspire for you.

The global self-help market is now worth more than $45 billion, fueled by endless promises of quick fixes, hacks, and shiny new versions of yourself. But behind the glossy books, courses, and influencers lies a dangerous assumption: that you’re broken, and you need fixing. Amy and Jillian call BS on that message.

This episode sets the tone for everything that follows: honest, funny, sometimes raw, and always deeply human. Together, Amy and Jillian share:

• Why “anti self-help” doesn’t mean anti-growth. It means rejecting the idea that you need to hustle harder, think more positively, or optimize yourself into worthiness.

• The moment they knew this podcast needed to exist. Spoiler: it wasn’t a polished “branding” decision—it was a gut-level response to what they were seeing and hearing in their coaching work every day.

• The most harmful myths of the self-help industry. From toxic positivity to the obsession with optimization and enlightenment, they name the patterns that keep people stuck instead of free.

• Real life confessions of some of their cringiest "self-help" moments. Messy, imperfect, full of setbacks, but also full of resilience, laughter, and surprising breakthroughs.

• How coaching fits into the picture. Coaching at its best isn’t about telling people what to do—it’s about listening deeply, asking better questions, and helping others connect with their own brilliance.

• The role of community. Why we need each other to grow, and how the Brilliance Collective App is offering new ways to practice together.

This is not a podcast about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about remembering that being human isn’t a flaw to fix—it’s the foundation for growth.

If you’re ready to step off the hamster wheel of self-help and into something more authentic, Human Not Hacked is for you.

👉 Listen now and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. And if you love what you hear, leave a 5-star review. It helps others find us and join the conversation.

SHOW NOTES

1. Book Mentioned by Jillian: Yoga Bitch by Suzanne Morrison: Link

ABOUT THE HOSTS

• Amy Lombardo is the founder of the Brilliance Coaching Academy and author of the award-winning book Brilliance. With more than 25 years of experience as a coach, leadership mentor, and yoga teacher, Amy weaves together somatic practices, deep listening, and inclusive leadership tools to guide people into authentic transformation. Her work is rooted in the belief that each of us has an inner brilliance waiting to be expressed—and that when we nurture it, we change not only our own lives but the world around us.

  Jillian Arena is a holistic life coach, founder of Intuitive Balance Coaching, and an alumna of the Brilliance Coaching Academy. She brings together coaching, Reiki, yoga, and end-of-life doula work to help people move through transitions with compassion, humor, and presence. Jillian’s style is both grounding and expansive, empowering clients to embrace the full spectrum of being human.

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  Both Amy and Jillian are also guides inside the Brilliance Collective App—a living space for growth and connection. It’s where daily inspiration meets real practice, where you can return to yourself in small, meaningful ways, and where transformation becomes less about fixing and more about awakening. Think of it as your pocket-sized invitation to pause, breathe, and remember your brilliance—anytime, anywhere.

  MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE BRILLIANCE COLLECTIVE APP

  • ⁠Download on the App Store⁠

  • ⁠Download on Google Play