EP 1249 - The Snake-Oil Salesman in Safety

In today’s episode, Jay dives into one of the most persistent figures in the safety world: the modern-day snake-oil salesman. You’ve met him—the slick pitch, the laminated model, the “proprietary framework” that promises certainty, culture change in 12 days, and transformation in three easy payments.Jay breaks down why these characters keep showing up, why organizations keep letting them in, and how the hunger for shortcuts creates the perfect market for miracle cures disguised as methodologies.From old traveling-salesman folklore to the 2025 realities of safety programs sold like infomercial gadgets, this episode pulls back the curtain on the systems, mindsets, and vulnerabilities that allow snake-oil thinking to thrive.Most importantly, Jay lays out what real practitioners actually do: listen, observe, stay, and help people discover—not purchase—solutions.A sharp, necessary look at the difference between selling answers and doing the work.