The Grift of Audience Growth: 2026 Edition

It's 2026, and people are still selling the fantasy that you can throw up a course, membership, or low-ticket offer and make easy money online.  What do they leave out? If you don't already have an audience, none of it works — and building one now is harder than ever. Back in 2023, we called out the audience growth grift. Three years later, the lie is still the same, so in this episode, we're exploring how the system around it is just way worse in 2026.  Topics discussed: Why "no audience, no problem" is still a lie. How AI and vibe-coded apps are supercharging online business grifts. Why growing an audience in 2026 is harder than ever. How burnout and economic anxiety fuel scammy marketing. Red flags to watch for before buying business programs. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.