Episode 1: The EdCon

Educational consultants, or EdCons, are a first step in the pipeline into the Troubled Teen Industry. Meet Nancy, Emma’s 57-year-old alter-ego, and Sharon, the mother of a child currently in a wilderness program, to learn how consultants use parents’ desperation to funnel kids into the TTI.

Find Gooned at goonedpodcast.com and on TikTok @goonedpodcast. To see the parent handbooks and other documents referenced in this episode, along with exclusive content and early access to episodes, head to patreon.com/goonedpodcast. 

Credits

Gooned is researched, reported, and edited by Emma Lehman. Original music for the show was created by Olivia Springberg. Victoria Shifflett mastered the show. Episode artwork was created by Sam Doe. Sarah Lukowski and Avery Erskine copyedited and consulted on the show. Special thanks to Martin Gottesfeld and Nora Ashleigh Barrie, whose reporting contributed to researching this episode.  

Sources and Further Reading

Jump and Don’t Look Back  

Sex Offender, Teen Suicides and $10K Fine Plague Utah Autism Program  

Forty-nine States Slowly Realize Utah Is Not Safe Place for Children  

Teen's death helps close "Troubled Teen" Center Diamond Ranch Academy   

Victims of the Troubled Teen Industry in the United States  

Residential Programs: Selected Cases of Death, Abuse, and Deceptive Marketing  

Facility Deaths  

Transcripts available at goonedpodcast.com

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.