Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"Be responsible for telling people the truth, not managing peoples' reactions to it." - Mel Robbins
In this video, I chat with Sage Justice who has played an instrumental role in documenting the story about the questions surrounding Mel Robbins' claims about how she "discovered" The Let Them Theory.
We talk about how and why we had our attention unexpectedly caught by this situation. We also look at some of the common themes in the pushback we have seen in comments from those defending Mel, and hopefully answer them in a satisfactory way.
*32:43 The phrase ‘firm back with a soft front’ (our community definition of gentleness) is rooted in Buddhist idea "strong back, soft front" (also in Brene Brown's work). Thanks to those of you who have pointed to these origins.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:36 How and why did Sage start writing about this Let Them situation?
07:55 How did I become aware of this situation?
19:03 Mel's response to the scrutiny
25:45 Responding to push back from commenters
30:28 "This Idea Isn’t New, Cassie doesn't have a right to claim she came up with it"
34:54 "Who cares? Mel Helps People! Who are YOU helping? Stop trying to tear others down"
39:50 "Mel Changed it, evolving it with research"
43:45 "Mel has spent 10 years shining a light on other people’s work, so the allegation that she would steal someone else’s work is ridiculous. She acknowledges people (check out her bibliography which includes over 50 experts), how dare you say she doesn't."
50:47 "Why Target Mel? Others do things like this, too!"
1:02:49 "I've never heard of Cassie Phillips or a Let Them movement"
1:04:50 "Isn't Mel innocent until proven guilty? We should take her at her word
1:13:02 "Simultaneous Invention - two people can have the same idea at the same time"
1:17:24 "You’re just a hater. You're jealous. You're working for Cassie Phillips."
Links
the-haven.co/let-them-theory
Part 1 | Mel Robbins conceals the truth of her let them "discovery" - youtube.com/watch?v=qQ_xip3l1io
Part 2 | Mel Robbins responds to "Let Them" allegations - youtube.com/watch?v=ryQBcUuN8pk
Sage's Articles and Book
Sage Words Freedom Book One: Create a life you don’t need a vacation from - amazon.com/Sage-Words-Freedom-Book-One/dp/B09V121NV6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Q5Z80EQQZ4E6&keywords=sage%20words%20freedom&qid=1648364481&sprefix=sage%20words%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1
Mel Robbins and Plagiarism - sagejustice.substack.com/p/mel-robbins-and-plagiarism
Can Mel Robbins Trademark Your Words? - sagejustice.substack.com/p/can-mel-robbins-trademark-your-words
Mel Robbins, Cassie Phillips & The Courage to do the Right Thing - sagejustice.substack.com/p/mel-robbins-cassie-phillips-and-the
Beware - sagejustice.substack.com/p/beware
Public Pressure & Mel Robbins sagejustice.substack.com/p/public-pressure-and-mel-robbins
Usurped, Poem - sagejustice.substack.com/p/usurped-poem
Other Links
Cassie Phillips - cassie-phillips.com
Uncovering The Higher Truth of Jay Shetty (John McDermott) - theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2024/feb/29/jay-shetty-self-help-empire
"Be responsible for telling people the truth, not managing peoples' reactions to it." - Mel Robbins
In this video, I chat with Sage Justice who has played an instrumental role in documenting the story about the questions surrounding Mel Robbins' claims about how she "discovered" The Let Them Theory.
We talk about how and why we had our attention unexpectedly caught by this situation. We also look at some of the common themes in the pushback we have seen in comments from those defending Mel, and hopefully answer them in a satisfactory way.
*32:43 The phrase ‘firm back with a soft front’ (our community definition of gentleness) is rooted in Buddhist idea "strong back, soft front" (also in Brene Brown's work). Thanks to those of you who have pointed to these origins.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:36 How and why did Sage start writing about this Let Them situation?
07:55 How did I become aware of this situation?
19:03 Mel's response to the scrutiny
25:45 Responding to push back from commenters
30:28 "This Idea Isn’t New, Cassie doesn't have a right to claim she came up with it"
34:54 "Who cares? Mel Helps People! Who are YOU helping? Stop trying to tear others down"
39:50 "Mel Changed it, evolving it with research"
43:45 "Mel has spent 10 years shining a light on other people’s work, so the allegation that she would steal someone else’s work is ridiculous. She acknowledges people (check out her bibliography which includes over 50 experts), how dare you say she doesn't."
50:47 "Why Target Mel? Others do things like this, too!"
1:02:49 "I've never heard of Cassie Phillips or a Let Them movement"
1:04:50 "Isn't Mel innocent until proven guilty? We should take her at her word
1:13:02 "Simultaneous Invention - two people can have the same idea at the same time"
1:17:24 "You’re just a hater. You're jealous. You're working for Cassie Phillips."
Links
the-haven.co/let-them-theory
Part 1 | Mel Robbins conceals the truth of her let them "discovery" - youtube.com/watch?v=qQ_xip3l1io
Part 2 | Mel Robbins responds to "Let Them" allegations - youtube.com/watch?v=ryQBcUuN8pk
Sage's Articles and Book
Sage Words Freedom Book One: Create a life you don’t need a vacation from - amazon.com/Sage-Words-Freedom-Book-One/dp/B09V121NV6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Q5Z80EQQZ4E6&keywords=sage%20words%20freedom&qid=1648364481&sprefix=sage%20words%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1
Mel Robbins and Plagiarism - sagejustice.substack.com/p/mel-robbins-and-plagiarism
Can Mel Robbins Trademark Your Words? - sagejustice.substack.com/p/can-mel-robbins-trademark-your-words
Mel Robbins, Cassie Phillips & The Courage to do the Right Thing - sagejustice.substack.com/p/mel-robbins-cassie-phillips-and-the
Beware - sagejustice.substack.com/p/beware
Public Pressure & Mel Robbins sagejustice.substack.com/p/public-pressure-and-mel-robbins
Usurped, Poem - sagejustice.substack.com/p/usurped-poem
Other Links
Cassie Phillips - cassie-phillips.com
Uncovering The Higher Truth of Jay Shetty (John McDermott) - theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2024/feb/29/jay-shetty-self-help-empire
