Don’t Say That

This episode of the Don’t Say That podcast is a bit of a fire alarm episode. Greg and I had to squeeze this one in because the FTC is not slowing down. In fact, it’s the most aggressive we’ve seen them in YEARS — especially with asset freezes. In this episode, Greg breaks down what’s going on behind the scenes… and why we’re seeing a major shift away from traditional CIDs and into full-blown finan...

Greg’s out this week, but I’ve got something special for you. Instead of tackling the latest FTC updates solo, I’m bringing you a powerful session, a compliance event we held. In this episode, you’ll hear directly from Greg as he breaks down three critical FTC regulations that impact your marketing: Sections 5, 13B, and 19.  These rules shape how marketers handle compliance, and understanding them...

All right, I’ve heard the rumors. Some people out there are convinced that I’m secretly working for the FTC—turning in friends, handing over insider info, and using Don’t Say That as a front. Let me be clear: That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Greg and I sat down in this episode to address these ridiculous claims head-on. I’m fired up, and I’m setting the record straight once and for all. W...

Wait…jail time? For marketers? Yeah, I had the same reaction when I first heard about it. But here’s the thing—it’s happening. In this solo episode, I break down a recent case where a salesperson (not even the founder!) is headed to prison. And if you think this is a one-off, think again. The FTC is cracking down, especially on “done-for-you” e-commerce offers. Here’s what I cover in this episode:...

Disclaimers—every marketer loves them. We throw them under testimonials, slap them on sales pages, and assume they’ll magically protect us from the FTC. But here’s the problem… They don’t work the way you think they do. In today’s episode, Greg and I break down one of the biggest myths in marketing—how disclaimers actually function, and why they won’t save you if your claims aren’t compliant.  We...

This episode is wild. Greg just helped take down a fraudulent Amazon "done-for-you" business that ripped off his dentist and others out of millions—and got the DOJ involved. What started as a simple refund request turned into a full-blown CRIMINAL case on behalf of former teachers, police officers and more who lost their life savings.  Greg walks us through how he built the case, got the SEC and D...

Big changes are happening at the FTC, and they could reshape how we navigate compliance.  With Lina Khan stepping down and Andrew Ferguson taking over, President Trump’s executive orders signal a shift in federal enforcement strategies.  Greg is flying solo today to break it all down, including what it means for us as marketers. Here’s what we discussed: Why the new FTC head could slow down rule c...

In the latest episode of the Don’t Say That podcast, Greg kicks off 2025 with a vital update for all businesses and marketers: the compliance trends that could make or break your year. This episode is packed with critical insights on recalibrating your practices to stay ahead of regulatory shifts.  We dive into what’s happening with the FTC, the state of business opportunity cases, and the evolvin...

Greg took the mic solo for this episode of the Don’t Say That podcast, and he’s diving into the top 5 compliance issues you need to watch for in 2025.  These aren’t just theoretical—they’re the real challenges he’s already seeing in the marketing world. Greg discusses common compliance traps like… Why earnings claims (both express and implied) are still the top compliance risk. The four critical r...

Happy New Year, everyone! 2025 is already off to a fast start, especially for marketers and businesses keeping an eye on the FTC.  In this episode of the Don’t Say That podcast, Greg and I break down everything you need to know about the latest developments and how they’re reshaping compliance. We dive deep into the new click-to-cancel rules that are shaking up subscription models—and that’s just...

It’s New Year’s Eve, and Greg and I are back with a rapid-fire episode of the Don’t Say That podcast!  The government is keeping us on our toes with some major compliance updates—and we’re here to break them down for you. First up, we’re diving into the latest twists with the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and BOI filings.  Under the new rules, businesses must file by January 13th or face hefty...

In this episode, Greg and I dive into one of the scariest parts of dealing with any regulator: financial disclosures.  If you’ve ever wondered, “What exactly do they want, and how do I protect myself?” this episode is a must-listen. When you’re in legal trouble, regulators demand a complete picture of your finances, which means listing out all assets and liabilities—and failing to disclose somethi...

In today’s episode of the Don’t Say That podcast. Greg dropped a bombshell about done-for-you businesses like Amazon FBA or dropshipping setups.  Turns out, the DOJ and SEC are cracking down hard, and it’s landing people in jail—not just the founders, but even the salespeople! We originally had a different topic planned, but this was too important not to dive into. If you’re selling these programs...

In this episode of the Don’t Say That podcast, Greg and I tackle the Business Opportunity Rule—a topic that could make or break your business if you're in the "make money online" or business education niche. Recent cases have made something crystal clear: if you're offering certain types of training or business setups, the FTC could FREEZE your assets and label you non-compliant.  Greg breaks it d...

In this episode of the Don’t Say That podcast, Greg and Anik break down a POWERFUL and often overlooked compliance tool: surveys. Surveys aren’t just a tool to improve your business—they’re a secret weapon for compliance.  Anik learned this the hard way during my own FTC investigation. Turns out, surveys could have saved me a lot of headaches.  In this episode, Greg and I break down why surveys ma...

If you’re offering financing for your high-ticket programs, this is an important episode.  The FTC just took down a company for shady financing practices—and their case could have serious implications for anyone offering or partnering with financing options. In this episode, Greg and I dive deep into a shocking case where a financing company used “credit stacking” to exploit clients—and why market...

In this episode, Anik comes at you straight from Webinar Con to reveal 10 costly compliance mistakes that many marketers make in their webinars. These mistakes are SHOCKINGLY common - some are even taught in many copywriting courses! The good news is that even without these practices, your webinars can still CONVERT! In this episode, Anik dives into mistakes like… A common mistake webinar marketer...

In this episode, Greg and I unpack a big new report from Congress on FTC Chair Lina Khan. This oversight report accuses Khan of crossing some serious lines—like letting politics influence the FTC’s work and compromising due process. Greg brings his deep knowledge to break down what’s in this report, how the FTC has shifted under Khan, and what might change with the new administration.  Whether or...

This might be the hardest lesson I’ve ever learned. The FTC hit me with fines mainly because our sales team kept asking one simple question.  And it's 4 words long… Here's the thing - most marketers don't realize this common sales tactic is actually considered an implied earnings claim by regulators. Even with a full-time paralegal and strict sales policies, we still got in trouble. In this episod...

If you use the phone, Zoom, or one-on-one sales strategies, the FTC could be watching you closely. And they just passed some major new rules that went into effect just a week ago that you need to know about. In this week’s episode of “Don’t Say That!”, I sat down with compliance attorney Greg Christiansen, who has over 20 years of experience, to break down: The specific new record-keeping requirem...

The FTC just dropped some MAJOR changes around subscription rules that impacts anyone selling recurring offers or memberships. In today’s episode, Greg and I break down what these new rules mean, how they’re impacting businesses, and what you need to do to stay compliant.  We even cover the tricky topic of “saving the sale” and the new requirements around that! Here’s what you’ll learn: What the n...

In today’s episode, Greg and I dive into a crucial topic many businesses overlook—document retention policies.  I know it doesn’t sound sexy, but this could save you from SERIOUS trouble. It’s all about knowing what data to keep, what to toss, and how to protect your customer information. Last week another big-name settlement dropped involving Marriott and a $56 million settlement. What went wrong...

In today’s episode, Greg and I discuss a tricky area for marketers: the fine line between editorial content and advertising.  Marketers use podcasts, blogs, social media posts, and other content marketing to build their brands and sell their products. Do the FTC’s rules still apply? Just because something looks like an editorial doesn’t mean you can break the rules. Even content that subtly helps...

In today’s episode, Greg and Anik discuss the FTC’s latest moves against companies making exaggerated claims about AI services.  This isn't just about AI, though. It’s about how marketers, in general, need to be super careful about the promises they make—whether it’s a tech tool, an e-commerce platform, or any other kind of business We discuss the growing pressure on marketers to back up their cla...

Imagine waking up one morning to find everything you own—cash, investments, even your home—completely locked down. This is a nightmare scenario experienced by many people targeted by the FTC and other regulators. In today’s episode, Greg and I dive into what happens when the government freezes your assets, what might cause them to do it, and what you can do to protect yourself. We discuss everythi...