Introducing Our New Podcast: Untamed Social – Unfiltered Insights Into the Digital World

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast, Untamed Social! This podcast is your go-to source for unfiltered views on the digital world's hottest topics as our team of experts dive deep into the trends, tactics, and controversies shaping social media today.

In our debut episode, we’re tackling a topic that's sparking heated debates across every platform: rage bait. For those unfamiliar, rage bait refers to content specifically designed to provoke anger and drive engagement—often by pushing boundaries and stirring up controversy. But when does this strategy go too far, and how can it impact an influencer's reputation?

Join me and my team of digital specialists—Laney Goff (EVP and TikTok expert), Ella Gunnell (Creative Manager and Instagram guru), Jess Boozel (Account manager and “Gen Z girl”), and Anna Dobbert (Graphic Designer and Video Editor)—as we unpack this complex issue. From influencers like Matt & Abby, who are navigating the fine line between engaging content and outright provocation to viral sensations like Jelly Bean Sweets, who has us all questioning why anyone would chug Raising Cane’s sauce, our team shares candid opinions, strategic insights, and more than a few laughs.

A Sneak Peek Into Our Discussion

• I question the appeal of some influencers, like the mukbanger who guzzles sauce by the gallon. Is there a secret sauce to their success or are we all just witnessing a slow-motion trainwreck?

• Laney explores how influencers like Christi Fritz stir up drama by going barefoot in public. She also remarks on why this bizarre strategy might actually be working—at least until the public health department gets involved.

• Ella emphasizes the importance of staying true to your brand while engaging in controversial topics, noting how brands can engage in controversy without crossing into cringe territory. It’s a lesson some influencers could learn a lot from.

• Jess digs into the curious case of Kayla Malec. Malec gained fame for her chaotic makeup tutorials and then somehow managed to keep her followers hooked—even as she continued to defy every contouring rule in the book.

• Anna brings a designer’s perspective, highlighting how visual content can amplify—or completely undermine—an influencer’s message. She explains why certain rage bait videos, like those from influencers staging elaborate pranks, might be more damaging to their brand than they realize.

But we don’t just stop at discussing the issues—we’re here to rate the bait! In a fun segment, the team rates various examples of rage bait from 1 to 10, breaking down what works, what doesn't, and what crosses the line. And yes, we might have had a little trouble with basic math while doing it. (Turns out, figuring out if an influencer's strategy is a 1 or a 10 on the “cringe” scale is harder than we thought!)

What Our Listeners Are Saying

We’re delighted to share that the feedback from our listeners has been overwhelmingly positive! Here’s what a few of them had to say:

“You guys did a fabulous job! It’s really entertaining and informative. You guys have a great chemistry!” — Diana E.

“Fun episode. Great job, you all have great interactions with each other.” — Chad C.

We couldn’t be happier with the warm reception and can’t wait to bring you more insightful and fun episodes.

Whether you're a seasoned social media strategist or just curious about the latest digital trends, Untamed Social has something for everyone.

We’ll be releasing new episodes every two weeks, so be sure to check us out on all the major podcast outlets as well as our YouTube channel. We’re just getting started, and trust us—you won’t want to miss what’s coming next!

Listen to our Rage Bait episode now!

*This article originally appeared on the Strella Social Media blog.