Outrage is Cheap Fuel
New goal ... have a podcast people on social media love as much as old-school Cracker Barrel.
Kidding. Nobody cared about old-school Cracker Barrel until this week. And they still don't care ... NOBODY was/is going to Cracker Barrel, which is why they changed things up.
I feel for brands/artists who get caught up in people's quest for online engagement and politicians' need for "outrage" to distract from the fact that they're not doing anything helpful for their constituents.
Or people like activist investor Sardar Biglari, who owns Steak 'n Shake and has a significant investment in Cracker Barrel. He wants to gain board control and is doing whatever he can to make that happen, including publicly criticizing the company, so he can jump in for less money.
If you’re building a podcast, here’s how to filter the noise and stay in the driver’s seat:
Define your non‑negotiables: Write down what your show stands for, who it serves, and what lines you won’t cross for clicks. If you don’t set this, outrage merchants will set it for you.
Separate signal from spike: Viral outrage gives you a spike; community gives you a spine. Optimize for repeat listeners, not “retweets.”
Own your home base: Social platforms are rented land. Prioritize channels you control—RSS feed, email list, SMS, community. This will make sure you’re not hostage to the algorithm of the week.
Use controversy, don’t be used by it: If a topic touches your lane, cover it with context and receipts. Add light, not heat. If it’s outside your mission, let it pass.
Build a sponsor strategy that fits your values: Pre‑qualify advertisers. Create a short “brand fit” doc and share it. You’ll lose a few deals and gain long‑term partners.
Measure what matters: Track completion rate, 30‑day listeners per episode, direct feedback from your core community, and conversion to owned channels. Vanity metrics are how you get baited into being someone else’s content.
Have a “storm protocol”: When the hot take industrial complex knocks, decide in advance: Do we ignore, clarify, or engage? Who speaks? What data do we share? Speed and steadiness beat panic.
Show your work, don’t explain your worth: Publish behind‑the‑scenes clips, research notes, and listener stories. People trust the process they can see.
If the backlash crowd shows up? So what … controversy is a tax on clarity. Pay it only when it buys you reach with your real audience.
Don’t buy into “go woke, go broke.” There’s always more to the story. Don’t outsource your vision to people who profit when you panic.
Make a podcast you’re proud to stand behind. The algorithm may waver, but your audience won’t.
