Rage bait is everywhere right now. From the Charlie Kirk shooting to what shows up in your feed, it’s designed to pull you in, piss you off, and keep you scrolling. I’ve felt it myself—angry, hooked, and questioning who I can even trust. In this episode, I’m naming what rage bait is, why it works so well, and how to protect yourself when everything feels engineered to set you off.

I share my own experiences, the cultural shifts that make rage bait thrive, and why seeing violence unfold in real time changes how we react. We’ll talk about the algorithms, the rhetoric, and the emotional traps that leave us exhausted and divided. Most importantly, I’ll walk you through the tools I use to stay grounded so we don’t let rage bait steal our humanity.

What You’ll Learn: 

• What rage bait really is and why it’s so effective
• How algorithms prioritize outrage over nuance
• Why the Charlie Kirk shooting became a flashpoint
• How echo chambers and identity fuel radicalization
• The impact of Trump’s rhetoric on division and fear
• Why anger often masks grief and sadness
• Practical steps to pause, fact-check, and resist manipulation
• Grounding practices that help regulate and protect your energy

Rage bait won’t disappear, but we don’t have to get trapped in it. Slowing down, questioning sources, and grounding ourselves changes the game. What would happen if more of us chose not to take the bait? 

Links & Resources Mentioned

• Episode 124: David McRaney on How Minds Change
• Episode 108: Social identity & belonging with Dr. Jay Van Bavel
• Breathwork channel “Breathe with Sandy” on YouTube
• Fleur de Lyz Meditation on YouTube 

Timestamps

• 00:41 – What rage bait is and why it’s everywhere
• 03:03 – The mechanics behind rage bait
• 05:26 – Addiction, algorithms, and humility
• 07:47 – Charlie Kirk shooting and national fallout
• 15:05 – Why outrage is addictive
• 24:24 – Live violence and radicalization
• 31:19 – Anger, Christianity, and rhetoric
• 38:21 – Manipulation, misinformation, and gaslighting
• 42:06 – Tools to resist rage bait
• 47:14 – Grounding and emotional regulation

Tips / Takeaways

• Rage bait is engineered to keep you hooked.
• Watching violence unfold live speeds up radicalization.
• Intellectual humility helps resist echo chambers.
• Leaders who fan division are not leading.
• Pause, check sources, and question motives before reacting.
• Grounding practices help you manage grief and rage.

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