This episode digs into trolling as a marketing strategy, sharing personal stories—from dating red flags to a podcast network built on manufactured drama—and examines how quick attention can turn into long-term harm.
Host Michele argues that while trolling can bring money and views, authenticity and peace are more valuable, urging creators and listeners to choose lasting connection over short-lived clout.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 We all love a little drama online, but when does trolling stop being entertaining
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 and start crossing ethical lines?
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 Today we're going to talk about trolling as a marketing strategy.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:13 The money behind the madness and whether attention is really worth the cost.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:40 Music.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:28 Talk to me in the shadow On the street lights on the corner,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:38 City vibes got a story Feel the beat, don't ignore me Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:43 welcome back my good people welcome back to the talk to me michelle podcast
00:00:43 --> 00:00:47 you already know we keep it grown we keep it witty and sometimes we keep it
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 just petty enough for you guys to really clutch your pearls now before we dive
00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 into today's spicy topic let me put you on a new little therapy that does not come with a copay.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 And it's my new coloring book, Color Me Sassy Coloring Book.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 Yes, we have a sassy version.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 And listen, sometimes you don't need a glass of wine or to cut somebody out.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:13 Sometimes you just need some colored pencils, a full page of side eye illustrations.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 So it's therapy with attitude, okay?
00:01:16 --> 00:01:22 And for my folks who are done with the chaos and ready to actually reclaim some peace, I got you too.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:26 My new Finding My Way Back to God journal is out now.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 Think of it as your safe space to talk to God without anybody interrupting you,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 because sometimes people don't need to hear your prayers, especially if they're
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 the reason you're praying that hard.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 Don't forget you can catch me everywhere, Spotify, iHeart Podcast,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 YouTube, and if you're feeling generous and want to keep your girl caffeinated
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 and podcasting, hit that buy me a coffee link.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:50 So grab your tea, your wine, or your colored pencils because today's conversation
00:01:50 --> 00:01:54 is one for the books, but before we get into the main topic,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 let's get to this week's listener letter of the week hey
00:01:57 --> 00:02:01 michelle i love your show so here's my situation i
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 was dating this guy for about three months first he
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 was all about me good mornings little gifts dinners the
00:02:08 --> 00:02:12 whole love bombing starter pack but i noticed he was always posting these trollish
00:02:12 --> 00:02:17 memes about women online stuff like ladies you want a man with money but can't
00:02:17 --> 00:02:22 even cook a egg or modern women don't deserve real men he'd laugh it off when
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 i asked saying it was just content so it was not that deep.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 The second i asked him what we were doing like are
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 we moving forward or am i just his plus one for
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 instagram memes he ghosted me straight up
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 disappeared i feel dumb because i can't tell
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 if i was dating a man or i was just an unpaid co-starter in
00:02:40 --> 00:02:47 his content i'ma say this if a man tells you it's just content while disrespecting
00:02:47 --> 00:02:52 women online that is not content that's his character content just gave him
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 the wi-fi signal to expose it and this is what's scary trolling isn't just about
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 a social media strategy anymore. It has seeped into dating.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:04 Some of these men are out here treating relationships like they're auditioning for a TikTok skit.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 You thought you were in a romance, but really you were an unpaid pilot episode
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 called Clown Chronicles.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:15 Now don't beat yourself up because you peeped it early. You didn't waste a year.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 You didn't have to show up to some viral breakup live stream.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 You saw the foolishness for what it was and asked the right question
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 what are we doing and sis if
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 you got silence that was your answer take the
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 lesson not the l because at the end of the day if a man
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 decides that he needs to troll women to get attention online then
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 he's not ready for a grown woman relationship because he's too busy chasing
00:03:36 --> 00:03:41 likes instead of love and speaking of trolling for attention let's talk about
00:03:41 --> 00:03:45 how trolling has become the currency of the internet it's not just random memes
00:03:45 --> 00:03:51 anymore it's politicians brands even whole media networks banking on drama and beef.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:55 And trust me, I got a personal story about how trolling once showed up in my
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 own podcasting journey.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 So I'm gonna take y'all behind the curtains real quick, okay?
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 Back in the day when my sister and I were doing the Gossip Benefist podcast,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 we got approached by this network.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:11 Now, on paper, it sounded amazing. Bigger platform, more eyes,
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 more listeners, even some coins rolling in.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:18 I mean, who wouldn't at least take a look okay but the
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 reality check came in fast see the network
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 was built on trolling like that
00:04:24 --> 00:04:29 was their whole business model folks on the shows were out here beefing 24 7
00:04:29 --> 00:04:35 cursing each other out dragging people clowning to get clicks and when the cameras
00:04:35 --> 00:04:40 cut off they'd be like oh that's just my character character sir you don't need
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 a character you need a therapist.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 But people loved it.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:49 I mean, viewers tuned in daily, donating money, throwing support to watch this
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 mess unfold like it was their favorite soap opera.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 And I'll admit, at first, it looked like easy money.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 Who wouldn't want an audience eating out of your hands?
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 But I'm going to keep it all the way real. I regret the time we spent entertaining that.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:07 Because once we saw the behind the scenes, it wasn't entertaining. It was exhausting.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:12 It was folks living for attention, even if it meant living fake beefs or fake drama.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:17 And honestly, that's not who I am. I don't have the patience or the stomach for it.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:21 We even knew a guy personally who was part of this network. And listen,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 this was his dream. He loved trolling. He loved the spotlight.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 And now he was finally getting paid for it. So I can't really be mad at him
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 because he was doing exactly what he wanted.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:38 But for me, for us, that kind of energy will drain your spirit quicker than a bad relationship.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 And that's when it clicked for me.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:45 Trolling might pay some, but my piece pays me more because that what's the point
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 of making the money if your name is going to be built on nonsense?
00:05:49 --> 00:05:53 That short-lived hype. And then afterwards, you're going to have long-term regret.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 So yeah, lesson learned. I
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 left that little trolling circus right where it was and never looked back.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:02 But from then on, I promised myself I wouldn't waste another second pouring
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 into somebody else's chaos for clout.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:09 So here's where the debate starts. We have several different places where this
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 could be crossing the line.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:15 You know, is it playful trolling or is it malicious trolling?
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 And there's a big difference because clowning your bestie about their busted
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 wig or shoe game and setting up a whole fake page just to ruin somebody's reputation,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 One is shade, but the other is straight-up sinister.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 And teasing your bestie about their bad-tasting shoes, okay,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 that's cute. That's not trolling. That is therapy overdue.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:39 The next debate is attention versus authenticity. Trolls live for attention,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 and attention don't pay the bills forever.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 What lasts is authenticity.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 People who keep it real, they build actual staying power. Now,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:52 we also have a money angle to the troll game, and trolling can bring in money.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 Folks will donate, your views will go up, the ads will roll in.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:01 The quick engagement equals the quick cash, but it's short-term.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 Once the drama fizzles, so does the bag.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:08 There is a point where trolling is not funny anymore. It can cause real harm
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 and lack accountability.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:14 So when trolling becomes harassment, spreads lies, or turns into bullying,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 it's not entertainment. It's damage.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:21 It's people losing jobs, crying in silence, and questioning their own sanity.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:27 And also, this is the sad part. Brands and politicians, they've incorporated trolling.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:32 They get in on the trolling to look relatable, but it can backfire in a heartbeat.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:38 Then there's the storyteller's angle. Creators love to hide behind it's just a character excuse.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:42 But audiences don't always see the line between the performance and the reality.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 That blurred line can cause a real fallout.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:49 But the whole takeaway is that trolling might get you in someone's feed today,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 but that energy doesn't last. It doesn't feed your soul.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:58 Choose peace because the drama is exhausting and expensive. And I'm going to go on the record.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:04 I have a very low tolerance for trolling. Like my patience is shorter than a miniskirt in July.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:08 I just don't want to spend my life tangled up in somebody else's drama circus.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:12 Peace is the real currency. You can't deposit chaos in the bank.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:17 You can't cash out stress. But peace, it pays you in good health,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:21 good sleep, knowing you don't have to explain yourself every five minutes.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:26 And the difference between quick hits and long-term growth, trolling might get
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 you some viral moments, but that spotlight fades out fast.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 One week you're the hot topic, the next week, you know, what happened to who
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 so-and-so? They got a little documentary going on right now. Where you at?
00:08:37 --> 00:08:41 I'd rather grow slow and steady because that means when I shine,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:46 I stay shining. And if there's one thing I know, it's that authenticity will
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 outlast any manufactured mess every single time.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:54 You can fake beefs, characters, drama. You can't fake real connection.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:59 People know the difference. That's why I'd rather be myself with flaws and all
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 than rather than somebody's scripted troller day of the week.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:07 So if there's one thing I want you to take away from today, it's the attention is not worth the cost.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 You can be the star of the internet one minute and forgotten the next.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 The drama loud, but peace is priceless.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:20 Now, before I let you go, let me remind you, I have got two brand new babies out in the world.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:24 Yes, the Color Me Sassy coloring book, because sometimes therapy looks like
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 crayons inside eye. All right.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:30 And finding my way back to God Journal, where you're ready to trade chaos for
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 clarity and get your spirit right.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 That's going to do it for this episode. Good people, make sure you guys follow
00:09:35 --> 00:09:40 me on all social media. Talk to me, Michelle. So until next episode, I am out.
00:09:40 --> 00:10:01 Music.