Podcast Summary: "Help Wanted" Episode - How to Change a Negative Narrative

Podcast Information:

• Title: Help Wanted
• Host/Author: Money News Network
• Description: Do you have a work problem? We have solutions. On Help Wanted, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief Jason Pfeiffer and money expert Nicole Lapin help you stay ahead of the curve and make money doing what you love — no matter if you’re trying to impress your boss, or if you ARE the boss.
• Episode: How to Change a Negative Narrative
• Release Date: April 22, 2025

Introduction

In the April 22, 2025 episode of Help Wanted, hosts Jason Pfeiffer and Nicole Lapin delve into the profound impact of viral online incidents on personal and professional lives. The episode, titled "How to Change a Negative Narrative," explores the story of a woman who faced severe online backlash after a viral video captured her refusing to relinquish her airplane seat to a toddler. The discussion navigates the complexities of social media judgment, the gendered expectations placed on women, and strategies for overcoming negative narratives.

The Viral Incident: A Case Study

The episode begins with Nicole Lapin introducing a viral incident where a 29-year-old Brazilian bank employee was filmed refusing to give up her airplane seat to a toddler. The situation escalated when the toddler's mother berated her, leading to a viral video that resulted in severe online shaming. As Nicole summarizes:

[05:08] Nicole Lapin: "She was a Brazilian bank employee, 29 years old. And she came out and said that the viral video led to severe online shaming. It adversely affected her mental health, her career. She said, professionally, my life has changed a lot. So much so that today I am no longer in the field I worked in before I was a banker."

Jason Pfeiffer adds context to the emotional turmoil faced by the woman:

[05:46] Jason Pfeiffer: "I was upset at the mom who is yelling at that woman. That is completely unreasonable. And I would never, ever expect that somebody would change seats for my child."

Social Media and the Rush to Judgment

The hosts discuss how social media often leads to hasty judgments based on incomplete information. Jason shares a related personal anecdote about a video he posted witnessing a fire, which also attracted unwarranted criticism:

[21:56] Jason Pfeiffer: "One guy did not, and he said something to the effect of those firefighters are disorganized and, and, like, not up to the task, and this is why things burn or something. Something crazy like that."

Nicole Lapin emphasizes the dangers of making assumptions without full context:

[15:09] Jason Pfeiffer: "If you see this little clip of this woman sitting there, and we say, well, that's all I need to know. This woman was being disrespectful to this child and doesn't care about kids and moms."

Gender Expectations and Societal Norms

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the societal pressures disproportionately placed on women to be accommodating, especially in the context of parenting. Nicole highlights a troubling pattern where women who assert boundaries are swiftly demonized:

[13:24] Nicole Lapin: "We've created this new social script where a woman is expected particularly to be endlessly accommodating, especially when it comes to kids."

Jason concurs, acknowledging the gendered aspect of online harassment:

[23:04] Jason Pfeiffer: "The problem here is we assume things, and there's a gender thing here."

Privacy, Professional Repercussions, and Legal Implications

The episode explores the long-term impacts of such viral incidents on professional lives. Nicole points out the challenges faced by the woman in the viral video regarding her employment and public image:

[26:21] Nicole Lapin: "From an employer standpoint, if Jennifer applies for a job and I search Jennifer, I would probably dig beneath because I know media things. How warped it can be."

Jason offers insights into managing professional repercussions, suggesting transparency and leveraging the situation as a learning experience:

[33:17] Nicole Lapin: "Jennifer Castro, do you want to come run crisis comms for us?"

[33:26] Jason Pfeiffer: "If I were her, I would look at the situation. I have a lot of Instagram followers now, and I got a lot of people who like me. There's a way to make money off of that."

Strategies for Overcoming Negative Narratives

To navigate and mitigate the effects of negative online narratives, the hosts propose practical strategies. Jason introduces a rule aimed at reducing personal harm while sharing incidents online:

[28:32] Jason Pfeiffer: "The rule is this. If you see some crazy thing happening and you want to share it and you want to film it, then just do it in a way in which nobody's face is shown."

Nicole expands on the importance of maintaining personal boundaries and resisting societal pressures to conform:

[23:43] Nicole Lapin: "We don't know if the Internet would be so, so upset. And then also, like, the mom shame thing, like, the, the woman on woman stuff is a little bit weird."

Personal Growth and Learning from Negative Experiences

Jason shares a transformative perspective on handling negative experiences, emphasizing personal growth and the potential to convert adversity into opportunity:

[33:17] Nicole Lapin: "Jennifer Castro, do you want to come run crisis comms for us? I think that this is a great new role for her."

[33:26] Jason Pfeiffer: "I think there's a way to make money off of that. You try to take the good with the bad."

Conclusion

In wrapping up the episode, Pfeiffer and Lapin reiterate the importance of withholding judgment, understanding the full context of situations before forming opinions, and establishing personal boundaries against societal pressures. They encourage listeners to thoughtfully navigate social media interactions and to seek constructive ways to change negative narratives surrounding unforeseen incidents.

[22:40] Nicole Lapin: "Now I think there's a way to make money off of that. You try to take the good with the bad."

[28:53] Jason Pfeiffer: "Decide what you are fighting for and what."

The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the power and peril of social media, the necessity of empathy, and the value of personal resilience in the face of public scrutiny.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Pfeiffer [05:46]: "I would never, ever expect that somebody would change seats for my child."
• Nicole Lapin [13:24]: "We've created this new social script where a woman is expected particularly to be endlessly accommodating, especially when it comes to kids."
• Jason Pfeiffer [21:56]: "If you see some crazy thing happening and you want to share it and you want to film it, then just do it in a way in which nobody's face is shown."

Additional Resources: For those seeking personalized advice or to share their own work problems, the hosts invite listeners to email their questions to helpwanted@moneynewsnetwork.com for a chance to be featured on the show.

Stay connected with Help Wanted on Instagram at @moneyNews and TikTok @oneyNewsNetwork for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights.