Podcast Summary: “Will Instagram’s algorithm update hurt your business (or cure your brain rot?)”

Podcast: Shiny New Clients!
Host: Jenna Harding (Warriner)
Date: October 20, 2025
Episode Length: ~20 minutes

Overview

In this episode, Jenna Harding (Warriner) explores Instagram’s new algorithm update, which allows users more control over their feed by selecting topics of interest. She analyzes both the business and personal impacts of this change, weaving in reflections on social media’s influence on our mental state and how intentional content curation benefits both creators and users. Jenna also touches on the prevalence of “rage bait” content, shares strategies for engagement, and emphasizes positive content consumption for lasting business success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Anecdotes & Theme Setting

[00:00 - 03:00]

• Jenna opens from her Airbnb in Nice, France, sharing an overheard conversation about health and the phrase:

  “If you eat shit, you die young.”

• She relates this to content consumption, positioning it as the theme for the episode:
  • What you consume online impacts your mindset and, by extension, your business.

2. Rage Bait and Content Psychology

[03:00 - 09:00]

• Discusses a viral, AI-generated “rage bait” video involving a fictional Everest dog tragedy, as described by science communicator Hank Green:

  “Someone made a Sora generated video of someone climbing Mount Everest with their dog and then their dog dying and burying it on Everest. Now that did not happen. This was a rage bait video.” [03:45]

• Outlines how content that sparks anger is intentionally created to go viral (“if it elicits an emotional reaction... it gets a ton of views”).
• Notes the risk of social media feeds being overrun with emotionally manipulative content due to platforms’ algorithms.
• Key insight:

  “You are the content you consume.” [06:30, Jenna quoting Hank Green]

  • Comparing the old saying ‘you are what you eat’ to digital consumption:

    “Eat shit, die young. If you’re watching this angry content, you’re gonna get more angry, then you’re gonna be bad at running your business… and have all of this negative energy inside you.” [07:30]

3. Instagram’s Algorithm Update Explained

[09:00 - 13:00]

• New feature: Users can now nominate specific topics of interest, granting more explicit control over their Feeds.
• This moves some power from the algorithm (which infers your interests) to the user (who can set them directly).
  • Metaphor:

    “Think of it like every morning they're feeding you breakfast… there's going to be one more ingredient... one more new vegetable.” [10:25]

• Jenna’s bottom line:

  “Should you worry? Absolutely not. The best content always wins.” [11:30]

• For businesses: If your content is high quality and engaging, algorithm changes should not be feared.

4. What This Means for Your Business

[13:00 - 16:00]

• The most important factor for reach is still engagement.
• Jenna emphasizes her “engagement attractors” strategy to deliberately craft posts that prompt interaction.

  “When you work with me in Magic Marketing Machine, I'll tell you about my engagement attractors strategy so that we can build your posts intentionally to get engagement instead of just hoping for it.” [12:45]

• Key takeaway:
  • The algorithm will further benefit creators who develop content specifically wanted by their ideal audience.
  • Users self-selecting for business or marketing topics increases the chances of relevant content being surfaced.

5. Community & Content Creation Support

[16:00 - 19:00]

• Jenna briefly promotes her weekly coworking and content creation membership (Magic Marketing Machine), now open to the public.
• This space provides structure, accountability, and community for business owners to post consistently and improve their content.
  • Process: Weekly prompts, live support, and peer encouragement.

  “It's become this really fun community to make hyperspeed, fast, fast, fast content, to be accountable to yourself, to show up and stay super consistent.” [17:40]

6. The Importance of Curation: “Block, Mute, Follow, Unfollow”

[19:00 - end]

• Jenna encourages intentional curation of your Instagram feed:

  “Please use the block button. Please use the mute button. Please follow and unfollow. You're allowed to follow whoever you want.” [19:40]

• Dismisses the myth that accounts you follow affect reach to your own ideal audience.
• Advice:
  • Curate your feed to delight and inspire you.
  • Unfollow or mute accounts that bring negativity or stress, even in your own industry.

  “You should be happy when you open Instagram. It should be a place that you want to hang out because then your content's going to be better and you're going to post more.” [20:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Content Consumption:

  “You are the content you consume.” — Jenna, quoting Hank Green [06:30]

• Food Analogy on Content and Platform Control:

  “Think of it like every morning they're feeding you breakfast… There's going to be one more ingredient… Still the same old frittata, but… influenced by this new addition.” [10:25]

• On Not Fearing Algorithm Change:

  “Should you worry? Absolutely not. The best content always wins.” [11:30]

• On Positive Curation:

  “You should be happy when you open Instagram. It should be a place that you want to hang out because then your content's going to be better and you're going to post more.” [20:05]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 03:00: Jenna’s France anecdote and the ‘you are what you eat’ analogy
• 03:00 – 09:00: “Rage bait,” viral psychology, and AI-generated emotional manipulation
• 09:00 – 13:00: Instagram algorithm update explained—what’s changing and why
• 13:00 – 16:00: Strategy for businesses: engagement attractors & why content quality still reigns
• 16:00 – 19:00: Community support: Magic Marketing Machine's coworking for content makers
• 19:00 – End: Encouragement to curate your feed for happiness and business success

Conclusion

Jenna reassures listeners that the new Instagram algorithm update is an opportunity, not a threat. By producing high-quality, engaging content and intentionally curating what you consume, you can thrive regardless of platform changes. The episode closes with the actionable message to take control over both content creation and consumption—both are crucial for a healthy business and mindset.

Au revoir from France, and a promise of more marketing wisdom to come in future episodes.