The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast

Episode 83: Reddit Hate, Online Bullies, & Why We Wrote This Book
Released: February 18, 2026
Hosts: Jinger Vuolo, Jeremy Vuolo

Main Theme

This episode confronts the reality of online criticism, cyberbullying, and public scrutiny, particularly as experienced by Jinger (formerly Duggar) and Jeremy—both as public figures and as parents. The couple reflects on their personal journeys handling “Reddit hate,” dissecting negative headlines and online speculation, and discusses the foundational lessons they aim to instill in their children to help them navigate criticism with resilience and grace. The conversation culminates in an introduction to their new children’s book, which equips young readers with the tools to handle bullying and negative opinions rooted in their faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bullying: From Childhood to Adulthood (00:00–04:36)

• Bullying is not just a childhood problem:
  “Childhood bullying is a real problem. But bullying doesn’t only stay concentrated to childhood… It often follows us into adulthood and can take various forms.” — Jeremy (00:14)
• The morphing of bullying into cyberbullying through social media and online spaces.
• Importance of building a foundation in children to process negativity and find belonging.
• Discussing family strategy: Early in their marriage, Jinger and Jeremy decided not to read headlines or Google their names, choosing to focus on living authentically and not letting public opinion dominate their lives.
  “We committed to not reading the headlines and trying to focus on just living our lives, to glorify God… not allowing the negative to affect us.” — Jinger (02:37)

2. Handling Public Scrutiny and Media Narratives (09:17–16:25)

• Dealing with tabloid moments:
  Jinger recounts a tabloid headline about her “nearly falling on a grocery run,” turning embarrassment into humor rather than shame (09:41–11:39).
• Majority of public narratives are built on assumptions:
  They react to Reddit threads overanalyzing family photos and relationships:
  “I always wonder who is sitting there trying to make a story line out of nothing. Like, literally nothing.” — Jinger (13:37)
• Discuss how a single photo or moment can be spun into false stories about family dynamics or personal well-being.

3. Addressing Personal Criticism & Online Opinions (16:25–32:55)

• Readers challenged their right to discuss certain topics (e.g., dating apps), arguing they lack experience.
  “It's interesting because we can't talk about anything unless we've fully experienced it…” — Jinger (17:22)
• The emotional toll of social media scrutiny: Jinger describes spiraling into overthinking due to negative feedback and deciding to take intentional breaks from posting online.
• The risk of shutting down creatively and personally in response to relentless criticism.
• Growing awareness as parents of what their children might one day encounter online about their family, stressing the need for building resilience.
  “One day our kids are going to Google their own names… what are they gonna find?” — Jeremy (04:48)

4. Fan and Tabloid Conspiracies About Their Marriage (23:09–29:18)

• Rumors circulate online about Jeremy’s character and their marriage, often with little basis.
• Jinger passionately refutes narratives of misery or abuse, offering a heartfelt tribute:
  “Jeremy is the most patient, loving, and kind person. And if you know him, to know him is to love him… You only push me to be a better person and to grow.” — Jinger (24:37)
• They address the absurdity of claims that Jinger “looks dead inside,” attributing any tiredness to the demands of parenthood, not marital strife.

5. Balancing Openness with Boundaries Online (18:40–20:55, 29:23–32:31)

• Choosing not to share their children online and respecting the privacy of their family, despite outside opinions.
• Recognizing the tension between meaningful transparency and healthy boundaries.

6. Motivation & Message of Their New Children’s Book (32:31–45:17)

• The couple shares the backstory and purpose for writing their new children’s book.
• Core message: Children (and adults) should not let their self-worth rise or fall with others’ opinions. True confidence and belonging comes from knowing they are made in God’s image.
• Emphasis on equipping children to process both praise and criticism, neither inflating nor crushing their sense of self.
• The book draws on real-life family stories, often with faith-based encouragement to aspire to kindness, grace, and inner strength.
• “We wanted to give our daughters and our son now a right perspective of how do you view a bully… So let his light shine as you walk through the world and remember, you always belong.” — Jeremy (33:34)
• Sample scenarios in the book:
  • Dealing with being laughed at in a sports setting
  • Helping others after experiencing setback
  • Choosing compassion when someone else is excluded

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On letting public opinion define you:
  “If we allow people's praise to go to our head, then people's criticism will cut us to the heart.” — Jeremy (05:51)
• On refraining from interacting with Reddit or negative posts:
  “Anytime it starts to affect me, then I realize, oh, this is not healthy and I need to stop.” — Jinger (04:39)
• On interpreting social media ‘deadness’:
  “If I look so tired, if I look so exhausted, it’s because I am still nursing a baby, my third child… Yeah, maybe I’m tired. I am tired because I am in that season of nursing…” — Jinger (29:23)
• On gossip and slander:
  “If that’s your purpose—to cut others down—it's so tragic… even with gossip, slander, or talking about people in ways that are not helpful.” — Jinger (38:27)
• Addressing people-pleasing roots:
  “This is part of your journey of people-pleasing, which you wrote about in your book People Pleaser… We’ve now realized it’s one thing for adults to deal with this… but kids, it can be so much harder.” — Jeremy (31:20; paraphrased)
• On responding to bullies and critics:
  “You were made to reflect God’s own glory, designed as God meant you to be. You’re one of a kind, his special creation, so live your life confidently.” — Jeremy, reading from their book (37:11)

Important Timestamps

• Childhood & Adult Bullying: 00:00–04:36
• Tabloid Story (“Grocery Run”): 09:17–11:39
• Reddit Assumptions & Family Photos: 12:04–16:25
• Criticism of Podcast Topics/Dating App Discussion: 16:25–18:40
• Impact of Social Media Scrutiny: 18:40–20:55
• Marriage Rumors & Jinger’s Heartfelt Defense: 23:09–29:18
• “Dead Inside” Comments/Body Positivity & Tiredness: 29:18–32:31
• Book Discussion—Handling Bullying, Identity in God: 32:31–45:17

Tone & Language

Friendly, earnest, candid, and faith-driven. Jinger and Jeremy balance self-deprecating humor with sincerity, welcoming vulnerability, and a warm, supportive tone.

Conclusion

This episode provides a highly personal and practical perspective on managing the negative forces of online criticism as individuals in the public eye and as parents. Jinger and Jeremy use their experiences—as reality TV personalities, online figures, and parents—to guide listeners toward a healthy response to negativity, grounded in faith and inner resilience. Their new children’s book serves as a legacy project to help all children navigate criticism, bullying, and self-worth with courage and kindness.

For more information on their new book and day-to-day family life, listeners are invited to follow the Vuolos on social media or check the podcast’s episode descriptions for further links.