Listener sentiment
The most recent ratings are dominated by a concentrated wave of negative reviews from July 2026 focused not on the podcast's content but on co-host John Mitchinson's role in the collapse of Unbound/Boundless, the crowdfunding publisher that allegedly left numerous authors unpaid. Multiple reviewers accuse Mitchinson of using the podcast to launder his reputation and urge listeners to withdraw support, with at least one identifying as an affected author. This marks a sharp escalation from the unease noted in earlier reviews, where the Unbound situation surfaced more as background concern alongside frustrations about Mitchinson's departure from the show, uneven co-host chemistry with his replacement, and a lull into reruns after the tenth-anniversary celebrations. Despite this turmoil, the show's underlying content continues to draw genuine praise when listeners engage with it — several recent reviewers credit specific episodes with inspiring new reading and commend the hosts' wit and enthusiasm. Persistent technical complaints about microphone balancing and ad volume also remain. The Unbound backlash, however, is the defining story of the current moment and has clearly overtaken discussion of the show's literary merits.
Apple4.6 · 260
Summary generated Jul 28, 2026
