Listener sentiment
Recent listener sentiment is sharply divided, driven largely by a format change that replaced full daily broadcast episodes with a shorter curated version beginning in late 2022. A sustained wave of longtime subscribers — many of them self-described daily listeners for years — gave low ratings, arguing the abbreviated format drops the segments they valued most and offers no convenient alternative for hearing the complete show. A smaller group welcomes the shorter episodes as more manageable. Among listeners who accept the current format, the show earns strong praise for its reporting depth, eclectic story selection across news, science, and culture, and the warmth of its rotating hosts, particularly Robin Young, Deepa Fernandes, and Tonya Mosley. Perceived political bias is a recurring flashpoint that cuts in both directions: some reviewers accuse the program of left-wing partisanship or inadequate scrutiny of Israeli government actions, while others fault it for "both-siding" issues or covering the Middle East from only one perspective. A handful of recent reviews also flag technical issues — distracting microphone breathing during interviews and a feed that occasionally auto-unsubscribes listeners.
Apple2.8 · 119
Summary generated Aug 15, 2026
