Listener sentiment
The core fanbase remains deeply devoted, with the majority of recent ratings still effusive about Ellyn and Joey's chemistry, comedic timing, and their signature balance of irreverent humor with genuine compassion for crime victims — long-time listeners describe the show as comfort listening, like spending time with close friends. However, the previously near-uniform praise has given way to a visible polarization. A significant wave of one-star reviews erupted in late September 2025 around an episode discussing the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, with critics — many of them self-identified longtime listeners or paid subscribers — accusing the hosts of showing uneven empathy depending on the victim's politics and turning the show into a political soapbox. A smaller but similar backlash surfaced in April 2026 over the hosts' framing of a domestic violence incident involving reality TV personality Taylor Frankie Paul. Beyond ideology, recurring operational complaints mention excessive ad loads, jarring volume disparities between ads and content, and a perception that Patreon-exclusive content is expanding at the expense of the free feed. Some listeners also feel the extended Unsolved Mysteries coverage has run its course. Despite these fissures, the show's defenders have actively pushed back against what they see as coordinated review-bombing, and the dominant sentiment from engaged fans is that the hosts' openness about their values is part of the appeal, not a detraction.
Apple4.3 · 731
Summary generated Jul 9, 2026