Listener sentiment
Tales to Terrify maintains exceptionally strong listener loyalty, with the vast majority praising the show's immersive storytelling, diverse narrator talent, and careful curation of horror fiction from both classic and contemporary authors. Long-term listeners frequently describe stories that linger psychologically long after listening, and current host Drew Sebesteny is widely praised for his engaging intros and evident passion for the genre. A notable new pattern of ideologically-charged criticism has emerged in recent reviews, with a vocal minority arguing that the inclusion of LGBTQ+ and non-binary characters in stories constitutes heavy-handed messaging; these reviewers frame it as detracting from the narratives. Separately, recurring technical complaints include intrusive mid-story ads that disrupt the atmospheric tension, overly long introductions, and occasional audio quality inconsistencies—though these issues affect a smaller segment of listeners and have not meaningfully eroded the show's reputation as one of the finest horror fiction podcasts available.
Apple4.4 · 169
Summary generated Jun 14, 2026