Listener sentiment
The Confessionals remains sharply polarized around the same fault line: the show's evolution from a first-person paranormal encounter podcast into an explicitly Christian, theology-driven program. Devoted listeners — several of whom credit the show with deepening their faith or prompting baptism — praise host Tony Merkel for tackling supernatural and spiritual-warfare topics mainstream churches avoid, and continue to rally around his wife's cancer fight. Dissenting long-time listeners keep voicing the same regret: too much Bible framing, fewer raw guest encounter stories, and good cryptid content pushed behind paywalls, with some suggesting the religious direction deserved its own separate podcast. The most recent window adds recurring grumbles about heavy monetization, long off-topic banter and merch plugs before episodes get going, co-host chatter crowding out Tony's interviewing, and a defensive or hostile fan community. Moderate reviewers note Tony has grown as an interviewer and still delivers compelling episodes, but the core tension between the show's founding identity and its current faith-driven direction persists.
Apple4.1 · 763
Summary generated Oct 22, 2026