Listener sentiment
The Trial: Australia has built a passionate audience around its detailed courtroom coverage and journalistic depth, with many listeners praising the show's informative reporting, use of reenactments, and host Wayne Flowers' enthusiasm. However, recent ratings reveal sharp polarization, particularly over coverage of the Ben Roberts-Smith trial—critics across multiple reviews accuse the podcast of editorial bias in his favor, citing selective omissions of evidence and a host commentary that seemed prejudicial for an active case. Beyond the Roberts-Smith controversy, recurring complaints center on production choices (distracting typing sound effects during text message evidence, variable audio quality), inconsistent episode frequency and length, and occasional factual errors (mispronunciations, medical terminology mistakes). Some listeners also feel the team is stretched too thin covering multiple trials simultaneously, reducing depth on major cases. While the show retains core supporters who value its substance and speed of updates, the recent window suggests credibility and execution are now the primary friction points.
Apple3.0 · 42
Summary generated May 29, 2026
