Listener sentiment
Listeners remain sharply divided on Under the Influence, with the same fault line running through recent reviews as in prior months. Devoted fans praise Terry O'Reilly's masterful storytelling, distinctive voice, and the show's ability to make the history and mechanics of advertising both entertaining and broadly educational — several mention listening for years and across multiple life stages. The dominant criticism, recurring across both positive and negative reviews, is the sheer volume of advertising, which many listeners estimate consumes a disproportionate share of each episode's runtime. Frustration with the subscription model compounds this: some paid subscribers report that ads persisted even after upgrading, and "bonus" episodes are described as separate podcast feeds rather than additional show content. A smaller set of reviewers note a drift from rich narrative storytelling toward more formulaic episodes, with isolated objections about tone and perceived political commentary. The irony that a podcast about advertising is being undone by advertising is something many listeners cite directly.
Apple4.5 · 575
Summary generated Aug 25, 2026
