I have loved this podcast for years. I really appreciate how much care and passion Tiffany shows in these stories. She’s very good at letting individuals tell their own tales which feels so genuine as a listener.

I love this podcast. So many thing discussed and stories shared about things I NEVER even thought about. Very informative and as a Mom, I am so glad I listened and am aware of all these situations. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and well done Tiffany for breakdown these situations and bringing specialist to speak on topics that we all should be aware of.

Personal politics and the woke mentality has ruined this podcast. Giving victims a platform to tell their stories in 100 percent truth is the greatest use of a platform. If you get offended by someone’s lived experience you should not listen. Inhibiting a survivor from speaking the full truth, due to your fear of offending ppl shows what is most important to the creator and all involved in this show. Truth is truth. Coddling ppl is only making them soft and seriously taking away from these victims. As a survivor of SA and DV, hearing the whole truth is so much more helpful and healing. First few seasons were amazing. Now the show has turned its back on victims to appease the “word police.” You should really think about priorities. Words are easy to survive. With Abuse, survival isn’t even a guarantee. You’ve lost the plot.

I’m a loyal listener and tune in weekly for the compelling content. My only note: the intro song is so ROUGH. This season is the worst version yet and is difficult to listen to its distracting . Please make something pleasant to the ear for this great podcast.

S25 E5 and 6 - Woman falls in love with and bangs her sleazy college drama professor. There, I saved you 2 hours. It’s amazing what we’re pretending is “abuse” nowadays. Guy uses his status to draw in a consenting adult, for a 100% consensual affair, and she’s “traumatized” why? Because he was a really mean and intense acting coach. Have you all run out of actual victims or something?

I just found this podcast and I love it. Topics and stories are great! The host is easy to listen to and I’m genuinely intrigued. Keep up the good work!

I have so enjoyed many many of these episodes and seasons in the past. In the past recent seasons, I have found them labored and lengthened and way way way too many episodes for a story. I want to hear the story and the outcome, but I really am exhausted from the interview interviews of the journalist. I really loved to hear from the people who have been involved in the situation. The actual characters. I am so sorry to say that I am now very disappointed and no longer interested. It just crushes me. I think there’s been a lot of fantastic help and support that has come from the stories but now they are drawn out way too long.. I do not want to give a sad review, but I am very disappointed I completely understand why you want accolades and rewards in the past. I will be moving on, but I would totally recommend here earlier stories, and episodes.

I love this show. If you hang around with someone like Arnie, he will drag you down with him. Guys like him are dangerous.

I have listened to this show from the very first season very first episode. I literally looked forward to Thursdays for this show… until about the last three seasons, I would say it’s completely changed. I miss how it used to be.

I’m still in early seasons so this review might not be valid later. I hope not because there is promise here and clearly there’s a consensus on that front. I really wanted to love this podcast because the premise is genuinely compelling. Giving people space to talk about manipulation, abuse, deception, and harmful relationships can be incredibly valuable, and I think the show does help some listeners feel seen. But as I listened I became more and more uncomfortable with how the stories are framed. One major issue for me is that the show tends to treat the people causing harm as flat-out monsters, without much room for complexity or nuance. Sometimes people absolutely do terrible things, but human behavior is usually more complicated than “evil person hurts good people.” Season 2 especially bothered me because it seemed very clear that the person at the center of the story was dealing with severe mental illness. That does NOT excuse the harm they caused, but it also shouldn’t be ignored. The show didn’t seem interested in holding both truths at the same time. The handling of that person’s suicide was honestly the point where I started questioning the show more seriously. The framing felt really lacking in compassion and nuance for such a serious mental health issue, and I kept thinking about how it might land for listeners who struggle with suicidal thoughts themselves. You can discuss the devastating fallout of completed suicide without framing it as inherent disregard for the pain of others. That’s not accurate framing on the macro even if we could know it were an accurate account of this specific instance. Another moment that really stood out to me was the host’s discussion of “cognitive empathy.” It was framed almost entirely as something manipulative people use to fake caring about others, and that really bothered me because that’s not what cognitive empathy means. A lot of people experience empathy in a more thoughtful, analytical way rather than emotionally absorbing other people’s feelings. For example, when someone is grieving, I don’t literally feel their grief as if it’s my own — I think carefully about how to support them because I care about them as a person. That’s still real empathy. In fact, many people with trauma histories (me) or people in helping professions (also me) function this way because staying emotionally flooded all the time would make it impossible to actually help others effectively. Framing this style of empathy as inherently manipulative isn’t just lacking nuance to understand actual abusers, it also puts people like myself under an unfair lens. It’s pretty clear that I’m not particularly sentimental and I don’t actually feel your feelings with you. So now are people going to think that means every act of genuine empathy on my part is some form of manipulation just because it’s driven by principles and values rather than emotion? That moment made me realize the show sometimes feels less interested in understanding human behavior and more interested in fitting people into “victim” and “monster” categories. I don’t think the host has bad intentions at all. I actually think the opposite — I think she cares deeply about validating survivors. But at times it feels like her own lens is so close to the subject matter that anything complicated or morally gray gets flattened into something much simpler with less publicly useful analysis. I still think the podcast has value, and I understand why so many people connect with it. I just wish it approached these stories with more psychological nuance and more care around mental health issues. I hope as the seasons continued it has matured in this regard.

I have enjoyed this show for years. It stopped showing up in my “up next” for the last two seasons. I thought they were taking a break, but when I finally looked them up they just had left their big network. This show tells valuable stories in an interesting way. It captures my attention without making a spectacle out of people’s trauma. I leave feeling informed and better prepared to care for those around me. Glad I found it again and I will be binging the two seasons I missed.

I love this show, the varying topics and issues exposed, and fist hand stories from victims. Tiffany is a fantastic interviewer and the team does a great job with editing. I’ve noticed a change in the tin, pace, and inflection while she’s speaking which makes me miss older seasons. Prior interviews and educating the audience felt conversational. But now the pace is so slow and annunciated, it feels gently condescending. Overemphasized. The kind of voice note you’d play at 1.5x It would also be wonderful if there was a tone or jingle between narration of the show, and the commercials spoken by the host —————— Updating my previous review from 4 stars to two. I used to subscribe !!! The show has changed. A Lot. I miss the previous format. The last two seasons have been such a different tone. I no longer get excited to listen. The conversational pace has improved since my previous review. The format post wondery is just ……

This podcast used to be one of my favorites. The content was entertaining, interesting, and felt authentic. Lately though, it seems like every episode is packed with politically correct messaging and forced “woke” commentary that takes away from what made the show good in the first place. I miss when it focused on the actual topic instead of trying to push social or political angles into everything.

I’m writing because I think it’s really ridiculous to rate a podcast based off the intro music and I’ve seen that a lot. Tiffany clearly wants to have different versions of the song to make it interesting and that’s her creative direction As a listener for many years, I think this is really important content and subject matter, and it seems to be important to the host to elevate voices that need to be heard. While I found this show to be more entertaining in the earlier renditions of this podcast, it’s clearly shifted and I do generally have to ask myself if that’s the headspace I’m in but that’s not a negative or positive thing My only real suggestion would be to consider the length of each episode /season because it is difficult to stay engaged through multiple very long episodes where it feels like it could be edited down.

Oh my god, the theme song this season is horrendous and the ads are non stop. This show used to be good and now it’s just terrible music and ads.

I listened to this podcast since the beginning and it just isn't the same. The old format was just so much better. It's almost unlistenable now. Also the new intro is sooooo bad. Idk who approved that. Hoping it gets better again soon cuz this was my favorite podcast.

I found this podcast years ago and honestly it saved me during a hard divorce while burning out at my job. However, the direction of the show has changed and I really wish they would have stuck with the format that she started. I love that she elevates voices. It’s hard to hear them now.

I found SWW on SiriusXM, and it was genuinely the first one to actually hook me. I started with Season 3, binged it, and proceeded to listen nearly every episode since! I have tried to listen to so many other podcasts, but I either don’t like the host personality, or the audio production quality is poor, bad editing, etc. I kept telling ChatGPT to find me more Tiffany Reese’s in the audio documentary space; but it turns out she’s one of a kind, and I absolutely adore her authenticity. 💕

This podcast used to be one of my favorites. It’s nearly unlistenable now. This season so unnecessarily long and drawn out. I just can’t get into it anymore. I stay subbed because I keep hoping it will get better again- I just don’t think that’s going to happen.

Loooobe this version of the intro and love all the work you do. Sharing voices that need to be heard!

I think we all are so traumatized by how bad the opening song was, no rendition will rehabilitate it.

The first 2 seasons and their set up was the best. I wish it would return to that sphere of subjects/format. And the new intro song IS PAINFUL. I’m so sorry but it’s brutal getting thru.

I love this podcast and have listened to every season. Season 25 is hard to get though. I've never heard more ads run in a episode that this podcast. It's just too much. Sometimes I just have to turn it off and listen to something else that doesn't have so many breaks.

I love this podcast but I really want to make sure someone knows that your ads are repeating 2-3 times per commercial break? It’s making the ad breaks incredibly long and repetitive. I am not trying to be critical but genuinely want to make sure you know about this problem. I listen to a lot of podcasts and I haven’t heard this before. Please listen to your free version and make corrections if necessary.

This is a pet project for a narcissist’s ego. Once you notice the way she always includes audio of the guest praising her, you can’t stop noticing. Listening to this podcast is the equivalent of engaging with a mentally ill street preacher.

This season’s “story” could have been told in two episodes, max. Excruciating, unnecessary details. Bailing after two. Wishing for the old days of this podcast…

Love the interviews with the actual victims. That’s what sets this show apart from the rest. The show has only improved over time! The only bad thing is waiting until the next season!

The first seasons were so great! Please go back to that formatting

There is no real purpose for this series

I have been a fan of this podcast since 2021. Unfortunately in the past year the seasons have lost their quality. The Editing is choppy, there is way too many ads and it’s hard to follow the story because we don’t fully know who is speaking because the POVs change so fast. It used to be one POV per episode and now it’s all over the place. I love that this show gives a platform for survivors…it’s SO needed but I just want the creators to do better. Can we get back to what made this show great?

I just wanted to start by thanking you for giving a safe space and a voice for everyone who has been involved in any and all of the stories. And a future, safe space for others to come forward. I’m originally from Colorado and was in a small touring band for several years going across the country and they seem endless endless loop of parties drinking music love of music healing hurting and so on it was my escape It was my life, and I thought I loved every part of it. I decided to impulsively marry another musician who lived across the country from me on our first date after we had merely texted for about 90 days. Very shortly after I moved to the other side of the country, my band fell apart, and I began playing with my then husband now ex-husband. Very long story short it was extremely isolating, very abusive emotionally and mentally. And mix that in with my own childhood trauma and beliefs drilled into me growing up because I was Catholic to make the marriage work no matter what I stayed in it for 7 1/2 years. At year six was when I found your podcast. I think I started at season 16 and I was completely drawn in hearing patterns of abuse that I did not realize were abuse and I listened to every single episode of every season. Without your podcast, I don’t think I would have started to recognize the pattern of the cycle of abuse. I had been minimizing and hiding for years. My ex-husband and I played music together, regionally through the entire time where the masks were very, very refined and on point. When I turned 34 I had re-enrolled in community college to become a physical therapist assistant between being surrounded by more sound and healthy minded individuals who were bringing out the best and supporting one another and listening to your stories and a free counselor at the campus I finally got the courage to leave. I am forever grateful that you have for many years and continue to put out important stories and making voices heard that would not have been heard otherwise with the reach that you have. Thank you for doing what you do. I am very grateful that you are part of my life and have made such a big difference without even knowing each other. Much love!! Best, Kmc.

There are WAY too many ads. It’s the same 3 or 4 60-90 second ad on repeat for like 6-7 minutes at a time? The episodes are 50% ads. It’s so bizarre. The earlier seasons were good when the host wasn’t carrying on and on just to hear herself talk. What a bummer

Major fan of the intriguing content but I must say the music/theme song is so cringe, SO bad that it distracts from the show! Sorry, had to be honest. It just keeps getting worse.

I’m 12 minutes in and it’s been nothing but a lecture. Get it together

Long time listener - last time. You lost me at AI. Did you actually think this was acceptable? This is awful and does the real story a devastating disservice. Peace out for good.

Progressive? Nah. These ads are evil. Gotta quit.

Calm down with the ads!

This podcast has so many amazing seasons in the beginning, so I highly suggest listening to every season up until season 22 regarding Megan Stoner. Everything after is just educating the audience vs story telling which is what it was beforehand. If Tiffanie can get back to her original storytelling format, I think we’ll get back on track.

Tiffany you’re brilliant!!!! Thank you for reporting on the facts and bringing hard subjects, tragic experiences and incredible producing to share stories of real experiences. Heart you and everyone involved.😊😊😊

I have listened since to this podcast since Season 3 when I caught up on 1-3. Over the years, it was my favorite podcast and I enjoyed that it gave voices to these victims. Some I loved, some I didn’t care for simply because I could not understand how the victims did not use basic common sense. But around Season 12 or 13, it became very political and it was obvious that it was leaning very left. I am a republican but enjoy listening to views of others time to time. However, this just got worse and there was no partiality by Tiffany. And that is her choice, as it’s her show. But I hung in there until around Season 15 when the shows became so redundant. I cannot listen to the same thing regurgitated over 12 episodes. I became aware of the commercials changing as well. There were just so many! I quit listening around season 15 and have not come back. I hate that it became so political, redundant and full of commercials. The polarizing politics alone probably cut out half her listening audience. I just don’t understand why media does that to themselves. Why would you purposefully say things to cut out half of your listening audience? Again, it’s Tiffany’s decision, as it’s her show. I just hate it because I did enjoy some of the stories.

Y’all realize that the subject matter in these seasons is in fact political??? Obviously they’re going to speak out against wrongdoings and I support this pod and wha they’re trying to accomplish. Which is to uplift voices!!

Omg , this one is completely off the chain . Tiffany I can’t stop listening to this. Great podcast

I really like the podcast content! I’ve listened to multiple seasons. I like Tiffany and her team a lot and I appreciate the platform they give to survivors. That being said, the amount of ads is actually insane. At this point the podcast is 50% ads. I understand that podcasts need ads to support the creators, but this is way too much. I listen to a variety of different shows spanning a ton of topics and I’ve never encountered a show with as many ads as this one. It’s a bummer because the show is doing good by sharing these stories but the ads make people not want to listen!!

I personally love my politically aware left wing queen Tiffany, GET IT GIRL YOUR PODCAST IS GREAT

I used to love this podcast but it has become way to political the last few seasons. There is a way to get these stories out there without constantly throwing politics into it. It’s sad because these stories deserve to be heard. I’ll no longer be listening

Host is a progressive left zealot. No thanks .

a lot of ads

Unlistenable now. You got too greedy with ad breaks. Six minutes plus of ads at a time?! Wow. What a shame.

I use to love this podcast but it’s gone so downhill the last few seasons. A few years ago the stories were captivating and now it’s just women complaining about choices they made in life and political views. Super bummed the stories aren’t what they use to be. I’m sorry, but sleeping with your teacher is a choice you make and if that “traumatizes” you then make better choices and grow up, learn from your mistakes and move on. 11 episodes about this is ridiculous..

I found your podcast in December 2020, and have been a season to season, episode to episode listener since! Your story telling is amazing, the way you give each person their own space to exist when that has been taken from them, is amazing! Thank you for being an advocate! I even found myself in an off situation with a ‘love bombing’ boss and was able to realize it because of your story telling! If I could give you 1,000,000 stars I would!