The Mastercast

This week we look at The Missionary.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram, Twitter, or the website.

Contact: [email protected]

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-missionary/id1494353780
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuadudley/2020/04/30/the-missionary-asks-difficult-questions-about-what-it-means-to-help-children-overseas/

Transcript: 

This is another heartbreaker and trigger warning for crimes against children. It’s an eight-part scripted miniseries about missionary Renee Bach who started a malnutrition program in rural Uganda. Initially, she was recognized at home and in Uganda for doing the Lord’s work but now about a decade later, there are accusations of pretending to be a doctor and the murder of hundreds of children in the unlicensed clinic. It’s made by iheartRadio and has its polish with the voices and audio being professional and engaging. Apple Podcasts has an average star of 4, 834 ratings and 165 written reviews. Each episode is about 22 minutes long with the last one airing in June of 2020. I don’t understand the problem a lot of people had with the host or the podcast in general. The hosts’ (Rajiv Golla, Halima Gikandi, and Malcolm Burnley) voices were fine and the research did its best to show both sides of the story. The pod ends by saying the truth of exactly what happened was hard to find. It addresses the important concept of the white savior complex and is worth the listen.

Similar Pods: Atlanta Monster, Murder in Oregon, Broken Harts, Wind of Change. 

This week we look at Sweet Bobby.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram, Twitter, or the website.

Contact: [email protected]

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sweet-bobby/id1703971425
https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimePodcasts/comments/1do4fva/sweet_bobby_isnt_sweet_like_at_all/

Transcript:

Sweet Bobby- No Spoilers! 

If after all these true crime podcasts, you still think you’re invincible to being tricked by love… this show is for you. It doesn’t hide what the story is about. In the first couple of minutes host Alexi Mostrous introduces what is catfishing on steroids. The 2021 six part series from Tortoise Media starts with Kirat Assi, a bright career-minded radio DJ whose decade long hell is the subject of this story. After a distant friend contacts her through social media, she’s slowly caught up in a deception that is unmatched. It starts slow, makes you think you know this same old story, hits you with a brick wall of truth, and leaves you with the same question as everyone else… why? You haven’t been this turned around since Hollywood Con Queen. I am being a bit vaguer than I usually am but the less you know the greater the twists will be when you listen. I will say the story isn’t just from Kirat who does a lot of the reporting herself but by family members, friends, and experts in psychology and crime. It has 4.7 average stars and 1,600 ratings. Each episode is around 40 minutes long, and there’s a bonus episode which the hosts use as a chance to respond to listener questions. Music is fitting. Content warnings for catfishing, loss, and emotional abuse. Trust me and the millions of global listeners the show has, download it. 

Similar pods: Queen of the Con, Sympathy Pains, and Betrayal. 

This week we look at Murder Under the Midnight Sun.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram, Twitter, or the website.

Contact: [email protected]

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/murder-under-the-midnight-sun/id1375283451
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/murder-under-the-midnight-sun-665029

Transcript:

Murder Under the Midnight Sun: This Age of Radio true crime podcast concentrates on missing person/unsolved cases from Alaska. Hosted by Arielle Young it covers so many cases that I haven’t heard in other podcasts and that are specific to Alaska. You can tell how well the cases are researched and Young does a great job of explaining the details of each case without sensationalizing them. Young is the show’s only host which means there’s no banter. Because the podcast is single hosted it is scripted but in a very conversational way that makes the cases interesting. Like with most pods, the beginning episodes leave a little to be desired in terms of audio quality, but Young very quickly learns the ropes and later episodes are much better. Apple Podcast has it at 3.7 out of 5 stars with 187 ratings. The podcast seems to have ended in 2021 at 61 episodes that were on average about 39 minutes long. Its most popular episode according to OwlTail was 43 – Who Killed Bonnie?

Similar Pods: Weird On The Rocks, Under The Midnight Sun, True Crime All The Time Unsolved.

This week we look at The Lonely Palette.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram, Twitter, or the website.

Contact: [email protected]

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
http://www.thelonelypalette.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lonely-palette/id1110780638

Transcript:

The Lonely Palette - No Spoilers!

Before I found this podcast I only knew of art as something you learn to do. I didn’t know that there was a way of thinking about it that didn’t involve learning how to do it. Now I’m obsessed. This podcast is truly about appreciation of art and its history. Every episode starts with a piece of art and then goes into everything else about it including how it makes some feel, what you see, what it means (both when it was made and now), who the artist was, the type of art it is, social implications, and so much more. Do yourself a favor, look up the artwork for the episode. Take a good minute to look at it and think of what you see. You’re going to learn way more listening than you have in any art history course. A member of the Hub & Spoke collective, it’s hosted by Tamar Avishai, an art historian and adjunct lecturer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with production assistance from Debbie Blicher, an independent radio producer and essayist. One of my favorite things about the show is how it is so accessible. It’s bringing a perspective of art some may never have heard, and it’s letting you get to know pieces you may never be able to visit. For even more to enjoy, check out their website. There you’ll find images referenced, links, artist interview transcripts, super cute merch, a virtual tour sign-up, and a newsletter sign-up. On Apple Podcasts the show has 4.9 out of 5 stars and 680 Ratings. That speaks for itself. Episodes are still coming out albeit slowly. The latest release was November 1, 2024. So far there are 68 episodes that are on average about an hour long. While most episodes are about examining an artwork, there are others that interview artists, and introduce other shows in the network. If you enjoy art and can’t seem to get enough, let this be the self-care time you deserve. 

Similar pods: Art Talk, The Art History Babes, and ArtCurious Podcast. 

This week we look at Ripp
le.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram, Twitter, or the website.

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://www.ripplepodcast.org/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ripple/id1721209965

Transcript: 

Ripple - No Spoilers!

This investigative podcasts starts out with a question - how well do you remember the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that devastated the American Gulf Coast in 2010? It was all over the news, and then..it wasn’t. The lies and denial that plagued the disaster and still haunt the region to this day are the subjects of this stunningly well done podcast. From APM and Western Sound, this series goes all the way back to the initial events and the decisions that would have decades long consequences to ask if the enormous clean up efforts and restorations we saw plastered on our televisions was the tidy conclusion we all thought it was and how can it be possible to put a price on justice when health and the environment are priceless? Made up of thoughtful and encompassing reporting, this gut wrenching reexamination of the events is hosted by Dan Leone and told with help from those who lived through the disaster. It was published as eight episodes that were all about an hour long. The show itself seems to be set up to have more seasons on other topics but for now just has the first season on Deepwater Horizon. The show has 4.9 stars from 362 reviews and was compared to likes of Serial by many. Transcripts are available if needed on the pod’s website. Trigger warnings for grave health conditions, injuries, and death. 

Similar pods: Reclaimed, American Scandal, and Reveal

This week we look at Science Friday

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram, Twitter, or the website.

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://www.sciencefriday.com/science-friday-podcasts/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-friday/id73329284

Transcript: 

First airing in 1991, this podcast doesn’t need an introduction (or review from me for that matter). Science Friday or SciFri as it is affectionally called by those who love it, is an award-winning producer for science news and stories. For more than three decades this WNYC Studio show has brought world renowned scientists into our cars and headphones and taught us something about our world. The pod prides itself on independent, fact-based journalism. It’s the perfect break when you want to hear news but not be depressed. And when I saw award winning, I don’t mean one or two. Public Media Journalists Association 2024 Narrative/Produced, National Association of Black Journalists 2023 Salute to Excellence Award, Jackson Hole Science Media Awards 2016 Audible Science Award Finalist, 2018 Shorty Award Winner. Even the website has awards - Webby Winner: Best Science Website People’s Choice, W3 Award: Best Radio Website, Pixel Prize: Nominated for Best Responsive Design – the list goes on and on. Speaking of the website -it’s exceptional. There are videos, learning activities, a newsletter, transcripts, and my favorite feature is that you can sort episodes by topic. It’s also the only place besides the radio where you can catch the full show in one piece. Due to listener suggestions to make episodes more bitesize, the show decided to piecemeal out episodes little by little throughout the week on podcast platforms and of course now listeners want the full show back. I’m one of them. While some think it was done for more ad space, it does make it easier to skip parts of the episode you aren’t interested in. That’s not the only thing that’s changed over the pod’s 30 years. Beloved host Ira Flatow is noticeable absence from recent episodes with some speculating that 75 year old Flatow is slowly retiring. While he is missed, I don’t think any of the guest hosts lack that sense of genuine enthusiasm he originally brought to the show. 4.3 out of 5 stars. 5,300 ratings. 2,218 episodes. 

Similar pods: Science Weekly, Short wave, and Mindscape 

This week we look at Crime Junkie.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram, Twitter, or the website.

Music this week: 
Artist: COS & Effect
Song: Inside
https://soundcloud.com/cosandeffekt\
https://www.instagram.com/cosandeffekt
https://www.facebook.com/cosandeffekt

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-junkie/id1322200189
https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/crime-junkie-podcast-ashley-flowers-plagiarism-1203302072/

Transcript: 

A 50/50 review Crime Junkie - No Spoilers! 

It’s time! I’ve put off doing this review for a long time because of the complicated nature of this podcast’s impact on the podcasting world. I still have reservations about coming out and recommending it so I’m going to start what I’ve been calling 50/50 reviews for podcasts I’m on the fence about. What’s to be on the fence about? We’ll get into it in this episode of The Mastercast. 

Crime Junkie is a very popular true crime podcast produced by Ashely Flowers and Brit Prawat that covers a variety of well known and not so well known missing, murdered, and mysterious death cases. Some are solved, some or not, and I like listening to the episode not knowing which it’ll be. There is the very rare conspiracy episode but these cover crime related conspiracies not like big foot or anything. They’re more like cover ups and things of that nature. With over a billion downloads and placing consistently in the top five of various podcast charts since their debut in 2017, very popular might be an understatement. It’s as widely known as Serial, the podcast that let’s face it - got us all into true crime podcasts. There are over 412 free episodes and  new ones come out weekly on Mondays. The show has 4.7 stars and over 350,000 ratings on Apple Podcasts. That’s almost triple the amount of reviews Chartable and Rephonic report for globally beloved podcast This American Life. In addition to the public available episodes, there’s over 150 bonus episodes. To prepare for writing this review thoroughly I actually signed up for the monthly subscription that give access to them all, thinking that I would get through them in a few weeks. It’s been two months and I’ve only gotten through back to 2021. Not only are the founders good at storytelling but they’re very smart business women. Everything they do is perfectly executed to generate a profit. This includes a well organized and supplied website. Their subscription plan and separate app locks down bonus episodes. Their merch store only opens for highly anticipated limited releases. Subscriptions are tiered to allow accumulative access to bonus episodes, videos, fan meet ups, and early access to merch releases. The show also expanded to become a network with some other really good shows like Anatomy of Murder and Counterclock. Wrestling with the ethicacy of review those shows is a big reason I choose to review this one. That being said, there are plenty of great free resources on the websites! There’s the famous “If I go missing folder” template, newsletter, and craft patterns. 

Now I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the plagiarism scandal which stopped me from listening to the show for a long time. The challenge didn’t necessarily come from liking the show (although I do admit that bias) but from lack of citation standardization in the podcast community. I won’t go into much detail of the scandal’s whole story, for that I recommend the Let’s Taco ‘bout True Crime episode titled Let's Taco ‘Bout the Crime Junkie Plagiarism scandal where multiple hosts that had their work plagiarized spoke about it. But for a very short summary in 2019 the podcast was found to have clearly and knowingly plagiarized former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter, Cathy Frye’s work. After this accusation came out, others came to the surface as well. It’s important to note that the work Crime Junkie plagiarized was not the result of one website copying another copying another, but came from boots on the ground, never heard before investigations. Frye and other spent time and money over decades. investigating these cases and Crime Junkie presented their conclusions like they were a result of their own work. While many were understandably upset by the plagiarism itself, there was the insult of no apology which was what stopped me from listening. I expected them to apologize for the action but it wasn’t until someone pointed out to me, that they probably didn’t at the advice of a lawyer, that I started to wonder if maybe they didn’t realize the gravity of what they had done. Before this is was extremely rare for a podcast to cite it’s sources, in the show notes or in the audio. It was and still is a new medium and like where art doesn’t cite its inspirations, I wasn’t sure if there was an established custom for citing sources in a podcast. Also, Crime Junkie did start doing its own work, hiring a team of reporters that investigates for the show. That being said, what Crime Junkie did was knowingly wrong, period. There are other common complaints about the show including scripted commentary from Prawatt. As Flowers tells the story, she’s there to interject with questions that that audience might be asking. It does come across as scripted and pointless at times but is meant to break up Flowers telling an hour long story. 

But that’s the complicated nature of Crime Junkie. I’ve been listening since the show started. It’s captivating and has remained on the top of the charts through all of this. They do a ton of advocacy work but the scandal when paired with their business sense makes me wonder if they’re are an option that doesn’t feed into the exploitative nature of true crime of if they are just really good at doing it. 

Similar pods: Court Junkie, This is Actually Happening, and Morbid.

As an aside the podcasts I found that were plagiarized by Crime Junkie include: Without Warning, The Murder Sheet, Trace Evidence, and Southern Fried True Crime. You should definitely check them out. 

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from COS and effect and the song is Inside. Please check out the show notes for how to find them and their music!  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.

This week we look at The Agent.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. 

Links and sources:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agent/id1587714169

Transcript: 

Hey Pod lovers. I’m your host Marie and  If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out with this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

The Agent - No spoilers ! 

It’s been a minute and to welcome us back is a really good one. The Agent is a 2022 Webby Award honoree and so good that I had to borrow his book “Deep Undercover: My Secret Life and Tangled Allegiances as a KGB Spy in America” from the library. The 15 episode series tells the true story of Jack Barsky’s life as a KGB spy during the cold war when he spent 10 years undercover leading two very different secret lives. It’s this amazing narrative told by Barsky himself that weaves together Jack Barsky the person and Jasck Barsky the spy until something happens that leads him to have to choose between the two. The story is so immersive and wraps you up in his life. I didn’t want it to be over even though in total the podcast is over 3 days’ worth of audio content. It really does look at his whole life and not just what he did for work. That might be too much backstory for some, but I love glimpses into the lives of others, especially one this fascinating. It’s a production of Imperative Entertainment and Windjoy and was the brainchild of Jason Hoch. Barsky, of course, plays a huge role in how the story is told. It has 4.7 out of 5 stars with 1,100 ratings but still had some common themes in the reviews. First, I think the show was once paywalled but isn’t anymore. I was able to listen to all of the episodes on PocketCasts. Then there’s some reviews about the Jack Barsky as a person but honestly we’re not there to like Jack. Like most people his not a villain or a hero, he’s just a person and this is his story. I don’t think people get very far or learn anything from someone they just write off as one or the others and I encourage you to listen to the story holistically. I really appreciated his authenticity and humility. He’s honest and acknowledges bad choices he’s made and how that effected others. Some have labeled this as ego but putting asisde the fact that he was a spy and I’m sure that’s a job requirement, I did not feel the same. 

Similar pods: Agent of Betrayal, To Die For, and The Miami Chronicles.

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from Seasoned Souls and their brilliant song is called Haze. Please check out the show notes for how to find them and their music!  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.

This week's artist: Seasoned Souls
Song: Haze
https://www.instagram.com/seasonedsoulsofficial/?hl=en
https://soundcloud.com/seasonedsoulsmusic/haze-1?in=seasonedsoulsmusic/sets/cryptic-defects-ep

This week we look at Have Murder Will Travel.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. 

Links and sources:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://havemurderwilltravel.buzzsprout.com/
https://www.instagram.com/havemurderwilltravel/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/have-murder-will-travel/id1634439656

Have Murder Will Travel - No spoilers! 

This week we’re looking at an American crime show that travels internationally to tell stories from every part of the globe. Like many of its fans, I found this podcast by recommendation from the Morbid podcast, who like me, is a big fan. The true treasure of this pod is its host Valeira Drake who is also a St.Louis based actor and dancer! She is so funny and charming and I love her voice. Some don’t care for her tangents but I think they are hilarious and make the show. She’s just saying what we’re all thinking. I even named my monstera plant after her. So there hasn’t been an episode in a while since May of 2023 actually but Valeria has mentioned on the show before about depression. Let’s just be hopeful and supportive and maybe another episode will bless our feeds soon. There are episodes to burn through though! 43 in fact and I binged all of them in a couple of days. Most are about crimes. There are few disappearances, the rare spooky episodes, and even rarer still a survival story. My favorites are Episode 33: Deadly Cruise Ships: The Disappearance of Tammy Grogan, and Episode 12: Guatemala: Rodrigo Rosenberg although there are too many to name. Usually each episode has a great instagram post with it. When the show was really active they came out once a week. Apple Podcasts has a 4.7/5 with 94 ratings. 
There is swearing and of course the normal trigger warnings for true crime. 

Similar pods: Location Unknown, Lost in the Woods, Twisted Travel and True Crime. 

This week we look at The Frankston Murders.

If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. 

Links and sources:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-frankston-murders/id1678816681

Transcript:

The Frankston Murders - No Spoilers ! 

From Casefile Presents this gripping podcast looks at the serial murders of three women that took place over seven weeks in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, a case unfamiliar to most in the US. Its creator and host Vikki Petratis reported on the crime as it was happening and later wrote the best-selling book The Frankston Murders. In this podcast, she speaks with an array of people including family members, police officers, and prison guards to uncover unheard material and new victims stalked before the murders. It is a longer podcast made up of 11 episodes. I honestly usually avoid single-crime podcasts of this length because they tend to use a lot of filler but the pace and layout of this pod was incredible. Informed complete reporting with no repetitive information. It is one of the best-produced podcasts I’ve heard all year and with a rating on Apple Podcasts of 4.7 it’s safe to say I’m not the only one who thinks so. There have been updates in the case as recent as this year which leaves Petretis asking for the listener's help. I do need to give a trigger warning for animal abuse. 

Similar pods: The Detective’s Dilemma, West Cork, and Bowraville