When you're looking for new podcasts to listen to, how much do you rely on podcast reviews? Do you read written reviews, listen to review podcasts, or check ratings in apps? I find that some of my favorite shows have mixed reviews, while highly rated ones sometimes don't click with me. How do you navigate podcast reviews to find content you'll actually enjoy?
I definitely check podcast reviews in apps like Apple Podcasts, but I take them with a grain of salt. Sometimes people leave one star reviews for silly reasons like audio quality in early episodes. I pay more attention to detailed written reviews that explain why they liked or didn't like a show. Those give me a better sense of whether I'd enjoy it.
For true crime podcasts especially, I find podcast reviews really helpful for content warnings. Listeners often mention if a case is particularly graphic or disturbing, which helps me decide if I'm in the right headspace for it. I also look for reviews that compare shows to others I already like that's usually a good indicator.
With comedy podcasts, reviews can be tricky because humor is so subjective. A podcast that one person finds hilarious might not work for someone else. I usually listen to a trailer or first episode instead of relying too much on podcast reviews. But I do appreciate when reviewers mention the style of comedy so I know what to expect.
For business podcasts, I look for podcast reviews that mention practical takeaways. If multiple reviews say they applied something from the podcast to their work, that's a good sign. I also check if the host has relevant experience reviews often comment on whether the advice seems credible or just theoretical.