I have to say, Season 1 was great and set a high standard for this podcast, Season 2 was pretty good as well, but from. Season 3 on it became weak and all about Payne making money, so many commercials, and to lift it up his ego. Season 4 come on, it’s not about investigating a crime and telling the victims story, especially after episode 7, is like another listener said: Payne Patting his own back for his “great and courageous work”. Please, it was just what a journalist should do and many serious journalists do every day. And man, so many commercials that just felt that this season was about you guys making that money and not caring much about the story. I saw in the comments many others sharing my feelings about this podcast but maybe Payne don’t care losing listeners like us. I don’t even have the will to continue listening this season. I hope Payne go back to the roots, meaning season 1, and deliver a serious season 5.

I just started listening to this today and I’m hooked! Great storytelling!

Great podcast but the background noise aka music is annoying as all get out! Please stop with the crappy background noise.

After the first 5 minutes I was hooked! You are doing good work 😉

You are there’s nothing I want

Payne, please consider focusing less on yourself and more on the victims and the facts. The loss of lives is a serious matter. As a long-time listener since your early work on Up and Vanished, I had hoped to see your growth in becoming a professional investigative reporter. However, across several seasons and many Tenderfoot podcasts, the focus often seems to be on you. This comes across as self-serving and disrespectful to the families and loved ones of the victims. While it's commendable to use your platform to address injustices, it's important to remain true to the responsibility that comes with it.

I don’t understand why a podcast dedicated to helping the families of missing persons is so determined to engage in click bait. I feel like they should just do a fictional murder mystery series where the host can feel like a hero and leave real people with real stories alone.

I think the host thought the audience would appreciate all his “insight” but it comes off as boring filler. There’s so much contemplation on “what to do next” and I find myself screaming at the screen because it’s so obvious at points and doesn’t need to be discussed with the audience. Any true crime fan could tell you the answer to many of his “contemplations”.

The part where he fully gives himself away to on Facebook was hard to listen to. He let a lead slip right out of his hands. Additionally, I would expect more interviews with the people of nome rather than 4 episodes of chasing a lead that the host then destroys before our ears.

Take this break as an opportunity to actually focus on the facts of the case and what the people who live there have to say, rather than boring speculative commentary. It feels like he is attempting to direct a movie rather than be an investigative journalist. I will say the families seem very appreciative which gives me hope this can turn around. The case itself is interesting and there seems to be a lot of thread to pull on, which is the only reason why I’m still listening.

These stories need better tellers—not hacks who trade in every known writing and narration cliche. As appealing as a convenience store rotisserie hot dog.

...or, alternatively, She said he said....This podcast highlights and brings public attention to missing person cases, but doesnt provide any real resolutions. Few of the interviews are from first-hand eyewtitnesses; the ones that are do not seem to be verified, and most are rumor--something that somebody heard from somebody. Most--like the rambling, delusional Catfish account could be seriously edited. That said, this podcast does provide a tragic, eyeopening view into tiny rural communities scattered throughout the country.

Season should have been called “Bears Don’t Eat Backpacks.” The second I heard it, I said what are we doing here?

Good journalism, but the ad to podcast ratio is pretty miserable. Be prepared to skip forward a lot.

The other seasons were so well done. This season is very boring and predictable.

Just wrapped up episode 8 of Season 4 (my first season) and I have to agree with a few other reviews I’ve seen here; the podcast host cannot help but make the story about a missing woman from Alaska all about how brave and courageous he is to be tracking the story. Still enjoyed it overall, but come on man. Sounds like you stumbled upon the concept of journalism and proceeded to pat yourself on the back for pursuing it. 3/5

I just read a review of this podcast that complained about you doing unsolved cases instead of cases that were solved so that the listener could have a resolution!? you have got to be kidding me. These families have had a real life loved one disappear and they most likely has been murdered. How do you think they feel?

Payne you are doing the real and difficult job that is needed for missing and murdered people. Not to mention assisting families that have little help, if none at all.

Thank you.

Why won’t episode 8 play? Can Apple please fix this. It’s been down for five days

The podcast seems masturbatory in that it refers to itself over and over again as if a major player in the lives of the missing or deceased. There’s an arrogance about this that is matched only by the general ineptitude of the host to approach the subject matter with the care and grace it deserves.

I fully believe that cases touched by this show have been negatively impacted by its meddling.

Love this podcast so much & I’ve been a follower from the beginning. Payne and his team does amazing work. They’re so dedicated to getting justice for the victims of the cases they cover. Payne uses his platform to bring awareness to smaller cases and without him we might not have the answers we do today. Thank you for your work!!

This series has been on my top listens and I’ve had it saved to catch every new episode. But every episode after episode 5 has felt like fillers that end with a good hang line to end the episode to make you coming back. Unfortunately all the quick to conclusion responses and lack of content is making me unfollow the show. I wish Payne and his team the best in their quest to get answers for the family and friends of the missing people in this series, but the podcast has lost me.

I’ve been a fan of the prior series of this podcast, but the 4th season is plodding and doesn’t hold my interest at all. Plus, the whole “Omg we’re pretending to be someone else tee hee!!!” pseudo-drama feels like two 7th grade boys crank-calling people after school.

A talented and dedicated team of researchers. seious and important investigative journalism and work

love the music. who ever did it is making a name for themself. five stars for that! sometimes im feeling its so pleasant and interesting that the narrators voice is a bit grating talking over it and preventing me from hearing it. the investigator is not professional. he should take some notes from serial or even study journalism properly at a university. i cant be sure that he has listening to this. its not a movie for entertainment its a factual story first especially when you are dealing with death and real people in an active investigation. u could tell this entire thing in three incredible episodes if you cut out all the uneeded garbage and monologues.

I love the irk you do Payne and have listened from your very first season. Unfortunately I can’t handle the unnecessary and irritating background music. Also, I feel it could be edited. Short and sweet without all the sensationalism.

I love the podcast, the journalism, the narration and the investigative work. With that being said, I’m heavily disappointed that this seems to be a podcast that only highlights the missing and their isn’t any solved cases. No fault or blame being placed. It’s just that you get so invested and i find myself saying out loud things like “ask this” or “you need to talk to ….so and so again”. As the listener, it’s obvious sometimes who needs the spot light and who doesn’t and more and more the podcast seems to highlight the gaps or corruption in local police departments more than anything. I mean you pretty much lay it all out for them. You even risk your personal safety and if you can…they can. It’s disheartening. Again the podcast is great but it’s like watching a great movie, great plot and plot twists and horrible ending to leave much more to be desired. I need breaks in between just because i know every season won’t have the ending you hope for by the last episode. Again nothing against the narrator. I get that it’s live and current.

Episodes in this newest season are slow moving and don’t provide enough info, lots of filler. I still appreciate what Payne & team does for victims and their family but this season is a little bit of a let down compared to previous ones.

I’ve listened to a king’s ransom of pod casts of the true crime subject. And found this one to be the most compelling, interesting and addicting than any other, true crime or not .

I’m on the edges of my seat..and almost nervous…,but in a good entertaining way.

Whatever these folks are doing keep it up…. And be careful.. thank you

Payne,

Don’t get discouraged by the naysayers! Stay focused on what is ultimately the most important! Find the truth!

He said he knew somebody was doing a podcast. He offered information freely in defense of himself, suspect and delusional as the claims appear, they were still offered as answers to location, motive, the body, previous treatment of women and all the rest. It’s hard to believe that somebody would offer so much in defense of themselves without provocation. What makes more sense is that he was suspicious.. And whether he knew exactly who you were or not, he even tipped his hand about his suspicions. It seems the journalists are not fully embracing their confirmation bias. Maybe it was the adventure of it, John’s unprovable claims(just because he”s offering a defense doesn’t mean he’s good at it), or something else altogether, but it seems to me that he may have been onto you.

Just a response to the negative ratings here-I don’t think you’ll ever quite get the magic like what happened with Grinstead the first season, and while there may be repetitive things or self- reflection in these episodes, what he and the team are doing is a big deal. You can sit and research and tell a story every week, or you can uproot your life and go there and let a family be heard in an area where there isn’t much hope that the minimal resources will resolve a case. I thought the personal reflection in this season brought up a good point and clue about Payne- “What is my goal here- am I trying to just tell a story? Or am I trying to take this as far as opportunities allow in honor of the family and departed?” The “boring” cases or seasons as some have mentioned, are families that have reached out for help. And this group responded- even if not the most high profile or relatable case for those that don’t live in a small Alaskan town- that is precisely why it’s needed. I don’t get the sense Payne and co. Are trying to use MMIA as a platform, but take his platform to one of many places it might be needed. I have a lot of respect for the work you are doing and the apparent motivations. Stay safe!

This show is soooo good! I hope you keep solving and get some comfort for these families. Good for you!!!

Ahh Payne! The way you ended episode 8 and now we have to wait until June to find out more is just wrong!

I’m continued to be amazed by Payne and tenderfoot. All of their shows are top-notch and Up and Vanished continues to get better with every season. While it’s very entertaining and keeps you on the edge of your seat, what Payne is doing to help solve these cases is very noble. Hands-down, my favorite podcast and series.

If you’re going to dig into a podcast for the first time or anytime, this is the one!

This is the worst podcast I’ve ever heard. Instead of evidence, he uses innuendo and rumor to not only point the finger people who have may have nothing to do with the case, but also blame the police. They don’t care about us… That’s why they brought in the FBI two weeks in…They don’t care about us that’s why they kicked all those people off the beach. A psychopath who’s in prison for murder 20 years ago did something to indigenous people which makes the current police crooked. This is painful to listen to…

This is by far the best

Unfortunately, this podcast has progressively gotten worse and worse over the years.

Payne is brilliant! Love his work and dedication!

Never fails Payne is the best ,

This season moves slower than molasses. Each episode has very little case info and a lot of speculative dialogue. That’s not really for me.

Past seasons have been so well explored and reported with the focus on the victim, not on the podcasting process. You felt like you knew the person and their families and that new evidence was coming to light. Not so for season 4! This season it’s all about the “behind the scenes” efforts that went into making the season and how they made logistical decisions... Who cares? It could be great for a bonus episode or two after the whole story has been told for the victim (!) but not as part of the main season. Get your priorities straight, please!

I think he knows & he may be playing y’all

I’ve been listening to this podcast since the first season and it has gotten progressively worse each season. Payne, you are not an undercover agent nor should you ever be. You are a middle aged white man using the stories of marginalized people to get ratings. The “undercover” interview in this season is painful to listen to and I’m pretty sure was only included as prominently as it was so Payne could jack off to his own voice. A friend of mine called Payne Lindsey the Shaun King of podcasting and I don’t disagree one bit.

Sick of the virtue signaling and identity politik. We get it EVERYWHERE now and it is getting old.

❤️

You don’t get much information from episode to episode. I felt like they were scared to “go there” or really get into it…

…amiright?

You won’t regret this listen. Thank you Payne Lindsey and Tenderfoot team for shedding light on these disappearances. My heart breaks for all these families, but am so grateful they have you as an advocate.

Absolutely love everything Payne does! I personally love his voice and narration, it feels like I’m right there or watching a show.

I’ve loved the other Up and Vanished seasons, but this one hasn’t been up to par with the others. Far too much narration and repetition.

His voice is so monotonous, he talks about himself & his feelings about the investigation and case the entire time and we truly do not care. Please tell the story & feature those affected in a respective way rather than talk about how you had so many feelings traveling from Atlanta to Alaska… it’s disrespectful to those who have been affected and lessens the series. Please find a new host. Honestly had to shut off because of how terrible he was.

This podcast along with all of Payne’s other work is phenomenal! I am literally on the edge of my seat after every episode! Keep up the amazing work 👏🏼

Frustrating. I feel that on episode 7 I have no more information than I did at episode 1. Episode 7 was a waste IMO.

Sad how the gold miners are bashed so hard. The only reason nome is nome is because of the gold miners… kinda funny listening to the drunk natives.