Critique 1: Dancing With the Stars Official Podcast

For this review, I chose to look more into one of my comfort shows that has been super popular lately, which is Dancing With The Stars. I came across this podcast through ABC’s promotional material online and in the actual show, so I decided to give it a listen. The podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at the show, best known for its on-screen performances. The podcast is now run by Joey Graziadel, a former winner of The Bachelor.

Each episode is formatted part recap and part interview. Joey spends the first few minutes recapping the live show, then transitions into a conversational interview with eliminated contestants, judges, or pro dancers. The pacing is smooth, with transition clips weaving in and out of the dancers’ rehearsal rooms, giving listeners the backstage access they are looking for.

What really stands out to me about this podcast is how relaxed and human the dancers are, compared to what is shown on TV. The storytelling feels genuine and heartfelt, especially when contestants dive into the challenges they faced while learning to dance. However, still at times this podcast relies too heavily on the promotional side of the content rather than really showing the behind-the-scenes narrative.

Overall, the podcast is a great companion for fans who want more context around each week’s performances and insight that many people might not know is going on behind the scenes.

Critique 2- 13 Things I Wish I knew in My 20’s

Episode: “13 Things I Wish I Knew in My 20’s-Part 1”

I chose this podcast to review because my friends all said they really liked it, and I have seen it being marketed on the various social media platforms I use, like TikTok and Instagram. This show is about personal growth and features a reflective format in its episodes. This specific episode intrigued me because it sounded like it would be full of honest and straightforward big-sister advice that any young adult wishes they could have to maybe improve their life.

The host starts the episode by describing her challenging years in her twenties, making her very relatable to many others. One at a time, she goes down the points on her list, and after each point, adds a personal anecdote with it. She covers a wide range of topics, from making financial mistakes and the dangers of people-pleasing to learning the value of solitude. Each segment is thoughtfully prepared, and the pacing is very intentional, including small pauses to let the listeners reflect on themselves and their lives.

One of the most notable strengths I saw here was the host’s vulnerability. She isn’t just giving advice; she is sharing how she learned each lesson the hard way. This makes the episode feel even more genuine. However, there are moments in it where some points are repeated a few times in different words, lowering the momentum.

Despite this, I really enjoyed the episode and found it very insightful. It made me feel less alone on this confusing journey of emerging adulthood, and gave me things to think about for the future.

Critique 3- On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Episode: “7 Ways We Block Our Own Happiness” (w/solo Jay episode)

I selected one episode from On Purpose with Jay Shetty, based on his calming energy and practical mindset advice. I was searching for uplifting podcasts and discovered this show, which seemed really interesting to me.

Jay starts the episode with a simple question. How often do we get in our own way? That one question sets the tone for the episode and engages listeners. He then walks through seven habits that quietly diminish our happiness. These include comparison, avoidance, and people-pleasing. Each point is then supported by a short story and relatable examples to help the audience connect.

A strength I saw from this episode is Jay’s gentle delivery. His explanations give off a sense of encouragement rather than just spewing thoughts. He uses simple metaphors to make emotional concepts easy for the audience to grasp. The only downside of this episode is that some of the advice may feel repetitive or familiar if you have previously listened to this podcast.

Overall, this episode is very reflective and calming, and a great tool to listen to if you feel like you need a quick mindset reset or clarity on how to get out of your own way.

Critique 4- We Can Do Hard Things

Episode: “1. ANXIETY: Is it just love holding its breath?” (Season 1, Episode 1)

This is the first full episode of We Can Do Hard Things, and it introduces listeners not only to the show but to Glennon Doyle’s way of talking about mental health. It’s co-hosted with Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle, and the episode is devoted entirely to anxiety. It runs for about an hour and is divided into three parts. Glennon’s personal description of an anxiety attack, her coping strategies, and a closing segment, which features an original song by her daughter.

The episode’s storytelling is both intimate and detailed. Glennon takes the listeners through precisely what she thought and felt in that moment, and how anxiety feels. Abby and Amanada jump in as both question-askers and witnesses, creating a natural, open conversation. This conversational dynamic really shows how the three of them support each other in understanding it.

The episode is strong in the way it crafts, mixing vulnerability with practical tools. After describing her personal experience of a panic attack, Glennon outlines three specific strategies that help her calm down, moving the episode from raw emotion to something the listeners can use for themselves.

Overall, I really enjoyed this episode, and I think it’s a powerful way to open the series. It sets the tone of honest emotion while also focusing on helping people through challenging situations.

Critique 5-Pretty Basic with Alisha Marie & Remi Cruz

Episode “The Future of Our friendship + Remi Found a Wedding Venue”

In this episode of Pretty Basic, longtime best friends and co-hosts Alisha Marie and Remi Cruz blend friend-focused talk with a major life update: Remi’s search for a wedding venue. The episode is sort of like a pop-culture chat and personal diary entry, which is precisely what their audience expects. Structurally, it opens with a lighter catch-up, then moves into two main threads of ideas. How their friendship is changing as their lives get busier and more “adult”, and the process of planning Remi’s wedding.

The central tension here is subtle but relatable: how do you keep a friendship strong when careers, relationships, and life stages start to pull you in different directions? They often say there is a lot of pressure to share their relationship online. That conversation gives the episode more emotional weight than just a simple event recap.

The wedding-planning segment adds a fun, aspirational layer. Remi describes the process of touring various venues and finally, after a while, finding the perfect one. Because listeners know her fiancé and have watched their engagement unfold, this part feels almost like an update on their ongoing storyline. Overall, this episode does a great job of showing the hosts’ lives as the plot and the podcast are an outlet for them to unpack the feelings and emotions behind the scenes.

Critique 6- Crime Junkie

Episode. “MISSING: Zelig Williams”

Crime Junkie is a super popular true crime podcast, and this episode follows the disappearance of a young man named Zelig Williams. The episode begins with host Ashley Flowers detailing the timeline of Zelig’s last known moments. The storytelling is key to this point, so it’s easy to follow, even if you’re new to the case. She lays out what the police know about the case, what the witnesses have said, and what still remains unanswered. Britt adds reactions and questions to help break up the details and add natural discussion.

One strength of this episode is its focus. The hosts don’t add any drama; they only stick to the confirmed information and treat the case with respect. The episode keeps listeners very attentive and lets you think about what might have happened in the case.

One weakness is that listeners who like closure get frustrated because the case is still open and there are no final answers, leaving an unsettling feeling. Overall, the episode is powerful and emotional. It shows why Crime Junkie has such a dedicated audience.

Critique 7-Hidden Brain

Episode “You 2.0: Deep Work”

Hidden Brain is known for applying psychological insights to daily life, and this episode explained how concentration works and why deep focus is becoming increasingly out of reach in contemporary life.

The episode begins with the show’s host, Shanker Vedantam, interviewing author Cal Newport. Through a collaborative effort, they explain what “deep work” means: extended periods of time spent focused on something with no distractions. The tone is soothing and educational.

A strength of this episode is the practicality of its advice. They don’t just talk about the science of it; they give real steps people can take to improve their focus, like using their phone less and finding a dedicated workspace.

All in all, this episode is helpful, clear, and very motivating. It’s a great listen for anyone looking to improve their study habits and understand how attention works.

Critique 8- How I Built This with Guy Raz

Episode: “Airbnb: Joe Gebbia”

This episode describes how Airbnb started from a small idea that Joe Gebbia and his co-founder had when they couldn’t afford rent, and decided to rent out air mattresses during a conference, which later grew into a global company.

This episode’s format is straightforward to follow because Joe tells the story step by step and lays it out for the listeners. A strength of this episode is Joe’s brutal honesty about the complex struggles he faced and his failures. It really makes the story relatable and inspiring.

One minor weakness is that the episode spends most of its time on Airbnb’s early years, so you don’t hear as much about the challenges that came later. Other than that, the episode is super motivational and easy to understand. It’s a good choice for anyone interested in entrepreneurship or personal development.