Popular Reviews of Smoke Screen

This is a review of the latest season, Deadly Cure. The content of this story is buck-wild, sometimes terrifying, and sometimes deeply, deeply upsetting. One of the later episodes features descriptions of child abuse which, while it is very difficult to listen to on its own, is made even worse for the knowledge that the parents hurt their children because they got taken in by the words of some flippant, flagrant con artists.This story needs to be heard to be believed.

The 'Deadly Cure' and 'Puppy Kingpin' seasons are the best of this podcast - recommend both for telling stories that aren't as well known as they should be. 'Deadly Cure' in particular really needs to be better known.

This review is about I Am Rama. I enjoyed Jonathan Hirch's work on Dear Franklin Jones and was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, this is a very dull, very repetitive story. We spend a lot of time with Rama's supporters in every episode for balance I think but it has a way of undercutting every accusation made against him. And because of this every episode has the exact same pattern: People make credible accusations, his supporters say he didn't do anything wrong, rinse and repeat. This story is built as a linear true-crime style narrative but I think that traditional technique didn't work here. It should have been at least half the length (it's 10 episodes!) and Hirsch was just way too credulous.

Author knows nothing about cults or religion, is constantly shocked by basic things.

This is AMAZING. The intricate web of deceit and corruption is smoothly untangled by the grass roots organizers and community watchdogs that held elected officials accountable. Excellent music. I'd love to meet some of the collaborators!