Reviews
Fails to deliver. It ends up telling a pretty narrow story of the failed political career of a local activist who is naive and demonstrates very poor judgement. The most compelling character bows out after episode 2 only to reappear as a footnote in the epilogue. Waste of time unless you’re from...Read full review »
Franetrain262 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 11/24/23
One of the first California desert communities to welcome large scale cannabis cultivation, the comedy of errors that ensues (including failing to collect the taxes that were supposed to save the town) is an object lesson in what NOT to do if you’re counting on cannabis to save the day. Told...Read full review »
AllTheGoodNicknamesAre Taken via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 10/12/23
I lived this for a year. When your vice mayor doesn’t wear shoes to work, you know you have a problem. You can’t fix stupid!
Sally JoJoJo via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 09/24/23
Though some might argue that 5 minutes of ad, recap and table of contents before the episode starts is excessive.
Dbkhfx via Apple Podcasts · Great Britain · 09/13/23
Compelling and well told, the story of Adelanto is a modern parable that keeps you thinking, long after you’ve finished listening. Highly recommend all of crooked media’s thoughtful and entertaining content
Miss Proud via Apple Podcasts · Great Britain · 09/12/23
Starts out very compelling with a great premise of cannabis and corruption. About four episodes in, it veers off into monotonous small town politics. Should have done a far more in-depth look at the initial story. Disappointing.
jim wills via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 09/08/23
As a longtime Victorville resident, I was drawn to this podcast. I had no idea exactly what the story would entail but I wasn’t expecting much. I was drawn in because it was well produced and heavily featured my friendly associate who I met via Facebook. I would recommend this podcast to anyone,...Read full review »
keysiiface via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 09/06/23
A meandering and tilted show that’s starts as an investigation and then just wanders into a profile of a councilwoman, glossing over the compelling to focus on boring nonsense.
RJive25 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 08/20/23
Enjoyed this well-made podcast series. For anyone who has lived in a small town “on the ropes” it all rings true.
DoriMerDen via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 08/15/23
Gripping story with lots of twists, had me hooked from beginning to end.
Jr1029384 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 08/04/23
I loved this podcast. I couldn’t wait to listen to each week’s episodes. All the people in it were fascinating and I loved the narration! Brilliant!
Jandek from Texas via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 08/03/23
Fabulously and objectively told.
Hisoccermom via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 08/02/23
It begins with cannabis, but this story is really a detailed look at how small town politics operate, and the difficulties of making change. Told with wit, compassion, and humor, all the qualities I’ve come to expect from David Weinberg.
slamgranderson via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 08/01/23
So many similar podcasts don’t bother to care about the audience. They assume the genre is secure - ramble about some small town folk and it’s going to be celebrated as avant-garde storytelling. This series cares about the audience, builds suspense and interest, and delivers narrative payoffs....Read full review »
Cut to the Chase via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 08/01/23
The lesson from this story is what happens when citizens do not hold elected officials accountable. Perhaps the path of inviting medical grade dispensaries into the town encouraged the spotlight for this podcast, but the real issue is how favoritism and cronyism is detrimental for everyone (think...Read full review »
ccm&co via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/31/23
Breaking Bad meets the Music Man. This podcast is one of my faves of this year. Thrilling and compassionately told, extremely well reported. Incredible characters that can only exist in small town America. And the recap narrator at the beginning sounds like the hot lady version of Sam Elliott....Read full review »
Cowboy Junior via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/30/23
I was so excited about the original premise - a story of cannabis and local corruption - and shared the first episode with a bunch of 420 industry folks. The focus seemed to jump around after the first few episodes, zooming in on one council member. Dropped the thread on all the teasers about...Read full review »
DougieMaha via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/29/23
They get everything right. I would listen a second and third time to an episode right after finishing the first pass because I found it that fascinating. David rolls out this story perfectly...slowly getting to know each character in this city makes me think of how all the small cities in America...Read full review »
betsyboobop via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/29/23
I finished the series and just gave a shrug. Someone tried (unsuccessfully) way to hard to create an interesting narrative. Also, the narrator was a completely shameless appropriation of “The Stranger” from the Cohn Brothers The Big Lebowski.
DaveB123RST via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/26/23
This is the worst limited-run podcast that I have listened to. Starts with an interesting premise for 2-3 episodes. Quickly devolves into a character study of one local city council member. The podcast ultimately wraps up with a cursory summary of the marijuana issue in the last few minutes. ...Read full review »
music and red sox via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/26/23
I grew up in the High Desert and had friends from Adelanto. I know this town well. This podcast provided so much light and background. Great writing, storytelling, pace. I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend.
BWKUIPER via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/21/23
A slickly produced, expertly reported, well written story of…absolutely nothing. Doesn’t even bother to tell the story it purports to tell. Kind of starts off with the whole ‘big weed in a small town’ vibe but quickly switches to an entirely different story of run of the mill, inconsequential,...Read full review »
rueby2shooz via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/21/23
Before I listened to this podcast I always dreamed of moving to California to start my own utopian weed farm paradise. David Weinberg’s nuanced storytelling pulled the wool from my eyes and disabused me of my naivety. I don’t want to get yelled at by people in clown suits and feel all itchy after...Read full review »
Curbs10009 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/20/23
The production values are excellent. The first couple episodes are very compelling, but it seems to lose the original thread after that. The focus shifts so some tangentially related topics and people, whose stories amount to nothing as it relates to the initial premise. I’m not upset that I...Read full review »
Northbae via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/20/23
I have spent quite a bit of time in Adelanto. The story of its trials and tribulations has always fascinated me, beginning with the school board in Adelanto. Only one slight criticism, the occasional female’s voice is grating and fake. People here don’t talk like that.
Street Casey via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/19/23
I usually love everything crooked media puts out but I’m legitimately confused as to what the point do this one was about. I listened all the way through and I’m still lost. There seemed like there was an attempt to dig deep into something real like injustice in the child welfare world but in the...Read full review »
calvin107 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/19/23
I stopped listening to this about 2/3rds of the way through; i just had to admit it to myself: this is pretty boring. The political shenanigans of my own local council are tedious enough, let alone those of a town i’ve never heard of.
diamondsonmywindshield via Apple Podcasts · Australia · 07/13/23
It would have been beneficial to share what else comes with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs contract that Stevana didn’t mention. 24/7/365 access to Sheriff’s aviation 24/7/365 access to Homicide/ SWAT/Crimes against children teams The city pays for 1/2 of a lieutenant and does not pay...Read full review »
Localtonoone via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/12/23
I’m not the target audience, but it didn’t matter because the storytelling is unmatched 🙌🏾‼️
Shakstart via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/02/23
I drive through Adelanto 4-5 times a year and had no idea how much was going on in this seemingly sleepy desert town. Great reporting!
Beth92054 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 07/01/23
Law & Order-level plot twists, which is to say, painfully predictable. I mean, it’s about drugs and I’d describe myself as…a fan of the content matter. But it’s not Crooked-worthy. Mother Country Radicals was great, IMO. This ain’t that. This is a podcast to turn on if you’ve already run...Read full review »
Blake Wareham via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/29/23
It’s amazing what you’ll find when you start digging around in a small town!
bill in bama via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/22/23
Whoever made this had a good nose for a story. The reporting was good, with tapes from raucous town meetings. The podcast embraces a lot of colorful, offbeat characters. There’s something very free about it. The bigger narrative about the new plan to grow weed is also set up well. I was loving...Read full review »
leapingheart via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/22/23
Awesome storytelling and fascinating story!! Can’t wait for the next episode
AudDens via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/20/23
Really interesting story. A little all over the place. Could lose the beginning intro of the recap being told- it makes it sound like a fake story. Other than that- I’m interested to see how this pans out.
LesliePPH via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/19/23
adelanTO? buddy, more like adelantWHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED THIS PODCAST AT OVER 140 DECIBELS I WANT THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND DESIGN AND THOUGHTFUL EXPOSITION TO SHATTER MY BONES AND RENDER ME INTO HUMAN DUST I WANT TO BECOME ONE W THIS PODCAST EVERY MOLECULE OF MY MATTER MARRIED TO THIS MARIJUANA...Read full review »
MISTER SKRATCH via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/13/23
Big fan of David Weinberg’s reporting. Excited for this to unfold.
MXG_Writer via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/10/23
The first two episodes were great, I can’t wait to hear the rest of this story
MarseaMarie via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/09/23
Somewhere in the first few episodes the story is compared to both a “psychedelic Western” and “The Music Man.” It feels a little fantastical, a little tall tale. It’s the entrepreneurial spirit of Johnny Appleseed, but weed. (Bug Weedseed?)
mspassell via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/08/23
I just started listening but I’m really into this podcast. It’s well researched and reported. I hope Crooked continues this series and profiles other stories of other towns.
Mooksie Michelle via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/08/23
David Weinberg’s documentaries are riveting deep dives, and this show is fantastic! The episodes ratchet up the tension ending with cliffhangers that leave listeners on the edge of their seats. His story-telling style is engaging and immersive, bringing us into this small Californian town. The...Read full review »
Matt the musician via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/07/23
Bring it folks. Y’all are wonderful and this sounds awesome
thebestrob via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 06/03/23
This sounds better than a high desert bong rip!
One Happy Nielsen Family via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 05/18/23
As someone who tried to maneuver in the cannabis space in Adelanto a few years back, I can. not. wait to hear what this podcast unearths. It’s no surprise to me that there’s a story here; it was mind-boggling attempting to deal with “professionals” — city and not — in this space.
StateofBrie via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 05/15/23
Very excited for this
loverofpodcasts via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 04/26/23
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