A rough start
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“I downloaded iTunes just to write this review: I LOVE Wirecutter and can attest to dozens of purchases informed by the team's excellent reporting, so I was really looking forward to this podcast. Unfortunately, I have found the first couple episodes difficult to listen to.
Overall, I think the show has great—though sparse—information delivered through a weak structure. Is this an advice column? A comedic morning talk show? An investigative report? The Wirecutter Show apparently attempts to be all of the above and struggles to achieve this goal. If the only ambition is to have a friendly, laidback chat that encourages people to go read Wirecutter articles, then I suppose this current format could work, but if the show has the ambition of compiling Wirecutter's investigations into a condensed, easy-to-follow format, then the show needs to think strategically about pedagogy and structure.
The current casual attitude (spoardic anecdotes, THREE hosts plus whoever they're talking with, and redundant questions) makes it difficult to feel as though this is either the most entertaining or efficient way to learn about these products. Instead, some upfront expectations about the questions to be answered and some systematic analysis of basic principles (e.g., for laundry, what are "surfactants" or "enzymes," why does "like likes like"?) would give the listener a better sense of the journey the episode will take them on and leave them feeling like they have learned WHY certain products have risen to the top. Recurring segments (like listener questions, common misconceptions/mistakes, environmental considerations, and testing procedures) could be built into the show to give it this sense of structure. I left the laundry episode thinking, "This was maybe 5 minutes worth of written information, and I'm still left wondering whether I should be adding vinegar into my washer or choosing dryer balls over dryer sheets." It all felt adhoc and unserious, which is the opposite of the impression I get from the written reporting.
Again, this may be the type of show that the Wirecutter team wants to produce (all the more power to you!), but if you primarily produce content that is a means to an end (i.e., "I am using Wirecutter to learn about a product category and buy it"), then producing audio content that takes a different tack (i.e., comedic, banter-filled anecdotes that float around a topic) feels like it is intended for a different audience with different purposes.”Read full review »
chicagonice via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/24/24
More reviews of The Wirecutter Show
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“Who knew? Cold water and 2 tablespoons laundry detergent for most washings. I’m texting my daughter at college and all my friends—and making sure my husband knows, too (he does most of the laundry!).”
Rambuctious via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/25/24
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“I really enjoy the Wirecutter site and can’t wait to see what they bring to the podcast space!”
hopefuljoe via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/14/24
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“Good info but too much giggling.”
The Garden Lady via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/25/24
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