I love this podcast, it is entertaining but you can tell Chelsea does her research too… my only note is that I wish she would stop saying “committed suicide.” It isn’t a crime you commit - died by suicide is better.

The topics seemed interesting but it wasn’t long before I picked up on the very odd cadence of speaking. Hoping to give it a chance, I scrubbed through numerous episodes hoping it was just one or two awkward recordings. Unfortunately it was not. It makes listening so unbearable that having to listen to a full episode would be pure torture.

STOP TALKING LIKE THAT!!!!! i want to so very badly listen because i am intrigued but i genuinely cannot stand the way she’s talking. it’s so cringe & makes it all seem so goofy. pls you’d get more listeners if you’d just speak normally. put the script down and just speak

Every episode is content I would LOVE to enjoy. But Chelsey speaks in an awkward stilt that renders it unlistenable— a theatrical affectation that alienates the audience. I tried listening on a faster speed, but that didn’t change the distracting delivery. I love to listen when there’s a guest to bring out Chelsey’s normal human speech patterns

I love the show, Chelsea is fantastic. They are very insightful and I am always learning new things. The show is a joy to listen to, well made and a little bit weird.

Chelsea is awesome. They are so smart and insightful. I really enjoy their podcasting style, and the content they provide. Thank you, Chelsea! I am a big fan! 🤗

Chelsea puts on a great show. Most listeners are probably drawn in but a few hysteria topics that speak or spoke to them at some point, but subscribers stay for Chelsea. They are an engaging host that manages to bridge to American cultural phenomenon and hysteria with real world consequences through their research, observations and of course their personal anecdotes and passion. I wouldn’t have assumed that Chelsea’s queer identity or former conspiratorial tendencies would further enhance the storytelling, but in episodes like the Gay Agenda and even broader conspiracies like the Illuminati, there’s something more engaging and powerful when a member of a minority community speaks to their truth. It’s much easier to empathize and therefore, easier to follow the hysteria and its real target and very real victims. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this podcast is optioned as a TV series sometime soon, but until the big sellout moment (kidding), I will enjoy every episode as if it’s been produced just for me and few other outcasts who have always been fascinated with the minds of Americans.

Informative, funny, and fascinating. Chelsea’s delivery is fine by me, and boy are they smart. LOVE. 🫶

Chelsey is one of my most favorite voices and hosts hands down. They put their whole heart into making this show. I’ve learned so much supporting this podcast and you should too.

Tom Risen doesn't mention the CIA's 'limited hangout' tactic by name but the interview he gives is itself an excellent demonstration of it. spin a few facts, omit a great many others, and somehow it seems ok that the only response from federal lawmakers to decades of slaughter and torture committed by the CIA at home and abroad was a senate hearing and the creation of something called 'congressional oversight' that the public is forbidden from knowing anything about. no doubt the CIA learned their lesson

One of my favorite pods! Can’t believe they forgot to mention Spiders Georg in their most recent episode though.

Oooof it’s hard to handle. When the whole show depends on the hosts voice, I wish they’d hire someone that doesn’t sound like a sarcastic millennial know it all. Honestly I’d probably read these if they were in a magazine cuz the content seems pretty good but I can’t get passed it, it’s too much. Very bad, unlistenable. Such a shame

This is one of the BEST shows I’ve ever listened to. Great story telling, music, facts, honestly everything was amazing.

I love this show so much thank you for all the effort and research put in to create these episodes and the clever language always keeps me engaged!

This show is phenomenal. So well-researched, thought-provoking, often funny and scary and strange all at once. I’ve listened to every episode more than once (except the last ones that are a little too on-the-nose in terms of my irrational fears). Chelsea’s cadence has never bothered me - in fact, I find her voice and the rhythm of speech she uses very easy and comfortable to listen to. Maybe it’s my particular brand of neurodivergence. Anyway, Chelsea, I love you and the way you tell stories, please never stop being you. ❤️

I enjoy this podcast. The topics are interesting and the research seems first rate. People have commented on the hosts delivery, but I haven’t had a problem. I recommend giving this podcast a try.

The content is so interesting to me, but it’s not worth it to suffer through the host’s atrocious delivery and speech patterns. Not only does it sound like she’s reading word-for-word from a script, but it’s as though she’s doing a caricature of newscaster. Absolutely unlistenable, which is such a shame.

I’m easily annoyed, Chelsey’s presentation isn’t perfect but she gets the job done and the content is extraordinary, there’s way worse out there. 4.5/5

I keep returning to this podcast to try again, as I love the topics. But narrator’s/host’s reading of the episodes is unlistenable, even at 1.25 or 1.5. I don’t understand her intonation. It’s all I can focus on when listening :-(

Inflection and overall phonetic delivery is intolerable. Very sing-songy and out of touch with listeners.

a wonderful show full of wonderful people!! so happy to see it

Just combine your show with Sarah’s.

Chelsey is a natural story teller! The research is high quality, and their insight and personal stories add to the enjoyment. I could listen to Chelsey talk about anything, but fortunately it’s always fascinating!

I love the subject matter! I just can’t get past the host’s delivery - as if she’s a cross between a TV news reporter and an over-the-top gossip columnist. Pleeease tone it down a bit because I’d love to listen!

Personally, I love Chelsey’s cadence! The podcast is equal parts entertaining, well researched, and absurd. I enjoy the nostalgia of the bizarre moral panics we know and love or hate, as well as learning new things! Don’t change! ❤️

After finding my way here from You’re Wrong About, I thought I’d give this a try. At first, I also had difficulty with Chelsea’s vocal cadence, but I’ve gotten used to it over time. (And I mostly only notice it now near the start and end of an episode). But the content is just SO GOOD and I love Chelsea’s perspective on things, as well as having fantastic guests. This has turned into one of my favorite podcasts, and is always worth the listen.

Definitely my favorite podcast hands down! This is such a unique podcast and I truly feel like there’s nothing else like it out there. As a professional researcher I can say Chelsey embodies the qualities of a true researcher. Aside from being straight-up brilliant and incredibly knowledgeable, Chelsey approaches any topic from a really rare perspective of one who can balance healthy skepticism, authentic passion for the mysterious, reverence, and humility. In a sea of so much crappy content on the internet, I honestly feel like every episode is a genuine work of art that I feel so lucky to get to partake in. The amount of research and dedication Chelsey clearly puts into each topic is incredible… I love how they even intersperse primary sources like historic audio clips! I love the cultural analysis about the “unconscious cultural psychology” of the times; this podcast has honestly changed my relationship to learning about American History and I wish I had been taught history through this cultural psychological analysis lens when I was growing up. On top of their savvy research mind, Chelsey has the heart of a poet and is a talented story-teller who takes you on an emotionally evocative journey. I love how they every so often reveal pieces about their own personal journey of seasoning a life-long exuberance for the occult with a maturing commitment to logic and reason (which I personally can so relate to). I rarely leave reviews but Chelsey’s podcast is just such a quality offering and deserves so much recognition. Can’t recommend it enough! Thanks for creating such an incredible offering Chelsey. It’s added so much value to my life and I look forward to every episode💕

I’m sorry I want to listen to this I enjoy the content but the vocal styling is so difficult to listen to. It is only barely bearable on 1.5 speed and the constant emphasis on every 3-4 words is so frustrating to listen to. It’s like the host is reading a title header for dramatic effect but then reads the rest of the script that way. Please consider changing this style as it’s so hard to enjoy the content.

I really wish I could like this podcast but the voice is so robotic and uncomfortable. I feel like I’m watching a watchmojo top 10 video.

Very entertaining and covers a wide range of topics!

I think about the jackass episodes weekly. So good, so incisive.

I’ve never liked podcasts. I was actually very snobbish about my distaste (v hipster I know). Since I got a job that gives me the freedom to listen during my shift, I found this podcast and now I just can’t stop! I appreciate the extensive research, how they don’t shy away from the harshest of subjects and the story telling style. Keep it up, fellow horror lovers!

Please please please do an episode in the Serbian Dancing Lady! She creeps me out and I definitely want to know more about her!

This is a well researched and entertaining podcast about urban legends and moral panics. It’s worth checking out!

The topics of this podcast sound really interesting but I could not make it through one episode, due to the hosts tone and cadence. Certain words were drawn out unnecessarily, and it just became difficult to listen to. Additionally, some of the banter was a little odd. This podcast has potential, and with better delivery it could be really good

This is one of the most remarkable podcasts out there. It covers riveting, shocking topics—but does so with a depth and with a thoughtfulness that makes you better for having listened. Instead of feeling like a voyeur, you actually become part of a conversation. You actually understand. It’s like if Lore had journalistic standards!

I honestly don’t know what people are talking about in these 2 or 3 star ratings. Chelsey, I think you have a great radio voice!! Such an interesting and informative show.

I am always sharing what I learn from your show. Thank you for all the deep dives and interesting stories!

I love this pod so much!

I love this host, she’s so smart and a great conversationalist!! I learn so much from this pod & other pods she is a guest on

Has the potential to be an amazing, interesting podcast but the woke, repetitive talking points are so cliche and so exhausting

I honestly don’t know why people are giving Chelsey so much crap about their speaking pattern, just speed it up, and if that doesn’t work for you then JUST MOVE ON! You don’t need to write a review about it. Overall an amazing show and very interesting topics!

I agree with others who say the topic and the research is great and really interesting, but the Host’s speaking cadence is very difficult to listen to over time. Disappointing.

I want to like this show so bad. The topics are all interesting, the host is well researched, and the editing is engaging. I just cannot get past the host’s delivery. The cadence she speaks in is unnatural and, frankly, grating. Each word does not need to be drawn out and delivered so (for lack of a better word) bouncy. I tried listening in 1.5 speed, which helped, but most certainly did not fix the problem. Would be a regular listener if not for this.

I’ve only been able to get through 3 or 4 episodes and I can’t listen anymore. The host is fantastic but I can’t get past her speech pattern. It’s as if she’s reading a salacious headline or introduction that goes on forever. I keep expecting her to drop it and get to the story. I’ve heard Chelsey on other podcasts and she sounds great!

Interesting topics, with well researched commentary from the host with every episode!

Always good to check in with our various American panics of history! Great research and sound design too. Love the storytelling.

I really want to love this but the host’s speech pattern makes it unlistenable. The awkward emphasis on every 3-4 words with a dragged-out vocal fry (something I never much care about) is insufferable. I hope the producers reconsider whatever choice this delivery style was. So bad.

As someone in academia, I am pretty PICKY about my podcasts and American Hysteria by far my favorite. Every Monday they deliver truly well-researched, nuanced, and entertaining episodes, and every Monday I have a new fun fact to tell any unsuspecting person who brings up anything tangentially relevant to haunted houses or chick tracts. Thank you so much for the work that you guys do!

The host takes us through fascinating and sometimes bizarre scenarios throughout history, allowing us to consider and feel what the subject might have been feeling before exploring the who-what-why of it all. This podcast is a well-rounded, thoughtful look at strange and complicated American cultural moments and where they came from. The host even has a knack for voice acting, which feels like yet another level deeper engagement with the subjects at hand. I’m hooked!