I love this podcast. Very well written, and easy to follow even if you know nothing about crypto. It gives you great insight into the people around SBF and their experiences with him during the rise and fall of Alameda and FTX. Well reported and well written. The vocal fry on the narrator’s part is really the only downside, and it’s not a biggie. Side note- it’s crazy how much listening to Caroline Ellison reminds me of Elizabeth Holmes.

Great podcast reviewing SBF and FTX without going too long or detailed. Very compelling

I enjoyed the early episodes of this podcast, which gave a good background on the people and events involved. I was looking forward to the courtroom coverage, but it has been very minimal and more concerned with the reporter’s experience as a journalist than with what is being said in the trial itself. I was hoping for a podcast similar to Bad Blood about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos but unfortunately this falls far short of that. Author Michael Lewis appears to have fallen for and remains enchanted with SBF’s entire boy genius schtick. The podcast never gives a sense of why or how SBF took hold of people that way. Maybe Lewis could do an episode reflecting on that.

Should be interesting but the presenter is severely annoying, terrible voice, stupid values, seems like she cried if she ever got a B on her report card. There are SEVERAL better, less cloyingly desperate podcasts about this subject. Check those out instead

I was entertained while receiving an education. How everybody fell for this is hilarious. Unfortunately, he will not spend any Prison time. That is why he was one of the highest money donors to both political parties. He was preparing for the fall.

This is the most comprehensive overview of the SBF story I've come across yet. It's balanced, which Michael Lewis's book is apparently not, with compelling storytelling and a reasonable level of detail on the events.

Had to stop 10 minutes in. Vocal fry makes me crazy and I can’t enjoy. Please Get professional voice actors!!

I simply cannot understand how anyone fell for this kid’s nonsense. I knew he was full of crap the first time I ever heard his name; anyone who wants to “do good” would not donate money to, and vote for, one of the most evil political parties in human history. Also, hearing his fellow crook call herself “hot” was the funniest thing that I have heard all year. I really needed a good laugh, and that gave me a great one. That Caroline crook is so unattractive that if we were the last two people on the planet and only we could repopulate humanity I would just let the human race become extinct before I touched that girl with a ten-foot pole. The show itself is interesting and the hostess seems to have the personality for podcasting; however, she lets her alt-left insanity shine through once in a while. If it were not for that this show would have gotten five stars from me.

A really great dive into a fascinating story. Well done.

Great podcast series, I really enjoyed it. Would love more episodes as the trial progresses.

I was hoping for more details on the fraud but we get a lot of filler about misc details about Sam (what he wears, who was at parties he attended…) that really drag this out.

An episode about “Sam’s Inner Circle” that doesn’t once mention Dan Friedberg? Not worth your time.

Don’t really appreciate this and would expect more from this channel.

I listened to other podcasts from Wondery which were all very good but this podcast just doesn’t really seem to be of the same quality. Not much new ground here.

Wanted to be better but storytelling was thin and just could not capture an interesting arch or tone. Could’ve been better in different hands.

Some mild vocal fry, which is actually common across podcasts. Lots of male voiced podcasts use that drawn out throaty “dude” voice, but the deeper the voice, the less you hear about vocal fry being annoying. Now about the actual podcast: it is meant to be a deepdive, and it is. Somehow people were looking for someone to read them a Buzzfeed article out loud for a podcast? I prefer this deep dive. Hungrily awaiting more episodes. Love the use of recordings of Sam himself. This is a podcast about mindsets: Sam’s, the investor’s, and the regulators. Somehow I predict we will only truly be able to determine where one of those was by the end. Of course we won’t get to hear about the victims, as a lot of people who invest more than a small amount of money in such ventures obscure their own investments. A bummer we couldn’t dig some up, but that even takes regulators a lot of effort. Would like some bonus follow-ups on his fare, his baby blanket treatment so far leading into his trial, and maybe a whole season for the trial itself!

Huge story but weak coverage. No interviews with participants, no technical details. Just water and speculation. Disappointed

This podcast is just plain boring. I don’t know if it’s because the story is just not interesting or this podcast is just doing a poor job. Either way I’m finding it nearly impossible to get into it or listen to it at all. Also this host is TERRIBLE. I know she can’t help it if she has a lisp but it’s honestly so distracting and she’s just not good. They really should have had someone else host this.

Wondery’s production value and hosts are always good, but the reporting of this one of left me wanting. The episodes are short and don’t dive too deep. It’s not a terrible binge listen, but you won’t learn anything new if you have even a passing knowledge of this story.

The ending was abrupt and didn’t explain what is coming next for SBF. It could have left the door open for a part two. Instead, it seemed unfinished. Disappointing.

Why no mention of how he was the second biggest donor to the Democratic Party??? That’s pretty significant thing to leave out

This is solid coverage of the story, if you want interesting details and to understand the story arc of this ongoing situation. However I am editing my previous 4 from the early episodes down. The pod comes to an abrupt end into a commercial, then credits. I know that it’s still current events, but the last episode felt unfinished. Also, why bring up the bachelorette weekend again? Seems a bit insensitive to bring up feelings about having associated with Caroline, and how the mutual friend may feel, without getting into the massive financial damage Sam did to his investors. What about them?…. Could have used more analysis on the victims and not just a profile on SBFs bizarre cult of personality

This host does a phenomenal job with her delivery and storytelling flow. I love the behind -the-scenes look we get here. Solid 5 stars!!

The podcast wastes a great deal of time with self promotion and advertising and offers very little insightful content... a very disappointing production.

This story is a telling account of how younger people perceive these “influential” characters (Elizabeth Holmes, Adam Neumann) these days who are innately money hungry and desperate for their 15 minutes of fame. There is a difference between characteristics of “intelligence” and “influence” in people. Intelligence+influence does not equal “honesty”. The reporters did a good job but charging for subscription fee to hear the last two episodes, after the 4th episode for a story we’ve heard too often, and for an ending we all know too well, is laughable.

Like...at least half of each episode is advertising. It's a clever formula when you think about it. Take a hot-button topic and then pack it full of ads. Not enough substance to keep me listening, though, unless I wanted to hear about the best deals on car rentals or whatever.

I’m more into true crime but found this through Morbid. I gave it a listen for the host, she’s a good story teller, gives me an Ashley Flowers vibe.

I started listening to true crime pods during the pandemic. Addicting. Now moving on to financial crime. It takes a solid host and solid storyline. This one has both.

It definitely kept me listening but the ending kinda just came. I thought it was the ending of the “intro” she does at the beginning of the episodes but then it was done. Worth the listen though!

There is so much I don’t know in this space I just am loving this podcast! A good springboard for how to learn more!

Host repeatedly comes back to a brief bachelorette weekend she had with Caroline Ellison which had absolutely 0 to do with the narrative other than a tenuous personal connection to a secondary nexus in the scandal.

I think the story is interesting and the host is great. But I would never pay for a subscription because the episodes are so short - there’s just not much content. Without ads it’s only about 15 minutes per episode.

Hannah Miller did a great job in presenting one of the largest ever con job. I found her podcast compelling explaining how an immature frat boy and his well to do pals managed to pull off this scam. Sam was / is a “game player” (weird for someone who’s 30 y/o) and thought FTX was simply another game . Using the guise of “doing well for humanity & changing the world” & his ridiculous costume of cargo pants, tee shirts and sandals / he played the part with finesse & fooled and deeply hurt a lot of people. One of the most fascinating stories I’ve heard (lots of similarities to Bernie Madoff & Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos). He’s your basic con man playing the role of a savant & stealing people’s money while soaking in the adoration of his followers.

I don’t find that the story is building up to anything exciting that makes you want to keep listening.

I’m a huge fan of the story so far. The callousness and clumsiness of Sam B.F., plus the financial world’s willingness to overlook serious pitfalls of his companies, makes for an addictive story

The information sand reporting was excellent. Listened to all the episodes in one setting

Don’t invest with people who have a juvenile, and limited vocabulary. Valley girl ventures are a huge risk.

Run Izotope > Mouth Declicker. Then boom. Maybe this podcast would be worth a fair rating. Until then, faire mieux.

For being a podcast from Wondry this is by far the worst the vocal fry is horrible! I’d try fixing that before making more episodes that sound the same

This is another good podcast from Bloomberg.

About every few minutes, the audio would glitch. Only happened on the Wondery episodes (3 & 4)..

It seems interesting but the vocal fry is torture. How does Wondery not know this is a problem? It’s literally your job to make listenable podcasts.

This is one of the biggest current news stories and yet this podcast is told in such a flat, overly detailed way that makes it a snore fest. Please put some energy and life into future projects.

Very interesting topic but the vocal fry is too distracting to enjoy the content. The tech we use to listen to audio improves everyday and vocal fry really is harsh on the ears if you have a good set of headphones/earbuds

This podcast is great! The host has a great viewpoint and is doing a great job leading the story. I can’t wait to listen to each episode along the way.

Not it

I couldn’t even make it past the preview - the host has too much vocal fry.

Was perturbed Wondery was advertising subscription service almost 2 weeks before first episode released. Pretty shady! Good first episode so looking forward to hearing more. 5/22/2023