What’s going on? Hard pivot to 911 calls and police encounters. It’s not the content we came for. ✌🏼

I used to really enjoy this podcast but will no longer be listening. I just finished the episode about Sage, the mother who was shot. The entire episode was 911 calls and then her lawyer speaking. Nothing else, no additional information, details, outcome. What a lazy way to produce an episode. Not to mention it’s a 20 min episode, including Ads. Do better man.

I have been an avid subscriber for the past 3 years. Recently, I’ve noticed that almost every case is now split into Parts 1,2,3 etc… I mean I get it. But what about the people that actually support and pay an $8 monthly subscription? Shouldn’t we be able to hear a full episode in appreciation for being loyal? Also, the last few episodes are quick 20 min episodes that consist of mainly about 90% 911 recording/body cam audio. I miss the story telling and deep research Justin would do.

First of all….you have the best podcast voice out there. Im commented after listening to the sniper episode released on 4/23. This is such a nugget of gold to find. At the very end the newscaster says he says he had a degenerative disease. And then it clicked - he was suffering pain already. Bawled my eyes because I know the desperation of that feeling. Love all your stuff. Its so different from any other podcast. You only add commentary when needed and I love it. 5 stars!!!!

Congratulations on the birth of your baby!!! We’re glad YOU’RE here!! Love your podcast so much 💚. Definitely have to get back to your Patreon!! As caring and compassionate as you are I know you’ll be a great Dad!! All the best to you and your family 💚🏈

I hate short podcasts.

I think you need to reevaluate whether or not you truly care about the victims you cover

THANK YOU 🙏 for the amazing and important interview about AVALON. And THANK YOU MOIRA! you are so brave and so amazing because you were given such evil but you’ve given back such love and help for others. I truly appreciate you giving the interview – you helped me Only you were brave enough to do it and ***we’ve got your back *** You can hear the compassion and intelligence in the hosts voice. This is just so well done. All those ego driven true crime podcasts need to take a lesson from this man—Quit laughing at your own jokes and maybe give the subject matter the dignity it deserves.

Came here for the episode about Frank Walls. Before buying their home, my parents lived in a trailer in the same neighborhood as him during the time of the murders. My mother told me about him and the overwhelming fear she had about it. I was immediately interested in the story and I wanted to see if there were any podcasts about it. Felt like a lot of AI reciting old news articles and LOTS of mispronounced words. A simple search would help you say “Okaloosa” “Eglin” and “Valparaiso” properly. That being said, the last portion of the episode was interesting.

Listener I am greedy and lazy and now will split every case up into multiple part episodes and charge money for early access Dont forget youre profiting off the murders of other people, morally bankrupt You're a glorified corpse paparazzo

I really enjoyed the first few seasons but lately it’s gone a little too Social Justice Warrior with the subject matter and narration. The old epis are the best, they are much darker and less reliant on long chunks of boring audio and subpar stories to fill the show. Several episodes still haunt me from the earlier seasons. The stand outs are the Joel Guy Jr episode, the episode of a teen girl’s vicious beating death recorded by her laughing classmates, the twisted porn episode, the one about a woman who’s husband attacked her head with a machete (and the neighbor’s callous final words to her), or the one that captured a skydiver’s final breaths as he lay dying in a field. I still can’t bring myself to listen to episode “Crush” because of the animal cruelty audio. These episodes were extremely disturbing, Black Label did not hold back then. Lately, the stories have been watered down and are not as compelling as they used to be (like the Chubby Bunny one for example.). Wish he’d return to his roots with the new episodes.

Justin is the real deal. Great podcast. Support obscura for more original content. Justin you are a legend Still banging out the heavy stuff. Stay weird my friend 🤘

I still love Mike and tried to give this one a shot. It was a no go for me.

I’ve subscribed to black label but I’m still only able to listen to episodes that are already available on streaming services. Why am I paying for things that are free? I’ll stop the subscription soon if I can’t find an answer.

Your research, your delivery, your tact, the little bits of yourself that you sprinkle into some episodes, all while staying mindful of the listeners and our tolerance levels…. Just top tier all the way around. Thank you for this podcast!!

I have been a fan for years, never disappointed 💪🏻💪🏻🥰

Man, I’ve been looking forward to hearing episode 120 all week, but the labeling changed from ‘subscriber early access’ to ‘subscriber only’. Good show, I especially like your older content, and I’ve been a subscriber in the past. May be again someday. This leaves a bad taste though, don’t know what changed between last week and this week. Maybe just a mistake and the episode will become available to us non subscribers.

Host is like an obnoxious teenager. LOTS of rambling and audio recordings. 2nd and last time subscribing and unsubscribing.

Not sure if it’s a glitch or a new episode style but I’m paying for premium and have gotten ads in the beginning and middle of the last two episodes. If this is the new format I’m going to unsubscribe.

Well done podcast and has no unnecessary banter. Mature & sensitive to the disturbing topics being discussed. Long time listener and highly recommend.

I will now unsubscribe since all your doing is reading 🙄 No interviews… just boring

Update: I tried to give it more chances, but this is the laziest and most irresponsible podcast. Relies heavily on recorded media (911 calls,etc) versus research and narration. The In Living Color episode refers to a depressed teenager who dies by suicide as “bemoaning” his life, and the same episode claims to play audio of newscaster Christine Chubbocks suicide on air, but anyone truly familiar with the case knows that the only copy in existence was given to her family and the one available online is a recreation with actors. The narrator frequently mispronounces words or uses the wrong word to the point of distraction for me. Examples of (often) mispronounced words: tyranny, renowned, Oregon. Example of wrong word: “compromised” when he meant “comprised”. I did not let this affect my rating (would have given a 4.5 if I could, but 4 seemed unfair), but posting this in hopes it helps the podcast to improve :) I find myself focusing on the errors versus the story.

This is my third time subscribing and being disappointed and cancelling. The host used to put way to much of his own opinions in. Now, he spends 10 minutes repeatedly doing disclaimers reminding people that he DOESN'T do that. The episodes are also now shorter. The actual episode is 90 percent 911 calls, audio of other people's livestreams and background music and sounds. I was hoping after a year, there would be a ton of new content...there wasn't. Lastly I think the price is too high. I wouldn't be surprised the creator of Sword and Scale gave this creator some bad $$ advice. Not for me.

This is AI. “Rah-muh-duh Inn?” Gimme a break.

As usual, excellent episode! I feel the way you do…Tony had true remorse…rare with psychopaths.. I feel 15 years is light…but like you said, he already did 15, and I agree the next 15 may be easier for him. This was a rare case of guilt and remorse, for sure! Thanks so much!

Very well researched!

Great, straightforward storytelling generally with a dark twist- no host banter and hands down the best/most relaxing male voice streaming on Apple

Overall I like this Podcast but if you could maybe never do another one like the Winter Park Wedding one that would be great. 95% of the show was a bunch of people screaming at the same time. Chaotic and hard to listen to.

Great show. Not a fan of the sound of the wood fire in the background.

Really enjoying your stories! I am definitely a fan of the longer stories...you are really a talented storyteller... my new go to💕 Such a sad story, there are no words, the only solace is she is at peace.. RIP sweet child

Really like the show but would like to know why episodes continue to repeat. When notified of a new episode, I select to listen only to find that the episode is one that I have listened to before.

Truly one of my favorite, one of the best true crime podcasts out there covering story’s you’ve likely never heard . And black label for us sick in the head : absolutely love

Used to be very good. Now he just replays 911 calls or recordings the whole episode. Very lazy work

I have been a listener since the beginning and love your show. Justin, you seem like a really good guy and compassionate person and salute you. The cases you research and offer your listeners are so intriguing to me (I’ll go on a limb and say the vast majority of your audience from the beginning) because not a lot was held back and it actually educated me and opened my eyes to a world where the most vile acts were being exposed. After listening to the first couple episodes ever I would think “wow, I never knew this existed”. It was shocking. And that’s what I loved about it. It took the blinders off and introduced the dark side of society and the vile acts. I think I listened to it so I would not be so naive as to the bad side of humanity. Every other mainstream true crime (I.e. Dateline, 48 hours etc) would say something along the lines of “the crime was too gruesome so we can give exact details”. I was a loyal customer the first time a heard a black label. It was so eye opening that from then on I followed your show. The one thing I’ve seen over the years that I would like to point out that is wrong is this: don’t try to appease a small amount of people and change your show. I noticed a few of the last Black Labels you had a disclaimer saying (paraphrasing here) “some listeners have been voicing their concern about the graphic nature of the past black labels so the next black labels will be softball episodes, episodes that are less gruesome”. Literally everyone in the beginning, when they heard “black label is straight up with no chaser” you gained your loyal audience. Now it’s like “well Karen wrote in saying she was offended by the Facebook live or crush videos episodes so we won’t do that crazy of a case next one “. That’s how you got listeners in the first place. Because you didn’t hold back and gave the audience a glimpse into the F’d up side of us humans and that was a breathe of fresh air. Now it seems like you are trying to please everyone who gets offended. My last point is in this example: it would be equivalent to 5% of Metallica fans writing into the band and saying “you play music too loud please play at a lower volume. Maybe turn your amps down to 50% not 100%”. And Metallica saying “ok our next 2 shows we will not play as loud”. Literally ALL of Metallica fans who have been with them from the start became fans because they played loud and sang at the top of their lungs with aggression and that’s what the fans loved. Now they aren’t the same band because they are trying to appease the small amount of people who want them to do things different. I paid A YEAR subscription not knowing it was going to turn into some weeks there’s kids gloves on then I get an episode that takes the gloves off. Maybe I need to go back to monthly and just play it by ear. With that said, you do seem like the most down to earth, decent guy with good intentions in this industry and has a good heart. Just want to thank you for that.

Love you guys and everything I do! You make my drive into and from work the BEST!

Have some true crime grits!

Taking back my positive review. The 1 good episode was an anomaly and it’s back to the dumb Batman voice. Boo

I’ve been listening to Obscura since the beginning.

I really love this podcast, love that deep, dark voice, the campfire sound, Justin tells the cases with emotion and respect, love it🤩 Sjak Aardema

You gave a decent story line during the podcast however, I am not a fan of your voice. Are you trying to sound like Batman or something? It was so hard to listen to, I’m sorry.

I appreciate your comments on potential impact of marijuana and video on our lives. It took courage to put yourself out to there and share your thoughts and recommendations. This is the first time I listened to your show and now I am fan.

I thoroughly enjoyed the accelerant episode, ONLY for the ending. It was a nice change of pace and honestly made me feel more connected to you, the host, rather than just the content you cover. As an avid marijuana smoker and video game player, I took your hot take and stewed on it. Rather than immediately get offended, I took it as a good friends blunt, but kind and honest advice. I love the content you cover, I’ve skipped some episodes as the subject didn’t really interest me, but I would LOVE to hear more about the online true crime that many people like myself, don’t feel comfortable googling or browsing discord to see in real time. Like dark web stuff! Love what you do Justin!!

I agree with what you said. Thank you for being so honest about your views.

I would definitely find the deep dark web content. I dig the evolution of hearing your research into those not so popular rabbit holes

Dude. I’ve loved this podcast for ages. I don’t wanna hear about your beef with other podcasters as PART of a story. So frustrating.

Mike Boudet is the best!

I love your podcast and was a patron until your cadence changed. Why are you taking so fast? I am able to listen by slowing it down to 75%.

My only disappointment is the subscription solicitation. I appreciate every minute you put into studying and writing your stories and am thankful to still have some to listen to. Thank you for your hard work.

I genuinely appreciate the vibe you’ve been aiming for with this podcast, but your normal voice is 1,000x better than the painfully dumb voice you use for the show. It frankly obliterates the listener’s will to stick with the story, and dilutes the interesting content to the point of being humorous. You can do better than this. Just please... quit with the ridiculous fake voice. It’s insufferable and you’re losing your listeners!

Thank for the warning on the crush episodes.