ads for big oil? no thank you. ad choices matter. respect your audience.

This is the first podcast I have stopped listening to because of the music, and I’ve listened to manyyyy. 2.5 episodes in an I had to unfollow because the music is so awful. Kind of funny, because the first review I saw was because of the bad music lol. Sorry to the band/singer but it was awful… hence the unfollow. 🫣

Huge waste of time

I was adopted at birth, and later learned my father was an imprisoned violent offender. After contacting him in college, I cut it off. I regretted it and the subsequent emotional fallout. Hearing these women talk about their family histories has done something incredibly positive for my mental health - a community I didn’t know I’ve needed. Thank you!

The music made it horrible to listen to couldn’t even ffwd because you’d miss the dialogue which it played over at times

I loved the music. I listen to tons of podcasts and I felt like this was very well produced and it held my interest until the end. Agree tons of ads but I just FF through them. (Review is for season 1)

Some podcasts are slow and drivel out information. This one is painful. Between the terrible narration, the story going nowhere, the music, and the 1 million ads, it may be one of the worst I’ve ever heard. I’ll just wait and watch the movie.

I get lost sometimes and think I’m listening to an already played episode because it’s consistently going back over sound bites. And Melissa is still so emotionally stunted that she really needs to be in intense therapy not media tours. Feel sorry for the victims and Melissa’s children.

Decent story. Maybe a 3.5 to 4 hour story. But it’s difficult to make it through an episode. No podcast should ever have 20 seconds of music with no speaking, let alone 30+ that this has over and over. I’m not listening to the radio.

I wish the show didn’t wade into the territory covered in “Don” and “Leroy”. Those just felt emotionally exploitative, the conversations held there should have remained private, with maybe a quick narrated summary

Feels respectful . No gratuitous violence , music is appropriately haunting. The Humanity stays evident . The victims are relatable and inspiring .The tone is appropriate and moving. Far more enlightening than satisfying morbid curiosity.

Slow,repetitive, boring and way too many commercials. Music was horrible

Episode 7 is what I needed to hear today. Thank you!

I only listened halfway through the first episode because I’m not interested in hearing the disgusting tapes a serial killer made about his crimes. This is exactly what he would want. Those tapes should be destroyed and never played for anyone. Horrible.

This story is fascinating and I want to learn more about it. Esp from Melissa and Becky’s view. I do find it very difficult to follow. I have to constantly rewind it and sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. It goes back and forth from past to present without warning, like the listeners already know the story- We don’t and it’s very confusing. I feel so bad saying this, but I may not be able to finish listening to this. It’s sadly frustrating

I liked this podcast overall but the music was absolutely atrocious. It was honestly hard to get over and took away from the story.

I really loved Happy Face Season 1. It felt raw, personal, and genuine. I liked how much Melissa focused on the victims. She spoke of them with such care and respect, and that really stuck with me. I’ve never been in her position, but the way she opened up made it easy to connect with her emotions and understand her journey. Her honesty and vulnerability made it so real. Definitely worth listening to.

Couldn't even get through the first episodes. The ads to content ratio is way off. I listen to a lot of podcasts and understand the need to support through ads but it's too much. And the audio is too kitschy with random guitar and Wild West sounds.

The subject is so interesting. The fact that this is through the daughter’s perspective it’s fascinating. BUT, the ads every five minutes that start without warning confusing you about whether they’re part of the story or not? Extremely irritating . The music that plays every 2 minutes, unwarranted and unnecessary, trying to push for a specific sentiment ? Completely off-putting. I’m not kidding, on Episode 3, I was so annoyed that I stopped in the middle of my run to write this review and search for another podcast. If the creators fixed the issues, I would love to come back and finish listening.

The story is definitely a unique point of view being told by the serial killer’s family. From the very first episode, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Portlandia skit where they play in a band that creates the cliche crime drama music. That music does NOT stop playing, even while teach individual involved in the podcast is talking. They play interviews with the killer from jail so, the audio is already choppy but put a loud twangy guitar behind it and it’s extremely hard to understand. I completely understand trying to be creative and trying to set a tone, the tone shouldn’t overshadow the story.

It would be a good listen, but it’s 25% ads, if not more.

Couple things: I’ll never buy a Nissan Murano due to the over abundance of ads! For Melissa, I hope with her contradictory statements she is able to pick one path or the other. It clearly looks to be a conscious choice to waffle between “I don’t want to be like my father” and “I’m afraid I’m just like my father” which is what leads everyone to think she is self-sabotaging, subsequently elongating the “15 minutes of fame”. She is obviously very intelligent, and seems quite capable of using her strength to move forward. Just need some follow through….If for nothing else, the children’s sake.

It’d be better with less ads and silly music. It is otherwise just about alright, somewhat interesting. But way too many ads. How expensive is it to make a podcast anyways? 🤦‍♀️

I have to say I struggled with this one. The production wasn’t my style and the music was really disappointing. The story was more poor me although I do acknowledge that being a daughter of a serial killer would be difficult. But all in all I won’t search for another podcast with her in it.

I love true crime podcasts, but between the weird pauses, awkward music and SO many ads, I couldn't get past thr first episode of this one even though I would love to hear this story.

I had to stop listening when it was apparent that a cat was going to be harmed. I know that sounds crazy, but I can’t stomach animal cruelty.

This story is told in a strange order. We don’t find out what actually happened until episode 4? I almost didn’t make it that long because the host makes it about her, weaving her story in, nominating herself to be a guide? I feel sorry for the subject in ways I didn’t expect to.

While listening to this podcast I felt the pain and heartache that Melissa felt through her words…The raw emotions and willing to express how real she felt regarding her dad’s horrible and horrific crimes was brave and I can tell healing for her… this isn’t a story to glorify a murder, it’s a story about the victims and the daughter who had to endure this information.

I read “I” by Jack Olsen, and watched “The Happy Face Killer: Mind of A Monster” and so I thought listening to this podcast from the perspective of Keith Jesperson’s daughter would round out my foray into this case, however it leaves a bit much to be desired. They’re trying too hard to set a mood with their choice of music and it’s overkill. It’s over-dramatization of serious and tragic events. In short, it adds nothing. Understandably there will be overlap of facts in true crime cases and “truths” from different sources, but I found that this podcast leaves out material details, leaving holes in the story. The story itself would be difficult to follow without at least some basic understanding of the case due to the choppy, circular telling of the story which is constantly interrupted by music and 15 ads per episode. I’m truly curious about the lives of Jesperson’s family, however I don’t feel this was done well.

then i have passed to the great beyond. stop trying to create “soundscapes” with sound wails and long whiney notes. it is not cool or edgy, its actually literally nausea inducing. i challenge you to a duel, you monster. i like the storytelling otherwise. -3 stars for making me want to bash my head into the wall.

I listen to A LOT of podcasts and I subscribe to a few, but like to try a podcast before subscribing. I can’t even track the story line because of all the ads…. Sorry!

If you’re looking for a podcast based on listening to ads interspersed with some storytelling, this is it right here. I get people need to make some money for their effort, but good grief, they really went overkill.

Ok the narrator of the trailer is a bit ridiculous. The Idaho massacre is nothing like Dexter and saying this seems exploitative to draw folks in. Also, it’s advertised as the second season when there’s already been 2 seasons, so that’s confusing. I’ll give it a listen but hopefully this podcast is not becoming overly dramatized or exploitative.

The story is great and I am really enjoying it. But for a product the is 100% audio based, you would think they’d know how to/hire someone to mix it properly?? My volume in the car would be on half or less, listening to someone speak, and then BOOM ear-piercing monotone music that rattles my car. And it wasn’t just once or twice, it happens EVERY EPISODE. There are parts where people are talking while the monotone music is blowing out my eardrums and I skip what they say rather than hear the nonsense. I almost didn’t finish the season because I was getting so annoyed by how often I have to mess with the volume dial. Idk how things like this happen. It’s a podcast! 100% audio-based media! Audio can’t be an issue for the audience!

Each episode is about 45-55 minutes. But in reality it’s about 15 minutes of actual content. The rest is melodramatic crappy music every time someone finishes speaking. Then 3-4min of ads every 8-10 min. Melissa had another podcast Life After Happy Face and I was really looking forward to that one. The first episode was well set up and riveting. Looks like this one took precedence. Had she stuck with the first podcast and that format I think it could have really took off. Instead I can’t even bother to finish the episodes.

I enjoy the podcast. I can even look past the music choices. I can’t get past all the ads. 4-5 ads one after another is just too much. I understand that podcasters need to fund their endeavors but they should also be conscious of their audience experience. It seems like this has not been taken into consideration at all and it’s really unfortunate.

Bad music! And… It’s insane how many ads. I get you can fast forward, but such a waste of time and an annoyance that detracts from story. All of their podcasts are like this. Their advertisers should be upset everyone fast forwards and doesn’t even hear their ads because the amount is ridiculous. You’d think they’d want to stop getting such terrible reviews for this!

I can’t believe how much I related to her experiences with her father. Mine were so similar, in nearly every way except that my dad isn’t a serial killer, or if he is he hasn’t been caught. Thanks for this- I’ve never heard things quite said this way. It made a lot of sense to me.

If I have to hear the jingle for Carol Fisher’s pod cast every 4 minutes I am going to have to stop listening. OMG! Please stop!

This podcast is opposite of the formulaic. Victim, daughter and horrible murderer! In its chapters I was given insights. I’m especially touched by the voices of all! Their emotional journeys were moving. I recommend this for listeners that key into crime dramas and narratives.

We are NOT our parents. None of us, not one. If someone blames you for your dad’s sins (especially since you were a child) then they don’t deserve to know you. Then they are not worth your time or energy and that’s ok. It is 100% ok to cut yourself off from those kinds of people. It’s actually healthy.

Almost not able to listen because the music they’ve cut in is soo terrible. Enough folks have commented on how terrible the music is. Y’all really need to re-edit the podcast to cut the current music out. I won’t recommend this because of the poor choice in music.

Season 3?

Echoing what others are saying, the drawn out production is exhausting. There’s at best 12-15min of content cut together between long musical breaks. Just tell the story. Lost me by episode 3. Seems like a money grab to host advertising

I know, this is a broken record, but please do future shows a favor and include some decent music. The music in this show is agonizing. So many ads and so little content. Be a good producer. Do better.

You don’t need movies when you have true stories like this. I never ever listen to anything other then need and self help podcasts. This was my first time listening to something like this. Strong work.

I’d give the host and story 5 stars but the constant ads that distract from the already short episodes makes it a frustrating listen

Season 1: The music and LONG ads take away from the family interviews. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking to hear the ex wife and daughter talk about this traumatic experience in between the music. The episodes could honestly be 10 minutes long.

I love podcasts like these but man, the music really makes me want to turn it off. It’s so bad and really takes away from the great reporting and interviews.

Episode 6 has me bawling. I’m a big true crime podcast fan- and none have ever hit me so hard. This podcast is really well produced, and Melissa and her family offer such important insight. Not to mention giving voice to the victims of the crime.