OUR RATING:
Where ‘Red Flag’ Becomes Your Favorite Color
“Something Was Wrong” stands out as the podcast that will probably undermine your trust in strangers and lovers more than any other show. If that sort of thing is your jam, then keep reading.
Host Tiffany Reese has mastered the art of making listeners paranoid about every slightly off interaction they’ve ever had, all while delivering stories so compelling you’ll find yourself sitting in your parked car long after reaching your destination, muttering “just one more minute” until your ice cream melts and your spouse files a missing persons report.
Unlike podcasts that focus on murderers with creative hobbies or century-old unsolved mysteries, “Something Was Wrong” dives deep into the psychological tsunami of manipulation, gaslighting, and deception that can happen to literally anyone who has the audacity to date, befriend, or work with another human being. It’s the podcast equivalent of that friend who responds to your exciting news about a third date with “Have you checked his basement yet?” Except in this case, that friend is absolutely right.
Season 1 introduces us to Sara, whose fiancé’s behavior goes from quirky to “call the authorities” faster than you can say “but he seemed so normal at first.” By the end, you’ll be googling how to do background checks on everyone you’ve ever met, including your childhood dentist and that barista who remembers your complicated coffee order. Was that customer service or the beginning of an elaborate stalking plot? Thanks to this podcast, you’ll never know peace again.
By Season 4, the show expanded its repertoire to the tale of Ardie, whose religious community experience transforms from spiritual sanctuary to “yikes on several bikes” with such alarming efficiency that listeners will find themselves suspiciously eyeing their neighborhood book club. Is that recommendation for “The Power of Now” actually a cult recruitment tactic? After this season, you’ll never look at potluck invitations the same way again.
Season 7’s exploration of “Dating Radar” might as well be subtitled “All Those Red Flags You Ignored”. It’s a masterclass in how humans can rationalize literally anything from “he’s just passionate about knife collections” to “sure, she asked for my mother’s maiden name and social security number on our first date, but she’s so pretty!” The victims’ stories are told with such care and empathy that you’ll find yourself recognizing the horror that you would probably make the exact same mistakes.
Season 9’s dive into family manipulation hits close to home. The story of Katherine and her father-in-law is the psychological equivalent of watching someone slowly sink into quicksand while everyone around them compliments their new mud bath. By the end, you’ll be questioning every family dynamic you’ve ever witnessed, including whether your cousin’s tendency to always take the biggest slice of cake is actually the sign of a dangerous sociopath.
Believe it or not, it’s actually difficult to find podcasts that are like “Something Was Wrong” because of how it transforms horrifying personal trauma into educational content so gripping that you’ll find yourself becoming an amateur psychologist, diagnosing everyone from your boss to your Uber driver with various personality disorders. “He took a weird route and seemed too interested in my weekend plans… classic Dark Triad behavior!” you’ll think, while wondering if your own tendency to analyze strangers means you’re the villain in someone else’s story (aren’t we all?)
By the time you finish binging all the seasons (there are now 23 in total as of thesis writing), you’ll have developed a new superpower: the ability to spot manipulation from across a crowded room. Unfortunately, this comes with the side effect of trusting absolutely no one and questioning your own reality whenever someone gives you a compliment. Is it genuine appreciation or the beginning of a complex web of lies that will eventually be featured in Season 15?
Only time will tell, but thanks to Tiffany Reese and “Something Was Wrong,” you’ll be sleeping with one eye open, just in case.
Where to listen to Something Was Wrong
Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts | Castro
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