Sword and Scale

Love, love, love this podcast. Obviously for the content, but mostly because the host doesn't bombard you with unwanted political tirades & treats adults like adults rather than fragile children whose psyche's will be triggered or permanently damaged if everything isn't sanitized to the point of yawning. I realize a certain amount of courteous compromise is advantageous when addressing large numbers, but so far, he's managed to pull it off without sacrificing his outspoken nature or bowing too much to media pressure toward epically BORING political correctness. It's seriously refreshing and I hope he stays around for a looong time.

I’ve been listening to S & S for a couple of years now, and I honestly felt like I hit pay dirt when I found this show. I’ve spent many years as a prosecution-based victim advocate, so I’m very familiar with the realities behind these cases. From that perspective, I can say this show is top notch. The storytelling, interviews, perspectives from those connected to the cases, and the use of recordings bring a depth that few true crime podcasts achieve. What keeps me coming back is the authenticity. The focus stays on the cases, the people, and the reality of what happened, and that is incredibly refreshing. I know you’ve faced some personal challenges, but I hope you know how much your work is appreciated. You’ve created something unique that clearly resonates with a lot of people. Also, for what it’s worth, I am notoriously cheap and rarely pay for subscriptions… but you have me dangerously close. 😂 Thank you for continuing to tell these stories. S & S has become my favorite companion while gardening, unwinding, and taking a little time for myself.

Mike, I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you. In a world where so much true crime content feels rushed or sensationalized, you’ve managed to create something that consistently feels well-researched, respectful, and genuinely compelling. It’s obvious how much time and effort goes into every episode, and that dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. I’ve spent countless hours listening, and your work has made long drives shorter, boring days better, and has kept me thinking long after an episode ends. Thanks for setting the standard and for continuing to put your heart into what you do. It really is appreciated. Looking forward to many more episodes. Who am I but just another voice among the thousands who listen every week? I just hope this voice carries enough weight to let you know how much your commitment to this podcast means to so many of us. The hours, the research, the storytelling, and the standards you hold yourself to don’t go unnoticed. Thank you for continuing to pour yourself into Sword and Scale. You’ve created something truly unique, and I’m grateful to be one of the many listeners along for the ride. Keep doing what you do—it matters more than you probably realize.

One of my favorite podcasts! The host doesn’t show any mercy to the perpetrators…which is exactly how it should be! I love, when telling the victims’ stories, the descriptive language he uses enables me to paint a picture in my head of the scenes. What sets this podcast apart is that the host brings attention to lesser known cases, giving those victims a voice. Don’t change a thing! It’s perfect the way it is!

I have listened to every episode of this show until recently. The majority of episodes these days are just recordings (usually very poor quality & hard to even understand) of the people involved in the stories. It is important to hear these people’s stories but the quality of the recordings are awful & have made the show un-listenable to me. Very disappointing as I was a big fan for a long time.

Many people have already pointed out the issues with this show and specifically with Mike, the host, better than I can. But I want to reiterate some of the recurring themes of the negative reviews. 1. The show started great. I used to love it and recommend it. 2. I supported Mike during his issues with Rabia and the attempts to cancel him (I believe Adnan is guilty). 3. Mike has changed for the worse. I know he got a divorce and I won’t speculate on who was at fault, but he is different now. His hate towards women is very apparent and it’s too much to tolerate. 4. I am a conservative and even I am sick of the political interjections in a true crime podcast. Stick to telling the story and leave your political opinions to yourself. 5. Victim blaming, again dude just tell the story and let the listener come to their own conclusions of who is at fault. 6. Those of us that have stuck around want the old Mike back but I fear he is long gone. He needs to unpack a lot of his anger and I doubt his ego will allow him to recognize how his personality has changed. I know he reads these reviews because he takes immature jabs at the comments that particularly get under his skin. I am not attempting to do that. I am expressing concern and evaluating the show for what is currently is, and has been for the last 5 years or so.