The Teacher's Pet - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I have listened to a ton of podcasts. When I saw the “repetitive” reviews, I ignored them and assumed they didn’t like going into great detail on a subject. I was wrong. The first roughly 10 episodes all keep repeating the same barebones information, and adds nothing new. I can usually look past a little repetition but this was unbearable. I skipped to the last 2 episodes for the resolution. Kudos for putting the spotlight on an obviously corrupt case. But… this is not a top podcast experience like so many people suggest. This should have been 4 episodes, which includes the resolution.

This podcast is well-done but it spends way too much time droning on and on about the same basic facts. I know that true crime podcasts are a great way to deep-dive but this is way excessive. That said I think this is the most outrageous teacher/student crime incident ever. This story needed to be told. And it is told well. Just expect a lot of repetition.

In terms of investigative journalism leading to an arrest you can’t ask for more. The host clearly researched well and found witnesses and people to provide background at an impressive level. Really well done. From a production standpoint it is super long; interviews should be edited down, aggressively at times. The Q&A style makes episodes so long and hard to follow. There is a lot of repetition. Lastly, at some point the narrative should shift from tragedy to trying to solve the puzzle. There is a harkening back to the tragedy and emotions associated with it in every episode. I’m not sure that is necessary.

I very much enjoyed this podcast. The narration is well done, and I like how detailed the host gets making sure many people are interviewed. My complaint, as many others have mentioned, is how incredibly repetitive the episodes can get. You hear the same info and stories repeated over and over and over. This could have easily been an 8-episode show and still gotten its point and all the information across. Still though, I’d listen to this podcast again.

This podcast is very careless in its treatment of grooming and sexual abuse. The host frequently describes Joanne and her teacher Chris’s relationship, which began when Joanne was 15 and Chris was 32, in romantic terms. Sex between the two of them when she was 15 is not identified as rape. Most unconscionable is the host repeated musings about Joanne’s level of culpability in the death of Lynette. It also very much needs editing, as other have mentioned.

I am a true crime podcast junkie, however I am super sensitive to extra wet mouth noises and have diagnosed misophonia. Hedley’s thick, sticky voice had so many extra wet tongue noises while he spoke I could barely get through an episode. I made it to three before I just couldn’t handle it any more. Needs better sound editing and he needs to back away from the mic when he speaks to get rid of the thick, sticky moving tongue noises he makes when talking. Wish I could have made it farther.