Reviews For The Vanished Podcast

O. M. G. Can this woman please talk like she’s actually a person and not a robot? I have tried and tried to listen to this podcast, but can’t get through an episode because of her voice. What a bore. Why does she even have a podcast if she doesn’t seem to have a personality?

If you are looking for a podcast that features primarily cases about addiction, a host with the worst monotone Charlie Brown teacher voice, and bashing of law enforcement, this is the podcast for you!! Throw in interviews with family members with awful vocal fry or smokers’ hacks too! Jackpot! I try to listen and it is so irritating to hear the same.thing.week.after.week. Marissa should apply to work in law enforcement since she seems to think it is so easy. But instead, you will listen to monotone every single word and hear her bash Law Enforcement at every turn. Classy!

I wish you had more than one episode a week!! You’re respectful towards the family of the missing. I know they appreciate your work.

Ok I’ve been listening to this podcast for years now, and I’m still a loyal listener. I enjoy the interview format and how real family members, friends, and loved ones of the missing individuals are included. This make sure that the stories you cover are done with great detail and respect to the families. My one big big issue, though, is the complete lack of trust or respect for law enforcement in each episode. I understand the frustration about a case not receiving the attention the family thinks it deserves, but I think that as the host, Marissa takes a biased position and often is more critical of an investigation, especially for someone who is not remotely involved. Police withhold information for a reason, and sometimes there just isn’t anything to investigate. It’s not a “coverup” or “bad police work”. Sometimes it’s warranted, but most times it’s not, and that’s frustrating. The second big issue i have with this show is the absolute lack of character in the hosts voice. You really just sound like you don’t care, and the monotony makes it difficult to listen to. I fall asleep to your podcast because of this, definitely gets old. At this point, I listen because I like the stories and the interviews, not because I like the host. That I will say is unique and it keeps me around

I look forward to the episode release every Monday. Such a well done podcast.

Love Marissa, no side conversations no opinions just straight facts and witness accounts.

Great stories and great research. HOWEVER, please avoid repetition. Host says something and then plays an audio clip from a family member who repeats the same thing. And please edit some of the well- intended but rambling commentary from family members. It really gets wearisome. Thanks!

This is a great podcast. Marissa is thoughtful and thorough. I’ve read through some of the recent reviews specifically regarding missing people who struggle with drug addiction. While some of the reviews are harsh, I do have to admit that one thing that is hard to listen to and be empathetic towards are family members who are in denial. There have been multiple episodes (including the most recent episode that aired 5/4/25) where it is finally disclosed that the missing person is an addict but the family swears up and down that drugs/addiction or a relapse can’t possibly be the reason why their loved one has gone missing. Marissa and the family then spend the next hour talking about the possibility of foul play when more than likely, the person was actively using at the time they went missing and, unfortunately, their demise was due to an overdose. My only suggestion is let’s spend some time in these episodes talking about what statistics support…many of those who go missing that suffer from drug addiction often die from their addiction.

I appreciate the beeping out of unbecoming language. So many podcast are run by women w no morals these days. All you hear of them are F bombs dropped every other sentences. Times certainly have changed. Thanks for keeping a bit of dignity.

This podcast is absolutely amazing, their research and caring mentality is almost unreal. I think they are amazing people and deserve recognition for their efforts! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️

Love the content and the support it brings to families. But just give 1 star bc of the limited access to missing peoples’ stories due to the Wondery paywall

Really wanted to like this show but the quality has gone down hill since Amanda stopped producing.

This is truly a series about who gets left behind. There’s rarely much mystery or ‘who done it.’ Lots of addicts, suicides, accidental deaths. You really understand why police rarely give much attention to these people. Sad, but no mystery here.

It’s nice to give the families of the missing a place to tell their stories. It’s not very entertaining though. If you’re looking for resolution you’ve come to the wrong place. This stuff just goes nowhere.

It’s a interesting podcast. I have been listening for about a year but there are few stories involving people of color.

I pay for Wondery subscription so I’m wondering why I’m hearing ads?

There’s something very comforting about this podcast in that it somehow gives validation to a person’s existence even if no body was found. I love hearing the nuanced lives of the missing from the people who loved them most- even if the interviews do ramble- it makes it so much more authentic. I feel like the missing can live on in these stories even if they are never found- they mattered! I love the narrator’s voice- it’s very consistent and soothing- professionally told and with a lot of care and sensitivity for the families/loved ones. If I can’t sleep, her lovely voice will lull me to sleep in no time- then I’ll relisten to the episode to catch all the parts I missed! Thank you for the detailed, amazing work you do in telling these stories! If I ever go missing, I do hope you tell my story..

There are some good episodes on here. But holy heck - enough with the addicts. We all know where they are and how they got into their situations. 90% of this focuses on druggies and it’s so depressing. Real, innocent, victims deserve a platform far more than these people do.

I miss the older episodes. Her voice sounded more natural back then. Now her voice is too monotone and distracting.

I love the details & information provided and the sense of deep empathy Marissa has for the families of the missing. This is one of my favorite podcasts! Keep up the good work.

Just finished Jeremy Lawrence story, very strange that nothing was found, I wish you’d do updates on stories occasionally. You’ve had some good ones.

Weird rambling interviews that go nowhere. More of a platform for families to vent with no direction or resolution.

Thank you for your honest ethical content creation approach

The individuals featured on “The Vanished” aren’t your typical cases of someone simply disappearing one day. Many of these families are dealing with significant issues, and the missing individuals often struggle with mental health, substance abuse, or other serious challenges. The podcast tends to feel more like a “he said, she said” narrative. While my heart goes out to these people, I find that 90% of the family members come across as emotionally draining.

The Vanished Podcast was my first experience in listening to a true crime podcast! To this day and after becoming a fan of countless more - THIS is still my favorite. The episodes are incredibly well thought out, the interviews are compelling, and all put together it’s an incredibly immersive experience!

I thoroughly enjoy this show! What I like about it is the host gets right to the point, there’s no small talk. But what I mostly enjoy is the fact that you hear directly from the families of the missing. The stories are real, and hearing from the families really makes you feel like you are there, in the midst of what is happening. I do wish that the host would invest in better equipment so that when she is talking to family members of the missing person, we can understand everything that the person says. Sometimes it’s a bad connection and I cannot for the life of me. Understand what the victim’s family is saying! I am sure she is aware of the issue, and when she hears that there is a bad connection, it would be helpful. If at least she translates afterwards to tell us what the person is saying. But that is my only negative. I have listened to a lot of of these realistic, criminal podcast, and so far, I like this one the best!

I throughly enjoy listening to the vanished podcast. No paddle or empty talk before she settles in to tell us a story. A story told with feelings and respect to the victims family. Very good researched and honest facts.

I love this podcast. Wondery does a good job with this. Great stories and great interviews.

They’re able to share heartbreaking stories and remain informative at the same time.

I love true crime and this is the best podcast out there. I have such a difficult time, listening to poorly done broadcasts and hosts that make a lot of jokes and side conversation during shows about the missing. I find it disrespectful to the family of the missing. This is done very well and so professionally. She is so compassionate and always has her facts straight. I think I have listened to every Vanished episode! Thank you for being an advocate for the missing.

While I appreciate the editing (I can’t stand listening to the host responding to the guest) and I have no problem with the hosts voice I have grown tired of most every missing person having a history of mental illness, drug use or both. What makes a missing person case interesting is that the person is unlikely to disappear. I’m at the point where I listen to every episode but once I hear drug use or mental problems I stop listening.

Jessie’s mom is a complete moron. I can’t believe she didn’t do more. She failed her daughter.

I have tried to listen but I can’t get past Marissa’s flatlined voice. The episodes are drawn out way more than they need to be and the monotone narration is like nails on a chalkboard. Families want to get their stories out but I don’t think this is the right platform if they want people to actually listen. Show could be better if Marissa’s voice wasn’t part of it.

I can’t imagine any other podcast has done more to help humanity than this one. Perhaps there are others but this woman has single-handedly changed so many peoples lives. Her delivery is professional with the right amount of journalistic empathy. Annoyed by the three star review that mentions her lack of emotional intonation. How shortsighted. Not only are you wrong but you’re going to give this woman’s work three stars because she didn’t deliver some Academy award winning performance for you? Do you realize how much time and effort goes into every one of these episodes so you can casually give it some Siskel and Ebert level thumbs down? Sorry she didn’t ‘entertain’ you enough but these podcasts are so much more than amusement.

No matter how intriguing the stories are this podcast is poorly read. The narrator speaks with little inflection and ends every sentence on the same tone. A little intonation goes a long way. Put a little character into your voice.

Not Feb YOU ary. Please educate yourself and stop.

Vanished has continued to excel and be true to their mission of helping find out why and how people went missing. Marissa and the staff perform extensive first hand research and leave no stone unturned. Anyone giving this less than 5 stars must be a perpetrator in one of her stories because allowing victims and family to talk without pushback is all that is required. She isn’t a prosecutor or law enforcement. Her neutral narrative provides the utmost integrity to this show. Keep up the hard work.

I can’t believe people take issue with the “editing” in other reviews. The interviews with the families is what sets this podcast above other true crime podcasts in my opinion. Marissa is an excellent interviewer/orator and this is my favorite true crime podcast by far!

I used to like this show, but it needs better editing. The sound quality in the interviews is terrible and the host lets the families ramble on and espouse urban legends and conspiracy theories without pushback. Or the guests just malign people without evidence. I doubt the good this show does outweighs the exploitative harms.

Really, the best podcast in true crime period. The depth that Marissa brings to each person you can’t help but care about them and want to help. This show is deeply researched and almost always has a close relative on to share the story of who this person was. It is the opposite of sensational and always focuses on the vanished themselves. I love that if a case calls for it they will spend two even three or four episodes on making sure that we get all the information anyone might need. If you haven’t tried this podcast, I highly recommend you do. You will not be sorry. Marissa herself, the quality of the sound engineering, and the focus on the victims make this a must listen show, best in class.

Way too much of family and guests speaking. Audio of them is quite poor, that ramble on, repeat themselves, too many filler words, stories jump around. Host should summarize stories of families, NOT have families speak and in addition host summarize. Don’t have families speak on episode. Host can interview them and then summarize Toni’s. Play short clips of guests, if any at all. Edit the “ums”, “ya knows” and all the pauses and fillers. Too disorganized for me to enjoy listening. Also, when distraught, sad, angry, and stressed families state law-enforcement isn’t doing enough, I see it as the host job to present reality. The host should explain police procedure, protocol, due diligence and educate the families and the listeners of the podcast on civil rights and practices for search and seizure and obtaining evidence lawfully. Rules, laws and regulations are put in place to protect everybody. They should be respected and protected, and not bashed by people who know not of what they speak or speaking, purely from emotion.

The only thing unfortunate about is that there really isn’t much of a buildup, she says a few things then straight to interviews like we’re supposed to know what she’s talking about

I love that she actually research on the missing individual and isn’t bias regardless of race or the persons past .

I commend the host and team for highlighting missing person cases that otherwise may not receive much attention, but it would be nice if the host were to summarize what law enforcement can and cannot do sometimes for listeners after families express their thoughts and concerns about what is being done. For example, in the Cynthia Bah-Traore case, of course the family is upset that she is still missing, but law enforcement cannot just seize devices and accounts and search them just because the family wants them to. It would be a great opportunity to educate listeners instead of sensationalize what sometimes feels like speculation on corruption or not doing their work. For audio - this podcast has many ads, please use some of those funds to send cheap microphones to your guests so listeners can actually hear them clearly.

Love this podcast and look forward to it the most every week. Perfect combination of story telling by Marisa in combination with the guests. Keep up the excellent work !

I’ve been a listener since day one. I really appreciate this podcast and the fact that she gives a voice to the people frequently unseen and treated subhuman by society. As a person with siblings and parents who suffer from the disease of addiction, it feels nice to know that some people see them and understand that they are loved, and their lives mean something and matter.

I love this podcast so much. The host is excellent, the stories are so intriguing, and it’s all put together, very nicely. Only minor thing that annoys me is the long times of music in the end and beginning lol. Very minor!