S-Town: Everything You Need To Know About The Record Breaking Podcast
21 April 2017, 17:59 | Updated: 8 May 2017, 17:09
"S-town, 13 Reasons Why. Someone come hit the eject button on this emotional roller coaster before I'm trapped forever."
Every now and again a podcast comes along that grabs the internet's collective attention. For a while it was the truly addictive Serial podcast, NPR's premiere "true crime" series.
Following in Serial's footsteps comes S-Town, another NPR vehicle that people can't stop raving about. In case you've missed the incredible buzz surrounding S-Town, here's everything you need to know.
Firstly, it's incredibly popular.
Serial did 5 million downloads in its first month (fastest a podcast had ever). S-Town did 16 million downloads in its first week.
— ian ownbey (@iano) April 16, 2017
*downloads all of S-Town*
— adam (@arpe101093) April 12, 2017
*listens to all episodes in one day*
*deletes all episodes*
*redownloads all episodes*
This is my life now
It came out around the same time as 13 Reasons Why and lots of people are in their feelings because of ALL THE EMOTIONS.
Big Little Lies, S-town, 13 Reasons Why. Someone come hit the eject button on this emotional roller coaster before I'm trapped forever.
— Steven Krueger (@stevenakrueger) April 13, 2017
The accents will take some getting used to (especially if you're not used to hearing an American Southern accent at length)
Genuine question: Is John on S-Town an actor is that an actual person's accent?
— Broderick Greer (@BroderickGreer) April 7, 2017
And, yes, I'm going to need to give you some trigger warnings.
Sigh! S-Town is intriguing, addictive, and impossible to put away. But it tackles some emotional issues like depression, suicide, and self-harm. It will make you feel sad and parts of it will make your heart sink. But in the same way art is supposed to move you, S-Town tells an amazing story and leaves little out.
If you're someone who is struggling with severe anxiety or deep depression, I wouldn't advise taking the whole show in at once.
What is S-Town about?
A man named John B McLemore writes an email urging This American Life producer Brian Reed to investigate a murder in his hometown. When Brian shows up to "shit town" (Woodstock) Alabama, he unravels the curious, emotional, and troubling life of John B McLemore. There are 7 episodes that you can listen to on iTunes and wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also listen to it on the S-Town website.
What do people say about S-Town once they've finished it?
Finished S-Town podcast. It's both wonderful and troubling. Sad and uplifting. Anyone else heard it?
— Mark Charnock (@MarkCharnock_) April 11, 2017
Me trying to figure out what REALLY happened in S-town pic.twitter.com/AFnFMCUqMR
— yQy (@samisosaslay) April 11, 2017
i just finished listening to s-town and now i know how to get an NPR producer to visit me and become my best friend
— John DeVore (@JohnDeVore) April 20, 2017
So, you know...
