Review Insights · App Store
Sword And Scale
Incongruity, LLC · 6,726 ratings · ★ 4.9
4.9
★★★★★
6,726 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 34 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"show"
12 negative reviews mention this · 35% of all complaints
★★★★★ "there’s the show then there’s the host. show is great, host ruins it with his right wing interjections when it’s not needed. hey Boudet , just friendly suggestion- why don’t you have a podcast to all your political views and one for sword and scale? Also, the video content is r…" - GPxxten
2
"podcast"
12 negative reviews mention this · 35% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Disappointed. The stories have declined over time. But still better than most true crime podcasts. However, after recent events and posts seen on Facebook reflecting political biases, I must unfollow. Call me a sensitive snowflake but a boundary has to b…" - Marri0n3tt3
3
"episode"
11 negative reviews mention this · 32% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Expert in his ignorant opinion. Mike has a lot of great material but unfortunately he lost the art of storytelling around episode 200. He began wasting time playing reviews from his loyal followers, which just stroked his overinflated ego. He also started wasting time wit…" - CML051705
4
"episodes"
9 negative reviews mention this · 26% of all complaints
★★★★★ "5 star content, 1 star App. 2.31 Update. So to play an episode offline in its entirety you have to be sure you start the episode while offline, even if you started it after navigating to the downloaded episode section. App should default playing from the downloaded …" - AppleUser87348
5
"doesn"
8 negative reviews mention this · 24% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Expert in his ignorant opinion. Mike has a lot of great material but unfortunately he lost the art of storytelling around episode 200. He began wasting time playing reviews from his loyal followers, which just stroked his overinflated ego. He also started wasting time wit…" - CML051705
6
"listening"
8 negative reviews mention this · 24% of all complaints
★★★★★ "5 star content, 1 star App. 2.31 Update. So to play an episode offline in its entirety you have to be sure you start the episode while offline, even if you started it after navigating to the downloaded episode section. App should default playing from the downloaded …" - AppleUser87348
7
"love"
8 negative reviews mention this · 24% of all complaints
★★★★★ "5 star content, 1 star App. 2.31 Update. So to play an episode offline in its entirety you have to be sure you start the episode while offline, even if you started it after navigating to the downloaded episode section. App should default playing from the downloaded …" - AppleUser87348
8
"listen"
7 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "5 star content, 1 star App. 2.31 Update. So to play an episode offline in its entirety you have to be sure you start the episode while offline, even if you started it after navigating to the downloaded episode section. App should default playing from the downloaded …" - AppleUser87348
9
"been"
7 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "This man only cares about facts that suit him. I have been a Sword and scale listener for years. I have been a paying member for years. But that stopped yesterday. Mike Boudet needs to learn not to bite the hand that feeds him. Him preaching about people needing to protect their rights …" - TruCaboose
10
"host"
6 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "there’s the show then there’s the host. show is great, host ruins it with his right wing interjections when it’s not needed. hey Boudet , just friendly suggestion- why don’t you have a podcast to all your political views and one for sword and scale? Also, the video content is r…" - GPxxten
11
"subscription"
6 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "5 star content, 1 star App. 2.31 Update. So to play an episode offline in its entirety you have to be sure you start the episode while offline, even if you started it after navigating to the downloaded episode section. App should default playing from the downloaded …" - AppleUser87348
12
"years"
6 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Gone downhill. I used to really love this podcast. In the recent years though the hosts political view have really downgraded the show. He inserts his political views where it really has no need at all. Just sad" - I.mcclain
📋 All 34 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Expert in his ignorant opinion
Mike has a lot of great material but unfortunately he lost the art of storytelling around episode 200. He began wasting time playing reviews from his loyal followers, which just stroked his overinflated ego. He also started wasting time with sharing his expertise in his ignorant opinions. He over generalizes situations with using always and never statements far too often. He has zero understanding about mental health but continues to share how to improve things he has absolutely no professional or personal experience to support his bigotry. He’s definitely a “don’t tread on me” kinda guy while also supporting people who constantly tread all over his rights. He’s just far too angry to see anything that doesn’t support his hatred. Basically he has turned into an angry little man child who lost his compassion for others and has nothing better to do than continue the great divide of this once great nation. His fame has not done him any good and has pushed him to lose true compassion for others.
5 star content, 1 star App
2.31 Update. So to play an episode offline in its entirety you have to be sure you start the episode while offline, even if you started it after navigating to the downloaded episode section. App should default playing from the downloaded file if you do that, please fix. App still logs you out often. And obviously you can’t log on if you are offline. Please fix!
2.28.0 update
Playing an entire offline episode is still broken. Still can’t filter out played episodes
2.27.0 update
Same issue new app update. Offline downloaded listening does not work.
2.26.1 update - still can’t listen to an entire downloaded episode offline. Can’t filter out played episodes from lists either 🤷♂️
2.26 update - playing offline episodes is still broken. I basically have resorted to listening to ad supported versions via other apps for everything other than plus episodes. Therefore I don’t plan to keep my annual subscription next time it renews if offline episodes aren’t fixed by then
2.22.0 update - offline listening is still broken despite the changelog saying it is fixed. Devs- please turn off WiFi and cellular and try to listen to an entire episode- bet you can’t. App also logs you out often. And of course you can’t listen offline without logging in again which requires being online.
2.21.2 update- app is still broken if you want to listen offline. There is no way they test this before releasing. Very disappointing. I end up always listening with ads via Apple podcasts so I can listen offline. So why do I even pay?
I love S&S but the app has big problems. It is impossible to listen to an entire episode offline despite it being downloaded because there is some background subscription checker that requires the internet. I understand the need to validate the subscription but it needs to be less often. Maybe if you pay by the month, check it monthly? App is also heavy on data usage even trying to listen to downloaded episodes. You also can’t access the player menu after starting a downloaded episode unless you back out to the main menu.
Please fix! Also allow us to filter out played episodes
2.28.0 update
Playing an entire offline episode is still broken. Still can’t filter out played episodes
2.27.0 update
Same issue new app update. Offline downloaded listening does not work.
2.26.1 update - still can’t listen to an entire downloaded episode offline. Can’t filter out played episodes from lists either 🤷♂️
2.26 update - playing offline episodes is still broken. I basically have resorted to listening to ad supported versions via other apps for everything other than plus episodes. Therefore I don’t plan to keep my annual subscription next time it renews if offline episodes aren’t fixed by then
2.22.0 update - offline listening is still broken despite the changelog saying it is fixed. Devs- please turn off WiFi and cellular and try to listen to an entire episode- bet you can’t. App also logs you out often. And of course you can’t listen offline without logging in again which requires being online.
2.21.2 update- app is still broken if you want to listen offline. There is no way they test this before releasing. Very disappointing. I end up always listening with ads via Apple podcasts so I can listen offline. So why do I even pay?
I love S&S but the app has big problems. It is impossible to listen to an entire episode offline despite it being downloaded because there is some background subscription checker that requires the internet. I understand the need to validate the subscription but it needs to be less often. Maybe if you pay by the month, check it monthly? App is also heavy on data usage even trying to listen to downloaded episodes. You also can’t access the player menu after starting a downloaded episode unless you back out to the main menu.
Please fix! Also allow us to filter out played episodes
Fall from grace
Show use to be so good. Now you can’t get through a single episode without degrading anyone with a different view on life than the host. It’s to the point I don’t know if I’m listening to a political show or a true crime podcast
Gone downhill
I used to really love this podcast. In the recent years though the hosts political view have really downgraded the show. He inserts his political views where it really has no need at all. Just sad
Sad Downward Spiral
The early episodes are great but as the seasons progress you’ll slowly (or quickly ?) notice the hosts descent into madness…
By the writing of this review 25% of the of episodes are unrelated rants, 70% are 911 calls & interrogations with just 5% story. Unfortunate as this once was a favorite.
By the writing of this review 25% of the of episodes are unrelated rants, 70% are 911 calls & interrogations with just 5% story. Unfortunate as this once was a favorite.
Michael himself called it a Bozo Podcast Player
There was an episode that was skipping for me, I asked if it was purposeful or accidental and Michael himself said to use the website and not whatever bozo podcast player I was using. So here’s my review-let that speak for itself.
White male hipocrite
Show male host is maga racist and getting worse. I’ve listened for many years and can’t take it anymore
Nope
Now that plus gets you no extra episodes there is zero benefit. Mike is getting too big for his britches. Begining of the end?
This man only cares about facts that suit him
I have been a Sword and scale listener for years. I have been a paying member for years. But that stopped yesterday. Mike Boudet needs to learn not to bite the hand that feeds him. Him preaching about people needing to protect their rights against officers while also chastising the protests in LA shows his incredible bias. I am done supporting him.
He used to keep his views out of the podcast but even that has changed and his podcast is no longer unbiased.
He should have posted his personal opinion on his own page instead of his business page.
He used to keep his views out of the podcast but even that has changed and his podcast is no longer unbiased.
He should have posted his personal opinion on his own page instead of his business page.
FIX YOUR APP!
I am fed up with this app. When I open the app to continue listening to an episode, it NEVER picks up where I left off. It starts at the beginning of the latest episode. When I reach out to tech support I receive the same response: log out, log back in, uninstall, reinstall. THIS DOESN’T WORK. Fix your app, fix your app, fix your GD app!
The host is not a good person
I love the shows for the stories and production, the quality is great, although sometimes the music added in plays wayyy too long. Not sure why they add a full minute pause for music mid podcast, the dramatic effect is lost in the awkwardness.
Let’s not forget to mention- Mike is a complete misogynist. He adds a lot of little comments about his personal/political beliefs (fine, it’s your show, do what you want). Unfortunately, it’s hard to support a guys show, when he talks as if he hates women. He’s die hard MAGA, no question about that. He turned off all his social media comments so that he doesn’t have to deal with the backlash. He can dish it but can’t take it.
Let’s not forget to mention- Mike is a complete misogynist. He adds a lot of little comments about his personal/political beliefs (fine, it’s your show, do what you want). Unfortunately, it’s hard to support a guys show, when he talks as if he hates women. He’s die hard MAGA, no question about that. He turned off all his social media comments so that he doesn’t have to deal with the backlash. He can dish it but can’t take it.
Incel Host
Host gives mad incel energy and should probably examine that before spewing his small DE on this pathetic app.
Major Problem
I want to like this app, but being pushed to it and then it doesn’t even save your spot so that every time I open it I have to figure out what episode I was on and where in the episode I was. This is supposed to be something convenient to listen to. Too bad.
App keeps logging me out
I have used this on both android and iOS. After a period of time, the app logs you out whether you’re using it or not. The old version never did this. As the episodes are only released weekly, this gets to be pretty annoying, especially since neither platform lets you save your credentials for this app. It also frequently forgets my place in an episode if I don’t finish it.
Great show, but horrible app
Cannot listen to a “downloaded” episode offline. Can’t hardly open the app when in bad service.
app is almost unusable
for $10 a month, you think the app could pick up where you left off on a certain episode, instead of having to find the one you were listening to, and having to guess the time mark.
for $10 a month, you’d think you’d be able to create a queue
for $10 a month, you’d think you’d be able to create a queue
Can’t even keep track of progress
Forgets where I was at if the app closes. For the love of Pete just give me an RSS feed
Amazing podcast terrible app.
Love the podcast, hate the app. Super buggy, crashes constantly, replay is difficult if not impossible. Wish it was available to listen to literally anywhere but this app.
So buggy!
This app is incredibly buggy and lacking in basic features- almost unusable. It logs you out randomly and restoring purchases once re logged in is flaky. More recently, It stops playing randomly! It doesn’t remember where you left off and it doesn’t allow you to filter out listened to shows. I mean cmon, an app that supports a paid for subscription should have the basics down.
Disappointing
Great podcast, horrible app
Junk
This is messy garbage. This is why there are podcast apps besides Apple, so people make own choice. Now this show only has one choice to listen and it is messy junk. I won’t be listening anymore.
Love SAS but the new app is badly formatted
As title says, I love the show but the new app update and format is terrible. When I close my phone to black screen the audio stops and I have to leave my phone screen on to listen. The new format is frustrating for many other reasons. Change it back please.
Not a fan of the style change; features
Not only is it difficult to navigate but I can’t find the customer service link and the app doesn’t register my email although I’ve been a member for years and had just renewed my subscription.
Please bring back 2 features.
Love the show 5 stars every day. Can you bring back the download page so when I download an episode and I can put them in order to how I like to listen to them. When I’m working I can’t really stop what I’m doing to change the episode. The original app had this feature and it was great. I had everything in one place and I can play them in whatever order I liked. It broke up the episodes great and I could put the interviews with the show it went with.
WOW I can’t download an episode anymore. That’s a huge downgrade to this app. Where I work I don’t have good internet so downloading the episodes was the only way I can listen to the show. BRING THAT BACK!!!
WOW I can’t download an episode anymore. That’s a huge downgrade to this app. Where I work I don’t have good internet so downloading the episodes was the only way I can listen to the show. BRING THAT BACK!!!
How did I lose my subscription???
I subscribed for the second year a couple of months ago on the Podcast app, now I can’t access the new episodes and it’s asking me to subscribe again!!! Is this a technical issue?
Disappointed
The stories have declined over time. But still better than most true crime podcasts. However, after recent events and posts seen on Facebook reflecting political biases, I must unfollow. Call me a sensitive snowflake but a boundary has to be drawn somewhere. Might be a good idea to keep the platform neutral.
there’s the show then there’s the host
show is great, host ruins it with his right wing interjections when it’s not needed.
hey Boudet , just friendly suggestion- why don’t you have a podcast to all your political views and one for sword and scale?
Also, the video content is really not that interesting. It tends to ramble on and on, and on too far outside the lines of a regular story.
hey Boudet , just friendly suggestion- why don’t you have a podcast to all your political views and one for sword and scale?
Also, the video content is really not that interesting. It tends to ramble on and on, and on too far outside the lines of a regular story.
I have tried to give this app a chance
I have tried to give this app a chance. I know that creating a new app has a lot that goes with it, but it has been out for a while and some of the issues still plague me.
I deliver out in the country, so I don’t have service all the time.
So you guys added download episodes. Great! Until it doesn’t let me access them because I don’t have internet. I tap my downloads and somehow I am logged out?!? Why?
Then finally I get internet access again and all of a sudden I’m logged back in. Sigh.
Today I was listening to an episode that was downloaded to my device, or so I thought. (It showed it was downloaded)
20 minutes into the episode, it just stops playing and I get a buffering spinning circle.
At this point I’m frustrated and thinking of canceling plus because of the unreliability of this app. If I’ve downloaded them for offline playing, let me play them while offline. And let me play the whole episode. (Not to mention, this app is a data hog if you don’t have unlimited data on your cellular plan)
I deliver out in the country, so I don’t have service all the time.
So you guys added download episodes. Great! Until it doesn’t let me access them because I don’t have internet. I tap my downloads and somehow I am logged out?!? Why?
Then finally I get internet access again and all of a sudden I’m logged back in. Sigh.
Today I was listening to an episode that was downloaded to my device, or so I thought. (It showed it was downloaded)
20 minutes into the episode, it just stops playing and I get a buffering spinning circle.
At this point I’m frustrated and thinking of canceling plus because of the unreliability of this app. If I’ve downloaded them for offline playing, let me play them while offline. And let me play the whole episode. (Not to mention, this app is a data hog if you don’t have unlimited data on your cellular plan)
Mike Bidet
I’ve been listening to this podcast since 2016 and it was my favorite one until it wasn’t. The host is constantly making passive aggressive remarks, misogynistic comments, and even slights towards his listeners. Boring episodes now too will cancel my subscription 🥱 no worth my $. And don’t even get me started on the MINUTES long music in between… that he’s been asked by many to change, but he DGAF and has even made jokes of it. I’m all for saying it like it is, being non PC, being stubborn and a d! ck, but he takes it overboard. And my last thing HUMANS inherently ain’t sh* t, not just women. This guy is so biased and a dork lol. I misspelled his last name purposely, fyi.
The podcast is great, I hate the app
The app doesn’t remember anything. It doesn’t keep my place in the podcast or which podcast. If keeps asking my to turn on notifications and it will stop playing randomly
App Drama
I added a different tier and it’s charging me for the lower tier and the new tier, and not even letting me benefit from the upper tier that I am paying for. It says I’m paying for it, but it won’t let me watch the videos.
Why adds. Hate them
I been listening for a few years. I was disappointed there were ads in the app even though I was a paying subscriber. That is the reason why I unsubscribed. I thought you did this Sword and scale app so you wouldn’t have to have ads. Great show but super disappointed because of the ads. Maybe one day I will subscribe again. My other subscriptions don’t have ads. Why do you? Isn’t the subscription the point to no ads in any show.
Price
This show was good well it lasted 5$ was perfect for how expensive everything is but now even if we have been a subscriber for years we have to pay more in this app... glad to see the greed effect this show too Goodbye
App ok but has its problems
Can’t tell what’s alrdy been listened to. Multi step process to delete downloaded episodes - should just be able to slide and delete . Playlist and order is also confusing and could use some work. Few quirks and bugs but good overall
Love the show! Keep up the good work
Love the show! Keep up the good work
Sentiment summary
98%
Positive (4-5★)
1%
Neutral (3★)
1%
Negative (1-2★)