You’re scrolling through your podcast feed, looking for something that isn't just another dry breakdown of a cold case from 1974. Then you see it. A simple, almost ominous title: Something Was Wrong.
If you haven’t heard of Tiffany Reese, you’ve likely felt the ripple effects of her work in the true crime space. She didn't just start a podcast; she basically carved out a whole new sub-genre of "survivor-centered" storytelling that makes some people incredibly uncomfortable while giving others the only validation they’ve ever had.
Honestly, the show is polarizing. Some listeners think Tiffany is a literal saint for giving a microphone to people who’ve been gaslit into oblivion. Others? They’re on Reddit complaining that the episodes are too long or that Tiffany’s "I’m so sorry" interjections feel performative. But whether you love it or think it’s "jumped the shark," there is no denying that Tiffany Reese and Something Was Wrong changed how we talk about domestic abuse, narcissistic personality disorders, and the "gut feeling" we usually ignore until it’s too late.
Why Tiffany Reese and Something Was Wrong Still Matters in 2026
The podcast world is crowded. Like, "everyone and their mom has a microphone in their basement" crowded. Yet, Tiffany Reese has managed to keep this show at the top of the charts for over 25 seasons. That’s not just luck. It’s because she tapped into a very specific kind of horror: the kind that lives in your own living room.
Most true crime is about "the boogeyman." A stranger in the woods. A serial killer with a signature. But Something Was Wrong is about the guy you met on a dating app who seemed perfect until he started faking his own death to get out of a commitment. It’s about the "perfect" Christian fiancé who actually had a secret life involving three other women and a mountain of debt.
The Personal Stakes
People often forget that Tiffany isn't just a detached narrator. In Season 16, she dropped a bombshell by telling her own story. It wasn't just a "behind the scenes" look. It was a raw, sprawling account of her own childhood trauma and the murder of her brother, Bobby.
🔗 Read more: All I Watch for Christmas: What You’re Missing About the TBS Holiday Tradition
She has a personal stake in this.
When she tells a survivor "I believe you," it’s coming from a place of having navigated the same wreckage. This isn't just "content" for her. It’s a crusade. She founded Broken Cycle Media because she wanted a victim-centered company that didn't treat trauma like a commodity to be polished for a 22-minute TV slot.
The Seasons Everyone is Still Talking About
If you’re new to the show, or just trying to remember which one had the fake pregnancies, you’ve come to the right place. The show has evolved—sometimes for the better, sometimes in ways that leave fans divided.
- Season 1 (Sara): This is the OG. The blueprint. It’s the story of a woman who was a week away from her wedding when she realized her "perfect" fiancé was a pathological liar. It’s frustrating to listen to because you want to scream at the speaker, but that’s the point. It shows how grooming works.
- Season 9 (Danielle and Kenji): This one follows a conman named Ardie. It’s a masterclass in how narcissists "love bomb" multiple people simultaneously.
- Season 14 (Jake Gravbrot): This was a massive moment for the show. A group of women realized they had all been abused by the same man, a photographer named Jake Gravbrot. They used social media to find each other and hold him accountable.
- Season 18 (The Kaitlyn Braun Case): This is the one that really weirded people out. A woman faked pregnancies and stillbirths to manipulate doulas into giving her free care and emotional labor. It was a bizarre, niche form of "medical" con-artistry that most people didn't even know existed.
What Really Happened With the Reddit "Drama"?
You can’t talk about Tiffany Reese without mentioning the friction between her and the true crime community online.
Kinda weird, right? You’d think everyone would be on the same side.
💡 You might also like: Al Pacino Angels in America: Why His Roy Cohn Still Terrifies Us
But there’s been a lot of heat regarding how Tiffany handles criticism. There were reports of her personally messaging Reddit moderators because she didn't like the negative threads. Some listeners feel the show has become a bit of an "echo chamber" where the host is immune to any journalistic critique.
There’s also the "armchair diagnosis" issue. Critics argue that Tiffany and her guests throw around terms like "narcissist" or "sociopath" without medical degrees. Tiffany’s rebuttal is usually pretty straightforward: survivors don't need a PhD to know when they’re being abused. She’s leaning into the experience of the victim, not the clinical file of the perpetrator.
The "I'm So Sorry" Factor
If you listen to the show, you know Tiffany’s voice. It’s soft, empathetic, and she says "I'm so sorry" a lot.
To some, this is the heart of the show. It’s the validation a survivor never got from the police or their family. To others, it’s an editing choice that breaks the immersion. There was a shift a few seasons ago where the editing became much "looser." Instead of a tightly produced documentary, episodes started feeling like raw, unedited therapy sessions.
Does it work?
📖 Related: Adam Scott in Step Brothers: Why Derek is Still the Funniest Part of the Movie
Well, the show has a 2025 Webby Award nomination and multiple iHeart Podcast Award nods, so someone clearly thinks it does. But if you’re looking for a Serial-style investigative piece where the host plays devil's advocate, this isn't it. Tiffany is never the devil's advocate. She is always, 100%, on the survivor's side.
How to Actually Protect Yourself (Actionable Insights)
The whole point of Something Was Wrong isn't just to gawk at other people’s trauma. It’s supposed to be a cautionary tale. If you’ve been binge-watching and now you’re side-eyeing your neighbor, here is what the show actually teaches us about spotting "red flags" in real life:
- The Pace of the Relationship: If someone is telling you they love you and want to move in after three weeks, that’s not "destiny." It’s "love bombing." Healthy relationships have a slow burn.
- The "Crazy Ex" Narrative: If every single person in your partner’s past is "crazy," "abusive," or "obsessed with them," you are likely hearing a curated version of the truth. Pay attention to the common denominator.
- Inconsistent Details: Small lies are usually the foundation for big ones. If they lie about what they had for lunch or where they went to college, they will lie about their bank account and their marriage status.
- The Isolation Tactic: Notice if they subtly start criticizing your friends or family. "They don't really understand you like I do" is a classic line used to pull you away from your support system.
- Trust Your "Something is Wrong" Feeling: This is the namesake of the show for a reason. Most guests say they felt a "pit in their stomach" months or years before the big reveal.
The Reality of Survivor Advocacy in 2026
Tiffany Reese is currently using her platform to push for legislative change. She’s working with experts like Amy B. Chesler to turn these stories into more than just audio files. They’re looking at how stalking laws and domestic violence protections fail victims in the digital age.
It’s easy to dismiss a podcast as "just entertainment," but for the people who have appeared on Something Was Wrong, it’s often the only place they’ve been allowed to speak without being interrupted or questioned.
If you want to dive deeper, don't just start with the newest episode. Go back to Season 1. Listen to Sara's story. It’s a reminder that "evil" doesn't always look like a monster. Sometimes, it looks like exactly what you were looking for.
Next Steps for Listeners
- Check the Resources: Tiffany maintains a massive list of resources on her website (somethingwaswrong.com/resources) for those dealing with domestic violence or stalking.
- Listen with Context: If you find the editing "rambling," try listening to the earlier seasons (1-3) first to understand the show’s roots before hitting the more experimental later seasons.
- Support Survivor Media: If you value this kind of content, consider following independent creators who prioritize victim safety over "clickbaity" headlines.