Fantastic model!

I find this approach to be random and real on many levels but Rachel elevates every answer with grace- utterly fabulous work!

Given the

If a guest does not agree to the concept. Does not want to be there. Get rid of them. Hello Goodbye. Simple.

I tire of all the blah blah blah and superficiality in life- my soul and heart longs for more meaningful connection. I dont have time for the superficial or judgemental where so many people live. This goes there.

I’ve long enjoyed Rachel for the talented journalist she is with NPR. And I emphasize with wanting to find a new entryway into the overly saturated world of interview podcasts. But I find this to be…just fine, nothing more. Rachel’s a tremendous newscaster. Interviewing celebs is definitely not her strong suit. Her style can feel fawning, overly agreeable, hyper giddy, sometimes performative. It’s not that I want anyone to be in the hot seat - I love interviews that feel like thoughtful conversations. But something about this is off. I think the card format, while interesting in theory, doesn’t lend itself to following the flow of the guest response. Something interesting and emotional to say? Welp, now we pivot to a whole different random card. I get that that’s the name of the game, I’m just not sure it works. I turn to this pod almost as background noise, when I’ve expended many of my other podcast updates. Every now and then, there’s a gem of a moment. Michelle Obama’s ep felt a bit different in a good way…maybe it’s Michelle’s own inherent command of every situation she’s in, or maybe Rachel’s journalist core slipped out she laid low on the fawning. Either way…more of that vibe, please.

What a beautiful conversation with Michelle Obama when discussing how much she thinks about death. “If we’re really blessed, We might have 25 more summers.” I love that practical and aspirational approach to aging, living, and dying. Thank you Rachel for creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for guests and for you to share your inner selves.

Rachel creates such a warm and safe environment for guests to go on a journey and for listeners to ride along. The conversation is driven by questions you wouldn’t think to ask but are excited to hear the answers for. The Johnathan Groff and Michelle Obama episodes are two of my favorites.

Always a very interesting listen!!

The cards felt a little gimmicky but it turns out they prompt some of the most revealing discussions. I find myself reflecting on my own experiences when she asks the questions. Sometimes I have no answers. Which makes it even more compelling.

Rachel never fails to get the emotions flowing. The vulnerability and resulting honesty that comes from her interviewing style reminds us that we all make mistakes. We all need to be loved and accepted. We need to create a society that works towards empathy rather than shame and blame.

Rachel is so good at getting folks comfortable and is good to share her own life and experiences! Well done on all accounts! Production, talent, choices!

The John Green episode reeled me in, but I have listened to SO many more since. I love the format, the depth of the questions, the genuine answers from the guests, and Rachel’s therapist-like responses. And even as a longtime NPR listener, I have a new love and appreciation for Rachel Martin. She writes the best intros!

I adore this show. Rachel does such a great job of making folks feel comfortable to answer these deep questions. It has me thinking about how I would answer and what moments I want to linger in. Have definitely teared up plenty of times listening. Love love love it. Thank you for making this show.

Loving this format! Rachel is dynamic and I love so many of these questions are deep and thoughtful and really engage the guest rather than the regular superficial questions we always hear.

The choose-a-question format, the variety of guests, and the thoughtfully crafted questions make it a fascinating listen.

I have been listening for some time and I look forward to each new episode. Wild Card takes me on an adventure every week and introduces me to new people every week. The format of the show keeps every episode fresh and unexpected. You never know what question will be asked next. You also never know what will be the answer. The guests on this show help me understand this wild world we live in better. I also have gained an appreciation for how diverse the human perspective can be. I always finish every show with a smile and a renewed sense of curiosity. If you want a show that will always keep you wondering, give Wild Card a listen or three!

Your episode with John Green was my favorite yet! The depth, insight and humor of this conversation made my heart overflow with gratitude.

Such great questions and your guests really seem to open up and connect with you. I really loved Uzo Aduba.

This is my first podcast review! I listen to so many great ones—SmartLess, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and Dateline (gotta have my murder content)—but I’ve never actually taken the time to write a review until now. There’s just something special about the chemistry between Rachel Martin and her guests. It feels effortless, like you’re listening in on two people who’ve known each other forever—even when it’s their first time meeting. I’ve only listened to three episodes so far, but I’m already hooked. Can’t wait for more!

I have listened to several episodes of the show, and I love the concept and I love the questions. It is fun to get a behind the curtains look at some thoughts of beliefs of well-known people. However, please please please stop interrupting the guests or finishing their sentences for them. Silence and pauses are okay while the guests come up with an answer, and they do not need a host trying to explain their own answers back to them.

I loved Rachel as an NPR correspondent, she had to most sincere, exuberant voice. Listening to her felt like eating a bowl of deliciousness. I understand that her work with NPR was tough and exhausting and I get she needed a break. However, this show is so insipid, so shallow. What a waste of her excellence.

After reading high praise for this podcast all over, I was excited to finally listen. The host, sounding nothing like she typically does on NPR, scoffed at a number of Ronnie Chieng's earnest answers, talked over him, and was loud and dismissive when "calling him out." I though the point was to learn about the guest. If he answers earnestly about a belief/value/situation in his life, scoffing is really rude and inappropriate. She was like a loud, uninformed teen with no depth of ability to read the room. Not what I expected from NPR. Not sure I'll try another episode. Do better!

I loved the entire Jesse Eisenberg episode. He’s so thoughtful in his answers. Shoutout to the editing team for keeping his pauses in the last cut. I think it showcased his approach to the answers. Well done!

I first listened to this show after hearing the little snippet advertising it many times and it wasn’t what I expected. Even though I often don’t know the guests and their work, the content and atmosphere of vulnerability, nostalgia, hope, and reflection bring me so much comfort to listen to. I feel like this show realizes the sorts of conversations I have with myself and long to have more with others. I love the warmth and sincerity Rachel and the team behind this show bring to it, and I really do find it to be a unique gem, and a little island of respite every time I listen.

So tired of hearing that portion of the news that that covers ethnic minorities and women. If women are 50% of the population, shouldn’t they be 50% of the stories?

Durng the pandemic, my adult niece got the We’re Not Really Strangers card game. We set up a weekly FaceTime call to play, and it was such a great way to connect and learn more about each other. Your podcast reminds me of that special time. I can see why the guests often say they’re nervous when you begin, because your interviews are so different than what is common on the podcast circuit. Thank you for your unique vision for this podcast, and the way it sounds like friends talking, even when you are meeting your guests for the very first time.

It’s a afternoon tea, it’s a brisk fall day, it’s a weird talk with David Lynch. This podcast is a treat.

PLEASE STOP PLAYING ON NPR RADIO BROADCASTS! I don’t subscribe to the podcast and I am still forced to hear it on their radio broadcasts. Ahhhhh! Make it stop! Original review: Over saturation may have been the cause, but sick of this podcast. It’s fine a couple times, but gets old quick. SUPER tired of hearing about it on the radio and hearing its segments in my NPR news shows too. Not interested anymore, please stop putting this everywhere, Rachel Martin and everyone!

Show is like a weird quest to gain trust and then ask people about their faith. Also I'm pretty sick of celebrities. So many are brats and it show. And I definitely don't have any interest in hearing their takes on spirituality.

Ann Patchett

I love the guests and interviews I’ve heard on this podcast so far. Great choice of interviewees! Two ruses need reconsideration: the first time you listen, having the rules explained is fine. Upon the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, it’s a little unbearable to sit through all of that, but also to hear interviewees pick a card from three choices. Why pick a card from 3 downturned cards? You don’t need this—let your guests pick the top card (or from three upturned). Second—interviews are not about the host unless that host is famous and their presence is why guests come on the show. That’s why guests don’t choose the “flip” option (to flip a question on the host). Martin has had to awkwardly ask a guest if they want the card flipped. Guests don’t know who Martin is or want her opinion on a tough question—that’s info you want to hear from people you are close to in some way, not strangers. The audience wants to hear what guests have to say. I see why Martin would have thought that could be useful…but it misperceives the point of an interview. Lose some of the ruse and this will be an exceptional podcast.

I am loving this show, Rachel Martin makes it into something funny and rich. A real conversation that makes you think.

The random nature of each episodes questions makes this show pretty fun! I might not listen to every episode (there are too many podcasts!) but I always check out to see who the guest is.

I love Wild Card. I can’t stop listening and telling my friends how meaningful this podcast is for me. I find myself making that little noise made when I hear someone saying something that touches me deeply. Every episode has a different flavor, with Rachel’s constant guidance. Do yourself a favor and listen to.

This podcast launched around the same time as the New York Times’ “The Interview,” and I vastly prefer this one. Where “The Interview” is somewhat haughty, self-important, and indulgent to the point of parody, this podcast is fun, lighthearted, yet deeply sincere. It takes you placed you’d never expect and teaches you things you didn’t even know you didn’t know. I love it.

I started listening to this podcast as soon as it dropped, but since then it has become my go to calming and centering podcast. It already has conversations about the existential thing that I love to ponder and think about, and then when we’re in this crazy world of upsetting news every other day, it is the best escape. These are the things that really matter.

This is without a doubt one of the best new podcasts I’ve heard in awhile! Well done and keep up the good work.

This podcast is so refreshing and fun! Kudos to NPR for putting out a winner!

I enjoyed several of the episodes but I can’t get past the “political neutrality”/both-sidesism and talking about the relief people are feeling after a fascist who wants people like me dead got elected to the White House

I love this podcast so much! A new staple in my podcast rotation! Thanks to everyone who puts it together.

Amazing idea, and it gets super emotional and deep very quickly, but sometimes the guests are very B-list BUT the very good episodes are so deep and full of wisdom. The Jenny Slate and Levar Burton eps were my favorite.

I’m not sure how I stumbled on this, but it sent me into a deep-dive of previous episodes. Absolutely fascinating and very personal takes from smart & successful artists and creators. Sprinkled with raw, unscripted emotions and stories along with brilliant guidance & questions from the host. This is a national treasure! First of all - is there a feedback button for who we’d love interviewed next? I have a percolating list… And second - has NPR made the deck of cards into a game yet? I would buy sets for my whole family! I appreciate the gentle tone and probing guidance! I’ve already written down some very beautiful life wisdoms from your thoughtful guests.

It starts with cringe. Which card will the guest pick? OH MY GOSH! IT’S SO SUSPENSEFUL! Then it’s just blather from a self-involved B-list celebrity and a fawning host. I actually feel embarrassed for the people on this podcast whenever I hear it playing on my local NPR station.

I tried, but I just can’t believe how bad this is. The idea is that guests choose a card with a question, and this is what they talk about. The questions are faux-deep and invite all sorts of self-centered, over-long answers about nothing. If you like to hear C-list celebrities prattle on, encouraged by a fawning host, this is for you. Otherwise, stay away!

I absolutely love Wild Card. The best word I can use to describe it is “lovely.” Sometimes funny, sometimes a little sad, but always illuminating and fascinating. It’s the podcast I put on when I want to hear something that’s mellow and feel-good.

Listening for the time tonight and I have to immediately say this show is special and something different. The personal one on one connections, interesting and probing questions, really makes for an easy and impactful listen. Well done Rachel!

Great guests and a well-thought out format makes this one of my favorite podcasts! I look forward to it every week. Rachel Martin’s easy rapport with guests and the true authenticity that she brings to every conversation brings me joy!

When will NPR start selling the cards used in the show?

Ponderings of abstract questions pulled at random (or intuition?) with integrity, wit, and realism . Thanks Rachel!