I never thought I'd listen to a book about bears

And I didn't. This is quintessentially a story (or stories) about humans, the dark and light (though probably more of dark) aspects of human nature. To me this was about loneliness as well and it reminded me of Of Mice and Men.

Even though it is especially fascinating to listen to the book/podcast from a psychological point of view, I think people particularly concerned about the fate of non-human animals will find it equally interesting.

This is a work very well done. If anything had to be written about this story, I think this is exactly what it should be like. It's got everything to it. Unfolding parts of the narrative in an engaging order, music that by itself tells a story, presenting different perspectives of different characters and the author (I appreciate the interviewing skills that I'm inferring from the passages of the interviews included in the book as well as the information he was given to by the interviewees).... Everything's done what could have been done. Even asking questions, naming and evaluating things is done for the listeners who will now only have to listen to the story and envision the scenes that are described in sufficient detail for the mental images to be vivid.

The experience was not like listening to a regular podcast. Instead it felt like listening to a movie and/or a documentary, a strange feeling as if listening to fiction but knowing those were real facts involving real people. At times it felt so real, I almost had a guilty feeling that I was looking into other people's personal matters too closely.

Looking forward to more stories from the author with more light-hearted, fun themes. Or perhaps BDSM-focused books if they have to be darker and intense.

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very interesting story

the similarity to the tiger king is striking in this fascinating tale. Worth a listen

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Fascinating story

Brilliant .
Well worth the listen, fascinating story and very well told.
Great journalism

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What a story!

A great story and fantastic bit of journalism. This is a very well put together and binge worthy podcast. Awesome music too. Nice work Jamie

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A vivid and compelling must-listen series

This is a binge-worthy piece that respectfully dives into a person's dark humanity.

I would not usually be interested in a podcast about an exotic animal owner, however I found this series gripping and compelling. I loved the flawless writing, narration, editing and music. The series shows a genuine, and contagious, fascination with an unusual and largely unlikeable character who had complex relationships with people and animals.

The search for the truth behind Ohio's bear king was acheived with thoroughness, persistence, professionalism and sensitivity.

I found this podcast both humbling and inspiring. There is nothing more captivating than listening to what someone is truely passionate about, no matter how obscure the theme may seem at first.

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Magnificent

Bear wrestling, sexual misconduct, reckless homicide... everything a girl could want. Superb stuff, not to be missed 👏

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Interesting and weird

Really interesting story about a deeply weird guy. Well done, Jamie Fullerton. More like this please!

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A Podcast That Fails to Tame Its Wild Story...

Beast Master is a true crime podcast that tells the story of Sam Mazzola, a controversial animal trainer who owned a wrestling bear named Caesar. The podcast is based on the experiences of Jamie Fullerton, a British journalist who wrestled Caesar in 2006 and became fascinated by Sam's dark and twisted world. Fullerton investigates Sam's life and death, interviewing his friends, enemies, and victims along the way.

The podcast has an interesting premise and some shocking revelations, but it fails to deliver a satisfying narrative. The episodes are poorly structured and often jump from one topic to another without a clear connection. The tone is inconsistent and sometimes sensationalist, making it hard to empathize with the characters or understand their motivations.

Beast Master could have been a compelling exploration of the human-animal bond and the ethical dilemmas of exotic animal ownership, but it falls short of its potential.

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