Nontendo is a podcast that clearly has potential, but right now it's a frustrating listening experience that often gets in its own way.
The biggest strength of the show is the hosts themselves. They bring a lot of energy, personality, and enthusiasm to every episode, making it easy to see why people would enjoy spending time with them. When they truly dive into the main topic, they do an excellent job of explaining concepts, providing background information, and educating the audience. Some of the occasional side discussions are also entertaining and informative.
Unfortunately, several issues hold the podcast back.
The most glaring problem is the advertising. The audio version seems to insert commercials every five minutes or so, and it becomes annoying beyond belief. Everyone understands that podcasts need revenue, but constantly interrupting the show destroys the flow of the conversation. If ads are necessary, place them at the beginning, middle, or end of the episode rather than breaking things up every few minutes.
Another issue is that many episodes promise a deep dive into a topic but only end up brushing the surface. There are times when the title or premise suggests an in-depth discussion, only for the actual topic to receive surprisingly limited attention. As a listener, that can feel like being sold a false bill of goods.
Finally, the podcast has a tendency to wander. Side tangents and unrelated discussions happen frequently, and many of them end up lasting longer than the main topic itself. While occasional detours can be fun, these ramblings often become distracting and make it difficult to stay engaged with the reason I clicked on the episode in the first place.
Nontendo isn't a terrible podcast by any means. There is genuine talent here, and the hosts have the personality and knowledge to create something excellent. However, the excessive ad interruptions, lack of consistent depth, and frequent off-topic rambling make it difficult to recommend in its current form. Clean up those issues, and this podcast could become something special.
