013 - Rants and Raves

 This episode is all about online reviews - The True and the False. In this episode of Midnight Cheesecake, we get into the chaotic and sometimes shocking world of online reviews. We kick off our BIG THANKS for the reviews we’ve gotten on the podcast so far, and talk about how much your listening means to us. <3 Then we dive into the different ways we write reviews (and why). Bekah shares her thoughtful, super detailed takes on everything from hotels and restaurants to random rest stops. She's got stories ranging from nightmare roach motels to dreamy luxury stays, always aiming to help future travelers with the real scoop. And where to find heated bidets! Meanwhile, Ruha talks about being a Google Local Guide and how that journey turned into a whole vocation, charting surprising spots, sharing pictures, and building a go-to database for folks exploring Alabama. Fun fact: one of her Louisiana Art and Science museum photos has over 6.7 million views. Not too shabby. Further in, we chat about a wild story from Vice UK about a guy who made up a completely fake restaurant and got it not just trending, but ranked #1 on TripAdvisor. That sparks a deeper convo about the power (and obvious pitfalls) of online reviews. Can you really trust what you read? And why have we stopped trusting our own taste buds? In our “Spots Playground” segment, we share favorite games we’re into lately, both card and video. It's all about that little slice of joy and how it brings us closer to the people around us. To wrap things up, we toss around tips on spotting reviews that feel real versus ones that seem a little too perfect. This is your reminder to drop us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. We wouldn't want anyone to think this is a fake podcast! Find us on socials @midnightcheesecake and slide into our DMs. Tell us what you're enjoying the most!   Chapters 0:13 Welcome to Midnight Cheesecake Podcast 0:51 The Importance of Reviews 1:48 Becca's Review Adventures 5:15 Rest Stops and Bidets 8:20 Google Reviews and Local Guides 14:02 The Shed at Dulwich 24:15 Trusting Online Reviews 28:31 Spots Playground 32:12 Card Games and Fun 36:24 Where to Find Us   Find Ruha & Bekah: https://www.instagram.com/midnightcheesecake/ and https://www.facebook.com/people/Midnight-Cheesecake-Podcast/61577976430527/