209. We’re back for Season 5!

In this week’s episode, Jamal and Chris break down everything kicking off Season 5 of Wayfarer, starting with the surprising speed-up that has nominations flying through in hours instead of weeks. They explore what this means for queues, backlogs, and overall Explorer behavior, and whether Niantic might be testing something under the hood. The conversation then shifts to the big Quality Question — are these faster decisions still accurate, or are reviewers becoming more lenient as systems evolve? Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ One's Gotta Go ✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week ✅ Dad Jokes (of course!) Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: 15 Jan 2026 Published: 18 Jan 2026 Season 5, Episode 1 Contact Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Voicemail / SMS: 704-426-3710  Support the Show  Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/PokemonProfessor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wayspotters.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wayspotterspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter/X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wayspotters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@imakewayspots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@WayspottersPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Community & Friends Wayfarer Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discord.gg/niawayfarer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ German Wayfarer Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discord.gg/ThTZCZH5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook Group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Solstice: 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify Episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unsplash⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Agent X on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@agentx_wayfinder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chris Bell’s Articles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pokemongohub.net/post/author/glawhantojar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Niantic Wayfarer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@NianticWayfarer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music CreditsIntro: “Game Over” – Danijel ZamboBreak: Heavy Trap Drum Loops – LoopmastersOutro: “Itty Bitty 8 Bit” – Kevin MacLeodAdditional: Spanish Hard Trap – Steve Oxen Vocal Recordings © Pokémon Professor Network 2025 Pokémon and all respective names © Nintendo 1996–2025. Pokémon GO © Niantic, Inc. Wayspotters & Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic, The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, or Nintendo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices