213. Where Did All the Gatekeepers Go?

This week Jamal and Chris talk about recent Wayfarer news, including eMiLy’s photo-edit outage, ongoing email issues, and a reminder about properly handling location edits through help chat instead of inching Wayspots around the map. They also react to some listener comments before diving into the main topics. In Topic #1, they discuss a “Measure Twice, Cut Once” approach to nominations, introducing a practical pre-submission checklist. They cover the importance of strong photos, clear unique features, accessibility details, cultural or historical context, and smart use of supporting images to answer reviewer questions before they’re even asked. In Topic #2, they explore whether reviewers are actually getting better—or if the so-called gatekeepers have simply disappeared. They break down possible reasons for faster approvals, including improved submitter quality, shifts in the reviewer pool, and potential backend or automation changes. They also challenge the “gatekeeper” label, talk about community bias, and ask whether quality could drift if approvals stay this fast. 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: 12 Feb 2026 Published: 15 Feb 2026 Season 5, Episode 5 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