Fireside 12+

I wrote a review specifically outlining the previously accessible program that allowed many creators access to this platform and the impact of their changes this year. These “new” changes have removed creators, replacing us with a “gatekeeper” process for selective creators. Although their site allows people to apply for access, I personally have not received any responses to applications or messages sent to their support services. Not only are they not providing representation for underserved communities but they have made access significantly limited by having individual subscription based access for each creator.

For the participant, the Fireside feels like an app rushed to market, not yet a good business tool. App gets unloaded by IOS when it’s in background and resets itself. No easy way to backup 15 seconds. Using finger on slider is so inaccurate and it always wants to jump forward. Finding your lace in a recording is terrible. Worst of all, there is no way to find what you have listened to before - only can see what you participated in live. It would be basic table stakes to have it remember what you are listening to and where you were - all podcast and players do this basic function. It’s so clunky. The laugh tracks and applause is tough to stomach, but I get that and why it’s needed - better than nothing and helpful for a speaker to get some read of the room. Please Fireside, give the listener of recordings some basic tools, history, and functions so it’s tolerable. Do appreciate the Bluetooth compatibility.

I was excited to hear this was founded by Mark Cuban but that might not be enough. The app is aesthetically pleasing but not very user friendly and hard to navigate. I'm fairly tech savvy and it took way too long to figure out what is what.

I would rather it have less features and it be easier to understand otherwise a quantum mass of users isnt going to stick around on something that's not easy to use.

Took me forever to even figure out how to change my bio. Still can't figure out how to change my name (accidently put my company name where my name should go).

Hard to tell if a show is live or not. There's an interface that's scrolling thru random shows and switching without asking you.

Interface is making suggestions on what I like even though it has no idea what I like?

Multiple categories of content that are unclear and not enough categories divided by actual specific interests.

If you have to train me on how to consume content on your app, it's too complicated.