I really loved this podcast until Andrea started blatantly demonizing Christian’s, and pushing progressive and racial issues! This podcast is no place for that, it’s supposed to be true crime not political bias!

I really like this show but I think the hosts focuses far too much on her own story. I wish she’d done a season just on her sister so she could say what she needed to say. But wholly cow listening to her talk to her subjects and CONSTANTLY coming back with, “well my sister…” I would have been so annoyed if I were her subject trying to tell my own story. She also repeats herself a lot. Recycled phrases over and over. The thing at beginning about “we believe our eyes..” cut it. We heard it. It’s too long to be a tag line.

I’ve loved this season, and am genuinely confused at the amount of negative reviews. Telling that the majority of them seem to come from evangelicals… anyway- love the show! Keep up the great work!

I think she presents important arguments for medical child abuse and that it does exist and is under reported in the system. But the bias that the medical system cannot be wrong (including her comments on ivermectin and Covid) shows that she puts 100% trust in the system. Also the pronoun use is just obnoxious and sounds like she has terrible grammar. And her portrayal of Christians is ridiculous in Season 5.

I love this show!! It is compelling and well researched. The host has clearly done the research and the work to become an expert on this dark topic. This is so eye opening, especially with the Kowalski’s. Maya is the real victim, and her mom was clearly the perpetrator. I hope everyone involved in this podcast will keep trying to save these poor kids.

A very well-researched look at MBP. It feels like the biggest issue is that family court holds the goal of reunification, not really the safety of the children. Because reunification is the goal—and the wider belief that parents are the ultimate authority on how their children are raised—it does lead to children suffering if the alternative is separation. Basically, unless you can convince the wider family court system to rethink what their purpose is, nothing will really change.

The narrator in this podcast comes across as very pretentious. She assumes the worst intentions from all of her subjects. My assumption is she does this to make the story more compelling to make her podcast more dramatic. Would not recommend wasting time.

While I love the storytelling and as a Christian mental health expert, I have witnessed serious psychological issues can be distorted in the name of religion, I do not believe the host did a good job of bringing in the types of experts that would bring balance to the show. I would’ve loved to seen her interview an evangelical expert that teaches mission work at a seminary. It could’ve presented better context and more balance to her presentation of the dynamics. I definitely think this podcast brings awareness to a serious condition and it’s definitely binge worthy! But the host definitely displays some of her philosophical biases that prevents the show from being authentic journalism.

I’m so scared for those children. The fact that this case happened in my state and she took them to hospitals I go to is scary. I hope they make it to 18 and get away.

I started off thinking this would be a very good story but immediately was distracted by the “they/them” use of pronouns. I thought the story was about two sisters but it’s one woman. It just was super distracting and kept thinking who is them, then remembering the story is only about one woman. The narrator is too “woke” from me. She’s also no expert but apparently has self appointed themselves as such.

This is a pretty good show. However I first was confused why they mention Maya Kowalski in the same breath as the Blanchard case with regards to Munchausen by proxy. Maya’s mother did NOT have Munchausen. That seemed like a careless comment. Secondly there is some woke ideology in here but it isn’t as suffocating as some other podcasts. It seems the host is genuinely interested in staying “somewhat” unbiased.

It's a no for me.

I want to like this show, but the host spends what feels like more than half of the time revisiting her personal story and talking about her experiences investigating these cases, to a point that is almost intolerable. I loved the topic and stories but couldn’t bear through the constant reiteration of things we already heard

Excellent reporting, thoughtful and well researched.

I agree this podcast is biased. You accuse Netflix of presenting only one side of Maya’s story but you are so blatantly disdainful towards the Mother. Like Beata I would do anything to save my child. That’s all she was- a Mother trying to save her child. Have some respect

I really wanted to like this podcast. It has an interesting topic that I feel like isn’t covered in podcasts as of right now. However it was painful to get through the first two seasons. The content is all over the place and doesn’t feel chronological. In one episode you can be hearing about someone else and then all of a sudden the topic has switched back to Megan (the hosts sister) and the main story is lost in rambles. I also found that frequently when the host wasn’t getting the exact answer she wanted from experts, she would interrupt and re word her question to get the expert to agree with her. I’m not saying her opinions are wrong but she’s very black and white and I think the experts, rightfully so, speaking in more grey-ish like terms because the topic IS very very very area. Again I really wanted to like this podcast but it’s disorganized and hosted by an armchair expert. (I do agree that her sister most likely has the disorder. I’m not disagreeing with that. But the podcast flow is lacking)

This podcast is a witch hunt. I was led there by my favorite podcast, Betrayal, but rest assured, this podcast is not even close to the quality and storytelling of Betrayal. The first season is interesting, but Andrea’s bias and disdain for her own sister becomes more and more apparent with every episode. She uses the reputation of well-respected law enforcement officials and other professionals as guests to essentially accuse mothers of abusing their children and create doubt around mothers seeking care for their ill children. She criticizes Netflix’s documentary as being hurtful to a cause while simultaneously creating harm to another - by creating suspicions of guilt and foul play of women who suffer miscarriages, pre-term births, or have sick children. As if we don’t already have enough threats to the protections of women in this country. I can understand how bringing awareness to underreported MBP is an important undertaking, but advocating in this careless manner is scary and infuriating.

I cannot love this show enough! Such important topics, your approach is really lovely 💜💜

I'm a healthcare professional and I am very impressed by the careful thought and investigative technique you bring to covering this vitally important topic. I feel your pain over losing the sister you thought you knew, but grateful that you have devoted your career to unveiling medical child abuse in the hopes of getting people to protect children first. I hope this laudable mission leads to healing and restoration of your family when your niece and nephew are old enough to seek you and their grandparents.

I loved this podcast and listened intently until politics and woke turned me off.

The elephant in the room is that Texas has managed to strip women of rights and support and is finding new and inventive ways to set the law on them. THAT’S what’s in the water. And when she says, “If only we could get fathers to hear this message…”??? What if we got fathers to hear that their children’s mother needs support? Like, EVER? Of course children need to be protected. The best way to do this is to support parents, not wait until they have irreparably harmed their children and then take that mother away.

I have really enjoyed every season of this podcast. The topic is fascinating and disturbing and the stories are well researched. I think the show gets some things wrong in terms of ancillary topics (eg , mission work) but different opinions are fine and I don’t have to agree with everything about the podcast in order to like it.

***Edit- I just made it to S3E19. The below was before I heard it. Still suspicious. Honestly listening to this makes me want to know if the dad was ever investigated in the wife’s death. She was found with an IV, hanged and the gun was missing? He gives a lot of information about why they didn’t know where she was but never looked for her? Very suspicious to me. Also, if she did indeed do it to herself, maybe she felt like she couldn’t stop hurting her kid and that was her escape. Just a lot of strange things with the mother and father going on besides the obvious. ALSO, someone should do a documentary on Netflix documentaries and how biased they are.

I really liked the first season of this show. The story was well told and ended in the conviction of the mother for abuse. Since that season it has become a less fact based podcast and more of a make the facts result in the story I want. In both season 2 and the latest season the mothers were found not guilty but the tone of the story continues to display them as guilty. For that reason not all the facts are shared in the case that would provide a more balanced view of the cases. This is a highly biased podcast and I can’t recommend for that reason.

I am really picky about my podcasts and this one is one of my new favorites. I am so grateful for the season about the Maya Kowalski case because I took the documentary at face value. I’m embarrassed that I was totally bamboozled by “Take Care of Maya.” Great reminder to be more skeptical and do more research. Especially about all those families they framed as “wronged” by Dr. Smith. Thank you for shedding light on this very real topic!

Keep up the amazing work. I am so impressed by your dedication to truth and high standard of excellence. I’ve listened to every season except 4 lost me. I’ve learned so much from you and your team. Thank you

There are some aspects of the show that I can greatly appreciate. However, it was absolutely alarming when the host made the statement that she does not believe that children belong to just the parents. It is clear that this individual does not understand the radicalized dangers within the government and the power that big pharmaceutical has over our medical. The hosted the best she could based on her belief system to present a balanced perspective, sadly it was slanted towards her perspective. I do believe that Sophie indeed was controlling the medical narrative of her child and is probably not fit to be the sole parent of these children. Just listeners to be more objective and not pen labels onto Christians or churches. There are evil people in every industry and from every background. Objectivity is the key to which the show tends to lack.

I’m not defending Brittney in this case bc clearly the child needed help. However, I really urge you to do research on how black and brown kids are taken at a disproportionate rate by CPS. White Christians have a long history of “adopting” in the name of saviorism instead of what’s best for the child. This couple is giving off legal kidnapping vibes. It’s sad you only report one side when’s there have been so many children harmed and traumatized by CPS and “foster” parents who’s goal is adoption rather than reunification (which I don’t believe was appropriate with Brittney but is appropriate with so many other moms). Feeding the ego and being the “hero” is a problem to many kids. Please stop centering harmful systems or at least have a podcast with folks harmed by this system.

I was enjoying this podcast a lot and considering becoming a patreon member until I got the part where Andrea shouts out and praises the podcast titled ‘The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling.’ As a trans listener, this shattered me. I am struggling to understand how TERF ideology continues to infest even the people who seem the most trustworthy and good. It makes me feel like losing all hope. I lost much of my family to rowling’s ideas and TERF influence. The pain it has and continues to put me through is hard to state. Anyway, besides this feeling of betrayal that is hitting me, I think this podcast covers an important topic that I previously was not very educated on. Like most, I thought the Blanchard case was pretty much the extent of it and that it is more rare than I know now it is. So I am grateful for this.

Overall excellent. The insight into the background of Maya and her mom is fascinating. From the first time that I heard the news about Maya and her mother, I thought the mom was mentally ill — seeking ever increasing doses of ketamine for her 9 or 10 year old daughter notwithstanding the huge risks of using ketamine on a regular and increasing basis. I’m sorry the mom committed suicide, but it’s not because of Johns Hopkins or the docs — mom appears to have suffered mental illness that not only led to medical abuse of her daughter, but to her ultimate suicide. Then daddy sued for $250 million when daddy was enabling his mentally ill wife.

As an agnostic, evangelism is a controversial topic in itself. But to generalize the morality of missionary work and intertwine it within the reasoning of this terrible crime is irresponsible. This was more an op-ed than an expose of a true crime

Exceptionally good show. Fascinating, thoughtfully executed, extremely informative podcast.

Eye opening!

As a retired Special Education Director, I saw firsthand how crucial it was to have a school psychologist when navigating the complex issue of Munchausen. Throughout my years in education, I encountered this concern four times. All memorable! This podcast sheds light on the characteristics of the condition and the challenges involved in addressing it.

I appreciate the focus on scientific evidence, advocacy, and ongoing hope in the face of our failed systems in the USA! I’m surprised by negative reviews, the storytelling is solid and thoughtful and appreciative of different perspectives. The host openly acknowledges her perspectives and biases- everyone has biases, it’s through acknowledging and challenging them that we can try to be fair and ethical. I think the host is ethical and advocating on behalf of those most vulnerable! To the show team: thank you for not apologizing for your advocacy for those being openly discriminated against in the US presently!

I was so engrossed in the first 3 seasons and enjoyed them immensely. As the 4th season moved along, I found myself wondering why so much time was devoted to this one story. It felt like it could have been wrapped up in half the number of episodes due to the amount of repetitive content. It took too long to get some points across, and there were SO MANY people involved in the story. I get that this is the nature of podcasts now but it does make for some tedious listening at times. Having said that, I just finished season 5 and was, once again, fully engrossed. The episode with Chalice was excellent, and it left me feeling that there is hope for other victims of CMA that people in a position to do something about it will finally recognize it for what it is and hold their abusers accountable. For those who complain that Andrea always brings the subject back around to her sister…. Of course she would! This is what started her on the path to this podcast, and the very reason she has devoted so much of her life and time to it, and she does an excellent job of remaining neutral. To be honest, I have not noticed that she has been political, or preach, or biased in any of these episodes, but I just may not be listening with a critical ear the way some do. Thank you, Andrea, for bringing to light the very real, extremely dangerous condition of MBP/CMA/FD. Also, I listened to The Mother Next Door on Audible and I enjoyed it very much 🙂

This podcast could be sooo lit because the stories are really interesting, but it seems like the information was just thrown all together with no rhyme or reason. We also don’t need a whole episode explaining evangelism. Most of the world already understands what they are about and it ruins the pace of the story. You and your producers really need to listen to some CBC podcasts or Dr. Death and take notes. I don’t understand how someone can take such an interesting story and make it so uninteresting

Great podcast but using the term pro-Israel as a synonym for conservatism is not only ignorant and misinformed, but dangerous and offensive. Get your facts straight.

The show at every step refuses to hold enablers accountable. Saying the family who protects an abuser & Denys all facts presented as “good people” has the same energy when ppl call racists “good people”. “Like yea he’d lynch a black man, but he’s always been so nice to my kids! He’s good people, just mistaken.” Nah that energy only leads to more kids being abused, don’t be limp wristed while explaining the damage these people cause.

Could not even get through the first episode, annoying ads start after about 10 seconds of narration and continue like that throughout the episode. They didn’t even make it through an intro without interrupting for more ads. Interesting topic, but show is absolutely unlisten-able due to the ridiculously greedy amount of ads shoved in every 10 seconds. This must be a 20 minute podcast but it shows it’s over an hour because the other 40 minutes is just trashy ads.

I’ve always appreciated how Andrea has been so compassionate and thoughtful exposing the ugly truth of factitious disorder. That being said, the “bonus” episode featuring Chalice Howard was so articulately and perfectly raw and honest that it truly reflected what is at the heart of the podcast; love. Love for the victims, love for the perpetrators, love for those who blindly support the abuse. There is absolutely nothing vindictive about this reporting. Everything is expressed without judgement, just concern. The dialogue between Andrea and Chalice was the most honest and heartbreaking conversation I’ve ever heard in podcastland. I wish nothing but the best for the families featured, as well as those who are living in the shadows. Thank you for all you do Andrea. You as well Chalice. What a brave and compassionate gift you are.

Andrea is so empathetic and intelligent and this podcast is so well done. I’m so confused about the negative reviews, this is one of my favorite podcasts. You can deeply hear Andrea’s passion about this topic in her voice. She brings on a wide variety of guests including professionals that specialize in Munchausen by proxy. It is a very informative and well researched podcast with a lot of heart. Can’t wait to start reading her books as well! Highly recommend.

Thank you for the research that you do. I appreciate that you try to find or understand the “what if they are telling the truth.” As a mom I understand advocating for your child to get answers but I will never understand how people don’t see the glaring red flags when there is documented evidence of people lying to medical professionals. Let alone that most of these medical issues are spun as terminal when the disease is not a terminal disease.

I would love to know any thoughts from M’s perspective. What was her relationship with C? What did she think of everything? Did she ever talk to anyone about her sister and her mom?

I’m a big fan of the show, fascinating subject and well produced, the host is passionate about the work. The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way this season (5) was sharing the older daughter’s diary entries. Seemed like extraneous info and invasive to her privacy.

I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Listening to Andrea's (and others') tireless advocacy for justice on behalf of vulnerable children has been deeply meaningful to me. Because of this podcast, I found the courage to request my childhood medical records and it has been so validating to have them. I am thankful to Andrea and Joe (Season 4) for speaking out about having the right to our medical records. All of this being said, I am a bit miffed by season 5. Certain parts of season 5 were in character with previous seasons being logical and other parts seemed sloppy. I agree that Sophie Hartman’s behavior is bizarre and has many telling symptoms of Munchhausen’s by proxy. What I did not appreciate were the broad, sweeping statements about Evangelical Christians. “Evangelicals believe that parents have a God-given right to raise their children…It is my strong belief that the world these people want is one in which they can bring their children to the doctor and the doctor does what they want, regardless of the harm to the child. A world in which children are not people, but property.” (Andrea Dunlop, S05 Ep08.) It seems like Andrea is putting all E-free Christians in the same category as Sophie Hartmann (and the handful of churches that she has been a part of.) Is there something I am misunderstanding about the above statement? I am an Evangelical Christian with children. I would NEVER view my child (or any child) as “property” or hurt my children in any way. My children are vaccinated, go to public school, and are happy and healthy. I liken the above statement to saying “All Mormons are polygamists.” Bizzare and untrue. I think Andrea lost a bit of her rational information-gathering credibility in this season. As a survivor of abuse who has found support through the show, I am left feeling confused and a bit disenfranchised.

Thank you for creating and continuing this podcast on a challenging topic. Thank you for bringing in experts, interviewing those who are close to the story, and sharing your personal experience. I hope and pray for the day the medical, legal, mental health, early childhood education, and social service fields and community as a whole look back on this as a groundbreaking podcast that shed light and paved the way to fix the broken systems and save children and families. I hope we can learn to recognize and treat children developing this illness before they grow into adults with children of their own. It seems the signs were there with the host’s sister in her teen years, perhaps earlier. How can we make prevention and intervention a thing here? How can we change social services, medical systems, and the legal system to save these young victims without a voice?

Andrea Dunlop clearly has delved deeply into the available resources on medical child abuse. She confers with experts who have decades of experience researching, investigating, and directly interacting with victims and perpetrators. (not to mention unpacking her own family experience so relatably) This is a topic that could easily be addressed in an exploitative or sensationalistic way. To consider the people who inflict this type of abuse on others (usually their own children) feels raw and disturbing. But Andrea grounds her podcast with the humans involved. She demonstrates empathy for the perpetrators but never loses sight of the very real, vulnerable children whose lives are at risk. The negative reviews seem loaded with personal grievance and/or backwards denial that things like racism and homophobia exist. Give it a listen yourself. I’ve learned so much about how situations like this can go undetected, how misunderstood Factitious Disorder is in mainstream media, and how we can all advocate for kids. Andrea’s podcasting skills have grown over the seasons, and her work is undeniably important.

Thoughtful and well produced.

It’s a good podcast but every story seems to come back to her sister. Maybe she should just get therapy instead of doing a podcast.