Starbooked

Shell Game, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff, is a serialized documentary podcast about things that are not what they seem, with a focus on technology and society. It has 20 episodes in its feed, released weekly, with a median episode length of about 39 minutes. Estimated downloads per episode are 50,000 to 80,000, with a rate of roughly $900 to $2,000 per host-read mid-roll ad.

Why brands sponsor Shell Game

Award-winning investigative series reaching a technology-minded listener base

  • Apple rating of 4.8 from over 1,200 ratings signals strong listener approval
  • Stable weekly cadence with 20 episodes in the feed and a new season announced
  • Long-form documentary format with a median episode length of about 39 minutes
Best fortechnology and software brandsB2B and productivity toolsawareness campaigns
Watch forThe explicit flag and scam-themed storylines may not suit family or child-focused brands.

Brand fit report

Content

Topics, IAB taxonomy
Technology & Computing55%
Society30%
Documentary15%
Formats
narrative, solo monologue, serialized reporting
Tone
investigative, reflective
Language
English
Production
Studio production
Typical length
35 to 52 minutes

Audience

Commercial intent25/100
Comments asking for links, prices or where to buy
Sentiment80/100
Estimated from titles, descriptions and engagement
Est. downloads per episode50k–80k
Estimated, confidence 60%: Apple ratings_count of 1,213 places the show in the 1,000 to 5,000 band, supported by a 2024 launch, a multi-award track record, and iHeartPodcasts ownership, with the Podcast Index popularity of 9 consistent with the top range.
Audience asks aboutHow does the experiment work in practiceAre the stories real or stagedWhat do the results mean for technology and work
Age
15%18-24
35%25-34
28%35-44
22%45+
Gender
40%women
60%men
Countries
🇺🇸 United States60%
🇬🇧 United Kingdom15%
🇨🇦 Canada10%
LanguagesEnglish 100%

Commercial

0%of the last 20 episodes had a sponsor
None seenno sponsor mentions in the last 20 episodes
Brands seen
iHeartPodcastsKaleidoscope
Categories promoted
None yet
Affiliate links
No

No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the description links to the show website and lists press praise without naming advertisers.

Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability

Profanitymedium
Adultlow
Drugslow
Violencelow
Politicslow

The feed carries the explicit flag (explicit=1), and episode titles such as 'Me and My Scammer' point to scam subject matter without graphic content.

We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.

Where to listen

Benchmark score: 75 / 100

Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.

Consistency Latest episode within the usual cadence50 / 50
Activity Episodes in the last 90 days, weekly is full marks5 / 30
Reach Estimated downloads per episode, 20k is full marks20 / 20

Recent episodes

Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 5 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.

A podcast about things that are not what they seem, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff. NEW SEASON launching October 21. Shell Game is a multiple award-winning series that has been named one of the best of the year by Apple, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Vulture, The Information, The Economist. It's "riveting," says The New Yorker, "awesome" says The Verge, and "slightly terrifying," says The Globe…
Shell Game's own show description from the podcast feed

Do you make Shell Game? Claim or remove this page.

About Shell Game

Shell Game is a serialized documentary podcast hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff, according to the show's RSS feed and Apple Podcasts listing. Its episodes examine things that are not what they seem, with a focus on technology and society, and the show's website describes it as a multiple award-winning series. The feed carries 20 episodes released weekly, with a median length of about 39 minutes.

The Apple Podcasts listing shows a 4.8 average rating from 1,213 ratings. Based on these signals, the show's audience is estimated at 50,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode, with listeners likely concentrated among adults aged 25 to 44 in the United States. These figures are estimates, not published download data.

The feed shows no sponsors. Estimated at 50,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll would cost about $900 to $2,000. The show suits technology, software and B2B brands seeking an attentive, high-consideration audience.

Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Shell Game can edit or remove this page at any time.

Questions about Shell Game

How much does Shell Game charge for a podcast sponsorship?

Estimated at 50,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll ad would cost roughly $900 to $2,000. Rates are estimates based on the rate rule and listener signals.

What is Shell Game about?

Shell Game is a documentary podcast hosted by Evan Ratliff about things that are not what they seem, focusing on technology and society. Episodes run weekly and are typically about 39 minutes long.

How do I contact Shell Game about sponsoring an episode?

The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can also be booked through Starbooked.

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