1: S-Town Host Brian Reed Meets His Harshest Critic

The podcast "Question Everything" starts by examining the ethics of journalism through the lens of Brian Reed's "S-Town" podcast. Reed interviews Gay Alcorn, an Australian journalist who criticized "S-Town" as morally indefensible due to its voyeuristic nature and lack of explicit consent from its subject, John B. McLemore, especially regarding sensitive details about his sexuality and mental health. Reed defends his work by explaining that he felt a responsibility to the living and was encouraged by John's friends and family to tell his story. Alcorn questions whether Reed wrestled enough with the ethical issues. Both journalists reflect on the tension between telling a compelling story and the potential impact on the subjects' lives, with Alcorn sharing a past experience where she regrets not following up adequately with a vulnerable subject.