Wayspotters - A Niantic Wayfarer Podcast cover art

Wayspotters - A Niantic Wayfarer Podcast

Wayspotters - A Niantic Wayfarer Podcast

Written by: Pickaxe
Listen for free

About this listen

 Join hosts Jamal Harvey and Chris Bell for a weekly podcast dedicated to the Wide World of Niantic Wayfarer! Niantic Wayfarer provides the Points of Interests (POIs) that make these games run: Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter & More! Find us! On X (Formally Twitter) @wayspotters At our Website -> www.wayspotters.com On Instagram @wayspotterspodcast On TikTok @imakewayspots On YouTube @wayspotterspodcast Also available on pokemonprofessor.comPickaxe
Episodes
  • 207. Wayfarer Year in Review Part #2

    207. Wayfarer Year in Review Part #2
    Jan 4 2026
    This week the boys talk about… Part 2 of our 2025 Wayfarer retrospective — where momentum turned into mastery. From the mid-year surge of new Wayfarers to roadmap clarity, recognition, and early automation, the community didn’t just grow… it leveled up. We break down how July through December reshaped reviewing habits, mentorship, and what it really means to Wayfind heading into 2026. Here’s what we’re talking about: The mid-year Wayfarer check-in and how contributors evaluated their own performance Pokémon GO Wayfarer opening to Level 35 and the wave of new reviewers it unleashed How mentorship, Discord guides, and peer coaching became core to community success Why supporting statements evolved from “helpful” to mission-critical Ongoing Scopely speculation — and how the community adapted without official answers The shift from growth to refinement as reviewers focused on quality and efficiency Wayfarer Roadmap 2025–2026, the AMA, and what clarity did for community confidence The rise of recognition emails, reviewer spotlights, and year-end acknowledgments Early signs of automation and how reviewers balanced speed with integrity How 2025 closed with collaboration, preparation, and excitement for 2026 Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: December 18, 2025 Published: December 21, 2025 Season 4, Episode 49 Contact Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • 206. Wayfarer Year in Review Part #1

    206. Wayfarer Year in Review Part #1
    Dec 28 2025
    On this week’s episode of the Wayspotters Podcast, Jamal and Chris hit rewind on 2025 and take a month-by-month look at how Wayfarer really changed — not just through updates and announcements, but through reviewer behavior, community strategy, and shifting trust in the system. This isn’t a “Niantic did this” or “Scopely did that” episode. It’s about us — the reviewers, nominators, veterans, and newcomers who adapted as the rules stayed mostly the same, but the reality around them didn’t. In Part 1, we cover January through June 2025, including: Reviewer fatigue and growing inconsistency early in the year How supporting info, upgrades, and edits quietly lost trust The moment skepticism replaced benefit-of-the-doubt Community adaptation through Discords, strategy sharing, and mentorship The impact of Niantic’s games business being acquired by Scopely Think of this episode as the Wayfarer yearbook — fewer signatures, more opinions. Here’s what we’re talking about: Why 2025 felt different in Wayfarer — even before anything officially changed Reviewer fatigue, inconsistency, and the rise of “will this pass?” thinking How supporting information became the real battleground The growing distrust in edits, upgrades, and appeals When skepticism replaced benefit-of-the-doubt How the community adapted through strategy, Discords, and peer leadership The ripple effects of Niantic’s games business being acquired by Scopely Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell Writer: Jamal Harvey Producer: Jamal Harvey Executive Producer: Kate Konz Show Historian: Matty G Recorded: December 23, 2025 Published: December 28, 2025 Season 4, Episode 51 Contact Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 16 mins
  • 205. All I want for Christmas

    205. All I want for Christmas
    Dec 21 2025
    On this week’s episode of the Wayspotters Podcast, Jamal and Chris wrap up the year by taking a look at Wayfarer at the end of 2025. From a holiday-themed Wayfarer Christmas Wishlist to reflecting on what the year actually taught us about nominations, eligibility, and reviewer consistency, the conversation balances insight with end-of-year perspective. The episode also covers recent Wayfarer news, seasonal submission realities, and wraps with the debate no one asked for but everyone has an opinion on: Cake vs. Pie — dessert supremacy. Grab some eggnog, queue up a few reviews, and close out the year with the Wayspotters. Here’s What We’re Talking About: Here’s What We’re Talking About: Year-end Wayfarer news, including recent web submission issues A Wayfarer Christmas Wishlist, from realistic improvements to total long shots What 2025 taught us about Wayfarer, including consistency, eligibility, and reviewer interpretation How local knowledge and presentation still impact nomination outcomes The debate no one asked for: Cake vs. Pie — dessert supremacy Stick around for: ✅ Spatial / Scopely News ✅ The debate no one asked for ✅ 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: December 18, 2025 Published: December 21, 2025 Season 4, Episode 49 Contact Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 14 mins
No reviews yet