Why are J+L always learning the details of their topics while they’re recording?

I don’t know if this has always been an issue or if I’ve just recently become hyper-aware of it, but I’m noticing it in every single recent topic.

A while ago I realized that whenever they cover something I already know all the lore on, they get details wrong — mostly minor facts, but occasionally more important things. Which, honestly, I didn’t have a big issue with. Everyone will occasionally misinterpret or misremember details.

But what’s starting to stand out is that they don’t seem to be doing individual deep dives anymore. It feels like they’re learning the entire story in real time while recording, just reading through their researcher’s notes as they go.

Separately, I actually don’t think the researcher is the problem. She seems to be doing exactly what a researcher should do: she provides structure, a timeline, and occasional niche details. That’s scaffolding.

The issue is that Jessi and Lily don’t seem to be bringing anything beyond that scaffolding. Instead of coming in with context, familiarity, or their own informed takes, they’re actively piecing together the basics on-air. “I think…” and “Wait, is she the one who…” and “No, that’s not what happened…” are filling in the gaps even when they’re recapping core facts about the story.

At that point it stops feeling conversational and starts feeling underprepared. If the podcast used to be built on personality plus research, what’s left when the prep work is subtracted from the equation?