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Chris is still away this week, so Agent X returns to the co-host chair alongside Jamal for another packed episode of Wayspotters. This week’s conversation covers some of the biggest recent developments in Wayfarer, including the shift from Niantic Games to Scopely Explore, reports that Niantic Spatial has moved from resolving photo additions to processing nomination approvals, and signs that Pikmin Bloom may have received a map update.Then Agent X takes the lead on Topic #1: Location, Location, Location, breaking down how even a great nomination can fail if the pin placement is wrong. Using real examples like pathway markers, neighborhood signs, and Little Free Libraries, he and Jamal talk through how sidewalks, fences, verges, and other boundaries can be the difference between an acceptance and a rejection—especially when private residential property is involved. In Topic #2, they tackle the question of whether suspicious nominations are actually abuse or just misunderstandings from newer Wayfarers who don’t fully understand how location placement works. It’s a thoughtful discussion about where to draw the line between education and enforcement, and how reviewers can approach questionable nominations without assuming the worst every time. Wayfarer News: Scopely Explore officially arrives, Niantic Spatial appears to be approving nominations, and Pikmin Bloom may have had a map sync Topic #1 – Location, Location, Location: why bad pin placement can ruin an otherwise great nomination Topic #2 – Abuse or Misunderstanding?: when a misplaced pin is just a mistake, and when it might be something more Tales from Idaho: Agent X debuts a new segment with the story of Soda Springs’ famous man-made captive geyser Wayspot of the Week #1: a creative bug hotel that blends art, conservation, and local identity Wayspot of the Week #2: a clubhouse nomination that nails the social gathering criteria Coal of the Week: a Little Caesars submission that is a perfect reminder that sometimes you really do need to get out of your carShow Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris BellWriter: Scott RobinsonProducer: Jamal HarveyExecutive Producer: Kate KonzShow Historian: Matty GRecorded: 09 July 2026Published: 12 July 2026Season 5, Episode 26Contact Us [email protected] 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/pokemonprofessornetworkCommunity & 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: @NianticWayfarerMusic CreditsIntro: “Game Over” – Danijel ZamboBreak: Heavy Trap Drum Loops – LoopmastersOutro: “Itty Bitty 8 Bit” – Kevin MacLeodAdditional: Spanish Hard Trap – Steve OxenVocal Recordings © Pokémon Professor Network 2025Pokémon 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
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This week Jamal is joined by not one but two Wayfarer Ambassadors, as Chris is out this week, with Agent X and ElfFromSpace stepping in for a packed episode of Wayspotters. After opening with some heartfelt words for Chris and his family, the crew jumps into one of the biggest recent Wayfarer updates: photo voting on the Wayfarer map. They break down what the feature does, why it’s a meaningful quality-of-life change, and whether it could lead to better Wayspot photos, more player engagement on the Wayfarer website, or a few good old-fashioned photo thumb wars.
From there, ElfFromSpace takes the lead on a deep-dive into how to take better Wayspot photos, with practical tips on framing, lighting, cropping, night photography, murals, bridges, basketball courts, restaurant interiors, and how far you can go with editing before a photo starts to cross the line.
One’s Gotta Go: Movie Theater Snacks
A featured Wayspot of the Week from Japan
Plenty of Wayfarer photo strategy, hot takes, and ambassador insight along the way
Photo Voting Comes to the Wayfarer Map Jamal, Agent X, and ElfFromSpace discuss Niantic’s new photo voting system, what it means for Wayspot cover images, and whether the benefits outweigh the possible chaos.
How to Take Better Wayspot Photos ElfFromSpace shares a full set of tips for improving main Wayspot images, from choosing the right angle and time of day to handling murals, sports courts, and difficult indoor lighting.
Photo Editing: Helpful Tool or Risky Move? The crew talks about what kinds of edits can improve a Wayspot photo and where things can go too far.
One’s Gotta Go: Movie Theater Snacks Popcorn, nachos, candy, and soft pretzels enter the arena. Only three can stay.
Wayspot of the Week A really cool featured nomination from Japan rounds out the show.
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Jamal Harvey
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 03 July 2026
Published: 05 July 2026
Season 5, Episode 25
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
Eksik bölüm mü var?
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This week, Chris and Jamal discuss how one great nomination can inspire hundreds more and how one questionable nomination can do the same. From footbridges and neighborhood signs to title formats and descriptions, they explore the ripple effect that shapes the Wayfarer map, for better or worse. They also discuss Niantic's latest contributor display update, whether Pokémon GO players actually care what a PokéStop is, and why eligibility shouldn't be confused with popularity.
Niantic fixes contributor codename displays on Wayspots
Should you leave your Wayfarer username visible?
Do Pokémon GO players actually care about the Point of Interest?
Why restaurant ratings don't determine Wayfarer eligibility
The idea behind "Wayfarer See, Wayfarer Do"
How good nominations inspire better submissions
When community trends go too far (footbridges, pools, neighborhood signs, and more)
Why titles, descriptions, and photos matter more than you think
Helping new Wayfinders without encouraging abuse
Tales from Canada
Dad Jokes
Wayspot(s) of the Week
Coal of the Week
And more!
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 24 June 2026
Published: 28 June 2026
Season 5, Episode 24
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week, Jamal and Chris dive into one of the biggest philosophical debates in Wayfarer: Who gets to decide what's interesting? Using memorial benches as the foundation of the conversation, they explore how reviewers balance personal opinions against local significance and whether a nomination's value should be determined by the broader community or the people who know its story best.
The debate over memorial benches and whether they deserve a place on the map.
Why "selling the nomination" with strong supporting information can make all the difference.
The importance of local context and why something meaningful to a community may not look impressive to outsiders.
The difference between an eligible Wayspot and what some reviewers consider a "high-quality" Wayspot.
Real-world examples of community leaders, coaches, athletes, and advocates whose stories transformed ordinary-looking benches into meaningful places of exploration.
The discussion then expands into the concept of rogue reviewing communities and how local reviewing cultures can shape the map in dramatically different ways. Jamal and Chris examine the challenges created when some cities become extremely strict while others become much more accepting, and whether either approach is ultimately healthy for Wayfarer.
How local Discords, Facebook groups, and community norms influence reviewing behavior.
The pros and cons of "Need More Stops" communities.
Why some cities become known for approving neighborhood signs, murals, trails, and local businesses.
Whether it's worse for a community to approve too much or reject too much.
The question: Do most Pokémon GO players care what a Wayspot is, or simply where it appears on the map?
A spirited round of One's Gotta Go featuring kickball, dodgeball, four square, and tag.
Wayspot of the Week featuring a memorial bench honoring Pokémon voice actress Rachel Lillis.
Another Wayspot of the Week showcasing an artist-designed public bench that turns functional seating into public art.
Coal of the Week highlighting why K-12 school nominations remain one of the easiest ways to earn a rejection.
Whether you're a seasoned Wayfarer reviewer, a new submitter, or just someone who enjoys the philosophy behind what makes a great Wayspot, this episode asks a simple question with surprisingly complicated answers:
Is a Wayspot interesting because you think it is, or because it matters to someone else?
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Jamal Harvey
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 19 June 2026
Published: 21 June 2026
Season 5, Episode 23
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Chris and Jamal discuss a recent wave of Wayfarer-related bans and the lessons every Wayfinder can learn from them. The duo breaks down several forum posts from players claiming they were unfairly punished, only for the truth to unravel through forum investigations, misplaced pins, AI-edited nomination photos, multi-accounting admissions, and a few cases of people digging themselves deeper with every reply. Along the way, they discuss why the Wayfarer forums often provide a more balanced perspective than social media and offer practical advice on avoiding the dreaded banhammer.
The conversation also takes a detour into a classic Tales from Canada segment featuring a former airline captain who allegedly flew commercial jets for 17 years without the required pilot license. Chris and Jamal discuss how such a thing could happen, what it says about trust in verification systems, and why both Air Canada and Transport Canada are likely eager to move on from the story. The episode wraps up with a look at a stunning butterfly mural for Wastepot of the Week, an appeal-worthy hobby shop nomination featuring one of the best supporting statements they've ever seen, and a Call of the Week highlighting why accurate pin placement remains one of the most important parts of a successful nomination.
Episode Highlights:
Recent Wayfarer ban cases and what actually happened
Multi-accounting, AI-edited photos, and misplaced pins
Why forum investigations often reveal the full story
Tales from Canada: The pilot who allegedly flew without a license for 17 years
Wastepot of the Week: "Unraveling Border #2" butterfly mural
Appeal success story from Des Plaines Hobbies
Call of the Week: Airport map nomination gone wrong
Dad jokes, hockey talk, and a birthday countdown for Jamal
Quote of the Week:"If you're digging a hole, drop the shovel and walk away."
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week
✅ Dad Jokes (of course!)
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 12 June 2026
Published: 14 June 2026
Season 5, Episode 22
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Jamal and Chris dive into the rise of what Jamal calls "spaghetti nominations" Wayspot submissions that live in the gray area between obvious slam dunks and outright rejections. The duo takes a nostalgic trip back to the early days of Wayfarer, when submitters had only seven nominations and every submission had to count. Comparing those days to today's abundance of nomination slots, they discuss how player behavior has changed, whether nomination quality has dipped, and if Niantic and Scopely have unintentionally encouraged Wayfinders to test the boundaries of eligibility.
Along the way, Chris and Jamal review a variety of real-world nomination examples, including neighborhood entrance signs, apartment pergolas, decorative benches, utility box art, fountains, trail markers, business murals, community mailboxes, and even dumpster art. The conversation explores the difference between reviewing to approve versus reviewing to deny, the growing divide between map purists and gameplay-focused submitters, and whether Wayfarer communities are at risk of "going rogue" as nomination opportunities continue to expand. The episode also features Dad Jokes, Mom Jokes, a discussion about Go Fest, and a pair of fascinating Wayspots of the Week, including a Purdue University cyclotron model tied to J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Stick Around For...
✅ The rise of "Spaghetti Nominations" and how hundreds of available submissions may be changing Wayfarer behavior.
✅ Chris and Jamal debate neighborhood signs, pergolas, benches, utility box art, trail markers, murals, and other gray-area nominations.
✅ A discussion on Scopely's impact on the Pokémon GO map and whether Wayfarer should stay out of game-specific decisions.
✅ Dad Jokes, Mom Jokes, Wayspots of the Week, and a preview of an upcoming discussion on what happens when a Wayfarer community goes rogue.
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Jamal Harvey
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 03 June 2026
Published: 07 June 2026
Season 5, Episode 21
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week, Chris and Jamal celebrate one full year since the Scopely/Niantic deal officially closed and ask the big question:
Is this the greatest 12-month stretch in Wayfarer history?
The guys break down nearly every major Wayfarer change from the past year, including:
Web submissions
The Wayfarer map
Draft mode
Upgraded nomination caps
The new Wayfinder rating system
Appeals cooldown reductions
Ambassador announcements
Roadmap updates
Rural gameplay improvements
and more.
Chris and Jamal discuss how the Wayfarer team has handled community feedback, why Scopely’s approach has surprised many players, and how modern Wayfarer may actually be entering its “good old days.”
Also this week:
Chris shares the forgotten Wayfarer tracking spreadsheet with Patreon members
Portland officially remains weird
Bigfoot apparently lives in the Pacific Northwest
Old Gmail, AOL, MySpace, and Friendster nostalgia
Hockey playoff talk
Jackson’s incredible 53-save lacrosse performance
and a deep dive into how photo thumbs actually determine Wayspot images in Pokémon GO.
Plus:
Wayspots of the Week
Coal of the Week
Dad jokes for new dad Hank
and classic Wayspotters banter throughout.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week
✅ Dad Jokes (of course!)
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 29 May 2026
Published: 31 May 2026
Season 5, Episode 20
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Jamal is joined by special guest host Agent X as Chris is out this week, and the timing could not have been crazier. Just hours before recording, Niantic dropped a massive new Wayfinder rating system announcement that could completely reshape the future of reviewing, submissions, contributor rewards, and Wayfarer progression.
Joining the roundtable are community members JQN, Keller, and Winston representing longtime Ingress veterans, newer Wayfarers, rural players, PvP grinders, and everyday contributors whose voices aren’t always heard in the larger Wayfarer conversation. The crew dives deep into:
the current state of Wayfarer,
how the platform has evolved since OPR and Recon,
misconceptions about bans and reviewing,
S2 cells and map strategy,
rural gameplay challenges,
the loss of Recon in Ingress,
and what motivates people to keep building the map years later.
The conversation also gets surprisingly philosophical with debates about natural features, waterfalls, eligibility logic, reviewer behavior, and whether Wayfarer finally feels like it’s moving in the right direction again after years of uncertainty.
Plus:
✅ Check out Keller's Twitch! https://www.twitch.tv/kellers_pokemon
✅ New Wayfinder Rating System discussion
✅ The future of reviewing and contributor rewards
✅ Rural vs urban gameplay perspectives
✅ One’s Gotta Go: Waffle House / Taco Bell / McDonald’s / Wendy’s
✅ Dad Jokes (of course)
✅ Incredible Wayspots of the Week
✅ One VERY deserved Coal of the Week
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Agent X
Writer: Jamal Harvey
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 20 May 2026
Published: 24 May 2026
Season 5, Episode 19
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Chris and Jamal dive into the latest updates surrounding Wayfarer, including improvements to the Wayfarer map and a deeper discussion about how the system actually works compared to what many Pokémon GO players think it should be. The guys break down a viral Reddit thread about rural gameplay frustrations, AI rejections, reviewer cooldowns, and the social psychology behind Wayfarer reviewing. Along the way, they discuss nomination quality, community misconceptions, and why not every location-based complaint is actually Wayfarer’s fault.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week
✅ Dad Jokes (of course!)
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 15 May 2026
Published: 17 May 2026
Season 5, Episode 18
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Jamal and Chris kick things off with a brand-new intro before diving into some real-world Wayfarer conversations, from Raid Hour stories to a hilarious (and slightly questionable) discussion about fake nominations and why anything bought off Amazon is an immediate no-go.
They break down the announcement of Wayfarer Ambassador Cohort 5, highlighting six new ambassadors from around the world and what makes this group stand out from grinders with massive review counts to community-focused guides helping others level up.
The conversation evolves into a deeper discussion on what truly makes a great ambassador, including the importance of balancing experience with approachability, the value of “translators” who can simplify criteria, and the ultimate test: would you send a brand-new Wayfarer to this person for help?
They also explore Niantic’s potential shift toward a staggered ambassador system, comparing it to a hockey line change to preserve institutional knowledge while bringing in fresh voices.
To close things out, the guys jump into a fun “One’s Gotta Go: MLB Expansion Cities” debate featuring Charlotte, Nashville, Portland, and Montreal, plus the usual mix of Wayspot of the Week, Coal of the Week, and community shoutouts.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ One's Gotta Go - Gaming Edition
✅ 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: 06 May 2026
Published: 11 May 2026
Season 5, Episode 17
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week, Jamal and Chris dive into one of the most debated updates yet... AED PokéStops in Japan.
They break down what AEDs are, why Niantic may be adding them to the map, and the real-world impact this could have on player awareness and emergency preparedness. From clear pros like life-saving visibility and more stops… to concerns around safety, crowding, and unintended behavior, this one sparks a serious debate.
The conversation also expands into a bigger topic—should the Wayfarer map be global, or shaped by local communities? And is this even a Wayfarer issue at all… or just another example of the Pokémon GO team doing their own thing?
Plus:
A quick but important nomination tip: don’t mention “Wayspots” in your submissions
A breakdown of generic infrastructure signs (and why they’re not eligible)
Wayspot of the Week featuring a creative upcycled bench and a massive mural
Coal of the Week highlighting obvious pin abuse
All that, plus hockey talk, dad jokes, and the usual chaos.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week
✅ Dad Jokes (of course!)
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 29 April 2026
Published: 3 May 2026
Season 5, Episode 16
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week, Jamal and Chris dive into a packed episode discussing whether Wayfinders are running out of quality POIs, and how location plays a major role—dense cities may be tapped out while growing suburbs still offer opportunity. Jamal shares a massive run of 19 approvals (17 live in-game) in under a week, sparking a debate on “stretching criteria” and the future of nominations.
The conversation shifts to S2 cell strategy, where both agree it’s not cheating—unless you’re manipulating pin placement outside the rules. They break down the difference between smart optimization and abuse, and Jamal introduces his “Confessions of a Cell Optimizer” segment, explaining how he maximized a local area into a fully optimized cluster.
They also explore the idea of “remove and replace” as areas redevelop, debating whether outdated Wayspots should be removed immediately or left until replacements are ready.
In lighter moments, the episode features a “One’s Gotta Go” gaming debate (PS5 vs PC vs Switch vs Mobile, with Xbox catching strays), standout Wayspots of the Week featuring incredible murals, and a clear Coal of the Week example highlighting what not to nominate (a PRP tree).
As always, the episode wraps with community shoutouts, patron love, and the reminder:
“What’s a few meters between friends?”
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ One's Gotta Go - Gaming Edition
✅ 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: 24 April 2026
Published: 26 April 2026
Season 5, Episode 15
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week, Chris and Jamal kick things off with some fun tangents—from time being a construct to bold sports predictions and a dose of nostalgia with upcoming movie announcements—before diving into Wayfarer news, including reports of missing Wayspot images and how the community can help fix them.
In Topic #1, the guys take a deep dive into sports fields, breaking down how to properly maximize nominations through smart pin placement, understanding S2 cells, and why “a few meters” can make a big difference. They also debate dugouts, scoreboards, and how far is too far when it comes to maximizing a single complex.
In Topic #2, it’s time for Wayspot Madness 2026, where the community bracket delivers surprises, upsets, and a Cinderella run—culminating in restaurants taking home the title over libraries.
The episode wraps up with Wayspots of the Week, including a long-fought restaurant nomination success story and a perfectly framed mural submission, plus a Coal of the Week that highlights the importance of quality photos.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week
✅ Dad Jokes (of course!)
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 17 April 2026
Published: 19 April 2026
Season 5, Episode 14
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Jamal and Chris kick things off with a lively discussion around “Don’t Blame Emily,” diving into whether AI rejections are really the problem—or if nominators have gotten complacent. They explore how faster approvals and shifting reviewer dynamics have changed submission quality, and why adapting your nominations still matters.
The conversation expands into the impact of the Ingress community stepping back, and how that shift may have affected overall map standards in today’s “need more stops” era. From there, the guys reflect on how building Wayspots can transform local communities, turning quiet areas into active social hubs.
In Topic #2, Jamal and Chris tackle the debate of cleaning vs policing the map, discussing local control, global enforcement, and when removing Wayspots goes too far. It’s a thoughtful look at balancing map quality with player experience.
Plus, a fun One’s Gotta Go: BBQ Edition, some classic dad jokes, and standout submissions including two awesome murals and a not-so-great high school nomination for Coal of the Week.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ One's Gotta Go - BBQ Edition
✅ 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: 08 April 2026
Published: 12 April 2026
Season 5, Episode 13
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Chris and Jamal dig into how to build your Wayfarer toolbox and set yourself up for success—whether you’re brand new or a seasoned Wayfinder. Inspired by real-world onboarding strategies, they break down practical ways to improve your nominations through better photos, stronger supporting information, and cleaner titles and descriptions.
They also discuss how to gain momentum in Wayfarer by doing consistent reviews, making meaningful edits, and learning from others through reviews and forum discussions. The goal? Build confidence, avoid common mistakes, and create higher-quality submissions from the start.
Along the way, the guys touch on GO Fest excitement, community discussions around removals and reviewing behavior, and a preview of next week’s spicy topics.
Plus:
Building Your Wayfarer Toolbox (photos, supporting info, titles & descriptions, tools)
Gaining Momentum (reviews, edits, and learning from others)
Community Talk (removals, Reddit vs forums, and reviewer behavior)
Wayspots of the Week (including a creative transit-themed sign & a powerful multi-story mural)
Coal of the Week (what NOT to submit)
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ 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: 3 April 2026
Published: 5 April 2026
Season 5, Episode 12
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Jamal and Chris dig into the current state of Wayfarer and ask the big question: has the system become too easy—or is it finally working the way it should? They break down the shift from strict “gatekeeping” to a more open, fast-moving system, and debate whether community-driven approvals are helping or hurting overall quality.
The conversation then moves into one of the hottest topics right now: local vs global reviewing. Does local knowledge still matter most, or is global reviewing the key to speed and fairness? The guys also tackle the rise of “voyeur removals” and whether players should be removing Wayspots in areas they don’t even play in.
They wrap up the discussion by exploring what the “Wayfarer standard” really is today—and whether different players are playing by completely different definitions of that standard.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ One's Gotta Go - Potato Edition
✅ 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: 26 March 2026
Published: 29 March 2026
Season 5, Episode 11
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Chris and Jamal kick off Episode 218 of the Wayspotters Podcast with some personal updates, including Chris preparing to start a new job and celebrating his son making a lacrosse rep team. After the catch-up, they dive into the latest Wayfarer and Niantic news.
The big topic this week is the pause of Operation Portal Recon (OPR). Chris and Jamal discuss Niantic Spatial’s announcement that OPR has been temporarily shut down and share their speculation about why it happened. Reports surfaced showing large-scale cheating, bots, and automated portal submissions creating thousands of fake reviews and portals. They explore how the abuse may have overwhelmed Niantic’s ability to manage the system, why OPR may stay offline for a long time, and what the future could look like for Ingress mapping and community review.
They also talk about what this pause could mean for Ingress players and the long-term health of the portal network, including concerns that without new portals the game could feel stale and lose player engagement.
On the Wayfarer side, the hosts highlight a major quality-of-life improvement: web submission drafts. The new system allows Wayfinders to create and store multiple nomination drafts, review photos and descriptions at home, and submit them later once everything is polished. Chris and Jamal explain why this could improve nomination quality, reduce “coal” submissions, and help reviewers overall—while noting the limitation that submissions still require available nomination slots.
The episode wraps up with Wayspot of the Week, featuring a striking globe installation in Dublin and an abstract art installation in Rockford, Illinois, followed by Coal of the Week, showcasing a great nomination ruined by using a watermarked photo pulled from a website.
Overall, the episode explores the evolving future of Wayfarer, the challenges of community-driven mapping systems, and how new tools might improve the quality of Wayspot nominations going forward.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ Tales From Canada
✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week
✅ Dad Jokes (of course!)
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 5 March 2026
Published:8 March 2026
Season 5, Episode 10
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Chris and Jamal dig into a packed episode full of Wayfarer news, hot takes, and a lot of common-sense discussion. They cover the fix for the Pokémon GO nomination spacebar bug, the nearby map issue, Niantic Spatial pausing OPR and retiring Overclock, and the arrival of Wayfarer nomination drafts—an update they both see as one of the biggest quality-of-life improvements Wayfarer has had in a long time.
The main topic asks a bold question: what if Pokémon GO removed the ability to nominate POIs in-game and pushed all nominations through the Wayfarer website instead? What starts as a spicy hot take turns into a thoughtful conversation about better onboarding, higher-quality nominations, clearer expectations, and reducing the constant confusion from players who think they are nominating PokéStops instead of submitting Wayspots to Niantic’s larger database. Chris and Jamal weigh the pros and cons, from better education and fewer junk nominations to the risk of losing casual contributors and slowing map growth.
They also talk about whether Wayfarer may be entering a post-backlog era, with eMiLy filtering out more coal, review areas feeling wider, and nominations moving faster than ever. From there, they jump into a fun “One’s Gotta Go” debate featuring Pokémon, Mario, Call of Duty, and EA Sports, before wrapping up with two great Wayspots of the Week and a Coal of the Week that serves as a reminder that even a beautiful mural is still ineligible if it sits on K-12 school property.
https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/t/whats-the-point-of-having-pokemon-go-if-my-nomination-wont-show-up-in-game/108679
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ One's Gotta Go
✅ 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: 12 March 2026
Published: 15 March 2026
Season 5, Episode 9
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Chris and Jamal talk about a packed week of Wayfarer news, including the Pokémon GO nomination screen spacebar bug, a new 24-hour delay before upgrades can be applied, eMiLy returning to photo reviews, and fixes for missing monthly recap emails. They also share plans for Pokémon GO Fest in Chicago, talk about meeting listeners in person, and officially put out their invitation to connect with the Niantic team while they’re there.
The main discussion digs into a fascinating theory about Wayfarer review distances. After a nomination from a friend of the show appeared far outside the expected review radius, Chris and Jamal explore whether Niantic may have quietly expanded review areas while keeping them locked within each reviewer’s home country. They compare examples from across North America, weigh several possible explanations, and make the case that a larger review pool could be helping reduce backlog, speed up decisions, and keep the system moving more efficiently than before.
They also talk about the recent removal of questionable “couch” Power Spots and share advice for anyone trying to restore a legitimately removed Wayspot. From gathering proof and photos to treating the request like a brand-new nomination, they explain how to give the Wayfarer team the best possible case. To close things out, Chris teases the upcoming March Madness Wayspot bracket, Jamal gives a shoutout to Ingress agents he met in Charlotte, and the hosts reflect on how much better Wayfarer feels when strong nominations move through the system faster.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ Tales From Canada
✅ Wayspots / Coal of the Week
✅ Dad Jokes (of course!)
Show Credits Hosts: Jamal Harvey & Chris Bell
Writer: Chris Bell
Producer: Jamal Harvey
Executive Producer: Kate Konz
Show Historian: Matty G
Recorded: 5 March 2026
Published:8 March 2026
Season 5, Episode 8
Contact Us [email protected]
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 -
This week Jamal and Chris get into a no-news week in Wayfarer (no eMiLy updates, no Ambassador news) while shouting out a wave of new listeners and Chris powering through sickness and a whole lot of Canadian snow to keep the weekly streak alive.
For Topic 1, the guys react to a forum post about a 30-day ban that spirals into a masterclass on what not to do—photos taken from inside the car, dashboard in frame, and using Google Maps images. From there, Jamal lays out his “If I ran Wayfarer for a day” list of instant 30-day ban offenses, from zero-effort submissions to fake trail markers, emoji-only titles, and more—plus the legendary return of the “Gazebo Bandit.”
For Topic 2, they bring it back to the basics with the three pillars every review should revolve around: Explore, Exercise, or Social. They break down what each category really means (and why nominations only need to hit one), including a passionate defense of restaurants as legitimate social spaces.
Then it’s time for One’s Gotta Go: Pizza Edition—New York vs Chicago deep dish vs Detroit vs Hawaiian—with some spicy takes ahead of Go Fest Chicago.
Finally, they wrap with Wayspots of the Week (a stunning stained glass memorial window and a Three Stooges tombstone) and Coal of the Week featuring a “McPokey Place” nomination that’s as bad as it sounds, plus a tease for an upcoming March Madness-style POI bracket.
Stick around for:
✅ Spatial / Scopely News
✅ One's Gotta Go
✅ 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: 26 Feb 2026
Published: 01 March 2026
Season 5, Episode 7
Contact Us [email protected]
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 - Daha fazla göster
