S-Town, the hit podcast hosted by Brian Reed and created by the Serial producers, delves deep into the rural community of Woodstock, Alabama. What begins as a murder investigation commissioned by the eccentric and intelligent John B. McLemore becomes a portrait of McLemor's own life, world, and legacy. Reed does his due diligence to get every possible side of the story, spending years interviewing even the most unsympathetic townspeople. He lets the story unfold, rather than chasing down a true crime investigation that's just not there. It's organic storytelling that finds the true complexity of any given town.

Few members of the community end up being actual villains, but during Reed's interviews he does capture some backward views and some of the more disturbing opinions and lifestyles in Woodstock.

But, as with any story, not everyone will have the same opinion on how it's told. For Vulture, Connor Towne O'Neill interviewed the people of Woodstock to learn what they really thought about their small town suddenly becoming a national obsession—and the sometimes unpleasant depiction of the community.

One Woodstock resident in particular, town librarian Ann Stone, took issue with the cliche backward narrative of southern life.

"In certain ways it was like a train wreck," she says. "It wasn't that damaging, but it was just like: 'I've got to listen to the next episode, I've got to listen to the next episode.'" She bristles at John B.'s characterization of her town, worrying it might lead others, especially those not from the region, to see her home as a "Shit Town." She notes, "We're particularly sensitive to that in the South."

As she tells O'Neill, she's worried about stereotyping of the south, and points out that this type of characterization can be found in other communities not in the south. "One of the first things I say is 'you really have to meet the people,'" she said. "John's view was not a realistic view of Woodstock. There are a lot of good people here, and I wish people would come and visit and get to know us."

The whole article finds a number of nuanced opinions from residents that range from approving to annoyed, which speaks to the job Reed did in finding every possible angle in telling this story.

From: Esquire US