A collection of well told, well produced and amazing stories.

Storytelling podcast stories

snap

Snap

Favorites

Snap Judgment Favorites

favorite stories

When record store owner Jeff Bubeck buys an old record collection out of an abandoned storage unit, he has no idea what he’s stumbled across. Jeff learns the collection once belonged to the late great J Dilla, one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. Along with the thousands of LP’s from Dilla’s personal collection, there is something else that is uncovered, something huge. . .

Producer Pat Mesiti-Miller talks with Jeff Bubeck and Dilla’s mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey.

Check out the J Dilla Foundation at www.JDillafoundation.org
Some of the music from the recovered tapes is out now The Lost Scrolls, Vol. 1 - EP
J Dilla .

Producer: Pat Mesiti-Miller

Full list of songs used in this segment can be seen at http://snapjudgment.org/j-dilla%E2%80%99s-lost-scrolls

J Dilla’s Lost Scrolls / Snap Judgment, “The Reunion”

Rita Gigante grew up knowing she had to keep a secret, but she didn’t know what the secret was . . .

Producer: Anna Sussman

--><a href="http://snapjudgment.org/song-list-snap-504-pariah">MUSIC INFO!</a><--

Family Secrets / Snap 504 "Pariah"

Snap Judgement #509: Monkey Madness

There is a time to go your own way, and a time you cannot go it alone. Snap Judgment proudly presents "The Guide." 

---><a href="http://www.snapjudgment.org/song-list-snap-512-guide">MUSIC INFO!</a><---

Listen to the entire Snap Judgment episode "The Guide"

See Josh Healey's amazing performance, "How To Help Your Mom Set Up Her Profile On JDate" here: http://youtu.be/VqkjbHe-10M

Performed at Snap Judgment Live! in San Francisco's Nourse Theater.  Original music composed by Alex Mandel, and performed by Alex and the Snap Judgment Playaz (Tim Frick and David Brandt.)

Recorded and mixed by Pat Mesiti-Miller


How To Help Your Mother Set Up Her Profile On JDate / Josh Healey,  Snap Judgment LIVE

The ridiculous story of a reluctant player and his secret sauce. 

Performed at Snap Judgment Live! in San Francisco's Nourse Theater
Recorded and mixed by Pat Mesiti-Miller

Don Reed - Butter / Snap Judgment, "The Passion: Snap Live! In SF"

A young James Judd thinks he has just the right book to claim victory of his school's annual book report contest. 

Performed at Snap Judgment Live  in San Francisco's Nourse Theater
Recorded and Mixed by Pat Mesiti Miller

James Judd - The Book Report / Snap Judgment, "The Finale: Snap Live! In SF"

Gary Stewart grew up with a fairy tale notion of his birth father. So when he set out to search for him, the last thing he ever expected was to find himself in the middle of one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of all time.

Producer: Nancy Lopez
Sound Design: Leon Morimoto and Pat Mesiti-Miller

Here's a link to Gary's book, "The Most Dangerous Animal Of All"  http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062313164/the-most-dangerous-animal-of-all




Zodiac Signs / Snap Judgment, "Mystery Man"

On the next Snap, ladies and Gentlemen, sit right back and watch us pull a rabbit out of our hat. From WNYC, we proudly present "Presto!" 

Listen to the entire Snap Judgment episode "Presto!"

For the first time ever on Snap Judgment, it’s a ghost story with photographic evidence. Two men living outside of Los Angeles encounter a ghost so undeniable, they have to fight back to press and the rest of the world to maintain their sanity.  See the pics for yourself:  www.seeingthingsthebook.com

Producer: Anna Sussman
Sound design: Pat Mesiti-Miller

The Polaroid Phantom / Snap Judgment "Spooked V: Innocence Lost"

It's an ALL-SCARY SNAP! Those who think they know things are especially surprised when they hear that scream in the night. From PRX & NPR, we proudly present the most dreaded episode of the year, "Spooked V: Innocence Lost."

Listen to the entire Snap Judgment episode "Spooked V: Innocence Lost"

On an all-NEW Snap, we take the scenic route. From PRX and NPR, we proudly present "Detour." Amazing stories from people steered off course.

Listen to the entire Snap Judgment episode "Detour"

On the nextSnap...  "Behind The Curtain." When they think they're all alone, and no one is watching, that's when they are their true selves. 

Listen to the entire Snap Judgment episode "Behind The Curtain"

There’s a lot of strange things going on in New Mexico and one of the strangest is a phenomenon called Cattle Mutilations. It’s so mysterious and bizarre that almost nobody is willing to talk about it even though it’s been plaguing the area for close to forty years.  

Produced by Rita Daniels and Mark Ristich with help from Renzo Gorio, Phaedra Greenwood, David Perkins and Pamela Harris.

Bovmut / Snap Judgment, "Spaceman"

Political wonk Dhaya is hot on Bubba's trail and she will not be denied.

Performed by Dhaya Lakshminarayanan live in SF
Music composed by Alex Mandel
Snap Judgment Players: Alex Mandel, David Brandt and Tim Frick

Chasing Bubba by Dhaya Lakshminarayanan / Snap LIVE! "Breakout Special"

What's better than The Great Wall of China?

Performed by James Judd live in SF
Music composed by Alex Mandel
Snap Judgment Players: Alex Mandel, David Brandt and Tim Frick

Madame Riding Crop's House Of Licoline by James Judd / Snap LIVE! "Breakout Special"

Andrea's a writer no one reads. Then she makes a shocking discovery.

Case #2 Britney

Bryan Denson was a court reporter for The Oregonian newspaper in Portland. It could be mind-numbing work sitting in the cheap seats of the American justice system. But then one day he got a tip about an espionage case coming in. The defendant was 24-year-old Nathan Nicholson. For Bryan it would turn out to be the story of a lifetime. For Nathan, it was the beginning of the end. 

To learn more about Nathan’s story, make sure to grab a copy of Bryan Denson’s book: The Spy’s Son. You can check out his other work at bryandenson.com.

Bryan also wrote a six-part series of Nathan’s story for The Oregonian, which you can check out here. http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/05/the_spys_kid_part_1_son_follows_dad_into_dark_world_of_espionage.html

A big thanks to The Oregonian/OregonLive for allowing Snap Judgment to use tape from Bryan Denson’s interview with Nathan Nicholson. 

Producer: Nancy López
Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

The Spy's Son / Snap Judgment, "The Promise"

20 years ago, Gregor lent some CDs to a musician friend. The CDs helped make him a famous rockstar. Now, Gregor would like some recognition. But mostly, he wants his CDs back.

Our Sponsors
Mailchimp – More than 12 million people use MailChimp to connect with their customers, market their products, and grow their businesses every day.

Prudential - Download the MapMyRun app and join the Prudential 4.01K challenge. When you do, pledge to save at least 1% or more of your annual income for retirement and run and log 4.01K to be eligible to win a prize.

Squarespace – The easiest way to create a beautiful website, portfolio or online store. Use the offer code “HEAVYWEIGHT" to get 10% off your first purchase.

Wealthsimple – Investing made easy. Get your first $10,000 managed for free.

Credits
Heavyweight is hosted and produced by Jonathan Goldstein, along with Wendy Dorr, Chris Neary, and Kalila Holt.
Editing by Alex Blumberg & Peter Clowney.
Special thanks to Emily Condon, Jackie Cohen, Paul Tough, Stevie Lane, Michelle Harris, Dimitri Erlich, Sean Cole and Jorge Just.
The show was mixed by Haley Shaw.
Music for this episode by Christine Fellows, with additional music by Talk-star, The Eastern Watershed Klezmer Quartet, Hew Time, Michael Smith, Farnell Newton, and Haley Shaw, who also did our ad music. Our theme song is by The Weakerthans courtesy of Epitaph Records.

Heavyweight

#2 Gregor

After 15 years in a noisy prison, Annette Imboden craved a moment of silence.  When she finally got it, everything changed. 

Producer: Anna Sussman, Pat Mesiti-Miller

--><a href="http://snapjudgment.org/full-list-songs-lemonade">MUSIC INFO!</a><--

Like Family / Snap Judgment, "Lemonade"

Falling in love with a superhero IS all it's cracked up to be--except  
when the guy turns out to be totally, tragically human.

Producer: Rebecca Hertz

Thor / Snap Judgment, "The Storyteller"

What would you do if your best friend called to say she found the Buddha?  Jeff Greenwald didn’t have to be told twice - he hopped on the next flight to meet the guy for himself.

Story by Jeff Greenwald

Producer: Roman Mars

The Gold Ring / Snap Judgment, "The Storyteller"

Snap Judgment is a weekly storytelling radio show and podcast, hosted by Glynn Washington. Snap mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic, kick-ass radio. Snap’s raw, musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling… with a BEAT!!  Snap first aired on NPR stations nationwide in July 2010. Snap Judgment is now aired on over 400 public radio stations.