Snap Judgment Podcast

In the 1970s, thousands of Vietnamese refugees were left on the remote Anambas Islands in Indonesia. They were stranded without food, water, and shelter, forced to survive off the land. Now, almost 40 years later, one woman wants to go back to those distant islands, one last time.Check out the photo gallery from Kuku Island by Liz Mak. You can also listen to Liz's HowSound piece, “Interviewing For Emotions” about how she structured her interviews and asked questions that provided the space for people to op...

Amaryllis was fast on track to become an established journalist when her mentor was kidnapped and killed by a terrorist group. She decided she had to give up the transparency of journalism if she wanted to truly help curb terror, and instead joined the shadow world of the CIA. But the shadow world had its own cost.  Snap presents, "The Lamb, the Lion, and the Fox." A big thanks to Amaryllis Fox. You can buy her book on Knopf, Amazon, or anywhere books are sold.  Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by...

A woman’s voice changes forever, following a stroke-like episode. A man living in Alaska continues to hear rumors about the elusive blue bear. When he goes out searching for one, he ends up finding... something much different. And a girl gains magical powers that lead to an irreversible and terrible chain of events.  Snap Judgment presents a classic, “Godsend.” STORIES The Garbage Man Glynn's first day at a new school is rough... until he meets a girl who knows how to take out the trash. Producer: Pat ...

A woman’s voice changes forever, following a stroke-like episode. A man living in Alaska continues to hear rumors about the elusive blue bear. When he goes out searching for one, he ends up finding... something much different. And a girl gains magical powers that lead to an irreversible and terrible chain of events.  Snap Judgment presents a classic, “Godsend.” STORIES The Garbage Man Glynn's first day at a new school is rough... until he meets a girl who knows how to take out the trash. Producer: Pat ...

Bonnie Blagg and her two friends call for Bloody Mary in the mirror on her dresser during a middle school sleepover. Bonnie thinks nothing of it until a ghost boy with long, sharp, bloody teeth appears in her bedroom every single night after that. Happy Halloween week! Enjoy this Spooked tale... and don't turn out the lights. Produced by Chris Hambrick Original score by Leon Morimoto Artwork by Sanaa Khan Want more Spooked? There are 26 new episodes of Spooked coming this season each week through Hallo...

Bonnie Blagg and her two friends call for Bloody Mary in the mirror on her dresser during a middle school sleepover. Bonnie thinks nothing of it until a ghost boy with long, sharp, bloody teeth appears in her bedroom every single night after that. Happy Halloween week! Enjoy this Spooked tale... and don't turn out the lights. Produced by Chris Hambrick Original score by Leon Morimoto Artwork by Sanaa Khan Want more Spooked? There are 26 new episodes of Spooked coming this season each week through Hallo...

When Maribel loses her little brother Santi, her very best friend in the world, she learns that love is sometimes stronger than death. We travel to Mexico for this very special Spooked tale.  Thank you, Maribel Placencia, from the bottom of our hearts, for sharing your extraordinary story. Big love to you and your family. This story comes to us from our Spooked correspondent, Erick Yañez. Produced by Nancy Lopéz Original Score by Renzo Gorrio Artwork by Sanaa Khan A Spanish-language version of this st...

We're bringing you Spooked tales about ladies who lurk, haunt and aren't messing around. Be afraid.  STORIES Barbara Nichols Pond Ever since a little girl died a watery death, the kids in Johnston County steer clear of the pond. Years later, Todd thinks that she might just be avenging her untimely end. Thank you, Todd Narron for being our tour guide in the mysterious American South. Todd’s memoir is Country Stories of Ghosts and Bad Men. Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Renzo Gorrio Room 3...

It's Halloween Season and Snap is here to bring you Spooked stories from the dark of night!  When supernatural forces come for her kids, Curtis’s mom stands strong. Mrs. Hagstrom may be one of the meanest ghosts yet. Be afraid.  Curtis’s memoir is Shadow of Fear.  Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Leon Morimoto Artwork by Sanaa Khan Snap Season 10 Episode 27 Want more Spooked? There are 26 new episodes of Spooked coming this season each week through Halloween and into a spooky November. To l...

It's Halloween Season and Snap is here to bring you Spooked stories from the dark of night! We proudly present, "Spooked - Mrs. Hagstrom."  When supernatural forces come for her kids, Curtis’s mom stands strong. Mrs. Hagstrom may be one of the meanest ghosts yet. Be afraid.  Curtis’s memoir is Shadow of Fear.  Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Leon Morimoto Artwork by Sanaa Khan Snap Season 10 Episode 27 Want more Spooked? There are 26 new episodes of Spooked coming this season each week thr...

When Dean Issacharoff was a commander in the Israeli Defense Forces, he patrolled the Palestinian city of Hebron, and later fought in Gaza. Then, after he got home from the army, Dean’s decision to speak out about his own violent actions came back to haunt him in a twisted turn of events. Sensitive listeners - please be advised this story contains images of war and violence. Thank you, Dean, for sharing your story with us. A special thanks to the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion an...

A mentor to a disabled little boy loses a piece of himself and discovers what is gained.  Sensitive listeners, please be advised - this story contains graphic content with descriptions of extreme bodily harm.  This story came to us from Nick van der Kolk's Love + Radio from Luminary Media, where you can hear the latest season of Love and Radio on the Luminary app.  A big thank you to Ed Cushman for sharing your story.  Ed's story was produced by Julia DeWitt and Phil Dmochowski, with help from Steven Ja...

A mentor to a disabled little boy loses a piece of himself and discovers what is gained.  Sensitive listeners, please be advised - this story contains graphic content with descriptions of extreme bodily harm.  This story came to us from Nick van der Kolk's Love + Radio from Luminary Media, where you can hear the latest season of Love and Radio on the Luminary app.  A big thank you to Ed Cushman for sharing your story.  Ed's story was produced by Julia DeWitt and Phil Dmochowski, with help from Steven Ja...

A dad surprises his son by taking him on his first slave plantation tour. And a girl realizes the computer version of herself, acts more like her than she does. STORIES: "My First Slave Plantation Tour" Back in 2013, when Adult ISH host Nyge Turner was in his late teens, his dad surprised him by taking him on his first slave plantation tour. To make matters worse, apart from the bus driver and a single employee on the plantation, there was not a single black person in sight. This story was produced by Y...

A dad surprises his son by taking him on his first slave plantation tour. And a girl realizes the computer version of herself, acts more like her than she does. STORIES: "My First Slave Plantation Tour" Back in 2013, when Adult ISH host Nyge Turner was in his late teens, his dad surprised him by taking him on his first slave plantation tour. To make matters worse, apart from the bus driver and a single employee on the plantation, there was not a single black person in sight. This story was produced by Y...

When the thought of his own mortality becomes too much to bear, a father of two living in Utah decides to upgrade his own body, one piece at a time. Sensitive listeners should note - this episode contains extremely graphic scenes of bodily harm and visceral scenes of live surgery.  Thank you to Rich Lee for sharing your story with Snap. Hear more work from producer Lawrence Bull on his podcast Sound of Mind. Thanks to filmmakers Leeor Kaufman and Joe Egender for their assistance. Look out for their biohac...

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 wo...

April 15, 1865. President Lincoln is dead and the country in turmoil. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton takes control, determined to preserve Lincoln’s legacy.  This story comes to us from 1865, an Airship production. Heavily researched, this historical political thriller podcast is an audio drama that explores America’s darkest hours. You will be astonished—and all of it is based on true events.  Starring Jeremy Schwartz as Edwin Stanton. Also featuring: Lindsay Graham, Pam Dougherty, Matthew Gray, Didi Ar...

You get up every morning and go through the motions, but do you ever stop to wonder what you're leaving behind?  When a brilliant inventor was robbed of his life’s work, his son did the only reasonable thing: he became a robber. Walter produced a film called The Unknowns: Talent is Colorblind. The film tells the incredible true story of “The Highway,” a group of self-taught African-American painters living in the Jim Crow South who, when no one was looking, invented a whole new style of art. To learn mor...

This week on Snap Judgment...two stories about the human mind and how it can play tricks on you. A father of five and devout Mormon is dragged into a world that upends everything he knows to be true. And a young man comes to terms with his mother’s profound mental illness. STORIES "Tracy: My Ride-or-Die" When Adult ISH host Nyge Turner turned 17, he became the caretaker for his ride-or-die: Tracy. His mom. This story was produced by YR Media's Adult ISH podcast (Mom ISH episode). Adult ISH is a culture,...

This week on Snap Judgment...two stories about the human mind and how it can play tricks on you. A father of five and devout Mormon is dragged into a world that upends everything he knows to be true. And a young man comes to terms with his mother’s profound mental illness. STORIES "Tracy: My Ride-or-Die" When Adult ISH host Nyge Turner turned 17, he became the caretaker for his ride-or-die: Tracy. His mom. This story was produced by YR Media's Adult ISH podcast (Mom ISH episode). Adult ISH is a culture,...

Martin is a paramedic. He has a gift for saving peoples' lives. He also has another, darker, gift--one that he doesn’t want to use.  Thank you, Martin Moseley, for sharing your story with us. Martin is a longtime Spooked listener.  Produced by: Eliza Smith Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Artwork by: Sanaa Khan Season III is ALIVE!! There are 26 new episodes of Spooked coming this season each week through Halloween and into a spooky November. To listen to them all, download the Luminary mobile app or go to...

For two years, ISIS fought to take over the city of Mosul, killing 40,000 civilians. A group of men and women from around the world flew into Iraq and made their way to Mosul, to try their hand at fighting ISIS. Snap proudly presents a Classic, "The Badlands." Producer: Anna SussmanOriginal Score: Renzo GorrioCheck out more from the Free Burma Rangers.Check out the book City of Death. "Witness the Free Burma Rangers Rescue of a Young Iraqi Girl"Watch Dave Eubank (Helmet) run into the line of fire to re...

Spooked Season III is upon us! It’s bigger, badder, and scarier than ever. We’ve got new episodes with terrifying tales to keep you up at night... The first episode drops next week, Thursday, 8/22/19. Don't listen alone... All 26 episodes will be available on Luminary. Download the Luminary mobile app or go to LuminaryPodcasts.com...

A man inspired by joy writes a song, then he discovers it’s become a weapon. And a boy beat down by life learns to fight back, with the help of an upper-cut and milkshakes. STORIES Life On Easy Street   A musician writes a song so catchy, it takes over the world...then he finds out it's become a weapon. "Easy Street" turned into something it was never meant to be. This story contains explicit language, sensitive listeners are advised. A big thanks to Joe Sivick & producer Deena Prichep Listen to the E...

Glynn unearths paradise. A geoscientist journeys deep into the Amazon Jungle, where rivers rage and legends come true. And a revolutionary living in exile does the unexpected. Snap presents a classic, "Shangri-La." STORIES "The Perfect Spot" Backpackers are scouring Southeast Asia looking for the magical spot, but Glynn has the inside tip. "Boiling River" Andres Ruzo tried to track down a legendary he’s heard his grandfather talk about in stories when he was a little boy. He found the stuff of legends,...

Snap leaves San Quentin State Prison with the Ear Hustle podcast and then goes back behind the walls to hear stories from Prison Reception. Content Advisory: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. Listener discretion is advised.  STORIES  Kissing the Concrete Snap finds freedom with Ear Hustle. Two men transition from prison back into society and find out who - or what - is waiting for them on the outside.  Listen to the full episode of Kissing the Concrete. Excuse Me On The Tier Sna...

In a dark and fictional world, we meet the best Hollywood trainer money can buy.  A trainer who specializes in the human body, but one body in his gym... isn't breathing.  Snap spotlights "The Truth" podcast. We're proud to present Part One from their five-part series, “The Body Genius.”  Starring: Chris Cafero as Evan Written by: Hunter Nelson Produced by: Jonathan Mitchell & Davy Gardner Artwork by: Clement Bolla To hear all five episodes & see the full list of credits, visit "The Truth" podcast. ...

A teenage hacker inspired by “Mr. Robot” takes on his high school and gets personal with his principal's Twitter account. And night-shift doctor, Joe Sills, shares a story of life after death.  STORIES Code Yellow  A teenage hacker inspired by “Mr. Robot” takes on his principal, teachers, and the Board of Education. This piece was adapted from the podcast, Darknet Diaries. Listen to the full story, called Finn. Produced by: Jack Rhysider with assistance from Nancy Lopez  Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio  T...

A one-legged high schooler wrestles with his identity and his weight class. He faces tough opponents and big decisions.  The Wrestler With The Missing Leg Anthony Robles was born with one leg, but that didn’t stop him from joining the wrestling team.If you want to learn more about Anthony’s story and his career as a motivational speaker, check out his website and be sure to read his memoir, Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated.  Producer: Joe Rosenberg    Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio Season 8 Episode ...

In the small Croatian town of Vukovar, some 200 people went missing.  Years later, a group of investigators with The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia set out on an impossible task to find out who was responsible for these missing people. Go undercover with us in "Operation Little Flower". For more about finding justice in the Balkans check out:  The Investigator by Vladimir Dzuro The Butcher’s Trial by Julian Borger  Produced by: Shaina Shealy, Liz Mak, Adizah Eghan Original S...

Life can be messy, and there isn’t always time to do things the right way…do not miss "Quick Fix". Mouth Of The Dragon When a small child is lost, it's up to Glynn to face the dragon. Producer: Pat Mesiti-Miller As The World Burns What happens when the world around you starts to burn? Performed live by Josh Healey at Snap Judgment LIVE! in San Francisco's Nourse Theater  A Little White Lie Think your dating life is tough? Try being an Arab, Muslim man after 9/11 in New York City. Be sure to check...

THE LEGEND OF SWEETFOOT Comedian Dino Archie gets into a bar fight that blossoms into a bromance. The bond with his soulmate ripens over crab trapping, bankruptcy, and the Ghost of Christmas Future. CAMP EXORCIST Comedian James Judd falls in love with a human hair blanket and performs a church camp exorcism…you know, the kind with googly-eyed sock puppets. Original Music by Bells Atlas  Snap LIVE! "The Social Experiment" Season 10 Episode 17...

Point guard Alex Owumi has just landed in North Africa to play basketball for his childhood hero. For more information, check out Alex’s book -- Qaddafi's Point Guard. Producer: Davey Kim and Anna Sussman Sound Design: Davey Kim, Leon Morimoto Season 6 Episode 8...

Hear the story behind the influential photo of the Syrian boy who drowned while attempting to reach Europe. Read more in Tima Kurdi’s book, The Boy on the Beach. Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score:  Renzo Gorrio Season 10 Episode 15...

1.  Quiet is Best When Julie Lindahl discovered that her grandfather had been an active member of the German SS, she decided to return to the scene of his crimes. But her grandmother made things difficult. Julie Lindahl has written a book about her experience:  The Pendulum: A Granddaughter's Search for her Family's Forbidden Nazi Past. A version of this story was originally produced for the podcast Kind World, which tells stories about the effect a single act can have on our lives. You can find Kind Wor...

When Josh Healey learns some unexpected news from his girlfriend, his first thought...is of Grandma Barbara and Grandma Henrietta.Performed Live by Josh Healey at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.Music written by Alex Mandel and performed by the Snap Players Alex Mandel, Tim Frick and David Brandt Season 7 Episode 3...

A Wives’ Tale Five women, one husband and one goal in life... to get to the Celestial Kingdom.  Producer: Tyler Measom & Adizah Eghan Original Score and Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio Season 8 Episode 15...

When Roderick turns 18, he gets a special gift from his mom... for the one thing about him, she does not love. Sound Design & Score: Leon Morimoto Produced: Shaina Shealy, Mark Oppenheimer and the team at Unorthodox. Season 10 Episode 14...

Comic Jen Kober tells the story of the mother she never expected to find, on a journey she never expected to take. Performed live at The Paramount in Oakland.  Music composed by Bells Atlas. Season 10 Episode 13...

STORIES  "Glynn - Tithe Me Not" Original Score and Sound Design: Pat Mesiti-Miller   Whiteboy John & The Seven Saints Description:  How did a kid from Harlem become the biggest heroin dealer in upstate New York, almost overnigoht?  And what would it take for him to turn his back on a mountain of cash? Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score and Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio   Year Zero Description: A young man returns to Cambodia to piece together the fragments of his history that the Khmer Rouge and h...

School shootings and their tragic aftermath have become an all too common story. But here’s one side of it that you probably haven’t heard. This story takes place at a high school in Portland, Oregon, where officials fear the next school shooter might be a teenage boy in their midst. Bethany Barnes originally reported this story for The Oregonian - Targeted: A Family and the Quest to Stop the Next School Shooter. She is now an investigative reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. Producer: Nancy López Origina...

A tiny, pirate radio station broadcasts to the thousands of families trapped in ISIS-controlled Mosul. When listeners start calling in, something remarkable happens. Producer:  Anna Sussman Original Score and Sound Design:  Leon Morimoto and Pat Mesiti-Miller...

Niagara Falls Glynn’s trip to Niagara Falls starts in the Tunnel of Love with a taboo first kiss. Performed live by Glynn Washington.     Don Reed  - Things You Wouldn't Normally Do  When Don Reed got accepted into UCLA he was ecstatic; problem was he was broke and had nowhere to live. Performed live by Don Reed   Joyce Lee   -  The Wolf Whistle All her life she’d been taught she was a prize to be won. Then she decided she was going to pick her prize. Performed live by Joyce Lee.   All music co...

The story of a small Christian hill town in Palestine, and the 18 cows that kind of, almost, but never really, changed the course of its future. Producer: Shaina ShealyOriginal Score: Leon Morimoto Season 10 Episode 10...

Snap Favorite Don Reed takes the stage with a heartfelt homage to his father's dreams for his son. Performed live by Don Reed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Music composed and performed by Bells Atlas Season 10 Episode 9...

Snap comedy queen Jen Kober thought having an adventurous date meant trying a new restaurant... little did she know she would be free falling into a pretty crappy situation. Original Music by Bells Atlas Performed Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music Join Snap Nation and Get The Video at snapjudgment.org Season 10 Episode 8...

Back in the 1970's Bob Favor signed up to be a Texas Ranger. He helped local police solve some of their toughest cases. But there was one case that kept getting away from him. For more of Bob Favor’s exploits as a Texas Ranger, make sure to grab a copy of his book: My Rangering Days.  For more of Luke Quinton’s work check out his website: http://brighttypewriter.tumblr.com Producer: Luke Quinton Sound Design: Leon Morimoto...

John Cotrocois is obsessed with meet-cutes. The problem is, he often falls for the wrong men and winds up in one mind-boggling situation after another. Will his dream of a fairy-tale romance come true? Producers: Mira Burt-Wintonick and Cristal Duhaime Sound Design: Cristal Duhaime Season 10 Episode 7...

Snap spotlights the smart new podcast "Peace of Mind" with Bhi Bhiman. In the inaugural episode, Bhi interviews Glynn Washington, bestselling author Dave Eggers, and renowned social psychologist, Lee Ross. The soundtrack to the episode is “Brother, Can You Spare Some Peace of Mind?” Listen + subscribe here: https://fanlink.to/PeaceofMind. And check out peaceofmindpod.com for music and bonus content....

After a college party, Anwen* and Sameer* went back to a dorm room. What happened that night was confusing and horrible. But in this story we get the rare opportunity to hear both of them grapple with what happened in a way that is both surprising and meaningful. Warning, this story contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence. *Names have been changed. This piece was adapted from the podcast, Reckonings, produced by Stephanie Lepp, and found online at www.reckonings.show. You can find a link to the ...

The voicemail message says someone from your past needs your help. Would you respond, if it meant getting involved in a murder trial? Season 10 Episode 5...

From Russia With Love Two women, a tiny boat, the wide open ocean...and kismet.   Elena has written a book about their adventure, called Talking to the Moon. You can read the story on the couple’s website, http://www.cadenza.ca/index.php/en/talking-to-the-moon-en/ You can learn more about Elena and Meg’s journey at their other website, anticruise.online. Producer: Liz Mak Original Score: Leon Morimoto   Gloomy Sunday Hungarian composer Rezső Seress dreamed of changing the world with his music. He di...

A computer hacker tries to make his way home through two countries, a dense jungle and a seemingly endless string of technical challenges. Season 10 Episode 4...

A Snap Judgment special presentation of "Heaven's Gate." The story of the cult that left 39 dead in a quest for spiritual salvation. Season 10 Episode 3...

Nick Yarris says he was a junkie, a thief, and a liar. So when he was imprisoned on a false charge, no one believed in his innocence. Then he found his only way out. Thank you so much to Nick Yarris. Check out his books, including his latest, “Monsters & Madmen: A Death Row Experiment.” Learn more at nickyarris.org. Thank you also to the Wolfgram Memorial Library at Widener University, and its Reference Librarian & University Archivist Jill M. Borin for her help. And lastly, thank you Nick Yarris’ forme...

There was a legend in central Maine, about a hermit who had lived in the woods, unseen, for 30 years.  Then, in 2013, the police arrested a man named Christopher Knight. To learn more about Chris Knight’s story, be sure to check out journalist’s Mike Finkel’s book, The Stranger In The Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit.   Producer: Joe Rosenberg Original Score: Renzo Gorrio and Andrew Vicars...

On January 13th, 2018, at exactly 8:07 in the morning, one text message turned the state of Hawaii into a state of emergency. From panic and fear to acceptance and joy, Snap Judgment explores the 38 minutes when the people of Hawaii faced an incoming ballistic missile threat. Lead Producer: Jazmin Aguilera Editor: Anna Sussman Producers: Eliza Smith, Erika Lantz, John Fecile Additional production assistance: Nancy Lopez Original score and Sound design: Renzo Gorrio and Leon Morimoto Season 10 Episode...

A young man has the chance to work on a very secret, very powerful weapon that could put an end to world war II. The project involves no toxins, no chemicals, no shrapnel and no bullets. Instead, the project involves lots and lots of flying mammals. Lots. Content Advisory:  This story details a war situation involving both people and animals, Listener Discretion Is Advised. Season 9 Episode 38...

When you feel the walls coming closer and closer, where do you go? Where do you hide?...

Wonderboy In 1979, a four-seater cessna carrying Norman Ollestad, his dad and his dad’s girlfriend violently crashed onto the top of an ~8,000-foot mountain. He was just 11 years old. To learn more about Norman’s story, check out his book -- Crazy for the Storm. Be sure to also check out his latest thriller, French Girl With Mother. Producer and Original Score: Davey Kim The Blue Bicycle Hasan is just a kid who just wants to pop a wheelie on a bad ass BMX bike. Is that too much to ask? Thanks so much ...

Snap Judgment spotlights the amazing podcast Ear Hustle: The Big No No. In this episode we look for love in one of the most difficult places to forge a relationship, San Quentin State Prison....

Kassem Eid had spent two years living in a city under siege.  After he and his neighbors took part in the protests during the Arab Spring in 2011, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad began to punish towns like Kassem’s. His forces bombed them, surrounded them, and starved them. That’s when Kassem decided to fight back. Thank you so much to Kassem Eid for sharing his story with us. Kassem was recently accepted into Columbia University. You can check out his new book, “My Country,” out now. Find him on twitter...

When Jack Boyles signed up for the Navy in the early 1960s he was excited to work aboard the USS Shangri-La. As the ship’s only yeoman he had access to top secret information so he knew before most people why the ship was docked off of Cuba. But little did he know what was in store for him. Producer: Nancy LópezOriginal Score: Leon Morimoto Season 9 Episode 34...

THE BEST LITTLE SWIMMER Terry Galloway is ten years old and absolutely hot for summer camp. The only problem is, her family can’t afford it. But after she fails a hearing test at school, Terry learns that she is deaf -- and also eligible to attend The Lions Camp for Crippled Children, a summer camp that is free to kids with disabilities. The summer of 1960, just got way more exciting. Terry Galloway is a writer, director, and performer for stage, radio, and film. For more about Terry’s childhood in Texas,...

When the man in charge of a small, insular northern Ohio town wreaks havoc on his followers, a young Amish boy with a passion for good hair tries to clean up the mess. Producer: Shaina Shealy Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 32...

What do you do when you are trying to give birth... in the middle of a wildfire? Nicole Veum is interviewed live by producer April Demobosky for "The Fire Tapes" The Fire Tapes is a collaboration between KQED's "The Bay" and Snap Judgment for the Coal + Ice Festival in San Francisco. Producers: Sukey Lewis, Mark Ristich and Jeremy Siegel...

Counted: An Oakland Story is the story of the people lost to Oakland’s violence last year. During 2017, a team of Snap Judgment producers, learned about Oakland’s homicide victims, their families and communities. Visit oaklandstory.org for more interviews, photos and illustrations. Producers: Adizah Eghan, Anna Sussman, Shaina Shealy, Jonathan Jones, Pat Mesiti-Miller, Nancy Lopez, Jazmin Aguilera, Eliza Smith, and Pendarvis Harshaw. Score: Leon Morimoto, Pat Mesiti-Miller, Renzo Gorrio, Dave Deporis. W...

Glynn Washington - Friday Night Lockdown Glynn's father has a strict rule for Friday nights...the Second Coming.Performed live by Glynn Washington at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Jen Kober - Girl Scout Cookies As a littler girl, Jen Kober discovered the allure of being a brownie scout: the Girl Scout Cookie. Holding out for Girl Scout Cookie release day...was another struggle all together.Performed Live by Jen Kober at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Josh Healey - Barbara and Esthe...

The Birds: As a little boy in Richmond Virginia, raising pigeons, Ray Christian made a friend with the same hobby. But there was something mysterious about Ray’s new pal. Producer: Anna SussmanOriginal Score: Leon Morimoto   The Taxidermist: When Tracey started doing taxidermy, she assumed all her subjects would be dead. Until she met a squirrel who didn't seem quite right. Producer: Jazmin AguileraOriginal Score: Leon Morimoto   The Visage: A man is hired to do remodel work on a house with a haunted...

It's that time of year again. Snap Judgment proudly presents "Spooked IX: Trapped." THE IRON GATE An American sniper shooter takes over an empty house in Baghdad and encounters the one threat he is powerless against. When Dallas Sanchez was stationed in Iraq, he saw danger every single day.  But one night on patrol, when his small kill team took over a house in Baghdad, an unseen force had a message for them: Get. Out. Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score: Leon Morimoto Get 13 all-new episo...

Pro rock climbers Jason Smith and Tommy Caldwell know a thing or two about dangerous even life threatening adventures, but when they go on an expedition to the famous Yellow Wall in Kyrgyzstan, their lives were threatened in a whole new way. Check out more about Jason “Singer” Smith at his website jasonsingersmith.com And be sure to check out Tommy Caldwell’s book “The Push” available now as well as the movie The Dawn Wall. For more details on the kidnapping read Greg Child’s book “Over The Edge." Prod...

What if you had two choices. Either risk death, or start over in a completely new life. Now imagine you had to make that decision for your child. Check out more of Amy Roost’s work here and her podcast Fury here. Read Amy Roost’s article on what may have caused each of her children to have brain malformations in Dame Magazine.   Producer: Amy Roost, Anna Sussman Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 28...

When Mansoor Adayfi was 19 years old, he was shipped to Guantanamo Bay detention center. He had no idea where he was or why he was there. But he was held there for 14 years. During that time, Mansoor attended informal marriage classes held by a fellow inmate and began writing love letters despite never having been in love. Mansoor is currently writing a memoir about his time at Guantanamo. You can read his writing here. This story was produced and edited by Sarah Geis, Cristal Duhaime and Mira Burt-Winton...

In the mid-70s, Conan was hired to direct and produce a nature documentary. But he wanted to do something more ambitious. The film he made became one of the most infamous movies ever, but his success came with deadly consequences. Special thanks to our film consultants, Spencer Parsons and Todd Wieneke. Producer: John Fecile Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 26...

Sometimes the only word you hear is "No." But what if you always said "Yes"? Snap Judgment proudly presents "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". Forbidden Fruit An aspiring priest decides to experience all that the world has to offer. The Faith Healer Imagine putting your hands on someone, and curing whatever ails them. Charles Monroe Kane knows the feeling.   The Insane Million Maker Master Counterfeiter What’s the easiest way to make money? Make Money. And lots of it. Season 7 Episode 23...

What if you could be you without all of the responsibility, the guilt, and the self-loathing? Too good to be true? ...Maybe not. Marwencol When Mark Hogancamp woke up in the hospital he had no idea who he was or where he was. He was beat up so badly that he couldn’t walk, talk or speak.  His therapy? Marwencol. Friday Night Lights  Your dad loves football. You hate football. How do you quit? Play football. Just Another Fish Story 20 Years ago, a whale washed up on a beach in Lubec, Maine, but its de...

When you’re a safari guide on the Zambezi River, you always know that things could go horribly wrong. You can find Paul Templer’s memoir here. Producer: Erika Lantz Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 25...

One man infiltrated undercover, the other got invited inside. Featuring a new story from the "Real Black Klansman" Detective Ron Stallworth. On the next Snap...we're going face to face with "The Klan." Includes a bonus Snap Classic story from boogie-woogie pianist Daryl Davis, author of “Klan-Destine Relationships.” Season 8 Episode 9...

"Mirror Touch" As a  medical school student, Joel Salinas was obsessed with the human brain. But as soon as he got to work, his own senses began to turn on him. Joel Salinas is a neurologist at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology. He is the author of Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain "What Accent?" When Ellen Spencer was released from the hospital after a mysterious stroke-like episode her voice would never be the s...

After a salesman at Oakland’s Lake Merritt disappears, journalist Tammerlin Drummond investigates what happened to him. Video used in story provided by user ritchhazel on YouTube. Producer: Adizah Eghan Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 23...

It's here... listen to the first story from Spooked Season II now available at SpookedPodcast.org...

It's coming. It's bigger and badder and all-new... Spooked Season II. From Snap Judgment and WNYC Studios, host Glynn Washington pushes back the veil to bring you stories from real people battling the forces of the night. Subscribe now to get a new Spooked episode every week leading up to Halloween....

Dylan Evans had hit a wall. Life was becoming too routine, too mundane. So he did something very few of us would do to change that. For more check out Dylan Evan’s book: The Utopia Experiment Producer: Nancy Lopez Sound Design: Pat Mesiti-Miller...

In the 1970s, thousands of Vietnamese refugees were left on the remote Anambas Islands in Indonesia. They were stranded without food, water, and shelter, forced to survive off the land. Now, almost 40 years later, one woman wants to go back to those distant islands, one last time. Snap Judgment: Return to Kuku Island Thank you so much to Carina Hoang. Carina is a Special Representative for Australia for UNHCR. Check out her book, “Boat People: Personal Stories from the Vietnamese Exodus 1976-1996,” ...

In 2009, Jane Gillooly came across an item on Ebay that piqued her imagination.  The picture was of a suitcase filled with old audiotapes. The listing’s title was “Suitcase of Love and Shame.” You can purchase Jane’s feature-length documentary film, Suitcase of Love and Shame, on iTunes and learn more about it at Cinemaguild.   Producer: Joe Rosenberg Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto...

The story of The Mirage, the famous undercover Chicago Sun bar, as told by two reporters posing as bartenders.  Pam Zekman currently works as an investigative reporter for CBS 2 Chicago. You can find Zay Smith’s book about The Mirage, his humor column and a his novel, at zaysmith.com. A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to the Chicago Sun-Time’s collaborator as the Better Business Bureau. It was the Better Government Association Producers: Joe Rosenberg and Anna SussmanOriginal Score: Le...

An all new season of Spooked, the podcast, is dropping early August. In this episode, we’re featuring some of our favorite stories from Spooked, season one. Season 9 Episode 20...

The first rule about fight club is you do not talk about fight club.  Ray Christian breaks that rule. You can hear more of Ray on his podcast What's Ray Saying. Producer:  Mark Ristich Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 19...

Snap Judgment joins the podcast Ear Hustle, from PRX's Radiotopia, for a look at parenting from inside San Quentin State Prison. In this episode incarcerated fathers share their stories of striving to be present in their children's lives. One inmate reconnects with his son after 20 years. Another stays very involved through letters and visits. And a third gets the opportunity to give his teenage son a haircut. And stay tuned for the exclusive interview with Glynn and the team behind Ear Hustle. Nigel Poor...

In 2006, a wolf was born in Yellowstone who would become a legend in her own time. For more about the 06 Female and the debate surrounding wolves in Yellowstone, be sure to check out Jeff Hull's article in Outside Magazine and Nate Rott's special report for NPR. Producer: Joe Rosenberg...

What do you do when someone tells you something you know to be false, and yet...you can just tell they're telling the truth?  Chaotic Good Malaclypse was part of a dangerous anarchist group. They stole, they killed, they escaped, until one day when Malaclypse could run no further... Producer: Jazmin AguileraOriginal Score: Renzo Gorrio  Modern Love When Stephanie Saldana was 27 years old, she thought her calling was to become a nun. But at a monastery in the Syrian desert, she met a monk who made her r...

What if you don't have a heart?...

When the fight is over we still have to deal with the pieces of the battle that remain inside.  Featuring The Warrior Box and Soul of a Soldier. Season 9 Episode 17...

When Avi Steinberg became a prison librarian, he thought his job would be to keep track of the books.  Then he started reading between the lines. To learn more about Avi’s time behind bars -- and between the stacks -- be sure to check out his memoir, Running The Books.  His latest book, The Lost Book of Mormon, which was nominated for the Thurber Prize for American Humor, will be out in paperback in November. Producer: Joe Rosenberg...

Hear how one of Yugoslavia’s top basketball players attempts to escape the Siege of Sarajevo and don't miss The Nocturnists late night meltdown at the morgue. "The Choice" from the Lucky Podcast Nada Rothbart thought she’d have plenty of time to get her family out of Sarajevo. Suddenly, it was too late. This story originally aired on Lucky podcast, listen to part two of Nada’s story "The Choice" here. Producer: Briana Breen "Live At The Morgue" from The Nocturnists Podcast What do you do when the mor...

In the desert of northern South Africa you come across a little puddle.  If you dive down into that puddle, at the bottom there is a slot.  This is the entrance to third largest freshwater cave in the world. This is where the adventure begins.   Producer: Julia DeWitt...

At the height of the Cold War, Ulrike Poppe just might have been the most surveilled woman in the world. But it was only after the wall fell that things got really interesting. Be sure to check out Luisa Beck’s reporting on all things Germany at The Washington Post, as well as the work of reporter Andrew Curry, whose article in Wired first got us interested in Ulrike’s story.  And if you’re interested in Stasi Records Agency, can you visit their English-language website to learn more.           Producer:...

For two years, Isis fought to take over the city of Mosul, killing 40,000 civilians. This is a story about a group of men and women, from around the world, who packed up their bags flew into Iraq, and made their way to Mosul, to try their hand at fighting Isis, back. Check out more from the Free Burma Rangers at http://www.freeburmarangers.org And check out the book City of Death set to release October 23rd, 2018. Producer: Anna SussmanOriginal Score: Renzo Gorrio  "Witness the Free Burma Rangers Rescu...

When a rising high school track star in  Eritrea, East Africa, is arrested under the military dictatorship, he realizes he might have a way out....run. For more information about issues facing African migrants in Israel and resources on how to help, Israeli organization Eritrean Women’s Community Center website. Teklit Michal writes a blog for Times of Israel and hosts a news channel in Tirgrinya for fellow Eritreans in Israel. You can follow his work on his Facebook page. Producer: Shaina Shealy Season...

On Atlas Peak there is one way in and one way out.  When wildfire threatened their homes, the only escape route...was up. Sukey Lewis is an investigative reporter for KQED public radio out of San Francisco. The Atlas Peak fire was just one of a series of catastrophic fires that broke out that night across northern California. 44 people in all died in those fires.  Check out KQED's fire investigation. Original Score: Davey Kim Producer: Sukey Lewis Season 9 Episode 12...

There is a line, draw it in the sand, shake on it, mark it in blood, but if you cross it... there is no going back. Hijacker's Letter What do you do when you receive a letter from your husband’s killer? For more information, check out Kathleen’s website and facebook page. Producer and Sound Design: Davey Kim Cop Out Cop Robert Davis had two choices: Show up to court and serve a sentence that meant certain death... or find a way out. Find out about Robert Davis’s work here. Producer: Anna Sussman ...

Stories of young people using every trick in their little arsenal to win praise and love, only to find themselves alone in the end.   The Best Little Swimmer Terry Galloway is ten years old and absolutely in love with the idea of summer camp. The only problem is, her family can’t afford it. But after she fails a hearing test at school, Terry learns that she is deaf -- and also eligible to attend The Lions Camp for Crippled Children, a summer camp that is free to kids with disabilities. The summer of 1960...

Documentarian Paul Berczeller examines the case of Takako Konishi, who died in a frozen forest on the North Dakota/Minnesota border looking for the fictional treasure from the Coen Brother’s film Fargo.  Be sure to check out Paul’s documentary about Takako’s journey, This is A True Story. Also, be sure to check out the feature film by the David and Nathan Zellner inspired by Takako’s story, Kumiko: The Treasure Hunter.  It is available for download on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and xBox, as well as VOD...

KC Wilbourn was a rising star in education, turning around some of Detroit’s most troubled public schools. But in order to do that, she cut some legal corners that put her in prison. Do the ends justify the means? Check out the new podcast "The Trouble with Shannon Cason" and connect on Twitter @TheTroublePod Season 9 Episode 10...

Counted: An Oakland Story is a yearlong look at the people lost to Oakland’s violence. During 2017, a team of Snap Judgment producers learned about Oakland’s homicide victims, their families and communities. Visit oaklandstory.org for more interviews, photos, and illustrations. CREDITS: "Counted: An Oakland Story" was produced by Adizah Eghan, Anna Sussman, Shaina Shealy, Jonathan Jones, Pat Mesiti-Miller, Nancy Lopez, Jazmin Aguilera, Eliza Smith, and Pendarvis Harshaw. Co-hosts of "Counted: An Oakl...

When the going gets tough, the tough make stuff happen... Been There Better Than That Glynn witnesses a lady show what real class looks like. Producer: Mark Ristich 12 Pageant Queens, 1000 Snakes One Beauty Pageant. 12 contestants. 1000 rattlesnakes. Producer: Anna Sussman A Hard Knock Life Sharon Skolnick was nine years old and an orphan in the Murrow Indian Orphanage, when she was confronted with the opportunity every girl at the orphanage dreamed of. Find out more about artist Sharon Skolnick at h...

Airlifted out of Baghdad into Israel, Avraham was about to get a new life in a new land… Avraham’s story was included in a 12-part Hebrew webseries called Neviim: Operation Amram by Elad Ben Elul (@Eladbenelul) and Yossi Brauman. Read hundreds more testimonies like Avraham’s at Amram’s website . The Amram association has collected hundreds of saliva samples from people who connected to the kidnapping affair and can be contacted at amram.dna at gmail.com.  Producer: Shaina Shealy Vocal Translator: Noam E...

In 1989, an enormous earthquake struck the Bay Area. One of Oakland’s major arteries, the Cypress Freeway, collapsed. And one man named Raven, a local Oaklander, left his home, and dove into the wreckage to save lives. This story is produced by Liam O'Donoghue, host and producer of the podcast East Bay Yesterday. If you want to hear about Bruce Lee's most notorious fight, or Oakland's oldest soul food cook, or grizzly bears, you can find the show here.  Producer: Liam O'Donoghue and Eliza SmithOriginal ...

When Snap Judgment producer Davey Kim was in eighth grade, he went to the regional level spelling bee with his best friend...and took R-E-V-E-N-G-E. Producer: Davey Kim...

The story of how Mokhtar Akhanshali braved a civil war to bring Yemeni coffee to the world.   Dave Egger’s biography of Mokhtar, The Monk of Mokha, is available wherever books are sold. And be sure to check out the book’s Instagram at @themonkofmokha. Producer: Joe Rosenberg Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 6...

Ear Hustle brings you stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it. The podcast is a partnership between Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, and Nigel Poor, a Bay Area artist. The team works in San Quentin’s media lab to produce stories that are sometimes difficult, often funny, and always honest, offering a nuanced view of people living within the American prison system. Find out more about Ear Hustle and subscribe to the podcas...

Snap spends a year with three Mission High School seniors Brantin, Damaris, and Alex as they try to make sense of adulthood in a rapidly changing San Francisco. A very special thank you to our heroes: Brantin, Damaris and Alex. Thank you also to Mission High School Principal Eric Guthertz, everyone in the Wellness Center and our guide for the year Chandra Shivakumar. Donate here to support Alex's Education Fund Producers: Adizah Eghan, Liz Mak, Eliza Smith, Anna Sussman and Mark Ristich. Original Score:...

When a young man is told is he going deaf, he sets out on a challenge to memorize the songs that defined his life. He had no idea that those songs would come back to him in the most unexpected way. A version of this story aired on KQED's Q'ed up Podcast. Producer: April Dembosky Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Sound Design: Leon Morimoto and April Dembosky Season 9 Episode 3...

Linda, Loretta, and Me What happens when boy meets girl and… fungus? This is a story about love and spores, from one of our favorite podcasts, Love Me. You can find more episodes of Love Me at cbc.ca/loveme or whenever you listen to podcasts. Be sure to check out producer Jonathan Zenti’s podcast, Meat. Producer: Mira Burt-Wintonick, Cristal Duhaime, and Jonathan Zenti Season 9 Episode 2...

What if you were born to twerk it, but you didn't know how to work it? Estee Rose grew up in a tight-knit Ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Brooklyn. Find out how she reclaims her faith after she loses it in a tumultuous series of events. To channel Estee’s tunes, check out producer Shaina Shealy’s Spotify playlist, “Zumba Estee”. Additional thanks to the Jerusalem International YMCA, the Dorot Foundation, and Natalie Ben Ami. Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Producer: Shaina Shealy Season 9 Episode 1...

What if one day you found out you look like one of the most famous people in the country -- who everybody hates? Lynn Harris is an author, commentator, award-winning journalist and mostly-retired comedian. She has a new business, teaching comedy to teenage girls. You can find her performing on stage as Tonya Harding here. Producer: Liz Mak...

There are big stories with weight, little stories with heart, and then the stories that are just STOOPID. Date With The Devil When he was younger, Greg Stone was always a good boyfriend. Or, he tried to be. Producer: Liz Mak Original Score: Leon Morimoto  My Big Pee Break Actress Diona Reasonover was on the brink of her big break. But she never expected it to happen while she was on her vacation. Diona Reasonover is an actress who lives in LA, you can check out her writing on “I Love You America” w...

Before there was Zimbabwe, there was the “Heavy” scene. In the 1970’s, Rock music rang out from the black townships in Rhodesia. One band, Wells Fargo, became the voice of the people. Founding members Ebba Chitambo and Never Mpofu tell their story of music and revolution in the face of an oppressive government.Wells Fargo’s new release Watch Out! is available now through Vinyl Me Please.Learn more about the work Matthew Shechmeister and Eothen “Egon” Alapatt are doing to document the Heavy scene at Now-Agai...

The Snap Judgment Holiday Special features two good Santas in "Miracle on 22nd Street," a misguided angel in "Preaching to the Choir," and Snap story makers as they look back on their favorite stories of 2017. Season 8 Episode 32...

Let Moss Hills take you on sea cruise … To learn more about the sinking of the Oceanos, be sure to check out: www.oceanossinking.com/ And you like that, you definitely won’t want to miss the video of the ship’s final moments: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfIZ6rcySuY Producer: Joe Rosenberg Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio...

In 1962, in a very small, very white suburb of Chicago, a young couple set out to adopt a baby girl. This story was produced in collaboration with The New York Times. Check out Amy Roost's website: AmyRoost.com Producers: Amy Roost and Anna Sussman Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 8 Episode 31...

James Vlahos wanted to keep his dad around for as long as possible, so he saved the best part about him in the best way he knew how. Vlahos is also working on a book, Talk To Me, about the quest to create conversation-making A.I.s. Check out his article about dadbot in Wired Magazine. Follow James on Twitter @jamesvlahos  Producer: Jazmin AguileraOriginal Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 8 Episode 30...

Jay J. Armes was a real life superhero ... until real life intruded.   Also be sure to check out Gary Cartwright’s original 1976 article on Jay J. Armes for Texas Monthly. Producer: Vanessa Rancano Sound Design: Leon Morimoto...

We're dropping the story-pocalypse...performed LIVE! at San Francisco's Nourse Theater.   Glynn Washington - Director's Cut Glynn’s a bean counter by day but at night it’s “Lights, Camera, Action!” Original score composed by Alex Mandel, and performed by Alex and the Snap Judgment Playaz (Tim Frick & David Brandt.) Performed at Snap Judgment Live! in San Francisco's Nourse Theater. Recorded and mixed by Pat Mesiti-Miller   Josh Healey - JDate Snap Judgment's Josh Healey brings the funny when he decide...

The OutbreakWhat do you do when a life-threatening disease makes it too dangerous to save the person closest to you. Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Producer: Jake Halpern with assistance from Mark Ristich, Anna Sussman, Adizah Eghan and Eliza Smith Grits and SausagesWhen Ray Christian was a young boy, he longed to hear the voice of God.  Check out his podcast here. Producer: Davey Kim Original Score: Renzo Gorrio The Blue BearFor  Lynn Schooler grew up in Alaska hearing rumor after rumor about the elusive bl...

From Russia With Love Two women, a tiny boat, the wide open ocean...and kismet.   Elena has written a book about their adventure, called Talking to the Moon. You can read the story on the couple’s website, http://www.cadenza.ca/index.php/en/talking-to-the-moon-en/ You can learn more about Elena and Meg’s journey at their other website, anticruise.online. Producer: Liz Mak Original Score: Leon Morimoto Season 8 Episode 28...

Tameer is part of an ethnic minority in northern Israel called Druze. When he is struck on the head as a young boy he inherits an entire new lifetime of memories. Original Score: Renzo GorrioProducer: Shaina Shealy Season 8 Episode 27...

You get a feeling, a tingle in your spine, you turn to look...and yet there's nothing there.   Cowboy Ghost Valerie is lost in a snowstorm in rural Montana. She thinks she might not be able to get out, when she sees two headlights coming to her through the storm. Help is on the way - she hopes. Valerie’s story comes to us from the book Trucker Ghost Stories, edited by Annie Wilder. Producer: Eliza Smith   Voice In The Woods When the voice says "Stop" you stay perfectly still. And when the voice says ...

Great Aunt Rose When Christina McKenna’s cruel aunt comes back from the grave to make amends--she’s not sure if she can forgive. Read more about Christina’s childhood in Ireland in her book, My Mother Wore A Yellow Dress. Producer: Anna SussmanOriginal Score: Leon Morimoto Devil’s Water Attempting to dig the family well in rural Michigan, Glynn's family comes up dry – until Daddy cuts a deal with the Devil. Original Score: Pat Mesiti-Miller Season 8 Episode 25...

Katie Leavitt tells her story "Confessions of a Baby Snatcher." Comedians Ayanna Dookie and Seaton Smith perform "Get The Hook Up!". Season 8 Episode 24...

The story of two men who come face to face one night in the canyon lands of southern Utah. Brody Young is a Utah State Park Ranger and motivational speaker, helping other people figure out how to survive the unsurvivable.  To find out more about his story, be sure to check out his website, rangerbrodyyoung.com. Producer:  Joe Rosenberg Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto Season 8 Episode 23...

Time Warp Saloon The neon sign blinks at the roadhouse bar. The jukebox plays an old tune as the bartender shouts, "Last Call." Just one more. Why not? What could it hurt? This story came to Spooked from Jim Harold’s Campfire Podcast, hosted by Jim Harold, check it out at JimHarold.com. Love Letters Mark Spencer lived in the haunted house with the ghost of Ladell - and we are eternally grateful that he stuck around long enough to bring us his story. Mark Spencer and his family have lived in the Allen Ho...

When an immovable object meets an unstoppable force, what is left standing?   Sharp Dressed Man Glynn discovers discovers the man behind the man he wants to be.Producer: Pat Mesiti Miller   The Price Of Silence How did Ben Holmes disappear and then reappear with a bang?Producer: Davey KimSound Design: Renzo Gorrio   Old Time Strong Man What happens when a five-foot-seven, 42-year-old from Queens decides to become a superhero?This story comes from the documentary Bending Steel.Also check out Chris W...

Benjamin and The Bear Back when he was kid, Benjamin was a scrawny outcast with a penchant for tinkering. He liked to  go on adventures in the abandoned mining town where he grew up, seeking discarded electronics to repair. One day he goes on an adventure that he will never forget. Today Benjamin Young Savage is a graphic artist and  illustrator based in Baltimore. We found him on Twitter. Producer: Adizah Eghan and Eliza Smith Original Score: Leon Morimoto Goose Justice Snap storyteller Abdul Kenyatt...

Luna The Whale In 2004, a lost baby orca named Luna swam towards the west coast of Vancouver Island and tried to befriend humans. But nobody knew how to respond to this wild once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Then the First Nations and the Department of Oceans and Fisheries got involved. To learn more about Luna's story, be sure to check out Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm's documentary -- Saving Luna Producer and Sound Designer: Davey Kim Season 8 Episode 20...

The hardest character to play is the character without a script.   Magic Lamp Glynn's good luck charm goes missing. Producer: Mark Ristich   Cassandro El Exotico Cassandro is an up-and-coming luchador, a professional Mexican wrestler. He wants to get to the big arenas. He's got the talent, no doubt. But because he's also one of the only openly gay fighters, he's got an uphill battle to get the crowd and the press on his side.  Producer: Eliza SmithSound Design: Leon Morimoto   Gina Gold - The Lust...

Supernatural Storytelling. Experience Snap's new haunted podcast, "Spooked!"  Featuring "Houdini’s Promise" and "The Night Mother."...

Get Spooked at SpookedPodcast.org. From the creators of Snap Judgment and WNYC studios, a new podcast that pushes back the veil. Real stories from real people battling the forces of the night.  Subscribe now!...

Have you ever happily wandered the woods? Not a care in the world. Then right after sunset felt a hot, oily breath breathing down your shoulder? Snap Judgment proudly presents "Campfire Tales IV - Primal." *Get the NEW Spooked Podcast now at SpookedPodcast.org.  Border BogeymanRocky Elmore used to work down by the border during long pitch-black nights in the desert. It was so dark you never knew who or what was out there. Tooki ManTrekking in Indonesia, Ian and Stuart wander off the beaten path.  There, ...

Promises. Some of them are worthless, and some of them have infinite value, and some you will never know how much they are worth... until you have to cash them in. Season 7 Episode 7...

Amazing people wrestling with tough opponents and big decisions. Featuring Anthony Robles, the grappler that could take you down with one leg, and the Von Erich wrestling family whose glitz and fame was riddled with pain and sacrifice. Season 8 Episode 18...

When your back is against the wall and you're all out of options, you don't want to break the law...but it wants to break you. Featuring the story of an imprisoned Iranian fiancee and a personal story from the Daily Show's Hasan Minhaj. Season 7 Episode 1...

Amazing stories from people pushing the limits of their own mortality. Featuring the story of a skeptical journalist turned mountain climber. Season 8 Episode 17...

Fantastic stories from people paid to do our dirty work. Season 5 Episode 6...

At the Cadillac Hotel, an SRO in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, a resident has gone missing. Her long time lover and best friend won’t rest until she is found....

Remarkable stories from real people battling a digital future. Season 5 Episode 1...

You take the pills, you exercise regularly, and yet, still something or perhaps someone is wrong... Season 8 Episode 16...

The world has a natural order that we all abide...except when we don't. Season 7 Episode 8...

When all hope is lost, the only people left are the true believers. Season 8 Episode 15...

You give the big speech, lead the big charge, but can you take them down?  Season 6 Episode 8...

One family, one story, three acts. The amazing Fecile family invites us behind closed doors to witness the hardest choice they ever had to make. A special stunning collaboration with Love and Radio... “Blink Once For Yes." This story comes to us from Nick van DerKolk's podcast Love and Radio. Produced by John Fecile, Steven Jackson and  Lizzie Schiffman Tufano Additional recording by Patrick Tufano    Original Music by Pat Mesiti-Miller and Curtis Heath Recorded Music permission given by Daniel Lanois ...

When you're at your very worst, alone, naked in a thin robe, and on a white table that you realize what you're really made of. Season 7 Episode 5...

What if you do everything just right to the letter but you discover the exact way they asked you to do it ...is wrong? Season 8 Episode 13...

When Yehiya gets thrown in jail for arming the Palestinian resistance, he and his wife, Sameera, have to find a way to keep their family growing. This story comes to us from Shaina Shealy, an American radio producer working out of Jerusalem. You can find her on Twitter @shainashealy. Eliza Smith provided editorial assistance for this piece. Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto Producer: Shaina Shealy...

When you’re struggling and living in the margins, the powers that be want to keep you…exactly where you are. Season 8 Episode 12...

Who are you going to turn to when the dust settles and someone's gotta take the blame? Season 6 Episode 32...

You will never know your true power until you know your radio voice. Featuring the amazing story of Radio Mosul. Season 8 Episode 11...

Amazing stories about those on the bottom talking to those in the middle who report to those on top. Season 4 Episode 18...

We all have our better sides, but what if your better side of yourself...is someone else? Season 6 Episode 31...

You get up every morning and go through the motions, but do you ever stop to wonder what you're leaving behind? Season 8 Episode 10...

Our 4/20 Snap Special...when life goes up in smoke, inhale deep....

The word instills fear in many, fascination in some, and allegiance in others, and on the next Snap Judgment we're going face to face. Season 8 Episode 9...

It's an exclusive Snap Special -- Don Reed's "I Miss Toni." The Snap Performer Of The Year reveals a family story of love, betrayal, and pride. Includes a post-story interview with Glynn Washington....

When you feel the walls coming closer and closer, where do you go? Where do you hide? Season 8 Episode 8...

It's intriguing, tempting, and dangerous, but somehow you can't resist... Support Snap Judgment storytelling at SnapJudgment.org....

We throw down a four of a kind in front of a full house...LIVE!...

You can argue, laugh, and cry but you can never change who you came from. Support Snap Judgment storytelling at snapjudgment.org...

There is the person you were born to be, and then there is the person you're creating. But what happens when both sides battle it out? Season 8 Episode 7...

You know the feeling, the longing, the passion...you think you can ignore it, but you can never escape it. Support Snap Judgment storytelling at snapjudgment.org....

Reach out and touch faith. Amazing stories of people searching for their own salvation. Season 8 Episode 6...

It's almost like deja vu. Almost. Except, you remember every single step of the journey. Amazing stories about ending up exactly where you got started. Season 7 Episode 2...

More money, more problems, more stories than you know what to do with. Throw your hands in the air if you're a true player. Season 8 Episode 5...

There is lots of stuff that is never supposed to happen, but once in a while, something slips through the cracks. Season 8 Episode 4...

You know how bad it looks, and it's not gonna get any easier, but you roll up your sleeves and get down to it.  Season 6 Episode 30...

You can walk, amble, stride, but if you really want something...you better run. Season 8 Episode 3...

Sometimes you gotta go around the carousel a few times to get the prize. Season 6 Episode 24...

What's it like to be pulling the levers, twisting the plot, and making the tough cuts inside the Snap story factory?   Snap presents "The Specialist," a podcast about work we don't think about and the people who do it.  Hosted by Casey Miner, a project of KALW public radio in San Francisco. www.specialistpodcast.com...

You can run and hide from just about everyone, except yourself. Season 8 Episode 2...

Lead, follow or get out of the way. It's amazing stories that will not be denied. Season 6 Episode 23...

Before you can begin to understand the story, you gotta hear the backstory. Season 8 Episode 1...

We think we're slick...that nobody knows the difference between the private us and public us. On the next Snap, it's all exposed... Season 6 Episode 19...

Snap presents a special audio fiction episode featuring Jonathan Mitchell's "The Truth." Can You Help Me Find My Mom? A girl is lost and can't find her mom. Why won't anyone help her? Written by Diana McCorryProduced by Jonathan Mitchell More @ thetruthpodcast.com/story/2015/4/8/can-you-help-me-find-my-mom Visibile A blind man gets a Seeing Eye App. Written by Louis Kornfeldwith help from Diana McCorryProduced by Jonathan Mitchell More @ thetruthpodcast.com/story/2016/2/12/visible-drive-straight-ahe...

In this one-hour special, "Homemade Stories: The Struggle is Real," award-winning storyteller Shannon Cason takes us on a journey that finds hope in struggle. From navigating Detroit’s overwhelmed criminal justice system, to searching for work and finding closed doors, to being a father after failing in marriage, to finding anchors in a sea of uncertainty, Shannon's stories are heartfelt, heartbreaking and hilarious all at once....

Go, go, go. Push, push, push. That's all well and good, but every once in a while it's time to kick back and look at what you already did.  The Snap Judgment 2016 Look Back Special. Season 7 Episode 32...

Luck is nice, good fortune fantastic, but sometimes you have to show what you are made of. Season 7 Episode 31...

You don't want it, you didn't create it, but it's all yours. Season 6 Episode 28...

Bells Atlas, the sultry, soulful, funky Oakland band performing with Snap Live! has put together a mixtape that we know you are gonna dig.  It's an early gift for you, from Snap....

It's always that person you can't stand who pushes you to be better. Season 7 Episode 30...

Some people go through life with a smile on their faces...do they know something we don't? Season 6 Episode 25...

It's an extra helping of stuffing..."Gratitude 2015" encore presentation. Even now, Snap still has a whole lot to be thankful for.  So pass the gravy, and thanks for listening....

Even after the rain, there are still rainbows. Season 7 Episode 25...

The secret handshake, the password, the hidden deals, they can all be elusive...but on the next Snap Judgment we let you in the inner circle. Season 7 Episode 29...

What if you could be you without all of the responsibility, the guilt, and the self-loathing? Too good to be true? ...Maybe not. Season 6 Episode 26...

There is the dark of night...and then there is darkness so deep you can barely hear yourself scream. The hair-raising finale of Snap's terrifying "Spooked Week" of haunting, true-life stories. Be afraid . . . "Pitch Black" Spooked VII Season 7 Episode 28...

When the lights go dark...how can you be sure you're alone?  Part of Snap's terrifying "Spooked Week" of haunting, true-life stories. Be afraid . . . "Sight Unseen" a Snap Spooked Special...

What happens when man's best friend...turns into your worst enemy? Part of Snap's terrifying "Spooked Week" of haunting, true-life stories. Be afraid . . . "Hounds of Hell" a Snap Spooked Special....

Sometimes the most innocent things...are the scariest. Part of Snap's terrifying "Spooked Week" of haunting, true-life stories. Be afraid . . . "Welcome To The Dollhouse" a Snap Spooked Special...

When the fire crackles and the shadows dance -- get ready for Snap Judgment's "Campfire Tales." Part of Snap's terrifying "Spooked Week" of haunting, true-life stories. Be afraid . . . Season 7 Episode 27...

There are two kinds of people, those who try to survive...and those who dance as the water rises. Are you going to go "Down With The Ship"? Season 7 Episode 26...

What if you were born without a heart? Featuring stories about the DMZ, face blindness, and psychopaths. Snap presents, "Tin Man."  Season 6 Episode 17...

Can't wait for Spooked 7? Try this... a classic ghost story with photographic evidence. Two men living outside of Los Angeles encounter a ghost so undeniable, they have to fight back the press and the rest of the world to maintain their sanity. See the pics for yourself:  www.seeingthingsthebook.com Also see pics here. Producer: Anna Sussman Sound design: Pat Mesiti-Miller...

We all want a world where what we imagine comes to pass, but sometimes, you can't escape reality. Snap presents, "End Of The Rainbow".  Season 7 Episode 24...

Storytellers Don Reed, J.W. Taylor, and James Judd perform live in San Francisco for the "Breakout Special." Snap presents, "Breakout"  Season 6 Episode 20...

Sometimes the only word you hear is "No." But what if you always said "Yes"?  "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"  Season 7 Episode 23...

Riveting stories from people who pushed it to the limit. On the next Snap..."Crash and Burn"  Season 6 Episode 21...

Some commitments go way beyond words. Amazing stories of friendship and betrayal. "Blood Oath" Season 7 Episode 22...

How far would you go to save the person you love? This radio play was adapted from Amber Sparks’s story, 13 Ways of Destroying a Painting, from her short story collection The Unfinished World. You can find more of her work at www.ambernoellesparks.com Narrator: Thao Nguyen of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down Director: Mark Ristich Producer: Eliza Smith Sound Design: Pat Mesiti-Miller...

When the world because too much, you need a safe place to regroup. We present..."Fortress of Solitude."  Season 7 Episode 21...

Everyone has a secret. Some secrets are heavier than others. On the next Snap ... "Weight Of The World."  Season 6 Episode 13...

One mom, one dad, 2.5 kids and a white picket fence?  This week on Snap Judgment we get real.  From WNYC Studios, Snap proudly presents..."Nuclear Family." Season 7 Episode 20...

Joe Rowe lived happily in the middle of the West Texas desert - until a stranger named Rick McLaren moved in and started a violent militia group called the Republic of Texas. Things got downright ugly when McLaren sent troops to take Joe hostage in his own home. Check out some behind-the-scenes footage of Joe showing off bullet holes in his home! Right here at Snap Films! Producer: Stephanie Foo...

When the going gets tough, the tough make stuff happen. Featuring stories about rattlesnakes pageant queens, Apache orphans, and the legendary Xiao Xiao. "Big Girls Don't Cry."  Season 7 Episode 19...

When the world around you is burning, where do you look for relief? Performed live by Josh Healey at Snap LIVE! Music composed by Alex Mandel and performed by Alex Mandel, Tim Frick, and David Brandt...

Glynn Washington tells us what it's like to grow up black in a white supremacist Jesus Cult (the Worldwide Church of God).   This interview was produced by Benjamen Walker, the host of the podcast the Theory of Everything....

On the next Snap..."Caught Up." You think you make your own decisions, go your own way, forge your own path, but you look up and realize...you're playing someone else's game. Season 6 Episode 15...

On the next all-NEW Snap..." Leap of Faith." When you feel disaster looming, but still...you decide to go for it. Snap Judgment, storytelling with a beat. Season 7 Episode 18...

Storyteller Joel ben Izzy tells the hauntingly beautiful story of a simple piece of fruit.Producer: Stephanie Foo...

On the next all-NEW Snap Judgment..."Shake, Rattle, and Roll." What happens when you try to hold your ground, but that same ground crumbles beneath you?...

A New York Rabbi has his faith tested when he takes a job in Nebraska.  Producer: Anna Sussman...

On the next Snap, "Godsend." You may have the wisdom of the ages, but when it really hits the fan...even you might need some help. Featuring tales of rare medical phenomenons, mythical creatures, and mind control....

On an all-NEW Snap..."Voice of Reason". What if you discover your plans aren't working? Do you listen to good advice or do you shoot the messenger? Featuring stories about Jesse Jackson, the voice of God, and more......

On the next Snap..."Unforgiven." There is a line, draw it in the sand, shake on it, mark it in blood, but if you cross it... there is no going back....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Loss for Words." We know what you wanted to say, what you were trying to say, what you should have said. We really, really do....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Man of Steel." When an immovable object meets an unstoppable force, what is left standing?...

Hear the final results of your hard work.  Big Love from Team Snap!...

3,2,1..."To The Brink." Go to SnapJudgment.org to support Snap Storytelling. We are at the end. Help us get to 5,000 supporters. Thanks!...

Bonus Snap Special, “Twilight.” It's an elusive moment in the magic hour featuring compelling performances by Shane Koyczan, Ise Lyfe, Sean Hayes and the legendary Moreese Bickham....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Stranger in a Strange Land." The first thing you do in a new place is look for the familiar, but maybe you're the unfamiliar one. Amazing stories from Ghana, Japan, and... the psych ward....

It's a bonus Snap! Every student has a teacher, and that teacher was once a student.  Featuring favorite performances from Jamie DeWolf, Noah St. John, and Jack McCarthy. Contribute to great storytelling at snapjudgment.org....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Shangri La". Some say it doesn't exist, but others...are already out the door. Featuring stories about mythical Peruvian rivers and a revolutionary in exile....