Snap Judgment Podcast

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

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....

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

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...

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....

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

Stories 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...

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...

STORIES 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 ...

"Bad Hair Cut" - 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...

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. Producer: 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. Wi...

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 epi...

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...

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...

Sometimes the only word you hear is "No." But what if you always said "Yes"? Snap Judgment proudly presents "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". Stories 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....

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

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...

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.”...

Featuring:   "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 w...

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...

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....

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...

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? On the next all-NEW Snap..."Beyond Belief." STORIES 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 monaste...

What if you don't have a heart? On an all-new Snap, we proudly present "The Tin Man."...

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....

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. STORIES "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 whe...

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 Res...

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...

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...

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. 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 h...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Breakfast Of Champions." 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 ...

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 VO...

Snap proudly presents "The Trouble With Shannon Cason." 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...

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...

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 here. Producer: Anna Sussman Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio Xia...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 MakOriginal 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....

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...

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...

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. Snap proudly presents "The Passion" performed LIVE! at San Francisco's Nourse Theater. STORIES 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 ...

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 blue ...

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...

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...

"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 "Run!" you had better run. Producer: Eliza Smith...

"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...

On the next all-NEW Snap, Katie Leavitt tells her story "Confessions of a Baby Snatcher." Also featuring comedians Ayanna Dookie and Seaton Smith in "Get The Hook Up!"...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Incident at Poison Spider Mesa." 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...

"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 Al...

On the next Snap..."Man of Steel." 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 Ste...

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 Keny...

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...

On the next Snap Judgment, "The Performer." 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 Des...

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.  STORIES 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. ...

On the next Snap, "The Promise." 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....

On the next Snap Judgment,"On The Mat." 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....

On the next Snap..."High Crimes and Misdemeanors. 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....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Transcendent." Amazing stories from people pushing the limits of their own mortality. Featuring the story of a skeptical journalist turned mountain climber....

On the next Snap..."The Mercenary", amazing stories from people paid to do our dirty work....

On the next all-NEW Snap Special..."The Cadillac Hotel." 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....

On the next Snap Judgment, we proudly present "Artificial Intelligence."  Amazing stories from real people battling a digital future....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Bad Medicine." You take the pills, you exercise regularly, and yet, still something or perhaps someone is wrong......

On the next Snap, "Can't Hold Me Down." The world has a natural order that we all abide...except when we don't....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."True Believer." When all hope is lost, the only people left are the true believers....

On the next Snap..."Overthrow." You give the big speech, lead the big charge, but can you take them down?...

On the next all-NEW Snap Judgment, 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...

On the next Snap, "The Patient". 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....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."By The Book." What if you do everything just right to the letter but you discover the exact way they asked you to do it ...is wrong?...

On the next all-NEW Snap Special..."Palestinian Sperm Smuggling." 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...

On the next all-NEW Snap…”Tricknology.” When you’re struggling and living in the margins, the powers that be want to keep you…exactly where you are....

On the next Snap, "The Fall Guy." Who are you going to turn to when the dust settles and someone's gotta take the blame?...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Hey DJ!" You will never know your true power until you know your radio voice.  Featuring the amazing story of Radio Mosul....

On the next Snap... "Chain of Command." Amazing stories about those on the bottom talking to those in the middle who report to those on top....

On the next Snap, "Better Half." We all have our better sides, but what if your better side of yourself...is someone else?...

On the next all-NEW Snap ..."Legacy." You get up every morning and go through the motions, but do you ever stop to wonder what you're leaving behind?...

On the 4/20 Snap Special, "High Stakes." When life goes up in smoke, inhale deep....

On the next Snap..."The Klan." 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....

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....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Boxed In." When you feel the walls coming closer and closer, where do you go? Where do you hide?...

On the next Snap Special..."Bad Magic." It's intriguing, tempting, and dangerous, but somehow you can't resist... Support Snap Judgment storytelling at SnapJudgment.org....

On the next Snap Special..."Aces Wild".  We throw down a four of a kind in front of a full house...LIVE!...

On the next podcast only Snap Special..."My Mother's Daughter." You can argue, laugh, and cry but you can never change who you came from. Support Snap Judgment storytelling at snapjudgment.org...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Born Identity." 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?...

On the next Snap Special..."Heart's Desire." 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....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Personal Jesus." Reach out and touch faith. Amazing stories of people searching for their own salvation....

On the next Snap Judgment…”Full Circle.” 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....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Notorious." 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....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."One In A Million." There is lots of stuff that is never supposed to happen, but once in a while, something slips through the cracks....

On the next Snap... "Dirty Work."  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....

On the next all-NEW Snap "Run For It." You can walk, amble, stride, but if you really want something...you better run....

On the next Snap..."Brass Ring." Sometimes you gotta go around the carousel a few times to get the prize....

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...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Mirrors." You can run and hide from just about everyone, except yourself....

On the next Snap Judgment... "Man on a Mission." Lead, follow or get out of the way. It's amazing stories that will not be denied....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Backstory." Before you can begin to understand the story, you gotta hear the backstory....

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 on "Sex, Lies and Audiotape."...

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 VISIBLE 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-ahea...

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....

It's an all-new Snap…"Mettle." Luck is nice, good fortune fantastic, but sometimes you have to show what you are made of....

On the next Snap, "Cross To Bear." You don't want it, you didn't create it, but it's all yours....

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....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Rivals." It's always that person you can't stand who pushes you to be better....

Some people go through life with a smile on their faces...do they know something we don't? On the next Snap, "Rose Colored Glasses."...

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....

On the next Snap Judgment, "Gratitude 2016." Even after the rain, there are still rainbows....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Inside Scoop." 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....

On the next Snap ..."The Proxy." What if you could be you without all of the responsibility, the guilt, and the self-loathing? Too good to be true? ...Maybe not....

On an all-NEW Snap..."Spooked VII: Pitch Black." 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 . . ....

On the next Snap Spooked Special..."Sight Unseen." 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 . . ....

On the next Snap Spooked Special... "Hounds of Hell." 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 . . ....

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

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 . . ....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Down With The Ship." There are two kinds of people, those who try to survive...and those who dance as the water rises...

On the next Snap..."Tin Man." What if you were born without a heart? Featuring stories about the DMZ, face blindness, and psychopaths....

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...

On the next all-NEW Snap... "End Of The Rainbow." We all want a world where what we imagine comes to pass, but sometimes, you can't escape reality....

On the next Snap..."Breakout." Storytellers Don Reed, J.W. Taylor, and James Judd perform live in San Francisco for the "Breakout Special."...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Sometimes the only word you hear is "No." But what if you always said "Yes"?...

On the next Snap..."Crash and Burn." Riveting stories from people who pushed it to the limit. Snap Judgment, storytelling with a BEAT....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Blood Oath." Some commitments go way beyond words. Amazing stories of friendship and betrayal....

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...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Fortress of Solitude." When the world becomes too much, you need a safe place to regroup....

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

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."...

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...

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Big Girls Don't Cry." When the going gets tough, the tough make stuff happen. Featuring stories about rattlesnakes pageant queens, Apache orphans, and the legendary Xiao Xiao....

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....

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....

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....

Bonus Snap Special, “Misunderestimated!” Featuring amazing performances by Josh Healey, Joshua Walters, Kate Ascott Evans and Rives....

On the next Snap..."Throwback." When you're getting down with your bad self and the DJ says "oldies"...you know you've gone old school....

It's a special release of a fan favorite. On this Snap Judgment, we proudly present, "The Storyteller." There are those people that when they answer the simple question, "What happened?" magic occurs. All of a sudden we're not living in our world anymore, we are living in theirs. Featuring: Roman Mars, Rebecca Hertz, Jeff Greenwald and Glynn Washington...

On the next all-NEW Snap Judgment, "The Performers." The hardest character to play is the character without a script....

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Snap LIVE! in Oaktown." When you come back to the town where everything got started...you better not come half-steppin'....

On an all-NEW Snap, "Can't Hold Me Down." The world has a natural order that we all abide...except when we don't....

This week on Snap, we have to put up -- or shut up. Snap Judgment proudly presents "Proof."...

A special update from Snap on the question "Where are the archive episodes?"...

On the next all-NEW Snap, "The Promise." Some of them are worthless,and some of them have infinite value, and some will never know how much they are worth... until you have to cash them in....

On all-NEW Snap..."Man In The Mirror."  No message could've been any clearer. We're asking him to change his ways....

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

On the next all-NEW Snap, "The Patient". 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....

On the next Snap, "Simpatico." What's it like to find yourself on someone else's wavelength?...

On the next all-NEW Snap, "Perfect Match." You've seen them around, holding hands, stars in their eyes...and you wonder how they do it. Do they know something we don't?...

All-NEW "Snap LIVE! in NYC" featuring Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter from The Roots and The Tonight Show, comedian Jen Kober, and Snap favorite Josh Healey. Recorded live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for WNYC's RadioLoveFest....

On the next Snap..."Infamous." Sure they want to take your picture, have your autograph... but for all the wrong reasons....

It’s an all-NEW Snap…”Full Circle.” 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....

On the next Snap..."Omen." Call it a feeling, but somebody, somehow is trying to tell you something....