Snap Judgment Podcast

When Adreanna Rodriguez was a kid, she was given a choice about whether or not she wanted to stay in her home state of California. It was a choice she’s reckoned with for her entire life. Today, over a decade after she made that choice -  Adreanna takes us with her to North Dakota to find out… what could have been. STORIES Mulatto Glynn’s brother wants him to take a DNA test but Glynn already knows he’s one part Luna and one part Midnight. Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller, original score by Cheflee Bloodl...

A scientist studying the minds of psychopaths gets dangerously close. A father’s inability to recognize faces tests his relationships. And a brother is reunited with his North Korean sister for the first time in over five decades. You can look human and you can sound human... but what happens when you take a good hard look inside and realize... you're missing something? STORIES If I Only Had a Heart Glynn knows… sometimes the sum of the parts does not equal the hole. Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller The ...

Sieu is a young boy living in the big city of Phnom Penh, but he misses his old life in the Cambodian countryside. The air, the farms, but mostly… the animals.  When the Khmer Rouge promises a return to the land, Sieu has no idea how far he and his family will have to go. This story recounts aspects of the Khmer Rouge civil war including scenes of torture and death. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. BIG thanks to Sieu Do for sharing your story with us! There is so much that we were not able to share...

Hosted by Glynn Washington, Snap Judgment brings new voices to public radio and podcasting... voices that did not know the world of public media, and many voices that did not know they belonged. We build Snap Judgment’s signature sound around immersive audio, incredible first-person storytelling, and original scoring for each and every experience. Snap’s musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling… with a BEAT! Snap first aired on public...

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 Mike Finkel’s book, The Stranger In The Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit.  Check out The North Pond Hermit Song by Stan Keach. Produced by Joe Rosenberg, original score by Renzo Gorrio & Andrew Vickers Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Du...

Glynn finds a cheap place to spend the summer… at a halfway house. This story was performed at Snap LIVE in Los Angeles and was presented by KPCC. Original Music by Alex Mandel, performed by Alex Mandel and the Snap Players (David Brand and Tim Frick). Watch the live performance! Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Season 12 - Episode 10...

Katie falls hard for Barys during a whirlwind trip to Belarus. But there’s a giant red flag she can’t ignore any longer. And two people who have the same name, live in the same city, and have the same professional interests soon find out what else they have in common. STORIES Real Love Boston-based writer Katie Simon is on assignment in Belarus when she meets and falls hard for Barys in less than a week. When she’s back home, her friends alert her to a giant red flag she can no longer afford to ignore. ...

A group of all-native girls with a lot to prove take on the future of their high school lacrosse team. And an ENT doctor learns to be comfortable outside her comfort zone. STORIES The Medicine Game A group of all-native girls with a lot to prove, take on the future of their high school lacrosse team. This story contains racially insensitive language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. Thank you, Jacelyn, for sharing your story with us! Jacelyn now plays lacrosse for Virginia Tech. We first heard ...

This week, Snap is proud to spotlight Suave! This podcast captures the true story of a teenager sentenced to life in prison without parole & what happens when, decades later, he suddenly gets a second chance at freedom. It’s the story of thousands of juveniles sentenced to die in U.S. prisons told through one man’s journey of incarceration and redemption and his near 30-year friendship with journalist, Maria Hinojosa. This episode contains strong language and descriptions of violence and sexual assault, li...

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... This episode contains a content advisory for graphic imagery and strong language. It describes scenes of both human and animal death. This story is not for children and sensitive listeners, please be advised. Special thanks to our film consultants, Spencer Parsons and Todd Wie...

An underwater photographer sets out on a quest to document harp seals and experiences a moment that becomes a part of her forever. This story contains descriptions of animal death in the wild. Sensitive listeners, please be advised Thank you, Jennifer Hayes, for sharing your story with us! Special thanks to Jennifer’s guide Mario Cyr and her husband David Doubilet. You can find Jennifer and David’s stunning photographs of harp seals in National Geographic Magazine, on their website, or on Jennifer’s Inst...

Everyone in Pumpkintown is hunting for Sasquatch... except Ben Becker. He knows exactly where Bigfoot lives. This episode does contain strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised. This story originally aired on the Here Be Monsters podcast hosted by Jeff Emtman. They just dropped a new season… listen and subscribe for more awesome stories! Produced by Jeff Emtman Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Snap Classic - Season 5 - Episode 12...

Fans and journalists embark on a seven-show tour with Rihanna… in seven countries, over seven days, on a Boeing 777, to celebrate her seventh album in seven years. Fasten your seat belts, it’s time for liftoff… This episode contains strong language and descriptions of a ‘rockstar lifestyle,’ sensitive listeners please be advised. Special thanks to Kristen Gwynne, Lawrence Bull, and Elizabeth Nakano. Produced by John Fecile, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Te...

When the biggest baddest bird in the wild is on the brink of death, one couple will do anything to bring her back home. Snap presents, “Birdzilla.” A Canadian love story. This episode discusses the subject of death and contains strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised. Thank you, Murdo Messer, for sharing your story with us! And all of us here at Snap are thinking fondly of the late Dr. Helene Van Doninck, wherever you are, thank you. Learn more about the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Ce...

A hip hop artist from Oakland leaves his mic behind to join the police force and fight for justice from the inside. This story includes scenes of police violence and strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised. Thank you, Jinho Ferreira, for sharing your story with us! Listen to “I Can’t Breathe” from Jinho’s hip hop group, Flipsyde. This story was adapted from the piece originally produced for WorldAffairs, an incredible weekly podcast and radio show. Special thanks to Jarrod Sport and Joanne...

A woman recounts her Aunt’s fairytale love story and searches for her own Modern Romance. An African princess learns she is truly beautiful. And a precocious eight-year-old finds himself on the brink of a revolution when he applies lessons learned from a homework assignment to other areas of his life. STORIES Modern Romance In the second half of her life, Stephanie found her classic Hollywood romance. Now she attempts to understand the strange and confusing world of dating apps to help her niece - and th...

In 1997, thirty-nine people took their own lives in an apparent mass suicide. The events captivated the media and had people across the planet asking the same question... ‘Why?’ 20 years later, those who lost loved ones and those who still believe - tell their story. Snap Judgment presents a special spotlight on Heaven’s Gate. Find out the story behind the cult that changed the world. Heaven’s Gate is produced by Stitcher in collaboration with Pineapple Street Media and is hosted by Snap’s very own Glynn ...

Six people, six different times and places, but they all find themselves in the same predicament, asking the same question, should they stop or should they go? BIG thanks to Tyler Estep, who first reported Philip Dean’s story for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Thanks also to Cole Richards and Randy Scott Carroll for recording assistance. Thank you to everyone interviewed for this story: Troy Stokes, Philip Dean, Betsy Richards, Delrish Moss, Carol Steele, and the Lucky Guy. Big love and thanks to Shan...

An Iranian American examines herself and her life in a one-woman audio show that straddles the line between fiction and truth. Snap Judgment presents, “A Person Who Has Never Even Been Married...” a special spotlight on the Appearances podcast. This episode contains strong language, scenes of domestic turmoil, and mentions sex. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. From Mermaid Palace and Radiotopia, Sharon Mashihi brings you Appearances. This podcast brings to life an Iranian American family and commun...

2020 has been a YEAR, and Monaea Upton has a lot to say about it. This week we bring you an episode from the podcast Vice News Reports. Vice sent 17-year-old Monaea Upton a recorder and she’s been keeping an audio diary of her senior year of high school in North Minneapolis — during online school, the aftermath of the George Floyd protests, and a spike in neighborhood gun violence. We take you inside her world. This story does contain strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised. BIG BIG love an...

What if after the craziest year on record somebody asked you… “what happened?” The Snap team spoke to some of the people that changed our world in 2020 to see if their stories have a part II. BIG thanks to all of the storytellers who let us take a little peek back into their lives for this special episode: Patti Ragan from “Zoo Nebraska” Naandar from “Letters from Lockdown - Gaza, Myanmar, and at Sea” Jacoby Cochran from “Time Traveler” Gregory from “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to America” Dr. Ayaz Virji &...

A good samaritan pulls over to the side of the road to help a family in distress. A few weeks later, he realizes something is wrong. This episode contains some graphic imagery and strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised. BIG love and thanks so much to Dr. Ray Christian for sharing his story with us. If you loved his story he’s got plenty more on his podcast “What’s Ray Saying.” Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Lauryn Newson Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot...

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. A big thanks to Amaryllis Fox for sharing her story with us. You can buy her book on Knopf, Amazon, or anywhere books are sold. Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Leon Morimoto Sound d...

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. This story does contain strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised. 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...

Lawrence “Binkey” Tolefree gets a phone call about a huge opportunity. But it’s the next call from his mom that leads to the most surprising performance of his career. And Nygel Turner shares what it's like to live with Gynecomastia (aka Man Boobs). This episode contains adult language & a scene with graphic imagery. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. STORIES The Looking Glass Glynn looks at an old picture of himself and reflects... Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller Have You Seen Her Lawrence “Binke...

A fortune hunter searches for buried treasure in an Arizona silver mine but finds something he never expected. And a young boy learns how to hustle and survive in Brooklyn during a time when the mob ran the streets. STORIES Silver Mine W.C. Jameson has searched for a recovered buried treasure across the world. But on a search in Arizona, he found something he never expected. Find out more about W.C. Jameson’s work and adventures at his website. Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Leon Morimoto ...

Glynn gets a new friend. A wolf in Yellowstone becomes a legend in her own time. And a woman’s life changes forever when a hurricane heads towards her house full of birds. Snap Judgment presents, “The 2020 Gratitude Special.” We are grateful to lift voices up, to tell stories, and we are so SO thankful for you Snap Nation! We appreciate each and every one of you Snappas… for all of the love and support you’ve shown us, thank you. STORIES Bardot Everyone needs a scratch behind the ears sometimes. Produc...

Rhyme and punishment go hand in hand in America. This week, we are featuring Louder Than A Riot, an incredible new podcast from NPR Music. It reveals the interconnected rise of hip-hop and mass incarceration. From Bobby Shmurda to Nipsey Hussle, each episode explores an artist's story to examine a different aspect of the criminal justice system that disproportionately impacts Black America. STORY The Badder, The Better: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 1) Just like his legendary disappearing hat, Brooklyn rapper Bobby ...

A mild-mannered theater professor attempts to stage a controversial play in a small East Texas town. This episode discusses drug use, sex, homophobia, and contains explicit language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. Thank you to Joseph Magee, Justin Adams, Jennifer Ann Handy, and the rest of the cast and crew of Angels in America Kilgore College, 1999. BIG love and thanks to Raymond Caldwell, who just retired after 54 years of teaching theater. This story was based on the Texas Monthly magazine a...

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 the Lucky podcast, listen to part two of Nada’s story “The Choice” here. Produced by Briana Breen Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Snap Classic - Season 9 Episode 16...

Todd’s uncle was one mean son of a biscuit. But long after he’s dead and gone, his descendants worry that his meanness might rub off on them. Snap presents a story crafted in the dark of night by Spooked. Thank you, Todd, for sharing your story with us! Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Renzo Gorrio Artwork by Sanaa Khan Listen to Spooked on Luminary! Spooked season 5 has 22 all-new episodes to keep you up at night. You can get a Luminary subscription for as little as $2.99 a month with their ...

When singer/songwriter and former frontwoman of the Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard, comes up against a hostile spirit in her home, she has to decide: who’s going to get to stay? Brittany... or the ghost? Snap proudly presents an amazing Spooked tale! Big thanks and big love to Brittany for sharing her story with us. Produced by Chris Hambrick, original score by Leon Morimoto Artwork by Sanaa Khan Listen to Spooked on Luminary! Spooked season 5 has 22 all-new episodes to keep you up at night. You can ge...

Kristen Cortez is a new teacher in beautiful Los Gatos, California. From her classroom window, she can see rolling, golden hills. Redwood trees. The sun is almost always shining. And yet… something lurks. Snap proudly presents a story crafted in the dark of night by Spooked. Thank you, Kristen, for telling us your terrifying tale! Produced by Zoë Ferrigno, original score by Richard Haig Artwork by Teo Ducot Listen to Spooked on Luminary! Spooked season 5 has 22 all-new episodes to keep you up at night. ...

Lee’s great grandfather, his grandfather, and his father have all seen him: the shapeshifter. They know this man has the power to curse them, to hurt them. Lee wonders: is this man coming for him too? Snap proudly presents a terrifying tale from Spooked. BIG thanks to, Lee, and his entire family for sharing their story with us! Produced by Annie Nguyen, original score by Leon Morimoto Artwork by Teo Ducot Listen to Spooked on Luminary! Spooked season 5 has 22 all-new episodes to keep you up at night. Yo...

Some of the best stories are told when the show’s over… Join us for our first-ever Snap Backstage! We bring together incredible storytellers from all over the country for a roundtable of stories about second-rate first class tickets, a racist dog, and baggy pants. This episode does contain strong language and the mention of drug use, sensitive listeners please be advised. BIG thanks to Dino Archie, Shannon Cason, Dr. Ray Christian, Joyce Lee, and Don Reed for spending some time with us Backstage! Special...

Back in the 1970s, Bob Favor signed up to be a Texas Ranger. He proudly 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, check out his book: My Rangering Days. Produced by Luke Quinton, original score by Leon Morimoto Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Snap Classic - Season 7 - Episode 8...

Just a few weeks ago, writer and performer Jacoby Cochran walked through a Chicago neighborhood and into a time machine. That’s where the story begins… Sensitive listeners, please note this story contains explicit language and references racial violence. Thank you, Jacoby, for sharing your story with us! For more of Jacoby’s work, please head on over to jacobycochran.com. Produced by Regina Bediako & Anna Sussman, original score by Clay Xavier Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Se...

A man walks off the side of a California highway, deep into the patchy grassland, to build a life away from the rest of the world. Sensitive listeners should know that this piece does contain a description of a car accident. Thank you, Gregory, for sharing your story with us! Produced by Tessa Paoli, original score by Derek Barber Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Season 11 - Episode 29...

Four women share their stories of loving incarcerated men, and the challenges they face in maintaining their relationships, staying hopeful about an eventual reunion, and carrying on with their lives on the outside. We also hear from a man sentenced to Life without the possibility of parole. Snap Judgment presents, “Hold That Space,” a special spotlight on the Ear Hustle Podcast, from PRX’s Radiotopia. Content Advisory: This episode discusses sex and contains explicit language. Sensitive listeners, please...

What’s keeping you from feeling proud today? We’re exploring that question with a special Snap two-for-one: SHAMEBOOTH, a traveling art installation, hotline, and podcast featuring the voices of real people sharing their shame, and “Quiet Is Best,” a story from Julie Lindahl about her shocking discovery of a secret -- and shameful -- family legacy. Content advisory: These stories detail substances, violence/graphic images of Nazi Germany, and sexual assault. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. STORIES...

A teenager ends up with more than he bargained for when he hacks his principal’s Twitter account. And a night-shift doctor 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, original score by Renzo Gorrio The Lazarus Effect A night-shift do...

When the man in charge of a small, insular northern Ohio town wreaks havoc on his followers, a young boy with a passion for good hair tries to clean up the mess. Produced by Shaina Shealy, original score by Leon Morimoto Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Snap Classic - Season 9 - Episode 32...

A fisherman down on his luck finds gold at the bottom of the sea. It’s only after his treasure hunt is underway that he discovers what is truly valuable deep down. BIG thanks to Joe Pennisi for sharing your story with Snap. This story would not have been possible if not for the amazing, on the ground reporting work of Tara Duggan, Jason Fagone, and Santiago Mejia who first told this incredible story for the San Francisco Chronicle. Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by ...

A fisherman down on his luck finds gold at the bottom of the sea. It’s only after his treasure hunt is underway that he discovers what is truly valuable deep down. BIG thanks to Joe Pennisi for sharing your story with Snap. This story would not have been possible if not for the amazing, on the ground reporting work of Tara Duggan, Jason Fagone, and Santiago Mejia who first told this incredible story for the San Francisco Chronicle. Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Renzo Gorrio Artwork by Teo D...

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. Produced by April Dembosky, Original Score by Renzo Gorrio Sound Design by Leon Morimoto & April Dembosky Artwork by Mark Fiore Snap Classic - Season 9 Episode 3...

The last embers of the season. The final wander through the woods. The chill not yet hitting the air. That’s when you know it’s time… This week, experience the dark magic of Spooked on Snap. We proudly present, “Campfire Tales VII.” STORIES Kapu If the sign at the mouth of the cave says “kapu,” forbidden, you better take heed. Don’t go searching for trouble. Thank you, Joe, for sharing your story with Spooked! Produced by Greta Weber and Annie Nguyen, original score by Lauryn Newson Route 666 Michael ...

A rowdy radio show. A sick listener. A Radio DJ who gets in way, way too deep. This story is a co-production between Snap Judgment Studios, Hi-Phi Nation with Barry Lamb, and our dear friends over at Love and Radio. Listen & subscribe to Hi-Phi Nation with Barry Lamb, the best story-driven philosophy podcast in the universe! Love and Radio also rules and comes to you from the incredible Luminary family. You can hear the original version of Gotcha from Love and Radio here. Learn more about Radio DJ Amber ...

A musician writes a song so catchy, it takes over the world…then he finds out it’s become a weapon on the streets of Portland. “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 & Deena Prichep. Easy Street (Redux) single by The Occupy ICE PDX Alliance on Apple Music or iTunes. Produced by John Fecile, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot...

A musician writes a song so catchy, it takes over the world…then he finds out it’s become a weapon on the streets of Portland. “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 & Deena Prichep. Easy Street (Redux) single by The Occupy ICE PDX Alliance on Apple Music or iTunes. Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Producer: John Fecile...

Team Snap brings you the story of the devastating COVID-19 outbreak at San Quentin State Prison, as told by people on the inside. STORIES Outbreak at San Quentin As the Coronavirus outbreak overwhelms San Quentin State Prison, one incarcerated person, Chanthon Bun, is awaiting his release on parole. Bun tries to protect himself from the virus, while incarcerated first responders and cleaning crews attempt to treat those who are collapsing and stop the spread of COVID-19. In this episode, we hear first-ha...

Things go horribly wrong for a safari guide on the Zambezi River when he comes face-to-face with a rogue hippo. Thank you, Paul, for sharing your story with Snap! Check out Paul Templer’s memoir, What’s Left of Me. Produced by Erika Lantz, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Snap Classic - Season 9 - Episode 25...

The night of June 11, 2011, will forever be seared in Roger Stringer’s memory. The night started off with a dinner of boiled shrimp with his two sons. The night ended with his family being torn apart. This story contains sensitive content and graphic imagery not suitable for young listeners. Listener discretion advised. A very big BIG thank you to Roger and Zac Stringer for sharing their story with us here at Snap! As of yet, Zac has not been exonerated. A post-conviction relief appeal to clear his name ...

For 110 days Peter Hammarstedt and his group of ocean vigilantes hunted the most notorious poacher on the high seas, known as the Thunder. Their journey turns into an epic chase across 10,000 miles, two seas, and three oceans, through massive ice floors, violent clashes, and storms-tossed seas, where only one ship makes it home. Thank you so much to Peter Hammarstedt for sharing your story with us! Thanks as well to Ian Urbina. We first heard about this story thanks to his reporting. You can find his book...

This weekend we are moving our podcast feed. You will still be able to listen to Snap Judgment on the radio and wherever you get your podcasts, but we want to make sure you don’t miss a beat. Make sure Snap stays in your feed by subscribing. Next week, check to see you have the new epic Snap episode, "Chasing Thunder." If you don't see it in your feed, please refresh or resubscribe!...

A young boy in a migrant worker farm camp in California’s Central valley gets a surprise present from his father. But the gift comes with certain expectations. Thank you, Jaime, for sharing your story with Snap! Jaime Cortez is a writer and visual artist based in Northern California. His upcoming book of humorous semi-autobiographical short stories will be released in 2021 by Grove Atlantic Press. Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Clay Xavier Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo D...

A DJ hosts a radio show from a garden shed in his backyard. For over forty years… he had an audience of one. Season 11 - Episode 20...

Team Snap brings you voices from four amazing people - some looking to the future, some looking at the past, and those who never emerged.  Season 11 - Episode 19...

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

Police shootings, mistaken arrests, and growing up Black / Brown in America. Snap presents amazing stories from people facing our nation’s original sin....

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 really got interesting. Snap Classic - Season 9 Episode 15...

A Muslim doctor moves his family to a small, rural, Midwestern town. To his surprise, they fit right in... and then came the 2016 presidential election. Season 11 - Episode 18...

A son tries to make contact with his dad, who’s deteriorating in the throes of dementia. He makes new connections and discoveries, and as he says goodbye to his father, he is granted a long-awaited wish. Snap Judgment presents, “Lucky Penny,” a special spotlight on The Truth Podcast, from PRX’s Radiotopia....

Some stories that seem the furthest away hit closest to home. Team Snap presents more lockdown advice from around the world, even from the places you least expect. Listen to the fifth installment of "Letters from Lockdown." Season 11 - Episode 16...

When a little girl goes missing in the desert, one woman is driven to find her, no matter what. And a mother makes her own Ebola suit - MacGyver style - to save her son's life. Happy Mother's Day to all you Snap Moms!...

Who better to seek advice from than a mother? This week, Team Snap brings you the fourth installment of, "Letters from Lockdown,” featuring moms around the world. Happy Mother's Day to all the Snap Moms out there! Season 11 - Episode 14...

V grew up hearing about her parent’s love story... but she never knew about the song behind it. Season 11 - Episode 13...

While most of the world continues to shelter-in-place, Team Snap brings you the third installment of, "Letters from Lockdown.”  STORIES Jericho Osama Iliwat spent days in solitary confinement inside an Israeli prison during the First and Second Palestinian Intifadas. Learn how peace reached him in the midst of conflict. Today, Osama runs a cell phone shop in Jericho, is a peace activist, and leads international tours in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. He advocates for dialogue between Israelis a...

Team Snap proudly presents the second installment of, "Letters from Lockdown," featuring stories from people around the world who have experienced lockdown before. Season 11 - Episode 11...

A skeptical journalist fights freezing temperatures alongside a fitness guru to test the limits of his own mortality. Snap Classic: Season 8 - Episode 17...

Weed brownies, firefighting, and friendship. It’s a 4/20 Snap Special! Amazing stories by friends, about the friend you did not expect. Season 11 - Episode 10...

These people from all around the world share a common thread… this isn’t their first lockdown. During quarantine, Team Snap is bringing you pieces of wisdom, hope, and defiance. Season 11 - Episode 9...

A woman visits a faraway island to meet the last generation of Korea's mermaids. She comes away with an unexpected discovery about motherhood and about herself. Season 11 - Episode 8...

Blair can’t see his hands in front of his face. He can’t see the ground beneath his feet. He’s not in the dark: he’s in a thick cloud of fog. And then, a voice emerges from the mist. This story comes to us from Australia, the original Upside Down. Select Spooked episodes will be available across streaming platforms but ALL will be exclusively on Luminary. Download the Luminary mobile app or go to LuminaryPodcasts.com....

When the scariest man in town is arrested for murder, only one lawyer is willing to represent him. Snap Classic: Season 6 - Episode 30...

Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr. had a complicated relationship with his mother. But after she passed, he traveled across the world to try and make things better. This story comes fromTransom.org and was produced by Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr. and Jay Allison Additional production by Pat Mesiti-Miller Special thanks to Kadijatu Suma, Haja Suma, Fatima Rahman, Alimamy Conteh, Sheri Rickson, Lynn Levy and Gimlet Media. Thomas King, Brima Thomas, and Jartu Tejan-Thomas. Thanks also to Milo, Mason and Melissa Allison, Viki...

The story of a chimpanzee and a man whose dream brought disaster to a small American town. This story details violence against animals. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. Season 11 - Episode 6...

Betsy keeps seeing a young girl at night in her room. She stands at the end of Betsy’s bed and stares at her. She comes back, over and over: night after night; year after year. Betsy knows she wants something, but she has to figure out what. Snap Judgment Presents: Spooked. Be afraid. All of the latest episodes are available only on Luminary. Download the Luminary mobile app or go to LuminaryPodcasts.com. Season 4 - Episode 1...

A young teacher's daily struggles provide the backdrop for a poetic re-imagining of a public tragedy in London. Snap spotlights the amazing "Have You Heard George's Podcast?" from BBC Sounds.  Season 11, Episode 5...

A young teacher's daily struggles provide the backdrop for this harrowing reflection on the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Snap spotlights the amazing, "Have You Heard George's Podcast?" from BBC Sounds.  #HYHGP In a move from journalism to drama, George departs with the documentary-style narration of previous episodes to deliver a heart-wrenching story of resilience and neglect in London's inner city. Enlisting the help of rising star Jade Alleyne, poet Sophia Thakur, as well as his own brothers, Freddie, Michae...

A black detective in Colorado Springs infiltrates the KKK and finds himself face-to-face with David Duke, the Grand Wizard. And Daryl Davis is a boogie-woogie pianist who's played with Bill Clinton, Bruce Hornsby and Chuck Berry. But we wanted to talk to him about another group of his friends. Snap Classic - Season 8 Episode 9...

A whole new season of Spooked returns Friday the 13th of March. Expect all sorts of scary. And if you haven't learned by now... please, don't turn out the lights! Season IV's episodes will be available on Luminary. Download the Luminary mobile app or go to LuminaryPodcasts.com Be afraid....

A whole new season of Spooked returns Friday the 13th of March. Expect all sorts of scary. And if you haven't learned by now... please, don't turn out the lights! Season IV's episodes will be available on Luminary. Download the Luminary mobile app or go to LuminaryPodcasts.com Be afraid....

Mountain Village is an Alaska Native town in the middle of nowhere. One woman is the town’s only police officer and she alone is responsible for the safety of everyone there. Her track record is perfect until one day when she responds to a call that changes everything. This story discusses suicide and violence. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. Season 11 - Episode 4...

It’s Senior Year and Alex, Damaris, and Brantin have been waiting for the day they get to leave Mission High and enter adulthood. Snap follows the three students for a whole year as their dreams turn into reality. Snap Classic - Season 9 Episode 4...

It’s Senior Year and Alex, Damaris, and Brantin have been waiting for the day they get to leave Mission High and enter adulthood. Snap follows the three students for a whole year as their dreams turn into reality. 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 Chandra Shivakumar. Produced by: Adizah Eghan, Liz Mak, Eliza Smith, Anna Sussman, and Mark Ristich. Original...

When your plane crashes in the Amazon Jungle on your honeymoon, do you take a raft down a river to continue on… or turn back? This epic romance turns into the ultimate test of survival. Season 11 - Episode 3...

Mary needed to get away from her husband. A handsome stranger offered her a way out. All she had to do was participate in the strangest group experiment of all time. Produced by John Fecile, original score by Leon Morimoto. Season 11 - Episode 2...

A Chicago newspaper establishes an undercover bar to catch officials in the act of corruption. They soon acquire a cast of characters looking for more than just a drink. Snap Classic - Season 9 Episode 21...

One night, an explosion in the night sky of western Colorado draws townspeople out to search for something more. Something bigger. Something… out of this world. Season 11 - Episode 1...

An openly gay luchador full of talent faces an uphill battle to get the crowd and the press on his side. A woman takes on superhero duty, serving as a heroine of the streets. And Chapelle's other half rocks three mics. Snap Judgment presents, “The Performers.” Exploring the magic behind the stagecraft. Snap Classic - Season 7 Episode 10...

Tom was a cop. Jason was a teenager in a gang. The two men tell the story of the one night in 1997 that changed who they both are now. Snap Spotlights Radiotopia's "Ear Hustle."...

A loan shark crusades against the dark side of the payday industry, after running a risky business. A student discovers a kid named Hitler at college orientation, leading to a search for more Hitler’s. And a survivor of criminalization and state violence performs as a means of healing....

A poet delivers a devastating portrait of the relationship that made him who he is today. Two men come face to face one night in the dark canyon-lands of southern Utah. And a dangerous anarchist steals, kills, and escapes, until one day when he can run no further. It’s Snap’s 2019 Look Back Special.. time to look back before we move forward....

After traumatic experiences underwater, a diver falls in love with the ocean again by building a secret kingdom for seahorses. Season 10 Episode 36...

A woman arrives in India only to discover that the baby she’s there to adopt has just been rescued from an orphanage tied to a child trafficking ring. Listen to Part Two of this amazing journey....

When 14-year-old Annaporva finally decides to ask her mother about her biological family a story so unexpected unravels - there’s kingpins, death threats, and Maneka Gandhi.  A HUGE thank you to Danielle and Annaporva Green for sharing your story with Snap. For more stories from Danielle, check out her book, A Magnificent Obsession. Produced by Nancy López, original score by Renzo Gorrio  Be sure to listen to next week's Snap episode to hear Part Two of this story. Season 10 Episode 34...

An aid worker is held hostage in Iraq, a detective’s toughest case turns out to be an investigation into his own past, and a hauntingly beautiful story of a simple piece of fruit. Snap Classic - Season 7 Episode 18...

A headless chicken proves sometimes urban legends are true, playground bullies expose dark secrets during a “pantsing” epidemic, and a young man comes out to his parents. We are grateful to tell stories and we are so so thankful for you Snappas! For all the love and support you have shown this crazy ridiculous enterprise that is Snap Judgment, thank you. Season 10 Episode 33...

A headless chicken proves sometimes urban legends are true, playground bullies expose dark secrets during a “pantsing” epidemic, and a young man comes out to his parents. Snap Judgment presents, “The 2019 Gratitude Special."  We are grateful to tell stories and we are so so thankful for you Snappas! For all the love and support you have shown this crazy ridiculous enterprise that is Snap Judgment, thank you. STORIES Anti-Traditions Glynn has an amazing Thanksgiving tradition... and it happens after Th...

Fans and journalists embark on a seven-show tour with Rihanna... in seven countries, over seven days, on a Boeing 777, to celebrate her seventh album in seven years. Did we mention this is the seventh anniversary of the tour?...

A woman revisits remote Indonesian islands where she and thousands of other Vietnamese refugees were once stranded without food, water, or shelter. She returns to this tiny place on the edge of the world... one last time....

A former journalist turned CIA agent goes undercover to flip an international arms dealer and stop a terrorist bombing....

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....

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....

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....

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....

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 Spooked Season! When supernatural forces come for her kids, Curtis’s mom stands strong. Mrs. Hagstrom may be one of the meanest ghosts yet. Be afraid....

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...

An Israeli Defense solider decides to speak out about his violent actions from the past and they come back to haunt him. Season 10 Episode 26...

A mentor to a disabled little boy loses a piece of himself and discovers what is gained....

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 teen's dad surprises him 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. Season 10 Episode 25...

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 man tries to cheat death with homemade technological body enhancements, but the world isn’t ready for his kind of lifestyle....

The story of a lifetime falls into a reporter’s lap when he receives a tip about father-son co-conspirators who sell national secrets to Russia....

President Lincoln is mortally wounded. The nation is under attack. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton takes control and tries to protect Vice President Andrew Johnson. This story comes to us from 1865....

When a brilliant inventor was robbed of his life’s work, his son did the only reasonable thing: he became a robber. Snap Classic: Season 8 Episode 10...

The human mind 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, advice, and storytelling show about #adulting, that is ...

The human mind 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, advice, and storytelling show about #adulting, that is ...

Martin is a paramedic. He has a gift for saving people’s lives. He also has another, darker, gift--one that he doesn’t want to use. 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 just download the Luminary mobile app or go to LuminaryPodcasts.com Season 10 Episode 22...

For two years, ISIS fought to take over the city of Mosul, killing 40,000 civilians. A mix of missionaries, mercenaries, and misfits from around the world pack their bags, fly to Iraq and voluntarily run into the line of fire to fight back. Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score: Renzo Gorrio...

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. A big thanks to Joe Sivick & Producer Deena Prichep Producer: John Fecile Original Score: Renzo Gorrio  The Little Boxer After getting be...

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 inside 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.  Excuse Me On The Tier Snap goes under lock and key with Ear Hustle. Everyone entering th...

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. S...

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.  The Lazarus Effect  A night-shift doctor, Joe Sills, shares a story of life after death.  This story comes to us from the podca...

A one-legged high schooler wrestles with his identity and his weight class. A story featuring 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 Seaso...

In a 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. Season 10 Episode 18...

Mouth Of The Dragon When a small child is lost, it's up to Glynn to face the dragon. As The World Burns What happens when the world around you starts to burn? A Little White Lie Think your dating life is tough? Try being an Arab, Muslim man after 9/11 in New York City. Mortuary Assistant Required The wanted ad said “Mortuary Assistant Required. Prior Experience An Advantage, But Not Essential.” No one bothered to apply, except for Simon... Season 6 Episode 16...

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 dreams of being kidnapped, 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  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  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 Season 10 - Episode 15...

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. Producer: Erika Lantz Like A House On Fire Young Glynn is trying to keep up appearances at school, despite his family’s hardships. Then his house goes up in flames. Performed live in Portland at Revolution Hall. Music composed and performed: BELL'S ATLAS Season 10 Episode 15...

When Josh Healey learns some unexpected news from his girlfriend, his first thought...is of Grandma Barbara and Grandma Henrietta. Season 7 Episode 3...

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...

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...

When one couple learns that their teenage son has been identified as a potential school shooter, they do everything they can to prove that he’s not. Bethany Barnes originally reported this story for The Oregonian - Targeted: A Family and the Quest to Stop the Next School Shooter.  Producer: Nancy López Season 10 Episode 12...

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...

Snap LIVE! At The Paramount featuring Glynn Washington, Don Reed and Joyce Lee telling stories about subjects that are taboo, bizarre and humorous. Live Music by Bell's Atlas Season 10 Episode 11...

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 Get the video at snapjudgment.org Season 10 Epsiode 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....

John Cotrocois is obsessed with meet-cutes, but he always falls for the wrong men. Will his dream of a fairy-tale romance come true? Season 10 Episode 7...

Snap spotlights "Peace of Mind" with Bhi Bhiman. In the inaugural episode, Bhi interviews Glynn Washington, bestselling author Dave Eggers, and renowned psychologist Lee Ross....

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. Season 10 Episode 6...

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...

Two women, a tiny boat, the wide open ocean...and kismet.   Season 8 Episode 28...

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...

It was both a tragedy and a punchline. The story behind a cult that changed the world.  Season 10 Episode 3...

When a man is falsely accused of kidnapping a police officer, he tells a lie to set himself free. But that lie comes at an enormous cost. Season 10 Episode 2...

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....

Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter.  A very special presentation of the day the world almost ended. Season 10 Episode 1...

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?...

A special presentation just for you... "Look Back 2018." Coming to terms with events that have happened, but that you don’t want to believe. Featuring some favorite Snap stories from the vault. Season 9 Episode 37...

Snap Judgment spotlights the amazing podcast Ear Hustle: The Big No No, stories from 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. Season 9 Episode 35...

The story of a young man sent out alone on a dark and deadly mission to save the world. Season 9 Episode 34...

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes: little girls, traveling dogs and men who save strangers from disaster... on the Snap Judgment 2018 Gratitude Special. Season 9 Episode 33...

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. 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. 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. Season 9 Episode 9...

Legendary "Snap LIVE! in NYC" at RadioLoveFest featuring Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter from The Roots and The Tonight Show, comedian Jen Kober, and Snap favorite Josh Healey.  Season 7 Episode 3...

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. 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. The Visage: A man is hired to do remodel work on a house with a haunted history.  But something inside the house doesn’t want anything to change. Season 9 Episode 31...

Get 13 all-new episodes of Spooked Season 2 at Spookedpodcast.org. THE IRON GATE 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. Season 9 Episode 30...

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...

How do you imagine falling in love when you know you might never get the chance to? A story from inside the walls of Guantanamo Bay Prison. Season 9 Episode 27...

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 "Faces of Death" became one of the most infamous movies ever, but his success came with deadly consequences. 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. Season 9 Episode 25...

Featuring a new story from the "Real Black Klansman" Detective Ron Stallworth...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.”...

"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. 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. This story would not have been possible without their generous support of the International Women’s Media Foundation. Season 9 Episode 22...

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.”...

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. Season 9 Episode 21...

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. Season 9 Episode 19...

Snap Judgment joins the podcast Ear Hustle 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....

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'sspecial 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? If I Only Had A Heart The sum of the parts cannot equal the hole in your heart. The Scientist And The Psychopath Neuroanatomist Dr. James Fallon studies the most dangerous kind of person: the psychopath. His job is to get up close and personal with the mind of the psychopath so that we can better understand what makes them tick. He treats their brains with the cold calculation of a scientist at work. But in the process things get mighty personal. About Face You’ve heard...

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. 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. "Live At The Morgue" from The Nocturnists Podcast What do you do when the morgue has a total meltdown....

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. Producer: Luisa Beck with Production Assistance By Joe Rosenberg Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Season 9 Episode 15...

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. Season 9 Episode 14...

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. Season 9 Episode 13...

On Atlas Peak there is one way in and one way out.  When wildfire threatened their homes, the only escape route...was up. Check out KQED's fire investigation. 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. Season 6 Episode 12...

Stories of young people using every trick in their little arsenal to win praise and love, only to find themselves alone in the end. Season 9 Episode 11...

Paul Berczeller examines the case of Takako Konishi, who died in a frozen forest on the North Dakota/Minnesota border looking for the treasure from the Coen Brother’s film Fargo.   Producer: Joe Rosenberg...

KC was a rising star, improving Detroit’s most troubled public schools. But to do that, she cut some legal corners that put her in prison. 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. Season 9 Episode 9...

When the going gets tough, the tough make stuff happen. Featuring stories about rattlesnakes pageant queens, Apache orphans, and the legendary Xiao Xiao....

Avraham’s story was included in a 12-part Hebrew webseries called Neviim: Operation Amramby 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. Producer: Shaina Shealy Season 9 Episode 8...

In 1989, an enormous earthquake struck the Bay Area. One of Oakland’s major arteries, the Cypress Freeway, collapsed. And one man named Raven left his home and dove into the wreckage to save lives. This story comes from Liam O'Donoghue, host and producer of the podcast East Bay Yesterday. Producers: Liam O'Donoghue and Eliza Smith Original Score: Davey Kim Season 9 Episode 7...

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....

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. Producers: Adizah Eghan, Liz Mak, Eliza Smith, Anna Sussman and Mark Ristich. Original Score: Pat Mesiti-Miller and Renzo Gorrio Special Thanks: Chandra Shivakumar from Mission High Season 9 Episode 4...

What sounds would you want memorize if you were told you were going to be completely deaf before you turned 28? Producer: April Dembosky Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Sound Design: Leon Morimoto and April Dembosky Season 9 Episode 3...

What happens when boy meets girl and… fungus? 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”.  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. Season 8 Episode 33...

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… 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. Producers: Amy Roost and Anna Sussman 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. 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. Season 5 Episode 21...

"The Outbreak" - What do you do when a life-threatening disease makes it too dangerous to save the person closest to you. "Grits and Sausages" - When Ray Christian was a young boy, he longed to hear the voice of God. "The Blue Bear" - For Lynn Schooler grew up in Alaska hearing rumor after rumor about the elusive blue bear.  Season 8 Episode 29...

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. 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 Gorrio Producer: 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  Season 8 Episode 26...

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. 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. Season 8 Episode 25...

Confessions of a Baby Snatcher The ‘work’ of social work is a lot more complicated than Katie Leavitt first thought. Luckily, a little voice helps to guide her. Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto Get The Hook Up! Sometimes, you know your big shot when you see it. Ayanna Dookie and Seaton Smith are both comedians living in New York. Producer: Liz Mak Original Score and Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio...

The story of two men who come face to face one night in the canyon lands of southern Utah. 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? Season 7 Episode 14...

Goose Justice Snap storyteller Abdul Kenyatta was taught to be wary of the police. Then one day he found a way to turn the tables. 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. Season 8 Episode 21...

Luna The Whale In 2004, a lost baby orca named Luna swam towards Vancouver Island and tried to befriend humans. Then the First Nations and the Department of Oceans and Fisheries got involved. To learn more about Luna's story, check out Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm's documentary. Producer: 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!...

BOO! Get the NEW Spooked Podcast now at SpookedPodcast.org.  Border Bogeyman Rocky 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. Rocky’s previous story with Snap Judgment was The Phantom Border Patrol Agent. For more stories of natural and supernatural happenings on the border, be sure to check out Rocky’s book, Out On Foot: Nightly Patrols and Ghostly Tales of A U.S. Border Patrol Agent and his website, Rock...

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...