Snap Judgment

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 Ducot Season 12 - Episode 11

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. This story briefly mentions sex, sensitive listeners please be advised. Thank you, Katie, for sharing this story with Snap! Keep up with her latest work, including an upcoming book about falling in love and generational storytelling here. Learn more about Katie on her Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Produced by Regina Bediako, original score by Renzo Gorrio Ovrkast “Love Somebody” - Music Spotlight This week’s Snap Music Spotlight features Oakland artist Ovrkast with the song, "Love Somebody" watch

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 about Jacelyn’s story from the film, Keepers of the Game, which follows the Salmon River Girls lacrosse team during the 2015 season. Big thanks and love to “The Halluci Nation” formerly known as “A Tribe Called Red” for letting us use their song “Stadium Pow Wow” in this story. Also special thanks to the film’s director Judd Ehrlich. Some of the audio in this story comes from the Keepers of the Game documentary and was aired courtesy of the Dicks Sporting Goods Foundation. Produced by Shaina Shealy, speci

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, listener discretion is advised. Suave is an amazing podcast from Futuro Studios and PRX. Suave is available wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.suavepodcast.org. New episodes drop every Tuesday... listen and subscribe! Artwork by Virgilio Tzaj #Suavepodcast Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Snap Spotlight - Season 12 - Episode 7

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 Wieneke. Produced by John Fecile, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Snap Classic

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 Instagram. Produced by Shaina Shealy, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Season 12 - Episode 5

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 Teo Ducot #rihannaplane Snap Classic - Season 10 - Episode 32

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 Centre! Check out photos and videos of animals on their Facebook and Twitter. Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Season 12 - Episode 4

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 Elgart Jennings, who originally edited and co-produced this story. If you liked Jinho’s story, check out the WorldAffairs podcast. The world is shifting beneath our feet and if you want help making sense of it, WorldAffairs will break it down! Listen and subscribe to WorldAffiars wherever you get your podcasts. Reported & produced by Teresa Cotsirilos, edited by Nikka Singh Original Score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Season 12 - Episode 3

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 the show's host Nichole - find her happily ever after. This story comes to us from The Secret Adventures of Black People, hosted by Nichole Hill. This incredible podcast tells the stories of Black people holding it down across space and time. Be sure to check out the show and subscribe to the podcast at TheSecretAdventuresOfBlackPeople.com Stay in touch by joining the newsletter, following their Instagram, or by sending an email to secretadventuresofblackpeople@gmail.com Modern Romance was written and prod

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 Washington. You can listen to Heaven’s Gate wherever you get your pods. Go on… subscribe right now and listen to all the episodes! Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Snap Spotlight

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 Shannon Cason, who narrated this piece. Check out Shannon's podcast 'Homemade Stories' to hear more from him. Produced by Anna Sussman, John Fecile & Nancy López Original score by Renzo Gorrio, sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Season 12 - Episode 1

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 community through the real and fantastical mental machinations of Melanie Barzadeh. Melanie is in her mid 30’s and desires nothing more than to become a mother. The difficulty of finding the right partner seems to be directly connected to the struggles witnessed in her home throughout her entire childhood. As Sharon Mashihi voice-acts all the characters in one family, the depth of the love, pain, and struggle is felt with visceral, profound compassion at every turn. This is episode 2 of a 9 episode audio mind tr

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 and special thanks to Monaea Upton, for letting us into her world! Thanks to her Mother, Rochelle Upton, as well. This episode was produced by Vice News Reports, a new weekly podcast hosted by Arielle Duhaime Ross. Go on… check it out! This incredible podcast brings you to the news so you can hear it for yourself. VICE News reporters and producers take you along as they travel across the globe to where life is happening, right up to the frontline as a story is unfolding. Listen and subscribe wherever you get

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 & Doug Peterson from “The Country Doctor” Chanthon Bun from “Outbreak at San Quentin” Mary Gidley from “Raft of Passion” After an insane year, there is still so much to be thankful for. We are exceptionally grateful for you Snap Nation! The best people in all the world listen to this show. Happy Holidays from our family to yours… and cheers to the new year ahead. Produced by Anna Sussman, Nancy Lopez, John Fecile, Shaina Shealy, Regina Bediako, & Pat Mesiti-Miller Original score & sound desi

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 Season 11 - Episode 39

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 design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Snap Classic - Season 10, Episode 31

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 investigative reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. Produced by Nancy López, original score by Renzo Gorrio Sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller Artwork by Teo Ducot Snap Classic - Season 10 Episode 12