Snap Judgment

Latest Episodes:

The Hitchhiker's Guide To America - Snap Classic Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

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. And a storyteller travels through a Chicago neighborhood with his grandmother… into a time machine.

STORIES

The Hitchhiker's Guide To America

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 story contains a description of a car accident.

Thank you, Gregory, for sharing your story with us!

Produced by Tessa Paoli, original score by Derek Barber

Time Traveler

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…

This story contains explicit language and references racial violence. Please take care while listening.

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

Artwork by Teo Ducot

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Smoke and Water Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

A man sages houses in his Southern Cheyenne community to rid them of unwanted powers and spirts. But when he encounters a stubborn entity he must step into his own power. And a work retreat in the jungle brings a doctor face-to-face with its protector.

This week on Snap, we’re bringing you supernatural stories from our evil twin podcast, Spooked. For more stories from the other side of the veil — listen to Spooked for free on any podcast platform!

STORIES

Always Be Polite

John Henson regularly smokes off houses for his friends and family. He’s learned to do it through years of observing family members. Now he is trusted by his Native Southern Cheyenne community to do it for others.He comes in, prays for the home, and goes on his way. But when he encounters a very stubborn entity outside his friend’s home, he has to step into his own power and get it to go, all while being polite.

BIG thanks to, John Henson, for sharing your story with us!

Original score by Leon Morimoto, produced by Chris Hambrick & Anne Ford

Pee Afraid

Dr. Aammton Alias has a work retreat in the jungle. And when he gets there … he’s gotta go.

Thank you, Dr. Aammton, for sharing your story!

Original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff, produced by Anne Ford

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 27

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Backstage III Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Some of the best storytellers around have gathered to tell stories. Not for a huge audience -- but for each other. Snap presents, “Backstage III.” An episode made of love and laughter featuring Glynn Washington, Shannon Cason, Dino Archie, Joyce Lee, Don Reed, and Dr. Ray Christian!

This episode contains explicit language and discusses firearms. Sensitive listeners please be advised.

Thank you to all the amazing storytellers! Dino Archie is tearing up the comedy world with a brand new special on YouTube, Toxic But Safe. Joyce Lee's got a book coming out. Don Reed is touring his one man performance, The Never Too Late Show. Dr. Ray Christian is combining forces with The Moth for the return his podcast, What's Ray Saying. You can hear more of Shannon Cason’s brutally honest storytelling on his podcast, Homemade Stories.

Produced by Mark Ristich. The original Backstage episodes were produced by Nikka Singh.

Season 14 - Episode 26

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The Kid Who Built An Urban Tree House To Survive from Uncuffed Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

As kids many of us dreamt of building and playing in a tree house. For Donald Vaughn, also known as “fish”, that became his everyday reality… but it was far from a dream. Cold, hungry and all alone, Vaughn was kicked out of his house at 11 years old, and built a makeshift treehouse in order to survive. Anthony Ivy, an Uncuffed producer at Solano State prison, asked Vaughn to share his nightmare of being unloved, unkept and isolated.

Thank you, Donald Vaughn, for sharing your story! This piece comes from our friends at Uncuffed.

You can listen to KALW’s Uncuffed, for more stories produced inside California state prisons, wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. To learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.weareuncuffed.org

Produced by Anthony Ivy

Sound design by Eric "Maserati-E" Abercrombie

Edited by Andrew Stelzer and Sonia Paul

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Uncuffed’s work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and donations from listeners. The producers fact-check content to the best of their ability. Content is approved by an information officer.

Season 14 - Episode 25

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Bodies in Motion Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

When the music is within you, how far would you go to dance again? A young ballerina is diagnosed with scoliosis just as her passion for ballet begins. And Glynn's summer love turns serious when his church elders have a word with his father about the separation of the races.

Bodies in Motion

When the music is within you, how far would you go to dance again? A young ballerina is diagnosed with scoliosis just as her passion for ballet begins.

A huge thank you to, Sophie Kohn, for sharing her story with Snap!

Sophie is a writer and producer with CBC comedy. Follow her on Twitter. This piece was based on her essay “Body in Motion” which was originally published at Hazlitt.net

Special thanks to David Exumé for his help with this story.

Produced by Bo Walsh, original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff, artwork by Teo Ducot

Niagara Falls

At sixteen, Glynn's summer love turns serious when his church elders come to have a word with his father about the separation of the races.

Produced by Stephanie Foo, told by Glynn Washington at Snap LIVE

Season 14 - Episode 24

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 Chaotic Good - Snap Classic Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Today on Snap, we join a notorious anarchist organization in the midst of chaos and travel to the Syrian desert to meet a monk.

STORIES

Chaotic Good
Malaclypse was part of a dangerous anarchist group. They stole, they killed, they escaped, until one day when Malaclypse could run no further...
Original score by Renzo Gorrio, produced by Jazmin Aguilera

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 rethink everything.
This story comes to us from Modern Love: The Podcast. It’s a collaboration between The New York Times and WBUR in Boston, where they take pieces from the Modern Love column, and ask actors to perform them. This story is read by Linda Cardellini.
Sound design by John Perotti, produced by Caitlin O’Keefe

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 23 - Snap Classic

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Duality - Snap Classic May 30, 2023

Show notes

When Tameer gets hit in the head as a kid, he inherits an entire new lifetime of memories.
Original score by Renzo Gorrio, producer by Shaina Shealy, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 22

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The Lion, The Lamb, And The Fox - Snap Classic May 25, 2023

Show notes

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, artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic – Season 10, Episode 31

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Dirty Work - Snap Classic May 18, 2023

Show notes

This week on Snap Judgment… it's the tough jobs, the rough jobs, the roll up your sleeves and get it done jobs. When the oddest man in town is arrested for murder, only one lawyer steps up to represent him. Plus misadventures under the Not-So-Big Top.

STORIES

The Writing Is On The Wall

When the scariest man in town is arrested for murder, only one lawyer volunteers to represent him...

Produced by Joe Rosenberg, sound design by Renzo Gorrio

Corrections: In a previous version, McCracken Poston is referred to as both a state senator and state representative. He was a state representative, not a state senator. Also, Virginia Ridley is described as having last been seen in public in 1980, 17 years before the events described in this story. In fact it was in 1970, 27 years before.

The Indiana Bust-Out

How does a well-mannered math kid become a first-class hustler? Through the ancient carnie tradition of "The Indiana Bust-Out."

Check out Pete’s book -- Eyeing the Flash: The Making of a Carnival Con Artist

Produced by Davey Kim, sound design by Leon Morimoto and Davey Kim

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 20

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The Road to Boito May 11, 2023

Show notes

Two sisters, Magi and Memo, track down an American man accused of sexual abuse at a children's home in Kenya. It’s a story spanning two continents… following those who give everything to make things right.

This story, while not graphic, does involve child abuse, including sexual abuse, and the death of a child. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

Thank you so much to everyone in this story. To Magi and Memo, for sharing your lives with us over the past two years. Magi has started a GoFundMe to raise money for the survivors of the Dow Children's Home.

To Janice and especially to Joy — Kongoi for your courage and your strength. Kongoi as well to Geoffrey Ng’tich, Beatrice Korir, and Joshua Abudoh.

Translation by Caroline Chebet

Recording engineers: Josh Wilcox, Ryan Geesaman, and Coconut

Original score by Renzo Gorrio

Produced and reported by Halima Gikandi and John Fecile

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 19

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