Snap Judgment

Latest Episodes:

Thin Ice - Snap Classic Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

An underwater photographer sets out on a quest to document harp seals and experiences a moment that becomes a part of her forever. And everyone in the city of Pumpkintown is hunting for Sasquatch, including the only man who knows exactly where Bigfoot lives.

STORIES

Thin Ice

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, artwork by Teo Ducot

The Sasquatch of Pumpkintown

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. Listen and subscribe for more awesome stories!

Produced by Jeff Emtman

Snap Classic - Season 13 - Episode 44

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Birdzilla - Snap Classic Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

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 animal photos and videos on their Facebook and Twitter.

Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 43

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How I Made a Snap Story from Sound School Podcast Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

Producer, Ruby Schwartz, pitched us a story. We said yes. But then Ruby had a new problem: how do you turn a 320-page memoir into a radio story?

This feature pulls back the curtain on how this week’s Snap episode, “The Wedding Guest” was made.

Thank you, Rob Rosenthal and Ruby Schwartz, for sharing this process! This piece came to us from our friends at the Sound School Podcast. Listen to the original version here.

Looking for ways to learn about storytelling and how to podcast? Subscribe to the Sound School Podcast (formerly known as HowSound). It’s still from PRX. It’s still from Transom. Just a new name. Find it all places you subscribe to podcasts!

Interested in reading the memoir featured in this episode? Check out The Lost Boy: Tales of a Child Soldier by Ayik Chut Deng.

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 42

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The Wedding Guest - Snap Classic Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

After years of fighting battles as a child soldier, a Sudanese man finds himself a refugee in Australia. As he struggles to overcome his past, he comes face-to-face with his childhood tormentor on a TV show.

This episode recounts real events that happened to a child soldier, including graphic scenes inside a prison camp, listener discretion is advised.

Thank you, Ayik, for sharing your incredible story with us! To learn more about Ayik’s life, check out his memoir, The Lost Boy. You can also catch Ayik on Harrow, a crime drama now airing on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Produced by Ruby Schwartz, edited by Nancy López. Special thanks to Wendy Love

Original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

This week’s music spotlight features the song “Rocketeer” from our very own Renzo Gorrio! Renzo scores so many stories on Snap (like this one!) and he produces under the name Hydroplane. Listen to “Rocketeer” from his album “Rockets” available on cassette, vinyl, and digitally on Bandcamp.

Snap Classic - Season 13 - Episode 41

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Campfire Tales IX: Dad and the Three Caskets from Spooked Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Spooked’s own Annie Nguyen shares her family’s ghost story. When her father got the call from his siblings and cousins back in Vietnam, asking him to help them find their ancestors’ missing caskets, he got on the first plane out of California. But when he got there, he realized they needed to call on higher powers to help them locate the long-lost grave sites.

Oh yes… it’s Part Two of “Campfire Tales.” Featuring supernatural stories from our sister podcast, Spooked, a Luminary Original.

BIG love and thanks to Poppa Nguyen, for sharing your story with us!

Produced by Annie Nguyen, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Translation by George Q. Nguyen - please note the translation was condensed for clarity.

All-new episodes of Spooked return to Luminary September 9th! To listen to all episodes of Spooked as they’re released regularly through next Spring, subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on Luminary: https://luminary.link/spooked

Season 13 - Episode 40

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Campfire Tales IX: Dismal Falls from Spooked Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

There are some places, deep in the woods, far away from civilization, that are magical. Chuck is hiking deep in the Appalachian woods when he stumbles upon one of these places: Dismal Falls. But Dismal Falls isn’t all fairies and rainbows. It’s a place of dark magic.

At last… it’s that time of year where we bring you our traditional, “Campfire Tales.” Stories crafted in the dark of night from our sister podcast, Spooked, a Luminary Original. Be afraid.

Thanks, Chuck, for sharing your story!

Produced by Greta Weber, original score by Clay Xavier, artwork by Teo Ducot

All-new episodes of Spooked return to Luminary in early September. To listen to all episodes of Spooked as they’re released regularly through next Spring, subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on Luminary: https://luminary.link/spooked

Season 13 - Episode 39

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The Handoff Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Mirza is a young Afghan military commander and Deven is his counterpart in the U.S. Marines. Their troops work together "shona b'shona" side-by-side in Taliban territory in a tenuous trust. When the US pulls out of Afghanistan the depth of their friendship is put to the test.

This story contains graphic imagery, sensitive listeners please be advised.

Many thanks to Deven Ravel, and Mirza for sharing their stories!

Special thanks to Mary Mathis, Sarah Delia, and Nikka Singh.

Produced by Shaina Shealy, original score by Renzo Gorrio

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 38

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Power Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

Starting on live TV at a beauty pageant, we follow four women across two referendums to explore the consequences of talking about abortion and discover the quiet power and hidden dangers of speech itself. And when a young Josh Healy learns some unexpected news from his girlfriend, his first thought is of his grandmothers.

STORIES

Lights Out: A Sense of Quietness

This story follows a line of connection through four women across two referendums to explore the unexpected consequences of talking about abortion. Starting on live television at a beauty pageant, we hear from a journalist, a radio producer, the founder of a woman's clinic and a woman traveling from Ireland to the UK - and discover the quiet power and hidden dangers of speech itself.

This story contains threats of sexual assault and discusses abortion. Please take care while listening.

A Sense of Quietness’ was originally produced for Lights Out, a Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

It was produced by Eleanor McDowall and features Brianna Parkins, Siobhan McHugh and Anne Connolly, as well as the anonymous woman who traveled. With additional recordings courtesy of Zoë Comyns and Regan Hutchins.

To hear more documentaries from the Lights Out series, everything is freely available on the Falling Tree website.

Barbara & Esther

When Josh Healey learns some unexpected news from his girlfriend, his first thought… is of Grandma Barbara and Grandma Henrietta

This story was told at SNAP LIVE in New York. Watch Josh’s live performance!

The original music was composed by Alex Mandel, and performed by Alex and the Snap Judgment Playaz — Tim Frick and David Brandt. It was recorded and mixed by Pat Mesiti-Miller.

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Special thanks to Yera, Annie Ngyuen, and Richard Bowie for collecting tape out on the streets for this episode.

Season 13 - Episode 37

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Money Truck - Snap Classic Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

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?

This episode contains strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised.

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

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic - Season 13 - Episode 36

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My Mother Made Me from Radiotopia Presents Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Isabell is Jason’s mother. She raised him to be ambitious and selfless, which means she’s also raised him to be… overwhelmed. With life. But not to worry, Jason’s mom also knows exactly what to say to pull him out of a rut, which she does every Sunday, when Jason rolls up to her house for their weekly visit.

Thank you Jason, Isabell, and our Radiotopia Presents fam for sharing this story with the Snap!

This is Episode 1, “I Can Do Anything,” from, My Mother Made Me, a four-part series from Radiotopia Presents where writer Jason Reynolds and his mother, Isabell, explore their shared history, how she raised him, and what they’re teaching each other. It’s a love letter to their connection, an homage to parent-child friendship, and a testament to how growth can be perpetual, despite age or circumstance. Across four episodes, Jason and Isabell go deep – into birth, death and spirituality… but they also keep it light: pushing a cart through Costco, birthday lunches, and hitting the casino together. That’s just how they do.

My Mother Made Me is written and narrated by Jason Reynolds with his mother, Isabell Reynolds. The series is produced by Mark Pagán and edited by Julie Shapiro, with production support from Yooree Losordo. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are Executive Producers for Radiotopia Presents. Special thanks to Levar Burton. Cover art by Jason Griffin. Theme song by Christian Reynolds. Mixing, sound design and additional original music is by Ian Coss. This episode was recorded at Snap Power Station, WAMU.

Radiotopia Presents debuts limited-run, artist-owned series, from new and original voices. Learn more and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.

Snap Spotlight - Season 13 - Episode 35

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