Maybe you’ve laid awake and imagined how it could have been, how it might yet be, but the moment to act was never right. Well, the moment is here and the podcast making it happen is Heavyweight. Join Jonathan Goldstein for road trips, thorny reunions, and difficult conversations as he backpedals his way into the past like a therapist with a time machine.
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This episode revisits Julia's traumatic eighth-grade bullying experience, where she discovered a "100 Reasons Why We Hate You" document and later hid when her tormentors appeared at her door. Twenty years later, she investigates the unanswered question of their visit, uncovering classmates' shared trauma and the tragic story of a beloved teacher's suicide possibly linked to the toxic school environment. Ultimately, the journey leads Julia to self-forgiveness and a profound transformation, culminating in her decision to return to her hometown.
Throughout high school, Brandon was a misfit. Then one day, out of the blue, one of the school’s prettiest, most popular girls asked him to prom. Fifteen years later, Brandon wants to know: why him? Four years after the release of his episode, we check back in with Brandon to learn what's changed and get an update on his underwear situation. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was produced by Stevie Lane and Mohini Madgavkar. The senior producer is Kal...
Maia found a painting in the garbage and took it home. But as it turned out, it wasn’t just any painting. In this update, Kalila learns that she might have been looking at the painting all wrong. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was hosted and produced by Kalila Holt, along with Jonathan Goldstein. Our supervising producer is Stevie Lane. Production help from Damiano Marchetti. Special thanks to Sam Reisman, Emily Condon, Alex Blumberg, Lydia Polgre...
When Christina was in 11th grade, her foster mother made her quit playing basketball. After that, she felt like her life never got back on course. And so, she’s always wanted to ask her foster mother: why’d you make me quit? Now, 9 years after the episode originally aired, we check back in with Christina, and she tells us about seeing her foster mother one last time. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein and Kalila Holt...
When Skye was in middle school, her best friends showed up at her home one night and wrote “f*ck you” on her garage door. After that, they never spoke again. Decades later, at the urging of her eleven-year-old son, Clark, Skye sets off to finally ask them why. In this update, Skye tells us how that confrontation has shaped her and Clark in the years since. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Kalila Holt, Peter Bresna...
This week, Jonathan joins the ranks of A-list celebrities as a guest on NPR's Wild Card with Rachel Martin . Death, ghosts, the pleasures and perils of talking to strangers... Rachel and Jonathan talk about it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Elyse was 21, her father, Billy, disappeared without explanation. When Elyse finally learned of his whereabouts, she was shocked by the new life he was living. Seven years after the release of this episode, we check back in with Elyse, and she tells us all about what's happened with her dad in the time since. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, B.A. Parker, Kalila Holt, and Stevie Lane, with editing by Jorge Jus...
Today, we speak with Jonathan's longtime friend Tony. A lot's changed in his life since the episode came out ten years ago. Tony messed up his relationship with each of his three godchildren owing to three difficult chapters in his life. Now, childless and single in his late 40’s, and fearing he may never have kids of his own, Tony wants to win them back. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Wendy Dorr, Chris Neary, a...
In part one, Jonathan and his wife, Emily, check in. In part two, the story of a family forced into hiding after an ICE shooting. Places to donate: Yamelis's GoFundMe Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota Immigrant Defense Network MN50501 Mutual Aid Additional thanks to Joe Midthun. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
The Heavyweight team is hard at work on some episode updates for later this spring, as well as a brand new season, which will be coming this fall. But in the meantime, we wanted to “wet your whistles,” so to speak, with another show that we respect and enjoy. It’s called (00:04:30) Death, Sex & Money . In this episode, host Anna Sale talks to listeners about their appearance choices: Asher, who spent $43,000 on plastic surgery and openly celebrates his investments; Caroline, who used fillers...
At 102, Deborah unearths a box of 256 letters from Jerry, her fiancé killed in WWII, reawakening a passionate love she'd suppressed for nearly 80 years. Her immersion in "Jerry Land" concerns her daughters, but Deborah is determined to honor his aspiring writing talent. This leads her on an emotional journey to confront the hidden grief of his tragic death, culminating in a poignant visit to his long-unknown grave. Through this process, Deborah finds unexpected renewal and closure.
This episode explores a long-standing family conflict ignited when Meredith accidentally ate her son Aiden's weed gummies, resulting in a severe drug trip. Aiden refuses to apologize, blaming his mother's carelessness. The conflict deepens with the revelation of a previous incident where Meredith inadvertently overdosed Aiden on sleeping pills, prompting a complex discussion about accountability, parental responsibility, and the difficulty of apologizing. Jonathan Goldstein mediates to help them navigate their blame game and find common ground.
Kevin recounts his traumatic childhood living with an abusive father and his deep friendship with neighbors Jason and Gerald, who mysteriously vanished. Decades later, he embarks on a journey to find them. The episode culminates in an emotional reunion with Gerald, revealing his struggles with homelessness and the truth about his past, while also exploring Kevin's own lingering trauma and reflections on fatherhood.
In October, the Heavyweight team gathered in New York City for a live event at Caveat on the Lower East Side. There was a reading, a Q&A, and a Meet & Greet. And because we are a podcast, we recorded it all. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm . You'll also get an exclusive bonus episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls came to be and share a never-before-aired opening that could have start...
Jasmin, a Black girl in a predominantly white town, was voted Homecoming Queen, only to have another girl's name announced at the dance. This episode follows her 14-year journey to understand what happened, exploring theories of racial bias versus an innocent mistake. It culminates in a poignant meeting with the other girl and a reflection on how differing life experiences shape perceptions of injustice and belonging.
Today, Jonathan joins his fellow Pushkin hosts for a special episode all about mistakes. Jonathan speaks with his friend, the writer Sheila Heti. Together, they muse on the cost of mistakes and whether we're really in control of how many we make. Plus, Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova from the podcast Risky Business give a gambler's take on the strange science of regret. And Tim Harford of Cautionary Tales tells the gripping story of a plane that ran out of fuel mid-flight. Cautionary Tales and R...
This episode delves into the profound connection between Anita, a fiercely optimistic Italian immigrant, and Stefano, a two-year-old she babysat on a 1959 flight to America. After a heartbreaking separation, Anita spent her life wondering about Stefano, a wish her daughter Debbie takes on after Anita's death. The journey to find Stephen, facing initial obstacles and a long silence, culminates in a bittersweet conversation that explores his life and the complexities of human connection.
This episode follows the story of X, who, at just 14 years old, robbed a bank. Thirty-three years later, he grapples with deep shame and a desire to apologize to the people he traumatized that day. The episode chronicles his difficult upbringing, the motivations behind the crime, and his journey to find the victims, including the arresting officer's son and the bank tellers. Ultimately, X confronts his past, not just for external forgiveness, but to achieve self-acceptance and embrace his true identity.
As a high school senior, Michael landed the lead in a movie, "The Messenger," only for it to be canceled due to director Quincy's elaborate lie about a fake deathbed interview. Decades later, Michael, now in a successful TV career, seeks answers from Quincy. Through the podcast's investigation, including interviews with the real historical figure's family and the film's producer, Pat Crochey, the truth about Quincy's deception and its roots in his personal insecurities comes to light, leading to a profound reunion and unexpected healing for all involved.
Gregor's parents are pushing 90. Gregor wants to move them out of their big Victorian home. But they refuse. So, he's come up with a bold plan. You can find Etta’s work on Instagram @ettabehrlich Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm . You'll also get an exclusive bonus episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls came to be and share a never-before-aired opening that could have started the show in an al...
A look at what’s to come this season. Heavyweight returns on September 18. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Pushkin+ subscribers can get all episodes ad-free! Sign up on the Heavyweight Apple show page or at pushkin.fm/plus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the last Heavyweight encore before our new season begins on September 18th! This week, we talk to Jonathan's mom about life in the years since her appearance in #15: Dina. During a visit back home, Jonathan’s mother Dina inadvertently admits something that forces him to question his past — and turn the mic on himself. Credits This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Kalila Holt, and Kaitlin Roberts. Editing by Jorge Just, Alex Blumberg, and Wendy Dorr. Special thanks to Emily Condon...
For our penultimate Heavyweight encore, we’re joined by Pen15 co-creator Anna Konkle to revisit last season’s junior high drama — #53: Leif. On Valentine’s Day in junior high, Leif was supposed to ask Kalila out. But he never did. Leif’s lack of action that day impacted Kalila’s life to come. And so seventeen years later, she wants to know: what happened. For more, head over to Pushkin+ , where you can subscribe to hear an extended cut of Kalila’s conversation with Anna. Credits This episode was...
This week, we check back in with Joey to answer everyone’s burning question: does he still have a mullet? Years ago, Joey had a very bad day — all due to awkward misunderstandings. Jonathan and Gregor get involved to help him set things right. Credits This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Kalila Holt, Peter Bresnan, and Stevie Lane, with editing by Jorge Just and Alex Blumberg. Special thanks to Emily Condon, Flora Lichtman, PJ Vogt, Saidu Tejan-Thomas, Grace Hawkins, and Jackie Cohen...
This week, we talk to Steve Marsh from our episode, The Marshes. The family has changed in ways they could never have guessed at when the story was first published in 2019. After a drunken slip of the tongue, Steve and his siblings discovered a secret their mother had been keeping for almost 40 years. Steve decides to step in and help his mom take action. This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Kalila Holt, BA Parker and Stevie Lane, with editing by Jorge Just. Special thanks to Emily C...
This week, we’re calling up one of our fan-favorite guests from season two: Rose. Almost twenty years ago, Rose was kicked out of her college sorority. “You know what you did,” was the only explanation she was ever given. All these years later, Rose still wants to know what it is she did. Credits This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Kalila Holt, and Kaitlin Roberts, with editing by Jorge Just, Alex Blumberg, and Wendy Dorr. Special thanks to Emily Condon, Stevie Lane, Misha Glouberma...
This week, we check back in with Scott to find out what turns his life has taken since the original episode aired in 2019. When Scott was a heroin addict, he crossed a line he thought he would never cross. And he’s been trying to uncross it ever since. Credits This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Stevie Lane, Kalila Holt, and BA Parker, with editing by Jorge Just. Special thanks to Emily Condon, Alex Blumberg, Nathan Foster, Jacob Eppler, and Jackie Cohen. This episode was mixed by B...
This week, we catch up with Jonathan's dad about the years since his appearance in our first ever episode — #1 Buzz. Buzz and Sheldon are brothers in their eighties who’ve been estranged for decades. Buzz visits Sheldon to see if there’s still a relationship left to salvage. Credits This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Wendy Dorr, Chris Neary, and Kalila Holt, with editing by Alex Blumberg and Peter Clowney. Special thanks to Caitlin Kenney, Starlee Kine, and Rachel Ward. The episode...
While the new season is under construction, we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes and calling up former guests to see what’s happened since. This week: #2 Gregor. 20 years ago, Gregor lent some CDs to a musician friend. The CDs helped make him a famous rockstar. Now, Gregor would like some recognition. But mostly, he wants his CDs back. Credits This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Wendy Dorr, Chris Neary, and Kalila Holt, with editing by Alex Blumberg and Peter Clowney. Spec...
