Snap Judgment - podcast cover

Snap Judgment

Snap Judgment and PRXsnapjudgment.org

Snap Judgment mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap’s raw, musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. It's storytelling... with a BEAT.

Episodes

Kismet - Snap Classic

Two women set sail on a tiny boat, embarking on a journey to freedom that takes them across the globe. And a Hungarian composer dreams of changing the world… he did. STORIES 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. This story contains scenes of violence against a same-sex couple, sensitive listeners please be advised. Produced by Liz Ma...

Sep 16, 202150 minSeason 12Ep. 37

Campfire Tales VIII

It’s when the last glow of amber fades from the sky. When you can’t quite tell who approaches you on the dark path. When everyone starts to speak with lowered voices. That when you know… it’s time for Campfire Tales. This week, Spooked stories that will keep you up at night! A policeman experiences a sinister omen with deadly consequences. Crows set out to send a man warnings in Santa Fe. And it’s confirmed… all dogs do go to heaven. STORIES The Head We all know the old wives’ tales: don’t walk ...

Sep 10, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 36

“Solomon’s Sword” from This Land

ALM – as referred to in court documents – is a Navajo and Cherokee toddler. When he was a baby, a white couple from the suburbs of Dallas wanted to adopt him, but a federal law said they couldn’t. So they sued. Today, the lawsuit doesn’t just impact the future of one child, or even the future of one law. It threatens the entire legal structure defending Native American rights. Today, from Crooked Media , we’re sharing the first episode of This Land Season 2. This episode touches on different kin...

Sep 02, 202143 minSeason 12Ep. 35

The Hired G.U.N.

Sir Dyno is the Chicano Eazy-E, the king of lowrider car shows, an up-and-coming gangsta rapper straight outta Northern California. But when he gets the money to finance his next CD, he has no idea that the same music that made him a legend will also lead to his downfall. Thank you, David Rocha, for sharing your story with us! Thanks also to Sharon Rocha, Justin Berton & Julia Reynolds. David Rocha left prison in June 2009. He became a pastor and started a church in Modesto called House of R...

Aug 26, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 34

Forever is a Long Time

When Ian Coss decided to get married, every living member of his family who had ever been married had also been divorced. He wonders: are we doomed to recycle the patterns of behavior we get from our ancestors? And a fictional tale of marital mayhem! STORIES Forever is a Long Time When Ian Coss decided to get married, every living member of his family who had ever been married had also gotten divorced: parents, grandparents, and all his aunts and uncles on both sides — some of them twice. Seven ...

Aug 19, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 33

The Ridiculous, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Idea

A computer learns to speak with emotion and conviction but lacks the ability to distinguish good ideas from absolute madness. And a man has a chance to work on a secret project involving millions of flying mammals that could put an end to World War II. STORIES Theodora Making sense of the world is always a struggle. And that's why, as far back as time has existed, some people have chosen to stand up in front of others and tells stories and share ideas that make sense of the chaos around us. We c...

Aug 12, 202147 minSeason 12Ep. 32

Haenyeo - Snap Classic

When Heidi Shin had her first baby, she took an entire year to care for her daughter full-time. For the most part, she loved it. But she also felt like she was losing part of herself to motherhood. So she decides to take a work trip to an island off the coast of South Korea. She comes away with an unexpected discovery about motherhood and herself. Check out more of Heidi’s work . Listen to Heidi’s full story for PRI, Diving with the last generation of Korea’s Mermaids . Produced by Heidi Shin an...

Aug 05, 202135 minSeason 12Ep. 31

The Turning from Rococo Punch & iHeartRadio

The podcast The Turning from Rococo Punch and iHeartRadio tells the story of religious sisters who joined Mother Teresa’s order of nuns, but who eventually decided they had to leave. It asks, what is the line between devotion and brainwashing? Can you truly give yourself to God? If you make a lifelong vow, what does it mean to break it? Produced by Erika Lantz, Elin Lantz Lesser, and Emily Forman. Editing by Rob Rosenthal. Digital production by Andrea Asuaje. Fact checking by Andrea López-Cruzad...

Jul 29, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 30

Map to the Disappeared

A woman in Veracruz, Mexico receives a map from a pair of anonymous strangers that leads her on a search to solve a mystery that’s haunted her for years. And a psychiatrist brings together three men who believe they are all Jesus Christ, hoping to cure them of their delusions. STORIES Map to the Disappeared A woman in Veracruz, Mexico receives a map from a pair of anonymous strangers that leads her on a search to solve a mystery that’s haunted her for years. This story includes descriptions of c...

Jul 22, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 29

This Is Not A Drill - Snap Classic

On January 13th, 2018, at exactly 8:07 in the morning, one text message turned the state of Hawaii into a state of emergency. From panic and fear to acceptance and joy, Snap Judgment explores the 38 minutes when the people of Hawaii faced an incoming ballistic missile threat. Lead Producer: Jazmin Aguilera Editor: Anna Sussman Producers: Eliza Smith, Erika Lantz, John Fecile Additional production assistance: Nancy Lopez Original score and sound design: Renzo Gorrio and Leon Morimoto Snap Classic...

Jul 15, 202134 minSeason 12Ep. 28

The Bone Reader

A severed head turns up in a small rural town. While police investigate this as a crime, they look at disturbed graves, search for missing people — suspect a killer. But the forensic artist on the case has a very different theory for how the head ended up in the woods. This story contains references to forensic material, sensitive listeners please be advised. Thank you to Michelle Vitali & Mike O’Brien for sharing this story with Snap. Produced by Nancy López, original score by Renzo Gorrio,...

Jul 08, 202153 minSeason 12Ep. 27

Hey DJ! - Snap Classic

A tiny, pirate radio station broadcasts to the thousands of families trapped in ISIS-controlled Mosul. A man’s fingers fly across the keys with ease when he sits down at a piano for the first time. And a young kid learns a lesson in friendship. STORIES Mixed up Mixtape Glynn tries to front as an angsty mixtape master, and it's got him all mixed up. Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller Good Morning Mosul A tiny, pirate radio station broadcasts to the thousands of families trapped in ISIS-controlled Mosu...

Jul 01, 202151 minSeason 12Ep. 26

On Our Watch from NPR & KQED

One officer in Los Angeles used car inspections to hit on women. Three hundred miles away in the San Francisco Bay Area, another woman says an officer used police resources to harass and stalk her. This episode investigates these two cases of sexual misconduct by California Highway Patrol officers. While the officers were fired, the agency did not refer potential crimes to prosecutors. And the files show some women who came forward were met with suspicion, discouragement, or what one woman saw a...

Jun 24, 202150 minSeason 12Ep. 25

The Census Powwow

Cheyenne Brady knew next to nothing about the US census when she was given the job of counting everyone on her reservation. Writer Julian Brave Noisecat follows her through the ups and downs of the 2020 census, culminating in the first-ever Census Powwow. This story features descriptions of genocide and historical trauma, sensitive listeners please be advised. A big, big thank you to everyone on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Especially Cheyenne Brady and her family: Novi Runs Above, Holy Rope, ...

Jun 17, 20211 hr 3 minSeason 12Ep. 24

Cowboy Bob - Criminal Spotlight

In May 1991, a bank robber walked into a bank in Irving, Texas, and without speaking handed the teller a note that read, “This is a bank robbery. Give me your money. No marked bills or dye packs.” Witnesses reported that the robber was wearing a cowboy hat and a brown leather jacket. And then it happened again. And again. But when FBI agents finally got a lead, they discovered that the robber wasn’t who they expected at all… This week, Snap proudly presents, Criminal, from PRX ’s Radiotopia ! Th...

Jun 10, 202133 minSeason 12Ep. 23

Turncoat - Snap Classic

An Israeli soldier’s decision to speak out against his own violent actions comes back to haunt him. And a little girl in Brooklyn devotes herself to becoming a nun… or does she? STORIES Crimes, Lies, and Videotape When Dean Issacharoff was a commander in the Israeli Defense Forces, he patrolled the Palestinian city of Hebron, and later fought in Gaza. Then, after he got home from the army, Dean’s decision to speak out about his own violent actions came back to haunt him. This story contains imag...

Jun 03, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 22

Uncuffed - Snap Spotlight

It's been almost a year since friends and family have been able to visit their loved ones in prison, due to the pandemic. Letters to the inside are always a lifeline. This year, more than ever. Today, from Uncuffed , we hear from Adamu Chan, who was recently released from San Quentin State Prison, while his friend Edmond Richardson, is still on the inside. Uncuffed is a storytelling project made by people behind bars, from inside California prisons, in collaboration with KALW . To hear the full ...

Jun 01, 202112 minSeason 12Ep. 21

The Birth Dream

Andy Marra’s job has just offered her the chance of a lifetime: she’s going to Korea. But she’s got a secret plan for the trip that has nothing to do with work. Thank you, Andy, for sharing your story with Snap! Find out more about her advocacy work here . Produced by Regina Bediako, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot Season 12 - Episode 20 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

May 27, 202136 minSeason 12Ep. 20

Hot Trash - Snap Spotlights “Ear Hustle”

Snap Judgment presents, “Hot Trash,” a special spotlight on the Ear Hustle podcast, from PRX ’s Radiotopia . Visiting a loved one in prison is both emotionally intense and constrained by countless rules — from how much PDA is too much PDA, to what kind of candy you can eat inside. One year after California prison authorities suspended in-person visits due to COVID-19, hear stories from and about visiting rooms… and how families are adjusting to video “visits. This episode contains explicit langu...

May 20, 202153 minSeason 12Ep. 19

Rock Paper Scissors - Snap Classic

When the two greatest auction houses in the world - Christie’s and Sotheby’s - vied for the privilege of auctioning off $20 million worth of art in 2004, little did they know that they would be forced to engage in an ancient form of ritualized combat known as... rock paper scissors. Be sure to check out Carol Vogel’s original New York Times article. Produced by Joe Rosenberg, artwork by Teo Ducot Season 12 - Episode 18 - Snap Classic Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

May 13, 202116 minSeason 12Ep. 18

The Wedding Guest

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 c...

May 06, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 17

Mettle - Snap Classic

When a four-seater plane violently crashes onto the top of an 8,000-foot mountain, an 11-year-old fights to survive. A white boy discovers he's black. And history calls on an Oglala Lakota Headsman in South Dakota to stand up for his people. Snap Judgment presents, “Mettle.” STORIES Electric Fence As a country boy, Glynn puts his family pride on the line when his neighbor challenges him to the ultimate test of manhood. Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller Wonderboy In 1979, a four-seater Cessna plane c...

Apr 29, 202150 minSeason 12Ep. 16

Hair Battle

We follow four hairstylists who compete in the 2019 Bronner Brothers Salon vs. Salon Hair Battle - the only hair competition of its kind. As one contestant puts it, "It's a platform that every stylist that I know would absolutely love and kill for." Come for the big personalities and stay for the ultimate hair show. Find out who wears it best... BIG thanks & love to all the stylists who shared their stories with us! Ashley Payne , the bob queen, moved her salon to a new location, a private, ...

Apr 22, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 15

Bloodlines

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 ...

Apr 15, 202140 minSeason 12Ep. 14

Tin Man - Snap Classic

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-Mille...

Apr 08, 202151 minSeason 12Ep. 13

Cloak of Good Fortune

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...

Apr 01, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 12

Snap Judgment Trailer

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 aire...

Mar 30, 20213 min

The North Pond Hermit - Snap Classic

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...

Mar 25, 202139 minSeason 12Ep. 11

Spartan Hall - Snap Classic

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 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Mar 23, 20219 minSeason 12Ep. 10

Marshmallow Day

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 ...

Mar 18, 202149 minSeason 12Ep. 9