Snap Judgment

Yonis, vaginas, and sex were ALL forbidden language for Ashley and her conservative church-going Liberian mom. But when adult life got too big and too real those family secrets would be the one thing bringing them together.

This story uses strong language, discusses sex and genitalia, and briefly mentions molestation. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

BIG thanks to Ashley Asatu and Janice Kennedy for sharing your story with us! Learn more about The Yoni Day Spa + check it out on Instagram.

Produced by Regina Bediako, original score by Sandra Lawson-Ndu, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 30

Andy Marra is on a mission to Korea in search of the mother she never knew with a secret she absolutely has to tell.

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

Snap Classic - Season 13 – Episode 29

Brian’s desperate for cash, until a random ghost writer answers his Craigslist ad for a roommate. Now, he's about to get more drama than he ever imagined.

BIG thanks to Brian Boucher for sharing his story with Snap!

Brian wrote about this experience in New York Magazine titled “My Roommate, The Diamond Thief.” Read more about it.

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

Season 13 - Episode 28

A mild-mannered theater professor attempts to stage a controversial play in a small East Texas town.

This episode discusses drug use, sex, homophobia, and contains explicit language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

Thank you to Joseph Magee, Justin Adams, Jennifer Ann Handy, and the rest of the cast and crew of Angels in America Kilgore College, 1999.

BIG love and thanks to Raymond Caldwell, who retired after 54 years of teaching theater.

This story was based on the Texas Monthly magazine article “When ‘Angels in America’ Came to East Texas” by Wes Ferguson.

Special thanks also to the Texas Shakespeare Festival, Matthew Simpson, Helena de Groot, Kyle Henry, Katie Song and Colin Hyer.

Produced by John Fecile, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic - Season 13 - Episode 27

A man washes up on shore in Sitka, Alaska and finds himself in the middle of an underground boxing show. It’s a place where you might duke it out with the bartender, the locals, or your own troubled past.

This episode contains violence and strong language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

Thank you, Jaed “The Stone” Coffin, for sharing your story with us! For more about Jaed’s story, check out his memoir Roughhouse Friday.

Produced by Bo Walsh, original score by Doug Stuart, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 26

Richard Hatch is overseas on a top-secret mission… to win over Jill, the most elusive, electrifying student in his 7th-grade class. He isn’t suave or sophisticated, so he’s gonna need help from The Beatles, the Russians, and even the CIA to pull it off.

Thank you, Richard Hatch aka Danger 9b, for sharing your story with us!

Rick is back in the US and is putting the finishing touches on a kid-friendly memoir about his travels abroad.

Produced by Regina Bediako, original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 25

Two crazy cats and one hard-nosed reporter land in Syria right as it is thrown into turmoil. Rasha Elass navigates her way through Damascus amidst government crackdowns and whistling missiles in search of the country she loves.

This story contains graphic imagery and descriptions of wartime violence, sensitive listeners please be advised.

Thank you, Rasha, for sharing your story with us! Rasha Elass is currently the editorial director at New Lines Magazine, where she first shared this story. She’s also working on a memoir about her childhood and reporting days in Syria. Follow what she’s up to on her website.

Produced by David Exumé, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 24

When Julie Lindahl discovered that her grandfather had been an active member of the German SS, she decided to return to the scene of his crimes. But her grandmother made things difficult.

This story contains brief descriptions of graphic imagery and torture. Please take care while listening.

Thanks, Julie, for sharing your story with us! Julie Lindahl has written a book about her experience: The Pendulum: A Granddaughter's Search for Her Family's Forbidden Nazi Past.

A version of this story was originally produced for the podcast Kind World, which tells stories about the effect a single act can have on our lives. You can find Kind World in any podcast app.

Produced by Erika Lantz with production assistance from Liz Mak

Original Score and Sound Design by Leon Morimoto

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 23 - Snap Classic

When no one can hear you and nobody sees you anymore, how do you tell the world you are still there? One man's impossible journey back to the world that forgot him.

This story contains descriptions of drug use, medical situations, and adult language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

Thank you, Jake, so very much, for sharing your story with Snap.

Jacob Haendel is writing a book about his experiences and documents his recovery on his YouTube channel and website. He recently started Access, an app to help people with disabilities more confidently get around.

Producer: James Reddick

Editorial & production support: John Fecile

Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

Special thanks: Nikka Singh

Artwork: Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 22

Gina gives snark like she’s paid for it—because she is. She’s a popular podcast producer with fans, followers, and frenemies. Until her life gets interrupted by a very loud roar. This week, Snap spotlights, A Hit Dog Will Holler from Radiotopia Presents featuring a bonus interview with Glynn & writer, Inda Craig-Galván.

This episode contains explicit language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

This is episode one of A Hit Dog Will Holler. Listen, subscribe, and go listen to the other episodes right now! Want even more? Go to radiotopiapresents.fm.

Written by Inda Craig-Galván, produced and directed by Gisele Regatao. Mixing and sound design by Sandra Lopez-Monsalve, with help from Isabel Hibbard. The music theme is by Cristina Gaillard. Show art by Yee Eun Nam.

This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Collective Bargaining Agreement. It features Cynthia K. McWilliams as Gina and Ronnie. J. Nicole Brooks as Dru. Jacqueline Guillen as Constance and the receptionist. Thank you to WNYC News for the audio of Black Lives Matter protests. Support for this project was provided in part by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.

For Radiotopia Presents, Mark Pagán is the producer. Production support from Yooree Losordo. Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro are the executive producers.

Season 13 - Episode 21 - Spotlight