Snap Judgment

Have you ever wanted something so badly you’d do anything to make it happen? Sixteen-year-old Mohamed decides to dig deep in his religion to take the next step with his crush. There’s no love like young love… especially when it’s a secret. This week on Snap, we proudly present, “The Loophole.”

This story contains strong language, discusses sexuality, and mentions corporal punishment. Please take care while listening.

BIG thanks to Mohamed Ali for sharing his story with us! Mohamed is an artist and comedian, he just got back to Canada after spending the last few years working and performing in Southeast Asia. Check out his Instagram!

Special thanks to Zahra Noorbakhsh. Big thanks as well to Zaiba Hasan & her crew from the podcast Mommying While Muslim.

Produced by Regina Bediako, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Music Spotlight: “Honest” by Jada Imani (produced by Dakim)

Jada Imani is an East St. Louis-born, Bay Area-raised Hip-Hop R&B artist and organizer. In addition to a whole bunch of great music, Jada recently launched a new product line called “Good For The Soul”. Be sure to check out her Patreon and follow her on social media.

This song comes to us from the compilation Water For The Town Vol. 4, a project series from SmartBomb created to raise mutual aid and awareness for various organizations and grassroots movements doing vital work right here in Oakland.

The song is produced by Dakim, be sure to check out more of Dakim’s music and follow them on Instagram!

Season 13 - Episode 10

Mimi Nguyen’s mother, Thanh, has always been super anxious. She obsessively calls Mimi at all hours and is always worried they’re in danger. This paranoia really put a strain on their relationship, until Mimi heard Thanh talking in her sleep one night. And Mimi realized… maybe there were long-hidden family secrets that might explain Thanh’s behavior.

This story contains strong language, graphic depictions of war, and mention of suicide. Please take care while listening.

Thank you, Mimi & Thanh, for sharing your story with us!

Stephanie Foo produced this story – she also wrote a memoir about intergenerational immigrant trauma and her own complex PTSD… in it, she tears down her own walls and shares her and her family’s story. Check out her incredible new book, “What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma.”

Produced by Stephanie Foo, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 9

Some of the best stories are told when the show’s over… Join us Backstage where we bring together incredible storytellers from all over the country for a roundtable of stories about second-rate first-class tickets, a racist dog, and baggy pants.

This episode does contain strong language and the mention of drug use, sensitive listeners please be advised.

BIG thanks to Dino Archie, Shannon Cason, Dr. Ray Christian, Joyce Lee, and Don Reed for spending some time with us Backstage!

Special thanks to Snap’s Flo Wiley for her help with this episode.

Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Pat Mesiti-Miller

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 8 - Snap Classic

A pair of star-crossed lovers encounter the paranormal while performing Romeo & Juliet in fair Wisconsin. And when a man falls in love with his wife he doesn’t just get one life partner - he gains an entire family.

STORIES

Romeo & Juliet

A pair of star-crossed lovers encounter the paranormal in fair Wisconsin, where we lay our scene.

This story comes to us from our evil-twin, Spooked, a Luminary Original podcast.

Want more Spooked? Season 6 of Spooked is streaming now. This Luminary Original Podcast is rolling out new episodes through Spring, 2022. You can hear the newest episodes by subscribing to the Luminary Channel on Apple Podcasts, or directly on Luminary.

Thank you, Kelsey Brennan & Andy Truschinski, for sharing your story!

Produced by Zoë Ferrigno, original score by Nicholas Marks

Multiplicity

When you get really close to someone, you get to know different sides of them naturally. It was no different when Jim Bunkelman fell in love with his wife, Rhonda. What was different was just how many different sides of Rhonda there were.

This does refer to trauma from sexual and physical abuse, sensitive listeners are advised.

Thanks, Jim, for sharing your story with us!

If you’d like to learn more about what is referred to by some as healthy multiplicity, Jim suggests you consult Healthymultiplicity.com and Multiplicity 101 for more information.

Produced by Julia DeWitt, sound design by Leon Morimoto

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 7

Afia Kaakyire has a decision to make. And by God, her family is going to help her figure this s*** out.

This week on Snap, we’re featuring S***hole Country. Join Afia as she forages for her family’s guidance in their shared histories during a long-awaited trip to Ghana — true tales dipped in green card anxieties, complicated love, an “Are You the One?” marathon, and liberal portions of the world’s best Jollof. This episode contains explicit language, sensitive listeners please be advised.

The story comes to us from our good friend Afia and Radiotopia Presents. Go listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or at radiotopiapresents.fm You’ll find the other five episodes in this incredible eight-part series.

S***hole Country is written, narrated, and sound designed by Afia Kaakyire and produced by Afia and Mark Pagán. Julie Shapiro and Audrey Mardavich are the executive producers. Cover art by Sindiso Nyoni.

Music Credits:

Theme song by Ria Boss

“Too Late for the Party” by Unheard Music Concepts

“Noodle Opus” by Blue Dot Sessions

“Crisis Averted” by David Hilowitz

“I Kno” by Vincent Augustus

Season 13 - Episode 6

A DJ hosts a radio show from a garden shed in his backyard. For over forty years he had an audience of one.

This story was co-produced in partnership with our friends at Narratively, which celebrates humanity through authentic storytelling. They have amazing stories, podcasts, and so much more.

Reporting for this piece came from Jeff Maysh. It was produced by Jeff Maysh, John Fecile, and Narratively‘s founder, Noah Rosenberg.

Original Score by Renzo Gorrio

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 5 - Snap Classic

Rooty, a piglet, leaves her Victorian dollhouse on the farm and heads to the city of New Orleans to find a family. But when Hurricane Katrina hits, everything that is near and dear to her is threatened.

BIG thanks to Jim & Connie for sharing their story with us! Thanks as well to Jeffery Tam & Dr. Alison Barca.

Produced by Annie Nguyen, original score by Cheflee

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 4

One stubborn, little DivaCup is all that stands in the way of life, liberty, and the pursuit of queerness. Ray Christian-Dickens tells their story of breaking free of the Bible Belt.

This story contains sexual situations and references to homophobia, please take care while listening.

Thank you, Ray Christian-Dickens, for sharing your story with us!

Ray first told this story for the podcast RISK! on the Trial By Fire episode. RISK! goes where others dare not tread. Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more true stories that are told boldly.

Learn more about Ray on their website or follow them on Twitter!

Produced by David Exumé, original score by Sudi Wachspress

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 3

Glynn unearths paradise. A geoscientist journeys deep into the Amazon Rainforest in search of a mythical river. And a revolutionary living in exile does the unexpected. Snap presents a classic, “Shangri-La.”

STORIES

“The Perfect Spot”

Backpackers are scouring Southeast Asia looking for the magical spot, but Glynn has the inside tip.

Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller

“Boiling River”

Andres Ruzo tried to track down a legend he’s heard his grandfather talk about in stories when he was a little boy. He found the stuff of legends, and then was faced with the choices, and burdens of knowing a valuable secret.

Find out more in Andres Ruzo’s book, The Boiling River. Check out the Boiling River Project, the TED talk, and the TED book.

Produced by Anna Sussman, sound design by Leon Morimoto

“For Love and Revolution”

In the 1970s Truman Capote interviewed Watani Stiner, a young revolutionary serving time in San Quentin for the death of two Black Panthers. Then… things got interesting.

Produced by Sukey Lewis & Mark Ristich, sound design by Leon Morimoto

Season 13 - Episode 2 - Snap Classic

The Tomb of the Unknowns is a sacred monument for unknown U.S. service members who died in combat. But what if this memorial is hiding something? ...Or someone?

This story comes to us from our friends over at 99 % Invisible. Listen & subscribe to this incredible podcast for more stories about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.

Want to dive even deeper into this story? See pictures, videos & more here.

Production: Producer Joe Rosenberg spoke with Robert Poole, author of On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery; Patricia Blassie; Bill Thomas, reporter for the Washington Post; Chris Calhoon, former Army Ranger; Vince Gonzales, reporter for CBS Denver

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 13 - Episode 1 - Spotlight