Snap Judgment

Mountain Village is an Alaska Native town in the middle of nowhere. One woman is the town’s only police officer and she alone is responsible for the safety of everyone there. Her track record is perfect until one day when she responds to a call that changes everything.

This story discusses suicide, violence, and contains strong language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

We can’t thank Anna Bill and Jim and Eunice Bryan enough for sharing their stories with us. We also want to thank Cathy Moses and the Mountain Village Tribal Council for their time and patience. Additional thanks to Francine Chiklak, Johanna Eurich, Steve Hiemel, Shane Iverson, Anna Rose MacArthur, Lori Townsend, and Anna Walters.

In addition to Anna Bill’s work, Mountain Village is tackling its suicide and public safety crises with grassroots community programs, as well as a tribal court system that focuses on restorative justice. You can learn more about them here and here. A version of this story was first reported for NPR affiliate KYUK in Bethel, Alaska in 2018. If you’re interested in learning more about rural Alaska and its public safety crisis, we recommend following KYUK and KNBA’s coverage, as well as ProPublica’s Lawless series.

Produced by Teresa Cotsirilos, original score by Renzo Gorrio

If you or a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Snap Classic - Season 14 - Episode 12

She’s stunning grey, sleek as a race car, and stronger than all the boys. Her name is Winning Colors and for Dino and Miami she’s the long shot of a lifetime.

This story contains strong language and includes descriptions of gambling, sensitive listeners please be advised.

If gambling has become a problem for you or for someone you know, you can call 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537) to seek free, confidential, 24/7 problem gambling assistance.

A huge thank you to Mark “Miami” Paul for sharing his story with Snap!

Wondering what happened to Winning Colors? After her 1988 Kentucky Derby crown the big grey filly retired the following year with eight career wins. In 2000, she was inducted into the U.S. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In 2008, at the age of 23 Winning Colors was laid to rest in Lexington, Kentucky.

To find out more about Miami and Winning Colors’ story - check out Miami’s book, “The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told” 

Original score by Renzo Gorrio, produced by Bo Walsh, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 11

“Boricua En La Luna” is a classic anthem about a young man born outside Puerto Rico, who dreams of going back to his parents’ home but never does. Based on a poem written by Juan Antonio Corretjer, the song vividly evokes themes of displacement and connection. And it asserts that Puertoricanness exists no matter where one lives, declaring, “yo seria borincano aunque naciera en la luna” – “I would be Puerto Rican even if I were born on the moon.”

But… what would happen if someone Puerto Rican were actually born on the moon? This week on Snap, we bring you an amazing story from “La Brega” a co-production of WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios. They asked the acclaimed Puerto Rican writer Sergio Gutiérrez Negrón to answer this question in a short fictional story.

Kelvin is the first human born on the moon, and finds himself growing up there alone. By listening to recordings sent by his grandmother, he learns to love the island he’s never seen. But when he finally meets someone else on the lunar surface, Kelvin is faced with a dilemma about his attachment to both the moon and to Puerto Rico, and how much he can hold onto his two identities.

Performances by Keren Lugo (Jessica), Nancy Ticotin (Marielena) and Jesús del Orden (Kelvin). Sound design by Joe Plourde.

Listen to the Spotify playlist, featuring music from this episode – and this season of La Brega. They add to it each week as new episodes come out.

Special thanks to Kelly Gillespie, Ana María Dîaz Burgos, Orlando Javier Torres, Juanluis Ramos, and Olga Casanova-Burgess. And thank you to the other voices who brought this episode to life: Brian Lehrer, Melissa Harris Perry, Nancy Solomon, Stephen Nessen, Jeff Spurgeon, Kerry Nolan, Terrance McKnight, Brigid Bergin, Natalia Ramirez and Elliott Forrest.

Fact checking by Istra Pacheco and Maria Soledad. This season of La Brega is made possible by the Mellon Foundation.

Artwork by Fernando Norat

Season 14 - Episode 10

A computer hacker tries to make his way home through two countries, dense jungle, and a seemingly endless string of technical challenges.

Produced by Adizah Eghan + Levi Vonk, original score by Renzo Gorrio

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic – Season 10 Episode 4

On the frozen tundra, a polar bear guide wakes up to a loud THUMP on the side of his ice buggy. It’s his 1,000 pound buddy, Dancer. And he wants a cup of coffee.

Thank you, Dennis Comparye, for sharing your story with us! To learn more about his work to help the Polar Bears, email Dennis: [email protected]

Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 8

When a tsunami wipes out everything Rizal’s ever known, he has to find a way to survive on his own.

Thanks so much to, Rizal Sahputra, who spoke with us over the course of several years for this story! Learn more about Rizal’s story or email him: [email protected]

Produced by Liz Mak, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 7

In every ballet studio, there is a wall of mirrors. It reflects the people within. They’re part of a closed, elite group that asks for sacrifice and devotion from its members. This insular community produces iconic artists. It’s founded on a strict power structure, often with one man at the top. By tracing the origins of this unusual lifestyle, starting with the legacy of choreographer George Balanchine and the intimate stories of young dancers, we expose the beauty of an art form and the complexity of ballet culture.

This episode contains sexual misconduct. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

This story came to us from the podcast The Turning from creators Rococo Punch and iHeartPodcasts.

It was produced by Erika “Once a Snappa always a Snappa” Lantz and Alin Lantz Lesser.

Editing by Emily Forman. Sound Design by James Trout. Assistant Producer is Jessica Kariisa. Digital production by Andrea Asuaje. Fact checking by Andrea López-Cruzado. Executive producers Jessica Alpert, John Perotti, Katrina Norvell, and Nikki Ettore.

There are more episodes of The Turning, exploring the world of ballet, you can find wherever you get your podcasts.  Find more information and pictures on Instagram @RococoPunch.

Season 14 - Episode 6

A suitcase filled with old audiotapes ignites a woman’s imagination. A doppelgänger finds out that she looks like one of the most famous people in the country - who everybody hates. And a whirlwind romance goes south.

STORIES

Dueling Dads

Glynn comes face to face with his nemesis in the least likely of places... a playground.

Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller

Suitcase of Love and Shame

In 2009, Jane Gillooly came across an item on Ebay that piqued her imagination. The picture was of a suitcase filled with old audiotapes. The listing’s title was “Suitcase of Love and Shame.”

This story contains adult situations, young Snappas please be advised.

You can purchase Jane’s feature-length documentary film, Suitcase of Love and Shame, on Amazon and learn more about it at Cinemaguild.

Produced by Joe Rosenberg, original score by Leon Morimoto

Tonya for Hire

What if one day you found out you look like one of the most famous people in the country -- who everybody hates?

Lynn Harris is an author, commentator, award-winning journalist and mostly-retired comedian. She has a business, Gold Comedy, that teaches comedy to teenage girls. You can find her performing on stage as Tonya Harding here.

Produced by Liz Mak, original score by Leon Morimoto

Love Rival

After a whirlwind romance, Brian and Vanessa get married and move to Kinshasa. Everything is going well until she shows up.

Thanks to Vanessa Woods for sharing her story. Love Rival was produced by Mira Burt-Wintonick and Cristal Duhaime with Jodie Taylor You can hear more at cbc.ca/loveme or subscribe on iTunes. Click here to listen to more of Jodie's work.

Produced by Mira Burt-Wintonick, Cristal Duhaime, and Jodie Taylor

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic - Season 14 - Episode 5

A rookie pilot, a prominent politician, a cop, and a criminal find themselves enduring freezing temperatures in the remote wilderness after their plane crashes in Northern Canada. 

A huge thank you to Erik Vogel, the late Larry Shaben, and his daughter Carol Shaben for sharing this story with Snap!

There is so much more we are not able to share with you about Erik and Larry’s experience. To find out more about what transpired with Wapiti Flight 402, checkout Carol Shaben’s book, “Into the Abyss,” from Grand Central Publishing.

Special thanks to Nikka Singh for his help with this story.

Produced by Bo Walsh, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 14 - Episode 4

A woman arrives in India only to discover that the baby she’s there to adopt has just been rescued from an orphanage tied to a child trafficking ring. Listen to Part Two of this amazing journey. 

BIG thanks to Danielle and Annaporva Green for sharing your story with Snap. Read more incredible stories from Danielle in her book, A Magnificent Obsession.

Produced by Nancy López, original score by Renzo Gorrio 

Snap Classic - Season 14 Episode 3