Snap Judgment

What’s keeping you from feeling proud today? We’re exploring that question with a special Snap two-for-one: SHAMEBOOTH, a traveling art installation, hotline, and podcast featuring the voices of real people sharing their shame, and “Quiet Is Best,” a story from Julie Lindahl about her shocking discovery of a secret -- and shameful -- family legacy.

Content advisory: These stories detail substances, violence/graphic images of Nazi Germany, and sexual assault. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

STORIES:

SHAMEBOOTH Recordings

SHAMEBOOTH explores the science & psychology behind one of the most intense and isolating emotions a person can feel by capturing the voices of real people who step into a refurbished phone booth to speak their truths. It has become an art installation, podcast, hotline, live event space, and movement to help people get proud.

A very big thank you to all of the brave people who stepped into the SHAMEBOOTH, baring their souls. For more, head on over to SHAMEBOOTH and subscribe to the podcast!

SHAMEBOOTH’s creator and host is Paula Williams. The podcast is produced by the fine folks at SOUND MADE PUBLIC: Tania Ketenjian, Philip Wood, and Katie McCutcheon. Production assistance was by Snap’s Regina Bediako.

“Quiet is Best” - Snap Classic

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.

Thank you, Julie, for sharing your story with Snap! A version of this story was originally produced for the podcast Kind World. For more, please make sure to check out Julie Lindahl’s book, The Pendulum: A Granddaughther’s Search for Her Family’s Forbidden Nazi Past.

Produced by Erika Lantz, original score by Leon Morimoto with production assistance by Liz Mak

Season 11 - Episode 28

A teenager ends up with more than he bargained for when he hacks his principal’s Twitter account. And a night-shift doctor shares a story of life after death.

STORIES

Code Yellow

A teenage hacker inspired by “Mr. Robot” takes on his principal, teachers, and the Board of Education.

This piece was adapted from the podcast, Darknet Diaries. Listen to the full story, called Finn.

Produced by Jack Rhysider with assistance from Nancy Lopez, original score by Renzo Gorrio

The Lazarus Effect

A night-shift doctor shares a story of life after death.

This story comes to us from the podcast, The Nocturnists, and was performed live in San Francisco in 2018. You can listen to the full story, called The Lazarus Effect.

Special thanks to Emily Silverman, Ana Adlerstein, Ali Block, Adelaide Papazolou, Marina Poole, Kirk Klocke, and the storyteller, Joe Sills

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic - Season 10 Episode 19

When the man in charge of a small, insular northern Ohio town wreaks havoc on his followers, a young boy with a passion for good hair tries to clean up the mess.

Produced by Shaina Shealy, original score by Leon Morimoto

Snap Classic - Season 9 - Episode 32

A fisherman down on his luck finds gold at the bottom of the sea. It’s only after his treasure hunt is underway that he discovers what is truly valuable deep down.

BIG thanks to Joe Pennisi for sharing your story with Snap.

This story would not have been possible if not for the amazing, on the ground reporting work of Tara Duggan, Jason Fagone, and Santiago Mejia who first told this incredible story for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Renzo Gorrio

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 11 - Episode 27

When a young man is told is he going deaf, he sets out on a challenge to memorize the songs that defined his life. He had no idea that those songs would come back to him in the most unexpected way.

A version of this story aired on KQED's Q'ed Up.

Produced by April Dembosky, Original Score by Renzo Gorrio

Sound Design by Leon Morimoto & April Dembosky

Artwork by Mark Fiore

Snap Classic - Season 9 Episode 3

The last embers of the season. The final wander through the woods. The chill not yet hitting the air. That’s when you know it’s time… This week, experience the dark magic of Spooked on Snap. We proudly present, “Campfire Tales VII.”

STORIES

Kapu

If the sign at the mouth of the cave says “kapu,” forbidden, you better take heed. Don’t go searching for trouble. Thank you, Joe, for sharing your story with Spooked!

Produced by Greta Weber and Annie Nguyen, original score by Lauryn Newson

Route 666

Michael Kilpatrick is coming home from the venue, celebrating a great show. He’s taking a familiar road. But tonight, the conditions are bad: hard wind, rain, and… frogs? Thanks, Michael, for sharing your story with us!

Produced by Annie Nguyen, original score by Leon Morimoto

Widow’s Walk

Howling wind. Swirling fog. What lurks in the mist? To whom is the wind calling? Thank you, Bubba, for sharing your terrifying tale with us.

Produced by Greta Weber & Gaylen Koch, original score by Clay Xavier

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 5 of Spooked drops 8/21/20 & will have 22 brand new episodes, each released weekly on Mondays & Fridays. Select episodes will be available across streaming platforms, but you can find ALL the new episodes only on Luminary. Visit LuminaryPodcasts.com to start listening!

Season 11 - Episode 26

A rowdy radio show. A sick listener. A Radio DJ who gets in way, way too deep.

This story is a co-production between Snap Judgment Studios, Hi-Phi Nation with Barry Lamb, and our dear friends over at Love and Radio. 

Listen & subscribe to Hi-Phi Nation with Barry Lamb, the best story-driven philosophy podcast in the universe! Love and Radio also rules and comes to you from the incredible Luminary family. You can hear the original version of Gotcha from Love and Radio here. 

Learn more about Radio DJ Amber Petty and pre-order her new book, “This Is Not A Love Song”

This story was produced by Barry Lam, Steven Jackson, Nick van der Kolk, Phil Dmochowski, Julia DeWitt, and John Fecile

This story includes the voices of Amber Petty, Cory Kimm, Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello, and Sarah 

The actors featured in this story are Aliya Pabani, Corey Layton, Robin Luckwaldt-Ross

Special thanks to Diane Wu, Antimo Ianella, Ira Glass

Artwork by John Garrison

For a full list of music featured in this episode, visit the Snap site.

Season 11 - Episode 25

A musician writes a song so catchy, it takes over the world…then he finds out it’s become a weapon on the streets of Portland. “Easy Street” turned into something it was never meant to be.

This story contains explicit language, sensitive listeners are advised.

A big thanks to Joe Sivick & Deena Prichep.

Easy Street (Redux) single by The Occupy ICE PDX Alliance on Apple Music or iTunes.

Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

Producer: John Fecile

Team Snap brings you the story of the devastating COVID-19 outbreak at San Quentin State Prison, as told by people on the inside. 

STORIES

Outbreak at San Quentin

As the Coronavirus outbreak overwhelms San Quentin State Prison, one incarcerated person, Chanthon Bun, is awaiting his release on parole. Bun tries to protect himself from the virus, while incarcerated first responders and cleaning crews attempt to treat those who are collapsing and stop the spread of COVID-19. In this episode, we hear first-hand accounts from incarcerated people inside San Quentin trying to survive the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

This story contains graphic content, listener discretion is advised.

At the time of this recording, 13 people from San Quentin have died due to coronavirus, bringing the total number of lives lost in California prisons to 40. Our hearts go out to them and theirs, sincerely.

Find out how you can support people on the inside with care packages and more at Prison University Project. 

Chanthon Bun is a producer now living on the outside. Greg Eskridge and Thanh Tran are both multimedia journalists currently incarcerated at San Quentin. Checkout Uncuffed and First Watch for more of their work. Rasheed Lockheart, who narrated this piece, works with Planting Justice, a food and social justice organization empowering those impacted by incarceration. Many thanks to Ant, Eric Phillips, and Alex Simon for sharing their stories from the inside as well. 

Special thanks to James King from the Ella Baker Center and Adnan Khan from Restore Justice. 

Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller and Ninna Gaensler-Debs

Original score by Pat Mesiti-Miller

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Letters from Uncuffed

While people inside San Quentin and other detention facilities across the country are faced with the threat of coronavirus, it is not just them who are affected. This piece is made up of a collection of letters from people on the outside trying to reach their loved ones currently behind bars. 

Big thanks to everyone who shared their letters, Rasheed Lockheart, Shelly Ammons, Dario Abramskiehn, Jovina Vejar.

The letters came to us from Uncuffed, a storytelling project made by people behind bars, from inside San Quentin State Prison and Solano State Prison, in collaboration with KALW. Listen & subscribe on your favorite podcast player!

Produced by Ninna Gaensler-Debs, Gabe Grabin, Angela Johnston, and Eli Wirtschafter. 

San Quentin Mixtapes Vol. 1 – “Same Prison As My Grandfather”

The San Quentin Mixtape is a music project recorded, produced, and performed by incarcerated people inside San Quentin State Prison. 

The song featured in this episode is “Same Prison As My Grandfather” by Dinero G. Thank you Dinero G and David Jassy for sharing your music with us! 

This song comes from the album San Quentin Mixtapes, Vol. 1. It was produced by the now formerly incarcerated, David Jassy, who has since been released and is now living in his home country of Sweden.  

Season 11 – Episode 24

Things go horribly wrong for a safari guide on the Zambezi River when he comes face-to-face with a rogue hippo.

Thank you, Paul, for sharing your story with Snap! Check out Paul Templer’s memoir, What’s Left of Me.

Produced by Erika Lantz, original score by Renzo Gorrio

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic - Season 9 - Episode 25