Snap Judgment

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 Mak, original score by Leon Morimoto

Gloomy Sunday

Hungarian composer Rezso Seress dreamed of changing the world with his music… he did.

This story discusses suicide, sensitive listeners please be advised.

Produced and scored by Davey Kim

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Snap Classic - Season 8 Episode 28

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 under a ladder or you’ll have bad luck; don’t step on the crack or you’ll break your mama’s back. Dan is about to discover another, more sinister omen… with deadly consequences.

This story does contain graphic content, sensitive listeners please be advised.

Thanks, Dan, for sharing your story with Spooked!

Produced by Anne Ford, original score by Maryam Qudus

A Murder of Crows

Mike is pretty sure he’s going crazy. Every time he sees a crow, it seems like it’s trying to tell him something: to watch out, to beware. What are they trying to warn him of?

Thank you, Mike, for sharing your story with Spooked!

Produced by Alyia Yates, original score by Lauryn Newson

All Dogs go to Heaven

Sometimes, spirits reach out and ask us for help. And sometimes, they reach out to give us what we need, too.

BIG thanks to, Kristin Kent, for sharing her story with Spooked!

Produced by Zoë Ferrigno, original score by Moyses Nunez

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Do you need more stories that pass beyond the veil? Do you need more journeys through the Shadowland? Be afraid, because more Spooked storytelling awaits. Season 6 is out NOW!

To hear 26 brand new episodes of #Spooked as they are released, subscribe to the Luminary channel on Apple Podcasts.

Season 12 - Episode 36

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 kinds of trauma. Please take care of yourself while you listen.

To hear the full series, subscribe now to This Land wherever you get your podcasts.

Snap Spotlight - Season 12 - Episode 35

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 Rest.

This story featured the music of David Rocha, the original score is by Renzo Gorrio

Produced by John Fecile

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 12 - Episode 34

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 years later, he’s still married, but has questions: What is the value of a lifetime commitment? Are we doomed to recycle the patterns of behavior we get from our ancestors? Are we all just better off alone? Forever is a Long Time is a five-episode series that weaves reflection and original music through Ian’s conversations with his wife and divorced family members — a look at love with people who have made mistakes.

The full series is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Forever is a Long Time is created by Ian Coss and edited by Lacy Roberts. The music is co-produced by Alex Chakour, and mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East. The artwork is by Kelsey Tyssowski.

Miniature Wife

What happens when you shrink your wife… literally? Writer Manuel Gonzales brings us a fictional tale of marital mayhem.

Check out more of Manuel’s writing.

Thank you, to our VO Actors:

Narrator: Thao Nguyen

Husband: Sam Fischmann

Wife: Eliza Smith

Produced by Eliza Smith, sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller

Season 12 - Episode 33

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 call them "orators" or "the ones who speak"  They turn the chaos into meaning and inspiration.

But there's a bad side of orators too—it's the snake oil salesmen....the buzzword charlatans...the intellectual xenomorphs who prey upon those who just want to find some deeper truths.

Producer Jeff Emtman is particularly sensitive to this dual nature of public speaking...he's got some of those darker traits himself.  So he developed a simple robot named Theodora who could speak to him about the highly porous barrier that separates inspiration and madness.

This piece comes to us from the podcast Here Be Monsters (HBM146: Theodora). Music by James Li, of Liance.  Album: This Painting Doesn't Dry

Theodora's also a Twitterbot. Read her latest meanderings on Twitter at @hypo_inspo.

The Other Secret Weapon

A young man has the chance to work on a very secret, very powerful weapon that could put an end to World War II. The project involves no toxins, no chemicals, no shrapnel and no bullets. Instead, the project involves lots and lots of flying mammals. Lots.

This story details a war situation involving both people and animals, sensitive listeners please be advised.

BIG thanks to Jack Couffer, who is now 97, and BIG love to the entire Couffer family.

Special thanks to producer Elizabeth Nakano & to Doctor Peter Kuznick from the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University.

The bat recordings were made for us by artist & composer Geneva Skeen. Learn more about Geneva’s work.

Produced by John Fecile, original score by Renzo Gorrio, sound design by Pat Mesiti-Miller, artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 12 - Episode 32

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 and Shaina Shealy, original score by Renzo Gorrio

Artwork by Teo Ducot

Season 12 - Episode 31

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-Cruzado. Theme music by Matt Reed. Executive producers Jessica Alpert, John Perotti, and Katrina Norvell.

Find Mary Johnson’s memoir An Unquenchable Thirst here.

Listen to The Turning wherever you get podcasts. Find more information and pictures on Instagram @RococoPunch.

Season 12 - Episode 30

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 corpses, graves sites, and a brief mention of torture. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.

Thank you, Griselda Barradas, for sharing your story with us! Special thanks to journalist Felix Marquez for his assistance in producing this story and to actress Norma Yolanda Lopez.

Griselda is still a member of the group, El Solecito. They’ve just begun excavating a second mass grave in Veracruz and have so far found close to 50 bodies. Today there are more than 70 groups of parents across Mexico like El Solecito. Searching for the remains of their missing children while the authorities do little to help. On average, two graves are uncovered each day.

Produced by Esther Honig, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot

The Three Christs Of Ypsilanti

In 1959, psychiatrist Milton Rokeach brought together three schizophrenic men who believed they were Jesus Christ, hoping to cure them of their delusions. But over time, his methods became dangerously amoral.

Thanks to Richard Bonier and Ronald Hoppe for their help.  Additional thanks to Peter Shyppert as the voice of Milton Rokeach.

You can buy The Three Christs of Ypsilanti, Rokeach’s book, right here.

Produced by Stephanie Foo, original score by Leon Morimoto

Season 12 - Episode 29

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 - Season 12- Episode 28