Snap Judgment

Katie falls hard for Barys during a whirlwind trip to Belarus. But there’s a giant red flag she can’t ignore any longer. And two people who have the same name, live in the same city, and have the same professional interests soon find out what else they have in common.STORIESReal LoveBoston-based writer Katie Simon is on assignment in Belarus when she meets and falls hard for Barys in less than a week. When she’s back home, her friends alert her to a giant red flag she can no longer afford to ignore.This story briefly mentions sex, sensitive listeners please be advised.Thank you, Katie, for sharing this story with Snap! Keep up with her latest work, including an upcoming book about falling in love and generational storytelling here. Learn more about Katie on her Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.Produced by Regina Bediako, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot.Ovrkast “Love Somebody” – Music SpotlightThis week’s Snap Music Spotlight features Oakland artist Ovrkast with the song, “Love Somebody”

Coffee is the love language for two Gaza journalists Shrouq and Roshdi. But one morning at breakfast, their little family life is torn apart. Now, Shrouq must navigate a war, motherhood and the disappearing memories of love. And -- the story of a 10-year-old girl with a magnetic smile who makes magic out of breadcrumbs on a rooftop in Gaza and the internet is eating it up.STORIES After RoshdiCoffee is the love language for two Gaza journalists Shrouq and Roshdi. But one morning at breakfast, their little family life is torn apart. Now, Shrouq must navigate a war, motherhood and the disappearing memories of love. Thank you so much, Shrouq, for sharing your story with us.Produced by Ashley Cleek, Regina Bediako, and Shaina Shealy. Edited by Nancy López and Anna Sussman. Original score by Renzo Gorrio. Artwork by Teo Ducot.Chef RenadA 10-year-old girl with a magnetic smile who makes magic out of breadcrumbs on a rooftop in Gaza and the internet is eating it up.Many thanks to Chef Renad and her sister Nourhan Att

Ray looks back on his decision to join the army, unraveling a complicated history of Black military service and reflecting on the surprising changes the armed forces made in his life.This episode contains explicit language. Please take care while listening.This story comes to us from the incredible podcast, What’s Ray Saying? In each episode, Ray Christian, the award-winning storyteller, combat veteran, historian, and devoted father of six, invites you to become part of his community, as he shares stories from the scenic mountains of Appalachia.Listen to What's Ray Saying? wherever you get your podcasts! To get all things Ray -- check out his website.What's Ray Saying? is created, hosted, and written by Ray Christian. Mark Pagán is the senior producer. Jonathan Cabral is the associate producer. Story editing by Mark Pagán with development support from The Moth. Sound design by Rebecca Seidel. Original music comes from RJ Christian and Blue Dot Sessions. What's Ray Saying? is supported by its amazing listeners

Chris Lundy has always wanted to figure out why his family took him to see a Vodou priest and how this treatment made him better. And a group paratroopers go on a trip with their Sergeant that’s out of this world.STORIESMagic Potion VodouChris Lundy has always wanted to figure out why his family took him to see a Vodou priest and how this treatment made him better.There is one explicit word in this story. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.Big thanks to Chris Lundy for sharing your story! Chris is a storyteller who’s performed at First Person Arts, RISK!, USA Today’s Storytellers Project, and more.Major thanks to WHYY’s The Pulse, who originally aired this story. Their podcast features stories about people and places at the heart of health and science. Check it out!!This story was produced and reported by Chris Lundy and Justin Kramon. It was edited by Maiken Scott and Lindsay Lazarski. Sound design by Maiken Scott. Engineering by Charlie Kaier. Special thanks to Dieu Nalio Chery for his help on the story

How long will you hurt yourself before you start loving yourself? Ronald Young Jr. grapples with the impending loss of his mother while still thinking about his weight. And a kid shares what it’s like to live with Gynecomastia (aka Man Boobs).STORIESThe Weight of SorrowRonald Young Jr. grapples with the impending loss of his mother while still thinking about his weight.This story comes to us from Weight For It, a production of Oh It’s Big Ron Studios and is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Listen to Weight For It wherever you get your podcasts!! Follow Ron on Twitter, Threads, IG, and TikTok – @ohitsbigronEpisodes of Weight For It are produced and written by Ronald Young Jr., with editing from Sarah Dealey. Sound design and mixing from the Reverend John DeLore of Starlight Diner. Theme music from Jay Redd, with additional music from Mass Potential, the artist DT, and the mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder. Episode artwork by Andy J. Pizza.If you need support for disordered eating or your body image -- plea

It was all they had. A spoon and a rusty nail. But for the young Uyghur men trapped in a cell, it meant… escape. Thank you, Hashim, for sharing your story with us.This episode was reported in partnership with Coda Story.Reported by Isobel Cockerell of Coda Story. Produced by Isobel Cockerell and John Fecile. Original score by Renzo Gorrio. English translation for Hashim by Ezra. Artwork by Teo Ducot.Season 16 - Episode 5 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Andy Marra is on a mission to Korea in search of the mother she never knew with a secret she absolutely has to tell. And when two close friends can’t see each other face-to-face, they exchange letters from two very different places.The Birth DreamAndy 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.Letters from UncuffedIt’s been almost a year since friends and family have been able to visit their loved ones in prison, due to the pandemic. Letters to the inside are always a lifeline. This year, more than ever.Today, from Uncuffed, we hear from Adamu Chan, who was recently released from San Quentin State Prison, while his friend Edmond Richardson, is still on the inside.Uncuffed is a storytelling project made by people behind bars, from inside California prisons, in collaborati

Standup comic Cassandra Dee struggles with depression. She jokes about it in her standup comedy but isn’t sure if she can pull it off. She jokes about the kids that bullied her growing up, the bad dates, the suicidal ideations, the failed therapy sessions. The audience laughs, but she wonders… has she gone too far? And - a story from a young woman feeling trapped in her body, until one day she finds the perfect getaway vehicle. STORIES The Last Thing on the List from Love & RadioStandup comic Cassandra Dee struggles with depression. She jokes about it in her standup comedy but isn’t sure if she can pull it off. She jokes about the kids that bullied her growing up, the bad dates, the suicidal ideations, the failed therapy sessions. The audience laughs, but she wonders… has she gone too far?Although this is a story about finding hope, please note it discusses suicidal ideation. Please take care while listening.Thank you, thank you, to Cassandra Dee for sharing her story. Cassandra's comedy special, Uncle Ea

Eric and David score their dream house in the country… with a lily pond. When one frog finds it, he tells a friend, who tells a friend, and pretty soon quiet sunsets are now very trilling. It’s loud, it’s proud and it’s about to bring the whole house down. Plus — a story from a man who pulls off an airmail stunt that most could only dream about.STORIES Gay Frog Happy HourEric and David score their dream house in the country… with a lily pond. When one frog finds it, he tells a friend, who tells a friend, and pretty soon quiet sunsets are now very trilling. It’s loud, it’s proud and it’s about to bring the whole house down.A very big thank you to R. Eric Thomas for sharing his story with Snap! Eric tells more of the frog saga and other hilarious tales in his most recent essay collection, Congratulations, the Best is Over! R. Eric Thomas writes the nationally syndicated daily advice column Asking Eric. He is a playwright, screenwriter, national bestselling author, and long-running host of The Moth in Philadelph

It’s 1972 and Singer Nobuko “JoAnne” Miyamoto and her partner Chris Ijima get “the call.” It’s Yoko Ono and John Lennon inviting them to sing on national TV. What happens next is musical history. And a young massage therapist in Miami Beach gets the business offer of a lifetime. So he shakes hands with the devil and hopes for the best.STORIESWe Are Not Yellow PearlIt’s 1972 and Singer Nobuko “JoAnne” Miyamoto and her partner Chris Ijima get “the call.” It’s Yoko Ono and John Lennon inviting them to sing on national TV. What happens next is musical history.This story contains strong language and references to Japanese Internment and racism against Asians and Asian Americans. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.Thank you, Nobuko, for sharing your story with Snap!After their first and last TV performance, Nobuko and Chris recorded “Yellow Pearl,” “We Are The Children,” and other songs on their 1973 album A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle by Asians in America. And while Chris, unfortunately, passed away

When men living in Muskegon prison watch the breaking news of George Floyd’s murder on TV, they decide to host a one-of-a-kind celebration of life. And when Cindy adopted a four year old girl from China, there was a lot the two didn’t understand about each other.STORIESThe FeastWhen men living in Muskegon prison watch the breaking news of George Floyd’s murder on TV, they decide to host a one-of-a-kind celebration of life. This story is a tribute to Robert “Silk” Cannon Junior. This episode contains strong language and references to police violence. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.Special thanks to William Welch and Dee Dee Kirkwood who helped make the bagel sandwich a reality for the men in Muskegon. Additional shout-outs to Catherine Nouhan, Stephen Carmody, and Delores Ingram.And major thanks to Tana Ganeva, a criminal justice reporter who has written extensively about Michael Thompson’s incarceration and petitions for clemency. You can read more about the George Floyd celebration of life in her art

It's the Nightmare before New Year's with a very Spooky episode from Snap… where guardian angels don't get snow days. Two stories from the mountains full of holiday spirit(s). Snap Judgment presents, “The Don’t Look Back! Special.” Amazing stories from the land of the unexplained from our evil-twin podcast, Spooked.Spooked, features supernatural stories told by people that can barely believe it happened themselves. Want more Spooked? Episodes drop weekly -- listen on any podcast platform! STORIESCliffhangerBill is home from college, on his way to meet his girlfriend, when his car swerves off the road.This story contains one brief scene of graphic material.Big thanks to Bill Love for sharing your story with us!Produced by Annie Nguyen, original score by Leon Morimoto.Cowboy GhostValerie is lost in a snowstorm in rural Montana. She thinks she might not be able to get out, when she sees two headlights coming to her through the storm. Help is on the way – she hopes.Thank you Valerie for sharing your story. Valeri

Sacré bleu! The damn beavers are on the loose! Belgium authorities are hot on the tail of Oliver Rubbers. A renegade with a wild mission... bring the beaver back. Thank you, Olivier Rubbers, for sharing your story with us! Olivier now lives with his wife and kids in Belgium and is still engaging in nature advocacy work.  Produced by David Exumé, original score by Renzo Gorrio, special thanks to Isobel Cockerell, artwork by Teo Ducot.Season 15 - Episode 56 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The "Home Alone" Curse is all too real. The big-budget movie is in peril, and only one actor can save it. Not Macaulay Culkin. Not Joe Pesci. It's the goofball cop, Larry Hankin, with one iconic glazed donut.This story contains strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised.Thank you, Larry Hankin, for sharing your story! From Escape to Alcatraz to Friends to Seinfeld and Breaking Bad, Larry has left an indelible mark on your TV screens over the last five decades. Yes, Llarry has a book, entitled, That Guy: A Cautionary Memoir.Special thanks to Sam Shaw for sharing Larry’s story with us. Sam is working on a documentary on Larry’s improvisational theater company, The Committee. A special shoutout to The Crow Comedy Club in Santa Monica for hosting Larry during one of their unforgettable storytelling nights. Engineering by Pat Mesiti-Miller & Miles Lassi. Artwork by Teo Ducot. Happy Holidays Snap Nation! Thank you for your support over the years -- we couldn't run this Snap train without you. Season

Sieu is a young boy living in the big city of Phnom Penh, but he misses his old life in the Cambodian countryside. The air, the farms, but mostly… the animals. When the Khmer Rouge promises a return to the land, Sieu has no idea how far he and his family will have to go.This story recounts aspects of the Khmer Rouge civil war including scenes of torture and death. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.BIG thanks to Sieu Do for sharing your story with us! There is so much that we were not able to share with you about Sieu and his family’s incredible journey. To find out more check out his book, A Cloak of Good Fortune.Produced by Nikka Singh, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo DucotSnap Classic - Season 15 - Episode 54 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A shot at the pros. Everybody wants it, but these women have it. Faatimah was a pro point guard with a world of experience when she started her own league with a call-out for true ballers. But when her own future is on the line, can she deliver? And when a little girl goes missing in the desert, one woman is driven to find her… no matter what.STORIESI Got BallA shot at the pros. Everybody wants it, but these women have it. Faatimah was a pro point guard with a world of experience when she started her own league with a call-out for true ballers. But when her own future is on the line, can she deliver?This story contains strong language, sensitive listeneres please be advised.A huge thank you to Faatimah A, Delia Moore, and everyone over at the Women’s Premier Basketball Association for sharing their stories with the Snap!A few months after the 2023 WPBA season concluded, Faatimah signed a contract to play professionally in Kuwait, where she spent last season abroad and continues to play for the Jamaican Women’

This dog has everything: mustard, onions, a scrap with Giuliani, Vietnam Vets, and The Met. Everyone is coming for the Throne of the Hot Dog King of New York… Dan Rossi. And a camp for kids with dermatological issues reveals that some summer romances are more than skin deep.STORIESThe Hot Dog King of New YorkThis dog has everything: mustard, onions, a scrap with Giuliani, Vietnam Vets, and The Met. Everyone is coming for the Throne of the Hot Dog King of New York… Dan Rossi.This story contains strong language – sensitive listeners please be advised.A huge thank you to Dan Rossi for sharing his story with Snap! There is so much that we were not able to share with you about Dan’s experience. To find out more check out his new memoir The New York Hot Dog King: From Rags to Riches to Less Than Rags. You can also follow Dan on social media.Additional thanks to our friends at VICE, whose series MUNCHIES featured Dan back in 2019 and was a big inspiration for this story.Listen to the King’s tribute song featured in

Would you go on a reality show if you didn’t know what it was about? Even if they promised you the adventure of a lifetime? In 2005, 12 people did just that. They answered an ad that read “Thrill Seekers wanted” and began auditioning for a show unlike any other in British television history.This week on Snap, we're featuring Split Screen: Thrill Seekers, a new six part series that exposes how a TV show left contestants struggling to trust what’s actually real! Split Screen: Thrill Seekers is a co-production of Love + Radio and Vespucci for the CBC. All six episodes are out now and available wherever you get your podcasts!  This episode contains strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised.The series producer is Meera Kumar. The story editors are Thomas Curry and Steven Jackson. Thomas Curry is the managing producer. Audio mix and sound-design by Steven Jackson. Featured music from the RVNG catalog. Artwork by Anthony Campbell.The staff of CBC Podcasts are senior producer Kate Evans, coordinating pro

We are thrilled to share our new show Fire Escape, in partnership with Wondery! This 10 episode series, hosted by Anna Sussman, explores one woman’s journey as an incarcerated firefighter as she fights fire from behind bars -- defying a system intent on burying her under the weight of her worst moment.This episode contains strong language and mentions a car crash and its aftermath. Please take care while listening.Episode 1: The CrashHow did Amika Mota go from a midwife and mother of three to a prisoner inside one of the largest women's prisons on Earth? Handcuffed to a hospital bed, awaiting trial, Amika tries to come to grips with the tragic crash that cost one man his life and took her away from her children. Inside the Chowchilla prison walls, she faces the "green cops" and the threat of solitary confinement. Outside the walls sits Firehouse Five, the home of the legendary crew of incarcerated firefighters called the Fire Girls.Thank you, Amika Mota, for your help and generosity in sharing your story with

A dolphin named Dr. Spock is in danger and NBA star Clifford Ray is the only man big enough to lend a hand. Plus, torrential rain is ripping through the Appalachians and the people of the mountain are all looking for Plan B.STORIESJust Another Day for Big Clifford RayA dolphin named Dr. Spock is in danger and NBA star Clifford Ray is the only man big enough to lend a hand.A huge thank you to Clifford Ray and Mary O’Herron for sharing their story with the Snap! This year, Big Cliff and Author Laynie D. Weaver teamed up to bring Clifford and Dr. Spock’s story to life in an illustrated Children’s book titled “Big Clifford Ray Saves The Day.” Want more Big Cliff? Follow him on Instagram or X.Produced by Bo Walsh, original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff , artwork by Teo DucotPlan BSnap Storyteller, Dr. Ray Christian, found himself trapped by the rising floodwaters of hurricane Helene, he knew he had to flee. But he also knew that meant leaving behind all of his animals, including his favorite goat. Thank you, Ray, for