Heavyweight

When Dan was 22, he lied his way into becoming the batting coach for La Fortitudo, one of Italy's most dominant professional baseball teams. What followed was the team's worst season in their history. 30 years later, Dan sets out to face his old teammates and come clean. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan talks with married journalists Alice Gregory and Leon Neyfakh, hosts of the new Pushkin series Death of an Artist, Season 3 . The series tells the story of another married couple: artists Petra and Michael Mathers, who took their lives together, leaving dozens of enigmatic letters behind. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a kid, Cayden was repressed, quiet, and very much closeted. But on a church mission trip, he met Andrew, who inspired him to come out. Now, as an adult, Cayden wants to know what became of Andrew. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In February, the Heavyweight team headed to Brooklyn for a live show at On Air Fest. There was a countdown of Jonathan’s most regrettable moments from the show, and an audience Q&A with producers Kalila and Stevie. And fortunately for you, we recorded it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're taking a break to bring you an episode of This Is Love, from the makers of Criminal and hosted by Phoebe Judge. Where Heavyweight explores past regrets, This Is Love looks at the expansiveness of all kinds of love — sometimes love between people, sometimes not.  In June of 2016, Dion Leonard attempted one of the toughest races in the world — a 155-mile ultramarathon through...

Tamara and B were best friends and roommates at their Christian boarding school. Then, in 12th grade, a teacher declared B to be possessed by a demon and an exorcism was performed. B and Tamara stopped speaking soon after. Tamara’s worried about B ever since.  If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, dial the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Those outside the...

When Songe was 8 years old, he made fun of a girl with a facial tic. Just months later, he developed tics of his own—the first signs of the Tourette Syndrome he still lives with today. It felt like cosmic punishment. Songe has wanted to apologize to the girl ever since. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Jenna was eight years old, she was taken from her mom and placed with a foster family called the Grizzles. For two and a half years, she built a life with them, and when they asked to adopt her, Jenna was thrilled. But then, abruptly, the Grizzles changed their minds. Three decades later, Jenna still wonders: What happened? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heavyweight returns on September 17.   Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Pushkin+ subscribers can get all episodes ad-free! Sign up on the Heavyweight Apple show page or at pushkin.fm/plus . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James’s father’s dying wish was for his ashes to be spread on the 18th hole of a fancy private golf course. That was 16 years ago. In this episode, James, Jonathan, and their friend Howard attempt a golf heist to get into the club and set things right. In today's update, Jonathan calls up James for one last interview. Just when James thinks he's out, we pull him back in! You can sign u...

Jonathan and Kalila go toe-to-toe as guests on the children’s debate podcast, Smash Boom Best , where they debate the merits of phone calls vs. texting. We had a lot of fun doing it, and—if it’s not too bold to presume—we think you will have fun listening to it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In grade 8, Julia was bullied so badly by a group of girls that she changed schools without telling anyone. Soon after, the girls from her old school showed up at her house and rang her doorbell. She didn’t answer it. For the past 20 years, Julia’s been wondering what those girls wanted. Ten years after the release of this episode, we check back in with Julia, to hear how her life chan...

Throughout high school, Brandon was a misfit. Then one day, out of the blue, one of the school’s prettiest, most popular girls asked him to prom. Fifteen years later, Brandon wants to know: why him? Four years after the release of his episode, we check back in with Brandon to learn what's changed and get an update on his underwear situation. You can sign up for our free newsletter at  p...

Maia found a painting in the garbage and took it home. But as it turned out, it wasn’t just any painting. In this update, Kalila learns that she might have been looking at the painting all wrong. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was hosted and produced by Kalila Holt, along with Jonathan Goldstein. Our supervising producer is Stevie Lane. Produc...

When Christina was in 11th grade, her foster mother made her quit playing basketball. After that, she felt like her life never got back on course. And so, she’s always wanted to ask her foster mother: why’d you make me quit? Now, 9 years after the episode originally aired, we check back in with Christina, and she tells us about seeing her foster mother one last time. You can sign up fo...

When Skye was in middle school, her best friends showed up at her home one night and wrote “f*ck you” on her garage door. After that, they never spoke again. Decades later, at the urging of her eleven-year-old son, Clark, Skye sets off to finally ask them why. In this update, Skye tells us how that confrontation has shaped her and Clark in the years since. You can sign up for our free...

This week, Jonathan joins the ranks of A-list celebrities as a guest on NPR's Wild Card with Rachel Martin . Death, ghosts, the pleasures and perils of talking to strangers... Rachel and Jonathan talk about it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Elyse was 21, her father, Billy, disappeared without explanation. When Elyse finally learned of his whereabouts, she was shocked by the new life he was living. Seven years after the release of this episode, we check back in with Elyse, and she tells us all about what's happened with her dad in the time since. You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight This episode was...

Today, we speak with Jonathan's longtime friend Tony. A lot's changed in his life since the episode came out ten years ago.  Tony messed up his relationship with each of his three godchildren owing to three difficult chapters in his life. Now, childless and single in his late 40’s, and fearing he may never have kids of his own, Tony wants to win them back. You can sign up for our free n...

What to expect from Heavyweight this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part one, Jonathan and his wife, Emily, check in. In part two, the story of a family forced into hiding after an ICE shooting. Places to donate: Yamelis's GoFundMe Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota Immigrant Defense Network MN50501 Mutual Aid Additional thanks to Joe Midthun. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Heavyweight team is hard at work on some episode updates for later this spring, as well as a brand new season, which will be coming this fall. But in the meantime, we wanted to “wet your whistles,” so to speak, with another show that we respect and enjoy. It’s called (00:04:30) Death, Sex & Money . In this episode, host Anna Sale talks to listeners about their appearance...

At 101 years old, Deborah discovered a box she'd stashed away a lifetime ago. What was inside reignited an old love and turned her life upside down. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm . You'll also get an exclusive bonus episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls came to be and share a never-before-ai...

Meredith unknowingly ate a bag of her teenage son’s weed gummies. She wants him to apologize. He wants her to apologize. At a stand-off, they call Jonathan for help. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm . You'll also get an exclusive bonus episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls came to be and...

Kevin's childhood was a hard one. But it was made bearable by his neighborhood friends, Jason and Gerald. Then, one afternoon, the boys just vanished. Over thirty years later, Kevin still hasn't forgotten them. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm . You'll also get an exclusive bonus episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how t...