Snap Judgment

Snap Judgment and PRX

Snap Judgment mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap’s raw, musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. It's storytelling... with a BEAT.

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Our Editor's Take

What happens when immersive audio beats blend with first-person storytelling? Will the combination hold a captive audience? Public Radio Exchange's podcast Snap Judgment attempts this bold experiment. This is a musical brand of storytelling. Each tale unfolds with cinematic musical beats and dramatic narration. This, in the words of the podcast itself, is “Storytelling... with a beat.”

Listeners can expect a buffet of stories from all walks of life. The podcast shares perspectives from every facet imaginable. The series plucks its content from unexpected and unimaginable sources. In each episode, Snap Judgment delivers an original tale accompanied by climatic music. Every account offers an authentic human perspective, from survival stories to strange experiments. Listeners should know many of the podcast episodes contain sensitive topics.

Listeners get to cruise with Mary Gidley and ten others in the strangest group experiment of all time. They also get to discover the origins of white gold fever. These are but a taste of the flavor of adventures to come with Snap Judgment.

Award-winning media personality and host Glynn Washington anchors the Snap Judgment podcast. Producer Annie Nguyen joins the crew with score composer Leon Morimoto and designer Teo Ducot.

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ArtsArts

Episodes

The League of Impersonators - Snap Classic
Oct 3 2024
The League of Impersonators - Snap Classic
When Umid is trapped behind enemy lines, he gets help... from two of the world’s most dangerous men. And a glitch in time brings mayhem to a man’s life day after day… no matter how many times he resets his clocks.This episode contains some strong language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.STORIESThe League of ImpersonatorsWhen Umid Isabaev is trapped behind enemy lines, he gets help… from two of the world’s most dangerous men.Thank you, Umid, for sharing your story with Snap!Thanks to Ethan Herschenfeld who voiced Umid’s words, and to, Mars Lipowski, who was the voice of Steve Poland. BIG thanks as well to our translators for this piece, Muhitdin Ahunhodjaev and Magdalena Balz.The three fake heads of state reunited recently in Poland for a magazine photo shoot! This photo will also be on our social media accounts.Want more from the Kim Jong Un Look-alike? Check out his Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Trying to hear from the Putin Look-alike? Visit his website.Produced by John Fecile & Anne Ford, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot.Time GlitchJoel Gheen is out of the military, newly married, and in college. His new life is going great… if he could just catch the damn bus.Thank you, Joel, for sharing your story with us!If you’re hungry for more details about Joel’s experience with a real-life glitch in the matrix, check out his website. Joel also has a fun podcast that covers weird topics from a Biblical perspective. Listen to hear all the paranormal stuff that never gets discussed from a traditional church pulpit or Bible study.Produced by Anne Ford, original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff.Season 15 – Episode 43
We Have A Problem
Sep 26 2024
We Have A Problem
Four comics score a sweet gig in the Deep South. It’s champagne, a Benz, and maybe even a Kevin Hart appearance. But their dream of life behind the velvet rope is about to get a rude awakening. Plus, do we take the Honolulu ghost tour with Lopaka, or the big time wresting match with Johnny All Black? You only get one double life on the latest Snap.STORIESWe Have A ProblemComics, Lamarr Todd, Matt Black, and Ken Jones, score a sweet gig in the Deep South. It’s champagne, a Benz, and maybe even a Kevin Hart appearance. But their dream of life behind the velvet rope is about to get a rude awakening. BIG thanks to, Lamarr Todd, for sharing his story with Snap! Lamarr is a standup comedian and a featured judge at First Person Arts in Philadelphia. Find out about his tour dates and current exploits on Instagram and X.Matt Black and Ken Jones are also lighting up comedy stages around the country! Find Matt on Instagram. Find Ken on Instagram and X. Produced by Justin Kramon, original score by Clay Xavier.Double BookedDo we take the Honolulu ghost tour with Lopaka, or the big time wresting match with Johnny All Black? You only get one double life on the latest Snap.Thank you, Lopaka, for sharing your story! Lopaka still leads ghost tours in Honolulu today. Want to hear some of Lopaka’s stories from the dark side? Head on over to our evil twin sister show, Spooked... you can listen on any podcast platform.Produced by Zoë Ferrigno, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot.Season 15 - Episode 42
The Sound of Home from Mind Your Own
Sep 19 2024
The Sound of Home from Mind Your Own
Snap Studios introduces an epic collaboration years in the making... "Mind Your Own." A new storytelling show hosted and produced by Lupita Nyong'o, that navigates what it means to belong all from an African perspective.Lupita Nyong’o knows what home feels like. But where exactly is it? In Mexico, where she was born? Kenya, where she grew up? Or the States, where she’s spent the past 20 years?Like Lupita, millions of Africans are spread out across the globe following family, searching for love, building futures and creating stories. It's these stories – wild and messy, intimate and joyous – that she wants to hear. Join Lupita as she shares tales of her own and dives into the lives of real people finding their way in new worlds of every kind.Episode 1: The Sound of HomeSound travels in all directions, but your feet can only follow in one.“Losing My Accent”: Lupita takes on an American accent when she becomes an actor-in-training at Yale.Original score by Ian Hughes Pelton AKA Tofu Jack.“Obaa Sima”: How long can a song stay in your heart? A musical journey from Ghana to Germany to Canada transports Yaw Atta-Owusu from the toy store to the dance floor.Big thanks to Yaw for sharing his story with us! Check out the Obaa Sima album featured in this episode. Thanks as well to Awesome Tapes From Africa for sharing Yaw’s music with us.Produced by Marisa Dodge and Regina Bediako with assistance from Bo Walsh. Original score by Clay Xavier, with additional music from Marla Kether and Ata Kak.Original Mind Your Own theme song by Sandra Lawson-Ndu AKA Sandu Ndu x Peachcurls ft. Ehiorobo. This episode also featured the song Show My Side by CKay ft. Amaarae.Executive Producers: Glynn Washington and Mark RistichManaging Editor: Regina BediakoDirector of Production: Marisa DodgeSeries Producers: David Exumé and Priscilla AlabiMusic Supervisor: Sandra Lawson-NduStory Scouts: Ashley Okwuosa, Fiona Nyong’o, Jessica Kariisa, Lesedi Oluko MocheEditors: Nancy López and Anna SussmanEngineering: Miles LassiOperations Manager: Florene WileyStory Consultant: John FecileGraphic Design: Jemimah EkehOriginal Artwork: Mateus SitholeSpecial Thanks: Allan Coye, Jake Kleinberg, Samara Still, Sarah Yoo, Warner Music Group, and Afripods.Episode transcripts can be found here.Mind Your Own is a production of KQED’s Snap Studios, with sales and distribution by Lemonada Media. Hosted and produced by Lupita Nyong’o.
Run For It - Snap Classic
Jul 4 2024
Run For It - Snap Classic
A woman’s life changes forever when she decides to tell a secret that she’s kept for 23 years. The first all-woman race car driving team in the Middle East is forced to find the center of gravity on and off the track. And a young boy makes waves in his family.STORIESRacing HaroldGlynn races a rival for the ultimate prize.Score and Sound Design by Pat Mesiti-MillerThe Secret Life of Katherine Ann PowerWhat happens when you decide to keep a secret for a really long time...And then, you decide to tell.To learn more about Katherine’s experience, check out her book Doing Time: Papers from Framingham PrisonProduced by Adizah Eghan, original score by Renzo GorrioSpeed SistersMarah is the best racer on the Speed Sisters team--the first all-female racing collective in the Arab world. That is, until Betty joins the team.This story is a collaboration with Amber Fares, director of the documentary Speed Sisters. Produced by Eliza Smith, sound production by Leon MorimotoTranslation and voice over: Amber Fares, as Marah. Jazmin Aguilera, as Betty. Avery Trufelman, as Maysoon. Mark Ristich, as Marah’s dad. Pat Mesiti-Miller, as Khaled.The Boy Who Made WavesJoe Blair is a pipe fitter in Iowa who writes in his spare time. He is the father of four, including one autistic son—Michael--who has been both a source of joy and a source of stress.This story was brought to us by Modern Love: the Podcast, a collaboration between The New York Times and WBUR Boston. It takes essays from the paper’s popular Sunday column and matches them with top talent from the stage and screen. Mykelti Williamson, who played "Bubba" in Forrest Gump and most recently Gabriel in the Oscar-nominated film "Fences" reads Joe Blair's essay "For The Boy Who Makes Waves."For more incredible stories of modern Love, go visit the Modern Love website and subscribe to their podcast.Then check out Joe Blair’s memoir, By The Iowa Sea, about the joys and sorrows of life on the great plains. And if you haven't already, go see Mykelti Williamson in Fences, directed by Denzel Washington. Original score by Pat Mesiti-MillerEpisode artwork by Teo DucotSeason 15 - Episode 30
The Secret Adventures of Black People - Snap Classic
Jun 13 2024
The Secret Adventures of Black People - Snap Classic
A woman recounts her Aunt’s fairytale love story while searching for her own Modern Romance. An African princess learns she is truly beautiful. And a precocious eight-year-old finds himself on the brink of a revolution.STORIESModern RomanceIn the second half of her life, Stephanie found her classic Hollywood romance. Now she attempts to understand the strange and confusing world of dating apps to help her niece – and the show’s host Nichole – find her happily ever after.This story comes to us from The Secret Adventures of Black People, hosted by Nichole Hill. This incredible podcast tells the stories of Black people holding it down across space and time. Be sure to check out the show and subscribe to the podcast at TheSecretAdventuresOfBlackPeople.comStay in touch by joining the newsletter, following their Instagram, or by sending an email to secretadventuresofblackpeople@gmail.comModern Romance was written and produced by Nichole Hill with production assistance by Shonte Hill, and story editing assistance by Talia Bender. Special thanks to Stephanie Camolli!Music: Epidemic SoundBeautiful – Sonya Renee TaylorAn African princess learns she is truly beautiful.This story was performed by Sonya Renee Taylor at Snap LIVE in DC. Sonya Renee Taylor is an internationally acclaimed performance poet, actress, educator, and activist. The LIVE score was composed by amazing Alex Mandel & performed by Alex Mandel, David Brandt, and Tim Frick. Watch Sonya’s Snap LIVE performance.Liberation – Latif DomanWhen Latif Doman is growing up in Philly, he takes his schoolwork seriously… which is unfortunate for the parents in his neighborhood.Many thanks to Latif and Story District for bringing us this story!Snap Classic - Season 15 – Episode 26