Before Scott died, he bequeathed to his brothers his beloved pet parrot, Harry. The brothers promised to care for the... more

Loch swears his kindergarten teacher used to steal his cheese. But no one believes him. Credits This episode was produced by Phoebe... more

When Yasser was a boy, he saw a cartoon that changed his life. He’s been searching for it ever since.... more

Heavyweight will be back next week with a brand new episode. But today, we’re excited to introduce you to Death,... more

In 1993, Nick was shot in an Idaho motel room. One stranger came to his aid. Nick wants to find... more

One morning, Amy opened her mailbox and found a package with 44 photos inside—photos of complete strangers. Now Amy wonders:... more

After his father’s death, Toby found a box of cassette tapes in his dad’s house. These private recordings tell the... more

Heavyweight will be back with a new episode next week. In the meantime, we’re excited to introduce you to a... more

Victor can’t stop painting portraits of his ex-wife, decades after their divorce. You can find Victor's work at victorrodrigueznyc.com, or on... more

On Valentine’s Day in junior high, Leif was supposed to ask Kalila out. But he never did. Seventeen years later,... more

Lenny was Jonathan's childhood best friend, but they drifted apart as they grew into adulthood. Now, Lenny is dying and... more

Here’s a taste of what’s in store. Season 8 begins October 5th. Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your... more

In 1525, the Archbishop of Glasgow placed a curse on the Elliott family. Now, 500 years later, one very unlucky... more

Is Nick hearing his dead brother’s voice in a song by a Grammy-nominated musician? Credits Heavyweight is hosted and produced by Jonathan... more

For Jesse, Tori has always been the one that got away. Credits This Heavyweight short was hosted and produced by Stevie Lane,... more

When Stephanie was in high school, a bookstore seemingly dropped out of the sky into her small Texas town. Then,... more

Ben was just a kid when Sihan arrived from Korea. He lived with Ben’s family for several years. And then... more

Maia found a painting in the garbage and took it home. But as it turned out, it wasn’t just any... more

One day in high school, Cody received a hug that melted his heart. Sixteen years later and he still can’t... more

On Dan’s first date with his wife Nancy, a stranger took their photograph. Nineteen years later, Dan wants the photo... more

When Melanie was a kid, she recorded Billy Ray Cyrus’s 1993 TV Special over something irreplaceable: the sole copy of... more

Sara received a letter from a woman with the exact same name as her. In it, the woman claimed to... more

When Maura was 17, her favorite cousin died in a car crash. Maura’s been too afraid to drive ever since.... more

When Mark was in college, his dream was to be a famous painter. It’s a dream he missed out on... more

This is the second and final part of episode #40 Barbara Shutt. So if you’ve not yet heard it, go... more

In 1968, Jonathan’s mother-in-law Becky spent one of the best summers of her life with a woman named Barbara. But... more

This is the second and final part of last week’s episode. So if you’ve not yet heard the episode “Justine,”... more

Growing up, Justine’s father always told her unbelievable stories about his life: that he was a big winner on Jeopardy;... more

Before he became a best-selling author, John Green was going to dedicate his life to God. Until he crossed paths... more

Throughout high school, Brandon was a misfit. Then one day, out of the blue, one of the school’s prettiest, most popular... more

Adam swears he met Fidel Castro in Montreal 25 years ago. But ever since, no one’s believed him. Fortunately for... more

Heavyweight often features grownups grappling with childhood trauma. But in today’s Heavyweight Short, Jonathan visits a place where children grapple... more

When Hallie was 17, she spent a few minutes with a stranger who changed her life. A decade later, Hallie... more

Happy holidays! In our last check in of 2020, Stevie confronts her grandfather with a question she’s been afraid to... more

Jonathan speaks with Curtis Sittenfeld about her novel Rodham, which deals with many of the themes we explore on Heavyweight: things like... more

Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila are back, to talk about Thanksgiving and music. Music and mix by Bobby Lord. Additional music by... more

Rachel and Jon are siblings who were separated as young children. Jonathan helps them confront the woman responsible... fifty years... more

Every time Annie’s family comes to town, they exclude her from their plans. Annie needs to know why. Credits This episode of... more

How the worst McDonald’s commercial ever made came to be. And how Bobby got mixed up in it. Credits Heavyweight is hosted... more

In 1995, Vivian’s uncle Helio died of AIDS. Now, 25 years later, Vivian’s on a search to find the man... more

Mason Reese was the biggest child star of the early 1970's. Recently, he posted a YouTube video of himself crying.... more

As we turn our attention back to producing classic Heavyweight episodes, we leave you with one last check in. SPOILER... more

During these times of uncertainty and sadness, we bring you two stories of two women seeking the comfort of childhood.... more

Milestones and cramped houses. Mix by Bobby Lord. Music by Christine Fellows, Bobby Lord, and Blue Dot Sessions. Learn more about your... more

Jonathan surprises Stevie and Kalila with some special friends from seasons past who, wouldn’t you know it, are still in... more

Stuck in new homes and old. Mix by Bobby Lord. Music by Christine Fellows and Bobby Lord. Also, we put together a... more

A lot of people have been feeling lonely lately. So, they've been reaching out. Music by Christine Fellows and Bobby Lord.... more

Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila check in, to talk about what’s been going on in their lives, and in your lives,... more

Things are feeling strange and uncertain right now. So we on the Heavyweight team decided to record our day and... more

Jonathan’s oldest friend, Marie-Claude, had a problem in high school. At 50, she thought it was behind her. But the... more

After a drunken slip of the tongue, Steve Marsh and his siblings discover a secret their mother has been keeping... more

When Elyse was 21, her father, Billy, disappeared without explanation. When Elyse finally learned of his whereabouts, she was shocked... more

In his twenties, Jonathan began seeing an inscrutable, mysterious therapist. After 6 years without progress, she told him it wasn’t... more

Eight years ago, when Scott was addicted to heroin, he crossed a line he thought he would never cross. And... more

Ashley’s grandmother, Beverley, had a hard life and an unhappy marriage. But she spoke frequently of a man named Van.... more

Becky and Jo were raised by a procession of eccentric babysitters, 16 in total. But their favorite was Leticia. The... more

When he was only 10 years old, Jonathan Marshall was sent on a 240 mile bicycle trip. 3 days. Across... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter... more

16 years ago, Gimlet Media CEO and founder Alex Blumberg made a promise that he didn’t keep. And it’s been... more

Russian Ark is a cinematic masterpiece. Dozens of sets, thousands of actors, years of planning. It’s a perfectly executed work... more

Ten years ago, Rachael had a baby. She never told the father. All these years later, she thinks it’s about... more

When Soraya was in college, her favorite professor hired her to help research a book she was writing. But when... more

Joey recently had a very bad day, all due to awkward misunderstandings. So now, he's enlisted the help of Jonathan... more

Heavyweight performed a sold-out live show in Brooklyn, NY, last June. Jonathan is joined by This American Life’s Zoe Chace... more

Sven was on a jury that sentenced a man named Paul Storey to death. He's regretted it ever since. Then,... more

When Skye was in middle school, her best friends showed up at her home one night and wrote “f*ck you”... more

Rob remembers breaking his arm as a kid. But the rest of his family says it never happened. Did he... more

During a visit back home, Jonathan’s mother inadvertently admits something that forces him to question his past. In this season... more

In 1999, an old suitcase was found abandoned on a Brooklyn street corner. The suitcase contained 5 years worth of... more

Ken Carter was a Canadian daredevil who dreamt of performing the biggest stunt the world had ever seen. He wanted... more

Four years ago, Jesse was hit by a car and nearly died. Now he wants to find the driver. And... more

When Christina was in 11th grade, her foster mother made her quit playing basketball. After that, she felt like her... more

Over a decade ago, Rose was kicked out of her college sorority. “You know what you did,” was the only... more

Last season’s episode, "Gregor," led to an unfortunate event that Jonathan could’ve never predicted. In this pre-season episode, he tries... more

When Jonathan was 16, he went to synagogue every morning. He even thought that one day he might become a... more

In grade 8, Julia was bullied so badly by a group of girls that she changed schools without telling anyone.... more

James’s father’s dying wish was for his ashes to be disposed of on the 18th hole of a fancy private... more

Galit was Jonathan’s first girlfriend. When she dumped him, he cried a lot and then locked away his emotional vulnerability... more

Years ago, Tony messed up his relationship with each of his three godchildren owing to three difficult chapters in his... more

Jonathan watched a short experimental video in college in which a little girl sat in silence while her parent sobbed.... more

20 years ago, Gregor lent some CDs to a musician friend. The CDs helped make him a famous rockstar. Now,... more

Buzz and Sheldon are brothers in their eighties who have been estranged for decades. Buzz visits Sheldon to see if... more

Maybe you’ve laid awake imagining how it could have been, how it might yet be, but the moment to act... more