Snap Judgment

When a young man is told is he going deaf, he sets out on a challenge to memorize the songs that defined his life. He had no idea that those songs would come back to him in the most unexpected way. A version of this story aired on KQED's Q'ed up Podcast. Producer: April Dembosky Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Sound Design: Leon Morimoto and April Dembosky

At the height of the Cold War, Ulrike Poppe just might have been the most surveilled woman in the world. But it was only after the wall fell that things got really interesting. Be sure to check out Luisa Beck’s reporting on all things Germany at The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/luisa-beck/?utm_term=.c495d38cb924) as well as the work of reporter Andrew Curry, whose article in Wired first got us interested in Ulrike’s story(www.andrewcurry.com). And if you’re interested in Stasi Records Agency, can you visit their English-language website to learn more. https://www.bstu.bund.de/EN/Home/home_node.html Producer: Luisa Beck (with Production Help From Joe Rosenberg) Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

For two years, Isis fought to take over the city of Mosul, killing 40,000 civilians. This is a story about a group of men and women, from around the world, who packed up their bags flew into Iraq, and made their way to Mosul, to try their hand at fighting Isis, back. Check out more from the Free Burma Rangers at http://www.freeburmarangers.org/ Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

When a rising high school track star in Eritrea, East Africa, is arrested under the military dictatorship, he realizes he might have a way out....run. For more information about issues facing African migrants in Israel and resources on how to help, visit Israeli organization Kav LaOved’s website: http://www.kavlaoved.org.il/en/about/aboutkavlaoved/ Teklit Michal writes a blog for Times of Israel and hosts a news channel in Tirgrinya for fellow Eritreans in Israel. You can follow his work on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fissehaye.teklit Producer: Shaina Shealy

On Atlas Peak there is one way in and one way out. When wildfire threatened their homes, the only escape route...was up. Sukey Lewis is an investigative reporter for KQED public radio out of San Francisco. The Atlas Peak fire was just one of a series of catastrophic fires that broke out that night across northern California. 44 people in all died in those fires. Check out KQED's fire investigation. Original Score: Davey Kim Producer: Sukey Lewis

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Breakfast Of Champions." Stories of young people using every trick in their little arsenal to win praise and love, only to find themselves alone in the end.

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Breakfast Of Champions." Stories of young people using every trick in their little arsenal to win praise and love, only to find themselves alone in the end.

Terry Galloway is ten years old and absolutely in love with the idea of summer camp. The only problem is, her family can’t afford it. But after she fails a hearing test at school, Terry learns that she is deaf -- and also eligible to attend The Lions Camp for Crippled Children, a summer camp that is free to kids with disabilities. The summer of 1960, just got way more exciting. Terry Galloway is a writer, director and performer for stage, radio, and film. For more about Terry’s childhood in Texas, check out her book Mean Little Deaf Queer. Producer: Adizah Eghan Original Score: Leon Morimoto

In 1958, Charles Li spent one of the strangest, most difficult years of his life in a Communist Chinese reform school. Charles Li is a professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara. To read more of his story, check out his book, “The Bitter Sea: Coming of Age in a China before Mao.” Producer: Liz Mak Original Score: Leon Morimoto

A young man can’t shake his dead ringer resemblance to Rick Moranis for years until one night he’s able to use it for an adventure. This was recorded live at the monthly 'Tales of the Cosmos' show at the UC Beast in New York City's Lower East Side. It is the first Saturday of the month at 7pm. Hear more stories by Adam Wade. Producer: Jamie DeWolf

Snap proudly presents "The Trouble With Shannon Cason." KC Wilbourn was a rising star in education, turning around some of Detroit’s most troubled public schools. But in order to do that, she cut some legal corners that put her in prison. Do the ends justify the means? Check out the new podcast "The Trouble with Shannon Cason" and connect on Twitter @TheTroublePod

Counted: An Oakland Story is a yearlong look at the people lost to Oakland’s violence. During 2017, a team of Snap Judgment producers, learned about Oakland’s homicide victims, their families and communities. Visit oaklandstory.org for more interviews, photos, and illustrations. CREDITS: "Counted: An Oakland Story" was produced by Adizah Eghan, Anna Sussman, Shaina Shealy, Jonathan Jones, Pat Mesiti-Miller, Nancy Lopez, Jazmin Aguilera, Eliza Smith, and Pendarvis Harshaw. Co-hosts of "Counted: An Oakland Story" are Adizah Eghan and Daryle Allums Senior Producer Adizah Eghan with Anna Sussman Original Concept by Jonathan Jones Original Score by Pat-Mesiti-Miller, Leon Morimoto, and Renzo Gorrio Photography by Cinque Mubarak Artwork by Abner Hauge, Teo Ducot, and Shaina Shealy Additional production by Teo Ducot and Liz Mak Special thanks to Fantastic Negrito who contributed music from the album “The Last Days of Oakland” Website by Teo Ducot, Jeremy Rue, and Shaina Shealy Executive Producers: Mark Ristich and Glynn Washington

The life and death of David Deporis excerpted from the full episode "Counted: An Oakland Story." Check out more about David Deporis at https://www.davedeporis.com/ Learn more about the victims, their families,and the community of Oakland at OaklandStory.org

The life and death of Darnell Foster excerpted from the full episode "Counted: An Oakland Story." Learn more about the victims, their families,and the community of Oakland at OaklandStory.org

The life and death of Anibal Andres Ramirez excerpted from the full episode "Counted: An Oakland Story." Learn more about the victims, their families,and the community of Oakland at OaklandStory.org

The life and death of Jason Coleman excerpted from the full episode "Counted: An Oakland Story." Learn more about the victims, their families,and the community of Oakland at OaklandStory.org

The life and death of Sultan Bey excerpted from the full episode "Counted: An Oakland Story." Learn more about the victims, their families,and the community of Oakland at OaklandStory.org

Airlifted out of Baghdad into Israel, Avraham was about to get a new life in a new land… Avraham’s story was included in a 12-part Hebrew webseries called Neviim: Operation Amram by Elad Ben Elul (@Eladbenelul) and Yossi Brauman. Read hundreds more testimonies like Avraham’s at Amram’s website . The Amram association has collected hundreds of saliva samples from people who connected to the kidnapping affair and can be contacted at amram.dna at gmail.com. Producer: Shaina Shealy Vocal Translator: Noam Eshel Written Translation: Tal Janner-Klausner and Shira Rubin Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

In 1989, an enormous earthquake struck the Bay Area. One of Oakland’s major arteries, the Cypress Freeway, collapsed. And one man named Raven, a local Oaklander, left his home, and dove into the wreckage to save lives. This story comes from Liam O'Donoghue, host and producer of the podcast East Bay Yesterday. https://eastbayyesterday.com/ Producer: Liam O'Donoghue and Eliza Smith Original Score: Davey Kim

How far would you go to find the perfect cup of coffee? The story of how Mokhtar Akhanshali braved a civil war to bring Yemeni coffee to the world, based on the new non-fiction book by Dave Eggers, The Monk of Mokha. Dave Egger’s biography of Mokhtar, The Monk of Mokha, is available wherever books are sold. And be sure to check out the book’s instagram at @themonkofmokha. (https://www.amazon.com/Monk-Mokha-Dave-Eggers/dp/1101947314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518119122&sr=8-1&keywords=the+monk+of+mokha)

Ear Hustle brings you stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it. The podcast is a partnership between Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, and Nigel Poor, a Bay Area artist. The team works in San Quentin’s media lab to produce stories that are sometimes difficult, often funny, and always honest, offering a nuanced view of people living within the American prison system. Find out more about Ear Hustle and subscribe to the podcast on their website www.EarHustleSQ.com

Three San Francisco high school seniors try to make sense adulthood. We spend a year with them as they fight for their futures, in a rapidly changing city. Producer: Adizah Eghan, Liz Mak, Eliza Smith, Anna Sussman and Mark Ristich. Original Score: Pat Mesiti-Miller and Renzo Gorrio

What happens when boy meets girl and… fungus? This is a story about love and spores, from one of our favorite podcasts, Love Me. You can find more episodes of Love Me at cbc.ca/loveme, or whenever you listen to podcasts. Be sure to check out producer Jonathan Zenti’s podcast, Meat. Producer: Mira Burt-Wintonick, Cristal Duhaime, and Jonathan Zenti

What if you were born to twerk it, but you didn't know how to work it? Estee Rose grew up in a tight-knit Ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Brooklyn. Find out how she reclaims her faith after she loses it in a tumultuous series of events. To channel Estee’s tunes, check out producer Shaina Shealy’s Spotify playlist, “Zumba Estee”. Additional thanks to the Jerusalem International YMCA, the Dorot Foundation, and Natalie Ben Ami. Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Producer: Shaina Shealy

There are big stories with weight, little stories with heart, and then the stories that are just STOOPID.

Actress Diona Reasonover was on the brink of her big break. But she never expected it to happen while she was on her vacation. Diona Reasonover is an actress who lives in LA, you can check out her writing on “I Love You America” with Sarah Silverman on Hulu. Producer: Adizah Eghan Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

Date With The Devil When he was younger, Greg Stone was always a good boyfriend. Or, he tried to be. Producer: Liz Mak Original Score: Leon Morimoto

You can feel when Christmas starts sweeping New York. The tree goes up in Rockefeller plaza, snow piles on lampposts. For Dylan and Jim, the mailbox at their apartment on 22nd Street starts to fill up with letters to Santa. Thanks so much to the New York Times and Sarah Klein for making this gorgeous mini documentary about Dylan and Jim. It’s a must-watch. If you’re in New York, help Dylan and Jim out by visiting their Facebook page, but they ask that you also participate in Operation Santa. Operation Santa fulfills letters to Santa from children across the nation. You can get your own letter to fulfill at your local post office. Producer: Stephanie Foo

It ain’t good ‘til yer hungry.” Snap Judgment host Glynn Washington brings us face to face with the world’s most satisfying buffet. Story by Glynn Washington Produced by Stephanie Foo

Long before Snap’s own Jazmin Aguilera was a producer, she sang with Music Makers, an impressively well-produced child’s Christian choir. But there was just one problem: The director Janet. Producer: Jazmin Aguilera

Snap story makers look back on their favorite stories of 2017.

The Snap Judgment Holiday Special features Glynn in feast mode, two good Santas in "Miracle on 22nd Street," a misguided angel in "Preaching to the Choir," and Snap story makers as they look back on their favorite stories of 2017.

Let Moss Hills take you on sea cruise … To learn more about the sinking of the Oceanos, be sure to check out: www.oceanossinking.com/ And you like that, you definitely won’t want to miss the video of the ship’s final moments: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfIZ6rcySuY Producer: Joe Rosenberg Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

In 1962, in a very small, very white suburb of Chicago, a young couple set out to adopt a baby girl. This story was produced in collaboration with The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/us/the-adopted-black-baby-and-the-white-one-who-replaced-her.html Producers: Amy Roost and Anna Sussman Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

James Vlahos wanted to keep his dad around for as long as possible, so he saved the best part about him in the best way he knew how. Vlahos is also working on a book, Talk To Me, about the quest to create conversation-making A.I.s. Check out his article about dadbot in Wired Magazine. Follow James on Twitter @jamesvlahos Producer: Jazmin Aguilera Original Score: Renzo Gorrio

This season Snap Judgment gives our thanks by sharing some of our best stories of courage and gratitude.

What do you do when a life-threatening disease makes it too dangerous to save the person closest to you? Dr. Phillip Ireland was a physician at JFK Hospital in Liberia during the virulent outbreak of Ebola in 2014 when families were torn apart by the runaway virus. Producer: Jake Halpern Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Special thanks to Yale NGN. Additonal assistance: Mark Ristich, Anna Sussman, Adizah Eghan and Eliza Smith For more on the work of producer Jake Halpern go to www.jakehalpern.com/

When Ray Christian was a young boy, he longed to hear the voice of God. Check out his podcast here. Producer: Davey Kim Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

Lynn Schooler grew up in Alaska hearing rumor after rumor about the elusive blue bear. He never gave it much thought until a friend convinced him they go out searching for one. What Lynn ended up finding was, of course, something much different. For more on Lynn Schooler’s work check out this website and his Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/lynn.schooler?ref=tn_tnmn Producer: Nancy Lopez Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio and Davey Kim

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, http://www.cadenza.ca/index.php/en/talking-to-the-moon-en/ You can learn more about Elena and Meg’s journey at their other website, anticruise.online. Producer: Liz Mak Original Score: Leon Morimoto

Tameer is part of an ethnic minority in northern Israel called Druze. When he is struck on the head as a young boy he inherits an entire new lifetime of memories. Original Score: Renzo Gorrio Producer: Shaina Shealy

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Spooked VIII: The Vanishing." You get a feeling, a tingle in your spine, you turn to look...and yet there's nothing there.

When the voice says "Stop" you stay perfectly still. And when the voice says "Run!" you had better run. Producer: Eliza Smith

Valerie 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. Valerie’s story comes to us from the book Trucker Ghost Stories, edited by Annie Wilder. Producer: Eliza Smith

When darkness looms and all that is left is the great unknown, where can you turn to see the light?

On the next all-NEW Snap, Katie Leavitt tells her story "Confessions of a Baby Snatcher." Also featuring comedians Ayanna Dookie and Seaton Smith in "Get The Hook Up!"

Sometimes, you know your big shot when you see it. Ayanna Dookie and Seaton Smith are both comedians living in New York. Producer: Liz Mak Original Score and Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

The ‘work’ of social work is a lot more complicated than Katie Leavitt first thought. Luckily, a little voice helps to guide her. Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Incident at Poison Spider Mesa." The story of two men who come face to face one night in the canyon lands of southern Utah. Brody Young is a Utah State Park Ranger and motivational speaker, helping other people figure out how to survive the unsurvivable. To find out more about his story, be sure to check out his website, rangerbrodyyoung.com. Producer: Joe Rosenberg Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto

Attempting to dig the family well in rural Michigan, Glynn's family comes up dry – until Daddy cuts a deal with the Devil. Original Score: Pat Mesiti-Miller