Snap Judgment

When Christina McKenna’s cruel aunt comes back from the grave to make amends--she’s not sure if she can forgive. Read more about Christina’s childhood in Ireland in her book, My Mother Wore A Yellow Dress. Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score: Leon Morimoto

On the next all-NEW Snap Judgment ..."The Bear, The Goose and The Whale (Part 2)." Amazing stories from the animal kingdom.

On the next all-NEW Snap Judgment..."The Bear, The Goose and The Whale (Part 2)" Amazing stories from the animal kingdom.

On the next all-NEW Snap Judgment..."The Bear, The Goose and The Whale (Part 2)" Amazing stories from the animal kingdom.

Luna The Whale In 2004, a lost baby orca named Luna swam towards the west coast of Vancouver island and tried to befriend humans. But nobody knew how to respond to this wild once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Then the First Nations and the Department of Oceans and Fisheries got involved. To learn more about Luna's story, be sure to check out Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chrisholm's documentary -- Saving Luna http://www.savingluna.com/ Producer and Sound Designer: Davey Kim

Have you ever happily wandered the woods? Not a care in the world. Then right after sunset felt a hot, oily breath breathing down your shoulder? Snap Judgment proudly presents "Campfire Tales Primal."

Detective Bob Snow never could have imagined that the toughest case of his entire career, would be an investigation into his own past....life. Check out Bob Snow’s books here: http://www.amazon.com/Robert-L.-Snow/e/B001IXU3JG Producer: Liz Mak

We’ve invited back former Border Patrol Agent Rocky Elmore to tell us more scary stories about life on the border. Rocky’s previous story with Snap Judgment was The Phantom Border Patrol Agent. For more stories of natural and supernatural happenings on the border, be sure to check out Rocky’s book, Out On Foot: Nightly Patrols and Ghostly Tales of A U.S. Border Patrol Agent and his website, RockyElmore.com

Trekking in Indonesia, Ian and Stuart wander off the beaten path. There, a broken man tells them he knows the way to magic . . .

After arriving home from work, Douglas Leach saw a Polaroid lying on his front step. He picked it up. He shouldn't have . . .

Anthony Robles was born with one leg, but that didn’t stop him from joining the wrestling team... If you want to learn more about Anthony’s story and his career as a motivational speaker, check out his website and be sure to read his memoir, Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated. A film adaptation is going into production in 2018. https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-Underdog-Undefeated-Became-Champion/dp/1592408044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502769696&sr=8-1&keywords=unstoppable+from+underdog Producer: Joe Rosenberg Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

On the next Snap Judgment,"On The Mat." Amazing people wrestling with tough opponents and big decisions. Featuring Anthony Robles, the grappler that could take you down with one leg, and the Von Erich wrestling family whose glitz and fame was riddled with pain and sacrifice.

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Transcendent." Amazing stories from people pushing the limits of their own mortality. Featuring the story of a skeptical journalist turned mountain climber.

Scott Carney was young and looking for answers. That’s when he met Emily... Read more about Scott’s adventures with Wim Hof and ascent up Mt. Kilimanjaro in his book, “What Doesn't Kill Us.” Check out that book, and others on his website. http://www.scottcarney.com/ Producer: Adizah Eghan Original Score and Sound Design: David Last

Glynn remembers the fond memories of a childhood friend, Rocky. Sound Design: Pat Mesiti Miller

At the Cadillac Hotel, an SRO in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, a resident has gone missing. Her long time lover and best friend won’t rest until she is found. Producer: Parker Yesko with production assistance from Anna Sussman Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

On the next all-NEW Snap..."Bad Medicine." You take the pills, you exercise regularly, and yet, still something or perhaps someone is wrong..

Glynn's mother has one remedy for any illness: sleep and water. When it gets more serious, she brings in the highest authority.

When Greg Stone’s comedy career wasn’t working out, his mom told him to get a job working with her in the ER. Greg Stone is a comedian living in New York. You can find more details about his work at www.gregfstone.com Producer: Liz Mak Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto

When morale was low among the paratroopers in his company, Sergeant Ray Christian takes them on a trip. Check out Ray’s podcast (http://whatsraysaying.libsyn.com)and follow Ray on Twitter @WhatsRaySaying . . . Producer: Adizah Eghan Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto

Rosemary had one goal in life: to get to the Celestial Kingdom. Learn more about the Williams family here: http://www.bradyandwives.com/our-blog This story comes to us from Tyler Measom, a filmmaker based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Check out his documentaries Sons of Perdition and An Honest Liar. https://www.amazon.com/Sons-Perdition-Joe-Broadbent/dp/B01DFQAP9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497635273&sr=8-1&keywords=sons+of+perdition http://www.anhonestliar.com/ Producer: Tyler Measom & Adizah Eghan Original Score and Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

On the next all-NEW Snap..."True Believer." When all hope is lost, the only people left are the true believers.

Long before Snap’s own Jazmin Aguilera was a producer, she sang with Music Makers, an impressively well-produced children’s Christian choir. But there was just one problem: The director Janet. Producer: Jazmin Aguilera Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto

On the next all-NEW Snap Judgment, one family, one story, three acts. The amazing Fecile family invites us behind closed doors to witness the hardest choice they ever had to make. A special stunning collaboration with Love and Radio... “Blink Once For Yes." This story comes to us from Nick van DerKolk's podcast Love and Radio. Produced by John Fecile, Steven Jackson and Lizzie Schiffman Tufano Additional recording by Patrick Tufano Original Music by Pat Mesiti-Miller and Curtis Heath Recorded Music permission given by Daniel Lanois and Rocco DeLucca To hear the original full length version of this story go to Loveandradio.org. Learn more about The Brain Injury Association of America and the work the Fecile family has done with them.

When Yehiya gets thrown in jail for arming the Palestinian resistance, he and his wife, Sameera, have to find a way to keep their family growing. This story comes to us from Shaina Shealy, an American radio producer working out of Jerusalem. You can find her on Twitter @shainashealy. Eliza Smith provided editorial assistance for this piece. Original score and sound design were composed by Leon Morimoto. Producer: Shaina Shealy Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto

On the next all-NEW Snap..."By The Book." What if you do everything just right to the letter but you discover the exact way they asked you to do it ...is wrong?

In 2012, Kari Brandenburg became the longest serving district attorney in Bernalillo County, where Albuquerque sits. But at the start of her fourth term in office something big started to take hold of the county. Police shootings were at an all time high and everyone was looking to Kari’s office for answers. Story Update: Earlier this year, the new district attorney of Bernalillo County decided not to retry the two officers who shot James Boyd. One of those officers is trying to get his job back with the Albuquerque Police Department. Meanwhile, the number of police shootings have dropped, with only 7 in 2016. For more on what’s gone down in Albuquerque, here’s a link to some of Jeff Proctor’s reporting for the Albuquerque Journal. https://www.abqjournal.com/community-data/apd-under-fire Producer: Nancy Lopez

Those "How To Hypnotize" books? Some of them actually work. But be careful how (and who) you place under a trance. Host Glynn Washington tells the story.

Glynn loves to cook, but he can’t seem to follow recipes. Score and Sound Design: Pat Mesiti Miller

How do you rebuild your past -- when you’re starting from Zero? Mike Siv recently completed his first feature documentary film, “Daze of Justice,” slated to air on PBS later this year. (http://www.dazeofjustice.com/) Mike is also working on a graphic novel about his experiences as a refugee growing up in America. The footage in this piece came from Spencer Nakasako’s documentary starring Mike Siv, “Refugee”.http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/refugee/film.html For more details about Mike and Spencer’s work, visit snapjudgment.org Producer: Liz Mak

On the next all-NEW Snap…”Tricknology.” When you’re struggling and living in the margins, the powers that be want to keep you…exactly where you are.

When the owner of the bar asks comedian Joe Klocek NOT to make fun of his confederate flag…. Performed live at The Power Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan In partnership with Michigan Radio and The Ann Arbor Summer Festival Original Music by Alex Mandel Music Performed by Alex Mandel and the Snap Judgment Players (Tim Frick and David Brandt) Re-recording Mixer: Pat Mesiti Miller Produced by Glynn Washington, Mark Ristich, Jeanette Aguilar and Jamie DeWolf

Glynn has given his fair share of earnings back to the church. It’s time to get something in return. Sound Design: Pat Mesiti-Miller

How did a kid from Harlem become the biggest heroin dealer in upstate New York, almost overnight? And what would it take for him to turn his back on a mountain of cash? L. Abdul-Kenyatta has performed as a workshop facilitator and motivational speaker. He is a poet, storyteller, jazz and blues vocalist and a novelist. He was an actor with the San Francisco Neighborhood Arts Children’s Theater for five years. San Francisco State University, Black Studies Department - (Associate Professor) Lectured on African and African-American History and Literature. His novel FIVE THOUSAND URGENTLY POINTLESS DISTRACTIONS was published in 2000. He is the 2005 Berkeley Poetry Festival Slam Poetry Champion. He was a member of the Oakland 2004 National Slam Team and the 2006 San Francisco Slam Master, the 2007 Marin County Fair Slam Poetry Champion and a member of the 2007 San Francisco National Slam Team. He appeared in the Jamie De Wolfe film "SMOKED". Producer and Sound Design: Anna Sussman and Renzo Gorrio

Back when Urkel and Beanie Babies ruled the world, Snap Judgment producer Davey Kim was trying to keep his ‘frenemyship’ with his neighbor afloat. For more of Davey’s radio stories, check out his website -- daveykim.com Producer and Sound Design: Davey Kim

A tiny, pirate radio station broadcasts to the thousands of families trapped in ISIS controlled Mosul. When listeners start calling in, something remarkable happens. Producer: Anna Sussman Original Score and Sound Design: Leon Morimoto and Pat Mesiti-Miller

You will never know your true power until you know your radio voice. Snap Judgment proudly presents "Hey, DJ!" Featuring the amazing story of Radio Mosul.

Although most musicians spend decades honing their craft, musical genius Derek Amato never had to practice a day in his life. One day, he just sat down at the piano and his fingers began to fly across the keys with ease. As an immediate musical genius, Derek is one of the few people on Earth diagnosed with Acquired Musical Savant Syndrome. Derek takes us into the inner workings of his amazing gift. Producer: Anna Sussman and Pat Mesiti-Miller Original Score and Sound Design: Pat Mesiti-Miller

Glynn tries to front as an angsty mixtape master, and it's got him all mixed up.

On the next all-NEW Snap ..."Legacy." You get up every morning and go through the motions, but do you ever stop to wonder what you're leaving behind?

How far will you go to fulfill your grandma’s dying (and very illegal) wish? To learn more about Wen Huang’s family story, be sure to check out his book The Little Red Guard: A Family Memoir. Producer: Davey Kim Sound Designer: Davey Kim

When a brilliant inventor was robbed of his life’s work, his son did the the only reasonable thing: he became a robber. Walter is currently producing a film called The Unknowns: Talent is Colorblind. The film tells the incredible true story of “The Highway,” a group of self-taught African-American painters living in the Jim Crow South who -- when no one was looking -- invented a whole new style of art. You can learn more about the film -- and about the Highwaymen -- by visiting its website. http://www.theunknownsmovietalentiscolorblind.com/ To learn more about the life of Walter Shaw Sr. and his inventions, be sure to check out Walter Jr.’s memoir, License To Steal, and the documentary Genius On Hold. Producer: Joe Rosenberg Sound Design and Score: Leon Morimoto

On the next Snap..."The Klan." The word instills fear in many, fascination in some, and allegiance in others, and on the next Snap Judgment we're going face to face.

A New York Rabbi has his faith tested when he takes a job in Nebraska. Producer: Anna Sussman, Rita Daniels, Renzo Gorrio

Storyteller and artist Christy Chan is an American-born Chinese woman. She was confident in her identity until her family moved to a new town and she began getting letters from a mysterious, (possibly magical) stranger. Christy's working on a short film about her experience--check out the trailer here. Producers: Stephanie Foo and Renzo Gorrio

No one ever told Glynn why grandpa’s chair was empty at the dinner table.

Daryl Davis is a boogie woogie pianist who’s played with Bill Clinton, Bruce Hornsby, and Chuck Berry. But we wanted to talk to him about another group of his friends. Daryl Davis wrote a book about his experiences with the Klan in a book called “Klan-Destine Relationships.” Check out a follow up to this story on Love And Radio. Producer: Nick van der Kolk, with Renzo Gorrio

Ever wanted to get some place real bad but didn’t have the funds? Ever try to think up crazy ways to get to your destination, without having to pay? You’re gonna want to listen to this story. Brian Robson pulled off an airmail stunt that most of could only dream about. Keep an eye out for a film about Brian’s story coming next year from Bird Flight films. Also, Brian is looking for someone to write a book about his story. Producer: Anna Sussman Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

Paul Valdez loved making dresses with his grandmother at her bridal shop in Santa Fe, but one particular dress he didn’t want to make… Check out Paul in his upcoming competition in the International Gay Rodeo this August and check him out at JewelBox Cabaret in Santa Fe. Add him on Facebook. Producer: Jazmin Aguilera Sound Design: Renzo Gorrio

On the next Snap..."Boxed In." When you feel the walls coming closer and closer, where do you go? Where do you hide?