Heavyweight
by Pushkin Industries
Maybe you’ve laid awake and imagined how it could have been, how it might yet be, but the moment to act was never right. Well, the moment is here and the podcast making it happen is Heavyweight. Join Jonathan Goldstein for road trips, thorny reunions, and difficult conversations as he backpedals his way into the past like a therapist with a time machine.
Episodes
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#71 La Fortitudo
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.
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Jonathan + Death of an Artist
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.
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#70 Cayden
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.
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Regrets, I've Had a Slew
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.
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Gobi | From This Is Love
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...
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#69 Tamara
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…
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#68 Songe
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.
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#67 Jenna
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,...
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Trailer: Heavyweight Season 10
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.
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2026 Update: James
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…
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Jonathan Vs. Kalila on Smash Boom Best
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.
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2026 Update: Julia
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…
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2026 Update: Brandon
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...
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2026 Update: Frederick J. Brown
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…
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2026 Update: Christina
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...
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2026 Update: Skye
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…
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Jonathan Goldstein on Wild Card
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.
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2026 Update: Elyse
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…
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2026 Update: Tony
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...
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Heavyweight in 2026
What to expect from Heavyweight this year.
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Minneapolis
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.
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Presenting Death, Sex & Money | From Brazilian Butt Lifts to Botox: Your Beauty Confessions
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 &...
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#66 Deborah
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...
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#65 Meredith
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...
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#64 Kevin
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...
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Heavyweight: Live from New York
In October, the Heavyweight team gathered in New York City for a live event at Caveat on the Lower East Side. There was a reading, a Q&A, and a Meet & Greet. And because we are a podcast, we recorded it all. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or...
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#63 Jasmin
Jasmin grew up as one of the few Black girls in a mostly white town. Senior year, she was voted Homecoming Queen and she finally felt accepted. But then, at the dance, they announced someone else's name. Jasmin has always wondered… What happened? Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing...
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The Canal, the Crash and the Ketamine - Pushkin's Reign of Error
Today, Jonathan joins his fellow Pushkin hosts for a special episode all about mistakes. Jonathan speaks with his friend, the writer Sheila Heti. Together, they muse on the cost of mistakes and whether we're really in control of how many we make. Plus, Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova from the...
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#62 Stefano
On her flight to emigrate from Italy in 1959, Anita was tasked with babysitting a two-year-old boy being brought to the US for adoption. During the flight, Anita fell in love with the child, and for the rest of her life, she wondered what became of him. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by...
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#61 The Bank Robber
He had just turned 14 when he sawed off his father’s shotgun, skipped school, and robbed a bank for $40,000. Now, 33 years later, he wants to apologize to the people he harmed that day. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. You'll also get...
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#60 The Messenger
As a senior in high school, Michael got a huge opportunity: the chance to star in a big-budget movie. Shooting wrapped; a premier date was set. And then he found out that his lucky break was all based on a lie. Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or...
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#59 Etta
Gregor's parents are pushing 90. Gregor wants to move them out of their big Victorian home. But they refuse. So, he's come up with a bold plan. You can find Etta’s work on Instagram @ettabehrlich Get ad-free episodes of Heavyweight by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.…
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Trailer: Heavyweight Season 9
A look at what’s to come this season. Heavyweight returns on September 18. 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
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2025 Update: Dina
It’s the last Heavyweight encore before our new season begins on September 18th! This week, we talk to Jonathan's mom about life in the years since her appearance in #15: Dina. During a visit back home, Jonathan’s mother Dina inadvertently admits something that forces him to question his past —…
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2025 Update: Leif + A Conversation with Anna Konkle
For our penultimate Heavyweight encore, we’re joined by Pen15 co-creator Anna Konkle to revisit last season’s junior high drama — #53: Leif. On Valentine’s Day in junior high, Leif was supposed to ask Kalila out. But he never did. Leif’s lack of action that day impacted Kalila’s life to come. And...
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2025 Update: Joey
This week, we check back in with Joey to answer everyone’s burning question: does he still have a mullet? Years ago, Joey had a very bad day — all due to awkward misunderstandings. Jonathan and Gregor get involved to help him set things right. Credits This episode was produced by Jonathan...
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2025 Update: The Marshes
This week, we talk to Steve Marsh from our episode, The Marshes. The family has changed in ways they could never have guessed at when the story was first published in 2019. After a drunken slip of the tongue, Steve and his siblings discovered a secret their mother had been keeping for almost 40...
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2025 Update: Rose
This week, we’re calling up one of our fan-favorite guests from season two: Rose. Almost twenty years ago, Rose was kicked out of her college sorority. “You know what you did,” was the only explanation she was ever given. All these years later, Rose still wants to know what it is she did. Credits...
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2025 Update: Scott
This week, we check back in with Scott to find out what turns his life has taken since the original episode aired in 2019. When Scott was a heroin addict, he crossed a line he thought he would never cross. And he’s been trying to uncross it ever since. Credits This episode was produced by…
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2025 Update: Buzz
This week, we catch up with Jonathan's dad about the years since his appearance in our first ever episode — #1 Buzz. Buzz and Sheldon are brothers in their eighties who’ve been estranged for decades. Buzz visits Sheldon to see if there’s still a relationship left to salvage. Credits This episode...
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2025 Update: Gregor
While the new season is under construction, we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes and calling up former guests to see what’s happened since. This week: #2 Gregor. 20 years ago, Gregor lent some CDs to a musician friend. The CDs helped make him a famous rockstar. Now, Gregor would like…
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Heavyweight Short: A Sobering Thought
For the better part of his adult life, drinking was Jonathan’s great comfort. But after getting laid off, something changed.
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Heavyweight Short: Returns and Reformers
In her year off, Stevie had a lot of time to wait on hold. And Kalila took a hard look at not wanting to be looked at.
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Heavyweight Check In: What’s to Come
What we’ve been up to, and what’s in store through the coming weeks.
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Heavyweight Has a New Home
The Heavyweight team officially has a new home at Pushkin Industries. Tell your friends, your exes… tell the strangers on the subway! And be sure to subscribe now to hear about new episodes.
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Hello from Heavyweight
A small hello from the Heavyweight team
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#58 Harry
Before Scott died, he bequeathed to his brothers his beloved pet parrot, Harry. The brothers promised to care for the bird. Except they didn’t. Over twenty years later, they want to find Harry and make things right. Credits This episode was produced by Phoebe Flanigan, Mohini Madgavkar, and...
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Heavyweight Short: Loch
Loch swears his kindergarten teacher used to steal his cheese. But no one believes him. Credits This episode was produced by Phoebe Flanigan, Mohini Madgavkar, and Kalila Holt, along with Jonathan Goldstein. The supervising producer is Stevie Lane. Editorial guidance from Emily Condon. Special...
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Heavyweight Short: Yasser
When Yasser was a boy, he saw a cartoon that changed his life. He’s been searching for it ever since. The only problem is… it’s vanished. Credits This episode was hosted and produced by supervising producer Stevie Lane, along with Jonathan Goldstein, Mohini Madgavkar, and Phoebe Flanigan. The...
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#57 The Budget Motel
In 1993, Nick was shot in an Idaho motel room. One stranger came to his aid. Nick wants to find him. CREDITS If you're feeling unsafe in your relationship, call 1.800.799.7233, or text "START" to 88788. You can also visit www.loveisrespect.org. Heavyweight is hosted and produced by Jonathan...
About this show
Maybe you’ve laid awake and imagined how it could have been, how it might yet be, but the moment to act was never right. Well, the moment is here and the podcast making it happen is Heavyweight. Join Jonathan Goldstein for road trips, thorny reunions, and difficult conversations as he backpedals his way into the past like a therapist with a time machine.
Hosted by
Pushkin Industries