Heavyweight

Heavyweight

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

September 24, 2026 • 39 mins

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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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, Jenna still wonders: What happened?

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September 3, 2026 • 1 min

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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July 2, 2026 • 40 mins

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 for one last interview. Just when James thinks he's out, we pull him back in!

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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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June 18, 2026 • 36 mins

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 years after the release of this episode, we check back in with Julia, to hear how her life changed in the aftermath of the episode...

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June 4, 2026 • 39 mins

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 and get an update on his underwear situation.

You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight

This episode ...

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May 21, 2026 • 37 mins

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 produced by Kalila Holt, along with Jonathan Goldstein. Our supervising producer is Stevie Lane. Production help from Damiano Marchetti. S...

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May 7, 2026 • 48 mins

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 Christina, and she tells us about seeing her foster mother one last time.

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April 23, 2026 • 50 mins

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 that confrontation has shaped her and Clark in the years since.

You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweig...

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April 9, 2026 • 44 mins

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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March 26, 2026 • 47 mins

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 in the time since.

You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight

This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, B.A...

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March 12, 2026 • 42 mins

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 may never have kids of his own, Tony wants to win them back.

You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweigh...

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February 26, 2026 • 1 min

What to expect from Heavyweight this year.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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February 5, 2026 • 32 mins

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 & Money.

In this episode, host Anna Sale talks to listeners about their appearance choices: Asher, who spent $43...

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December 18, 2025 • 42 mins

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 Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls came to be and share a never-before-aired opening that could have sta...

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December 11, 2025 • 39 mins

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 episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls came to be and share a never-before-aired open...

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November 20, 2025 • 60 mins

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 Pushkin.fm. You'll also get an exclusive bonus episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls came to...

Listen
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November 13, 2025 • 39 mins

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 Pushkin.fm. You'll also get an exclusive bonus episode where Jonathan, Stevie, and Kalila remember how the beloved Jackie calls ca...

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Mark as Played

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