Heavyweight

Heavyweight is by far one of my favorite podcasts of all time, and I recommend it to literally anyone who will listen. Each episode features Jonathan Goldstein helping his guests revisit a pivotal time, moment, or person in their lives to find some kind closure.

A reformed drug addict who wants to find a family heirloom he stole in order to repair his relationship with his father. A juror who sentenced a man to death and has regretted it ever since. A girl who has always wondered why her sorority randomly exiled her in college. A guy who wants to meet the man that hit him with a car and left him crippled.

The stories are heart-wrenching, hilarious, and so incredibly human. I started listening when the pandemic first hit last year, and it has been the perfect cure for feelings of isolation. In fact, my 2020 Spotify Wrapped informed me that I listened to 15 episodes in one day last spring. I definitely had a problem, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

The people and their vulnerability leave me in tears, all while Goldstein’s witty narration makes me laugh.

Not to mention, the show itself is also an audio masterpiece, as there are dozens of small auditory details in every episode that truly make the stories feel special.

Episodes to start off with:

“#14 Isabel”

“#27 Scott”