🆒 of the Week: Heavyweight — Storytelling masterpiece
I have been stepping up my podcast game lately. I guess spending 3 hours per day commuting on a bus helps.
Whether it’s a quick catch up with the latest news [Up First, NPR] or getting inspired by a successful entrepreneur story [How I Built This with Guy Raz, NPR], it helps me slowly transition into my day and get my work-mind started.
Among all, storytelling podcasts are the one I enjoy the most.
I find this media especially powerful when it comes to being immersed in a story. Not seeing anything brings so much of your attention to the voices themselves, and leaves more room for imagination. It’s the same kind of freedom experienced when you read a book. You have the right to picture the characters the way you want, to own one part of the story.
Today, I’m sharing with you one of my favorite podcasts : Heavyweight.
Heavyweight is a Gimlet Media podcast. If you are into podcasts, I’m sure you know them. They’re this very successful Brooklyn based podcasting company that now have more than 10 shows, most of them showing up in the top 50 US podcasts.
“Crimetown”, “Every Little Thing”, “Homecoming” to name only a few…
And here comes Heavyweight, a show hosted by the wonderful Jonathan Goldstein, American author and well known as a contributor to the famous “This American Life” podcast.
During the 45 minutes episodes, Goldstein immerses us into the story of ordinary people, like you and I.
He slowly and carefully unfolds their pasts to unveil that one moment everything changed…. Something they have poorly digested, that is still really heavy on them, that they’ve been holding a lot of grudges against.
Why was Rose kicked out of her college sorority, more than 15 years ago? [Rose, Episode #10]
Why Christina’s foster mother made her quit basketball after her 11th grade? [Christina, episode #11]
What would you do if you come across a suitcase containing 5 years worth of love letters? [Isabel, episode #14]
While each story is unique, the protagonists have all been carrying those heavy weights for a long time, have been stuck with those unanswered questions and those what-ifs. And let’s face it, we all have some of that, somewhere.
The stories might sound ordinary and not that exciting, but the way the narrator structures them is what brings it to the next level. It is storytelling at its very best.
In each show, you switch between interviews, discussions from a coffee shop or a street corner, phone calls… always coming back to Goldstein’s calm and comforting voice, sharing personal insights on how the whole thing makes him feel.
The result is emotional and poignant by its authenticity, but also really funny. Goldstein brings a humoristic touch, which makes it more lightweight and enjoyable.
There is also a comforting feeling hearing those people move on, drop that weight from their shoulders, start a new chapter.
“Dina”, season 2’s final episode, landed yesterday, so you now have 15 episodes to enjoy.
And I truly envy you, because I personally have to wait until season 3 comes out. Patiently…
