Heavyweight
Society & Culture
About
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
- 2026 Update: Christina
This episode is an update on Christina's story, where she reflects on her foster mother's decision to make her quit basketball in 11th grade. Christina discusses seeing her foster mother again after the original episode aired.
- 2026 Update: Skye
Skye revisits a past incident where her friends wrote on her garage door, an event that ended their friendship. This episode updates on how the confrontation years later affected Skye and her son, Clark.
- Jonathan Goldstein on Wild Card
Jonathan Goldstein appears as a guest on NPR's Wild Card podcast, hosted by Rachel Martin. The conversation covers topics including death, ghosts, and the experiences of talking to strangers.
- 2026 Update: Elyse
In this update to a previous episode of Heavyweight, Elyse shares how her relationship with her father, Billy, has evolved in the seven years since she first discovered his whereabouts following his unexplained disappearance.
- 2026 Update: Tony
In this update, Jonathan Goldstein checks in with Tony, a longtime friend who seeks to repair relationships with his three godchildren after a difficult decade. Tony discusses his life changes and his desire to reconnect with them.
- Heavyweight in 2026
This episode outlines what listeners can expect from Heavyweight throughout 2026.
- Minneapolis
In this episode of Heavyweight, Jonathan and his wife Emily check in, followed by the story of a family that went into hiding after an ICE shooting. The episode includes resources for supporting the family and local immigrant organizations.
- Presenting Death, Sex & Money | From Brazilian Butt Lifts to Botox: Your Beauty Confessions
The Heavyweight team features an episode of Death, Sex & Money where host Anna Sale discusses listener experiences with plastic surgery, cosmetic procedures, and personal appearance choices.
- #66 Deborah
At 101 years old, Deborah finds a long-hidden box that reignites an old love and changes her life. This episode of Heavyweight also includes a bonus discussion on the origins of the Jackie calls and an unaired opening segment.
- #65 Meredith
Meredith calls Jonathan for help to resolve a conflict with her teenage son after she unknowingly consumed his weed gummies. Both mother and son are seeking an apology from the other regarding the incident.
- #64 Kevin
Kevin remains affected by the disappearance of his childhood friends, Jason and Gerald, more than thirty years later. This episode of Heavyweight explores Kevin's search for answers about his friends who vanished one afternoon.
- Heavyweight: Live from New York
The Heavyweight team presents a recording of their live event held at Caveat in New York City. The episode features a reading, a Q&A session, and a meet and greet with the hosts.
- #63 Jasmin
In episode 63 of Heavyweight, Jasmin recalls being voted Homecoming Queen in high school but not being announced as the winner. She seeks to uncover what happened that night.
- The Canal, the Crash and the Ketamine - Pushkin's Reign of Error
In this special episode of Heavyweight, Jonathan and his Pushkin co-hosts explore the theme of mistakes. They are joined by writer Sheila Heti to discuss the cost of errors and the illusion of control. Additionally, Nate Silver and Maria K…
- #62 Stefano
Anita, who babysat a two-year-old boy on a flight from Italy to the U.S. in 1959, searches for information about what became of him after his adoption. This episode of Heavyweight follows her lifelong curiosity.
- #61 The Bank Robber
A man who robbed a bank at age 14 seeks to apologize to those he harmed 33 years later. This episode also features a bonus discussion about the origins of the podcast's Jackie calls.
- #60 The Messenger
In this episode, Michael recounts his experience as a high school senior cast in a big-budget film, only to discover his opportunity was based on a lie. The episode also features a segment on the origins of the show's Jackie calls and an a…
- #59 Etta
Gregor seeks a solution to convince his aging parents to move out of their longtime Victorian home. He develops a plan to address their refusal to relocate.
- Trailer: Heavyweight Season 9
This episode is a trailer for the ninth season of the podcast Heavyweight, which premieres on September 18. Listeners can access ad-free episodes by subscribing to Pushkin+.
- 2025 Update: Dina
This episode of Heavyweight provides an update on Dina, whose inadvertent admission in episode #15 caused Jonathan to question his past and turn the mic on himself. The season premiere of Heavyweight is September 18th.
- 2025 Update: Leif + A Conversation with Anna Konkle
Heavyweight revisits season 53, episode: Leif, with guest Anna Konkle. The episode explores a junior high Valentine's Day decision made by Leif and its lasting impact on Kalila's life.
- 2025 Update: Joey
Heavyweight revisits Joey, focusing on whether he still has a mullet years after a bad day caused by misunderstandings. Jonathan and Gregor previously assisted Joey in resolving these issues.
- 2025 Update: The Marshes
Steve Marsh revisits his family's story on Heavyweight, revealing how a drunken slip led to the discovery of his mother's 40-year-old secret, prompting him to help her take action.
- 2025 Update: Rose
In this episode of Heavyweight, host Jonathan Goldstein revisits Rose, a guest from season two. Rose was expelled from her college sorority nearly two decades ago with no explanation and still wants to know why.
- 2025 Update: Scott
This Heavyweight episode checks in with Scott, originally featured in 2019, to see how his life has progressed since his struggles with heroin addiction. The original episode detailed a line he crossed and his subsequent efforts to rectify…
- 2025 Update: Buzz
Jonathan Goldstein revisits Buzz, from the first episode, who is estranged from his brother Sheldon. Buzz visits Sheldon to see if their decades-long estrangement can be overcome.
- 2025 Update: Gregor
Heavyweight revisits episode #2, where Gregor lent CDs to a musician friend who became a rockstar. Twenty years later, Gregor seeks recognition and the return of his CDs.
- Heavyweight Short: A Sobering Thought
In "A Sobering Thought," Jonathan reflects on how alcohol served as his primary comfort for most of his adult life, noting a significant shift after experiencing a layoff.
- Heavyweight Short: Returns and Reformers
This episode features Stevie waiting on hold during her year off and Kalila examining her feelings about being looked at.
- Heavyweight Check In: What’s to Come
The Heavyweight podcast team shares an update on their recent activities and outlines what listeners can expect in the coming weeks.
- Heavyweight Has a New Home
Heavyweight, hosted by [Host Name if available, otherwise omit], has officially moved to Pushkin Industries. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe for new episodes.
- Hello from Heavyweight
The Heavyweight team offers a brief hello to listeners and directs them to information regarding ad choices and privacy.
- #58 Harry
Scott
- Heavyweight Short: Loch
In this episode of Heavyweight, Loch recounts his belief that his kindergarten teacher stole his cheese, a claim that few people seem to believe.
- Heavyweight Short: Yasser
In Heavyweight Short: Yasser, Yasser searches for a cartoon from his childhood that profoundly impacted him, but the cartoon is no longer available.
- #57 The Budget Motel
In episode #57, titled The Budget Motel, Nick seeks to find a stranger who aided him after he was shot in an Idaho motel room in 1993. The episode is hosted and produced by Jonathan Goldstein.
- #56 44 Photos
In episode #56 of Heavyweight, titled "44 Photos," Amy discovers a package containing photographs of unknown individuals. She seeks to uncover their identities and the reason behind the mysterious delivery.
- #55 Toby
After his father's death, Toby finds cassette tapes revealing the breakdown of his parents' relationship, a story he was unaware of.
- #54 Victor and Maite
Victor paints portraits of his ex-wife decades after their divorce. His work can be found online and in a documentary called Heroin.
- #53 Leif
Kalila Holt investigates why Leif never asked her out in junior high 17 years later. This episode is hosted and produced by Kalila Holt.
- #52 Lenny
Jonathan Goldstein reconnects with his childhood best friend, Lenny, who is now dying. Jonathan makes the call to rekindle their friendship.
- Trailer: Heavyweight Season 8
This is a trailer for Season 8 of the podcast Heavyweight. The new season begins on October 5th and will be available on Spotify and other podcast platforms.
- #51 The Elliotts
In episode 51 of Heavyweight, Jonathan Goldstein explores the Elliott family's 500-year-old curse, placed by the Archbishop of Glasgow in 1525. A modern branch of the family seeks to have the curse lifted.
- #50 Nick
In Heavyweight episode 50, host Jonathan Goldstein explores Nick's claim of hearing his dead brother's voice in a song by a Grammy-nominated musician. The episode features production by Kalila Holt and Mohini Madgavkar.
- Heavyweight Short: Jesse & Tori
This short episode of Heavyweight focuses on Jesse's perspective on Tori, describing her as the one that got away.
- #49 Another Roadside Attraction
In episode 49, "Another Roadside Attraction," Heavyweight explores the strange case of a bookstore that mysteriously appeared and disappeared in a small Texas town during Stephanie's high school years. The episode is hosted and produced by…
- #48 Ben
Ben has been searching for Sihan, who lived with his family for years before disappearing suddenly. Heavyweight is hosted and produced by Jonathan Goldstein.
- #47 Frederick J. Brown
In Heavyweight episode #47, titled Frederick J. Brown, host Maia discovers a painting in the garbage which leads to an exploration of its unknown significance. The episode is hosted and produced by Kalila Holt and Jonathan Goldstein.
- Heavyweight Short: Cody
In this short episode of Heavyweight, Cody reflects on a deeply meaningful hug he received in high school, which continues to resonate with him sixteen years later.
- #46 Dan
In this episode of Heavyweight, Dan wants to retrieve a photograph taken on his first date with his wife nineteen years ago. To get the photo, he must confront a person he wishes to avoid.