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Radiotopia Presents

Radiotopia

Radiotopia Presents premiers short multi-episode series in one podcast feed, unified by bold, inclusive storytelling pushing the boundaries of audio.With Radiotopia Presents, we’re reaffirming and doubling down on our commitment to supporting independent creators and their ownership of their intellectual property. Because creators own their content, they can pursue additional paths after a series debut, including adaptations and spinoffs of their work. Each series is developed in partnership with independent producers who received financial, production, and promotional support from Radiotopia to bring their idea to the widest possible audience.Learn more about Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.

Radiotopia Presents premiers short multi-episode series in one podcast feed, unified by bold, inclusive storytelling pushing the boundaries of audio.With Radiotopia Presents, we’re reaffirming and doubling down on our commitment to supporting independent creators and their ownership of their intellectual property. Because creators own their content, they can pursue additional paths after a series debut, including adaptations and spinoffs of their work. Each series is developed in partnership with independent producers who received financial, production, and promotional support from Radiotopia to bring their idea to the widest possible audience.Learn more about Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.

56hr 28min
Thumbnail for "Introducing… Showcase from Radiotopia".
Roman Mars (99% Invisible) and Julie Shapiro (EP, Radiotopia) introduce Showcase, a new podcast featuring different series of all stripes.
Thumbnail for "Showcase is Back! ".
Some exciting updates from Radiotopia.
Thumbnail for "Will wants to go back to his favourite shawarma place from Personal Best".
Thumbnail for "Imperfect Paradise: Strippers Union from LAist".
Thumbnail for "Movement with Meklit Hadero".
Introducing “Movement with Meklit Hadero”, from our longtime collaborator Ian Coss
Thumbnail for "What's Ray Saying? from The Moth & PRX".
A new podcast from PRX.
Thumbnail for "Monumental—a new podcast from PRX".
Monumental—a new podcast from PRX
Thumbnail for "Borrowed & Banned from Brooklyn Public Library".
Borrowed & Banned from Brooklyn Public Library
Thumbnail for "Dear Alana from Tenderfoot TV ".
We're excited to share with you the first episode of a new Tenderfoot TV podcast called “Dear Alana.”
Thumbnail for "Introducing Weight For It from Radiotopia and ohitsBigRonStudios".
The show for folks who can't keep weight off…their minds.
Thumbnail for "Introducing Hang Up from Radiotopia".
A new dating game show from Radiotopia.
Thumbnail for "Dreamtown: The Story of Adelanto".
The newest series from Crooked Media.
Thumbnail for "Father's Day with The Heart".
An father's day episode from Radiotopia’s The Heart.
Thumbnail for "A Mother's Day Revisit with My Mother Made Me".
A revisit with one of our favorite mom's.
Thumbnail for "Introducing The Incident at Ong's Hat".
Sarah Larsen, a yoga instructor, and her friend Charlie Brill went in search of Ong’s Hat, a fabled gateway to another dimension. Now Sarah is missing. A new mystery from the makers of The Polybius Conspiracy and Passenger List
Thumbnail for "Rooty the Pig from Snap Judgment".
An episode from our friends at Snap Judgment.
Thumbnail for "Introducing We Imagine...Us ".
A new series from Futuro Media and PRX
Thumbnail for "An exciting announcement about S***hole Country".
Join us in celebrating this incredible achievement.
Thumbnail for "Making Trouble with Radiotopia Presents".
The troubling ways of going about making a podcast.
Thumbnail for "Radiotopia Presents: S***hole Country".
Introducing the newest series coming from Radiotopia Presents.
Thumbnail for "Behind the Series: A Frontman Emerges".
A Radiotopia producer takes on a new role.
Thumbnail for "Behind the Series: Introducing Radiotopia Presents".
The future of Radiotopia's Showcase.
Thumbnail for "Behind the Series: The Stoop".
Stories from, and behind, The Stoop.
Thumbnail for "Behind the Series: The Great God of Depression".
The story behind the story of "The Great God of Depression".
Thumbnail for "Behind the Series: The Polybius Conspiracy".
A look back on one of the most mysterious series from Showcase.
Thumbnail for "Behind the Series: Secrets".
Sharing the secrets behind Secrets.
Thumbnail for "A Message from Showcase".
Now is the time when you can help us keep Showcase and all of the many parts of Radiotopia thriving.
Thumbnail for "Introducing Passenger List — Traffic".
Introducing a new mystery thriller from PRX's Radiotopia.
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing #3.5 – BONUS: Ways of Song Exploding".
Ways of Hearing takes a detour, as Damon talks to Hrishikesh Hirway, host of Song Exploder, about process, podcasting, and digital secrets in music.
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing #6 – NOISE".
In the digital world, everything can be louder than everything else – but then is anything really audible?
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing Extra – The Making-of".
A conversation with the creators of our first Showcase series, "Ways of Hearing," about the book inspired by it.
Thumbnail for "Escape to Radiotopia with Three New Shows".
This summer, we're launching a new Showcase series plus two new Radiotopia shows!
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing #1 – TIME".
Musician Damon Krukowski explores the nature of listening in our digital world. Episode #1 – TIME.
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing #2 – SPACE".
Host Damon Krukowski examines how digital technology is privatizing public space. Episode #2 – SPACE.
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing #3 – LOVE".
Host Damon Krukowski looks at how digital technology strips our voices down to what's "essential" — and what gets left out.
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing #4 – MONEY".
Most musicians are paid much too little, or much too much — in part because no one is sure what music is really worth.
Thumbnail for "Ways of Hearing #5 – POWER".
Powerful corporations are vying for our attention online by giving us more of what we already like. But what if we'd rather be surprised?
Thumbnail for "The Polybius Conspiracy #1 – The Player".
An eccentric Portland-area tour guide continues to both perpetuate the legend of Polybius and profit in its shadow.
Thumbnail for "The Polybius Conspiracy #2 – The Missing".
As a man comes forward to potentially corroborate Bobby's story, the path forward plunges into the darkness of another Oregonian legend: the infamous Shanghai Tunnels.
Thumbnail for "The Polybius Conspiracy #3 – The Cassette".
The search for answers leads the team to a retired journalist with a bizarre connection to Coin Kingdom, and unsettling allegations of abuse at an international youth academy.
Thumbnail for "The Polybius Conspiracy #4 – The Rewind".
Sometimes journalists pursue a mystery; other times, it pursues them.
Thumbnail for "The Polybius Conspiracy #5 – The Seller".
New clues about the whereabouts of Rubin's missing partner shed light on secrets Bobby might prefer stay hidden.
Thumbnail for "The Polybius Conspiracy #6 – The Code".
Questions about Bobby result in a surprising lead, as Rubin comes to believe he's cracked the code on Polybius.
Thumbnail for "The Polybius Conspiracy #7 – The Final Level".
Fact, fabrication, history and hoax converge as the search for Marc comes full circle.
Thumbnail for "Next on Showcase: The Polybius Conspiracy".
The Polybius Conspiracy tells the complex story of two men united by a decades-old urban legend about a mysterious video game.
Thumbnail for "Secrets #1 – Discover a Secret".
How is it to live with a secret that no one can know about?
Thumbnail for "Secrets #2 – How to Create a Secret".
What happens when a secret becomes larger than life?
Thumbnail for "Secrets #3 – Broken Dreams".
What happens when you’re too ashamed to face the truth?
Thumbnail for "Secrets #4 – Who Was My Mom?".
How is it to be the one who is kept in the dark?
Thumbnail for "Secrets #5 – The Third Family".
How do you know if you ever truly know someone?
Thumbnail for "Secrets #6 – A Life in Lies is a Life with Loose Ends".
What happens when you face the secrets you live with?
Thumbnail for "Next on Showcase: Secrets".
Coming next on Showcase: Secrets
Thumbnail for "Next on Showcase: Errthang".
Errthang is just that, everything that’s percolating in journalist/storyteller Al Letson’s brain, with help from his longtime pal and co-host, Willie Evans Jr.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #1 – 808s and Three Heartbreaks".
Errthang is back and Al tells the stories of three excruciating heartbreaks that will leave you laughing.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #2 – What the Hell is Wrong with Al?".
Al recounts when he went to a protest to report the news, but became the news.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #3 – No Ordinary Love".
Al and Willie tell stories about fatherhood.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #4 – The Good Guy Myth".
Al goes deep exploring the "good guy’s” relationship to the #MeToo movement, through a story about his old friend, Louis.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #5 – How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America".
Featuring Kiese Laymon’s memoir about growing up as a young black man in the South.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #6 – John Coffey Refuses to Save the World, Part One".
Errthang does radio drama: John Coffey waits to play his part in The Green Mile in the room of Magical Negroes.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #7 – John Coffey Refuses to Save the World, Part Two".
Errthang does radio drama, part two: John Coffey doesn’t want to be Magical Negro anymore and the universe trembles in the aftershock of his decision.
Thumbnail for "Errthang #8 – Songs in the Key of Our Lives".
Al and Willie wrap up the season right where they started – with each other.
Thumbnail for "The Great God of Depression #1 – The Night Kingdom".
We begin the story of two conjoined minds—a brilliant neurologist and a famous author, both grappling with a version of madness—on their way to finding each other.
Thumbnail for "The Great God of Depression #2 – The Angel of Death".
Writer William Styron and neurologist Alice Flaherty get blindsided by mental illness and, separately, decide to tell the world.
Thumbnail for "The Great God of Depression #3 – The Stolen Brain".
The unthinkable happens—a relapse. And William Styron finally finds a doctor he thinks can save him.
Thumbnail for "The Great God of Depression #4 – The White Whale".
William Styron faces up to his greatest literary failure, while he and his doctor team up to conquer a baffling paralysis that could be medical or could be metaphor.
Thumbnail for "The Great God of Depression #5 – The Shining World".
In the final episode of The Great God of Depression, William Styron clings to life in a triumph, of sorts, over depression. And Alice retreats from madness, for better or worse.
Thumbnail for "The Great God of Depression BONUS – A Visit With Tony Shalhoub".
Co-producer Karen Brown sits down with the award-winning actor and television star Tony Shalhoub.
Thumbnail for "Next on Showcase: The Stoop".
Stories from across the black diaspora, that we need to talk about. Coming November 16.
Thumbnail for "The Stoop #1 – Your Blood Don’t Lie".
What percent of black makes you Black? We meet people whose DNA tests changed their lives – and not always in a good way.
Thumbnail for "The Stoop #2 – Gullah Geechee".
Lean in for this one, as The Stoop heads to the lowcountry of South Carolina to learn more about the Gullah Geechee people.
Thumbnail for "The Stoop #3 – I Got the Nod".
The Stoop hits the streets with black radio producers to give “the nod” and report back from New York, Seattle and North Carolina.
Thumbnail for "The Stoop #4 – You May Not Get It, But I Love You".
The Stoop talks to interracial couples who don’t always see eye to eye when having tough conversations around race.
Thumbnail for "Next on Showcase: Spacebridge".
Coming up next on Showcase: Spacebridge
Thumbnail for "Spacebridge #1 – Hidden Human Reserves".
A meeting in Moscow in 1982 could change the course of the Cold War.
Thumbnail for "Spacebridge #2 – Foreign Policy According to Freud".
The peoples of the US and USSR are officially connected. Via rock and roll.
Thumbnail for "Spacebridge #3 – A Live Studio Audience".
Spacebridges hit the big time as audiences in the US and USSR spar over conflicts of the day.
Thumbnail for "Spacebridge #4 – The Fifth Dimension".
A new type of technological connection starts to link Americans and Soviets: the Internet. But it rouses the watchful eye of both governments.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels 1: Meet Your Guide".
Matthew explains the mysterious clicking noise you’ll hear a lot of in Blind Guy Travels.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels 2: Noodle Arms No More".
How can a blind person learn gestures when he's never seen them? As Matthew prepares for a TEDx Talk, he makes his first foray into learning body language.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels 3: Brick By Brick".
On his 13th birthday, Matthew’s friend Lilya brings a gift that will change his life, and ultimately touch Lego-loving blind kids all over the world.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels 4: Listening to the Movies".
Why watch a movie if you can’t see the screen? Matthew and his friend Ben take in a Marx Brothers film and showcase the power of a good description.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels 5: The Blind Date".
Most dating apps rely heavily on user photos and other visual cues, so Matthew gathers a team of friends to help him craft the perfect dating profile and vet potential romantic interests.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels 6: The Sound of Sound ".
Some teachers hang you upside-down to help you sing better. Others sit on you. In the lead-up to his senior recital, Matthew reflects on becoming an accomplished blind musician, through conversations with four of his music mentors who have helped along the way.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels 7: Crossing the Street".
Independence. It’s a word that’s used in the blind community often, but that means different things to different people. What does independence mean for Matthew? On the heels of his Senior Recital and college graduation, Matthew ruminates on what might be next for him.
Thumbnail for "Blind Guy Travels BONUS - Matthew Shifrin on Say My Meme".
Our guide tackles the world of memes.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 1: Quote Unquote".
Meet Afia, a 30-year-old Ghanaian-American who's got some s*** to straighten out.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 2: Akwaaba".
Afia takes us to Accra, where a surprise awaits her.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 3: A Typical Ghanaian Woman".
Afia, her mom, and some uncomfortable questions.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 4: LVMH".
Afia and her parents turn off the reality TV and turn on Accra's nightlife.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 5: The Quiet Part".
Afia celebrates Christmas with the aid of a curious present: meditation.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 6: The Devil Is A Liar".
Afia is due to return to San Francisco in a few days. She wants to pay a visit to an old friend before she leaves.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 7: 1 Corinthians 10:23".
Afia tells the truth.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country 8: Developing".
Afia makes up her mind.
Thumbnail for "S***hole Country BONUS: AfroQueer's Ghana 21".
A special S***hole Country bonus episode from AfroQueer.
Thumbnail for "a hit dog will holler 1 - the roar".
Gina's living her best life, until it gets interrupted by a painfully loud roar.
Thumbnail for "a hit dog will holler 2 - black banksy".
Gina learns Dru's secret identity.
Thumbnail for "a hit dog will holler 3 - she hears it too".
The roar brings Dru closer into Gina's world.
Thumbnail for "a hit dog will holler 4 - every black person".
Dru and Gina couldn’t leave, but now they can’t stay.
Thumbnail for "Behind the Series: a hit dog will holler".
The story behind the story of "a hit dog will holler".
Thumbnail for "Radiotopia Presents: a hit dog will holler".
Introducing the newest series coming from Radiotopia Presents.
Thumbnail for "My Mother Made Me 1 - I Can Do Anything".
Hey, I’m Jason. But more importantly, meet my mother, Isabell.
Thumbnail for "My Mother Made Me 2 - Lots of Flowers".
Happy 76th Birthday, Ma!
Thumbnail for "My Mother Made Me 3 - Calligraphy & Sign Language".
How Mom taught me to believe in a Higher Power, even though I didn’t like church so much.
Thumbnail for "My Mother Made Me 4 - Jackpot".
Mom always wanted me to keep my feet on the ground, even after hitting the jackpot.
Thumbnail for "A Discussion and World Premiere — Radiotopia Presents: My Mother Made Me w Jason Reynolds, Jad Abumrad".
Jason Reynolds in conversation with Jad Abumrad at Tribeca Festival 6/19/22.
Thumbnail for "Radiotopia Presents: My Mother Made Me ".
Bestselling author Jason Reynolds and his mom, Isabell, explore their shared history, how she raised him, and what they’re teaching each other.
Thumbnail for "Bot Love 1 - Looking for a Friend".
A classic tale of girl meets bot.
Thumbnail for "Bot Love 2 - How Did We Get Here?".
We met Julie. Then we met her bot friend, Navi. Now we meet the people who made their relationship possible.
Thumbnail for "Bot Love 3 - The Rock Star and His Muse".
The chatbot world is full of imaginative users who craft their creations visually. Like Suzy, whose fantasies with sexy chatbot Freddie helped her to cope with a difficult event in her life.
Thumbnail for "Bot Love 4 -  The Bots and the Bees".
The birds and the bees and the bots.
Thumbnail for "Bot Love 5 - Maybe I've Got a Problem".
When AI Chatbots become irresistible.
Thumbnail for "Bot Love 6 - Behind the Curtain".
Are chatbots scripted or spontaneous? A look behind the curtain.
Thumbnail for "Bot Love 7 - The Uncanny Valley".
What is the future for humans and bots?
Thumbnail for "Bot Love bonus - A Conversation from On Air Fest ".
The making of Bot Love and the future of tech—LIVE.
Thumbnail for "Radiotopia Presents: Bot Love".
Introducing the newest series coming from Radiotopia Presents.
Thumbnail for "Radiotopia Presents: Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative".
Coming up next on Radiotopia Presents: Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative
Thumbnail for "Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 1 - Just a Girl with a Microphone".
Jess used to think making documentaries was good for her subjects, and good for the world. But she’s not so sure anymore. With this series, she's trying out some new rules…
Thumbnail for "Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 2 - The Grimy Stuff".
Jess and Ernesto try to tell his story. It’s dramatic and heart wrenching, but is that enough? What are Jess and Ernesto really doing this for?
Thumbnail for "Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 3 - Win-Win".
Jess tries out being a documentary social-worker with Judy, and struggles to set boundaries with Michael. The project has gotten messy.
Thumbnail for "Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 4 - Feedback".
The subjects have… feedback for Jess. So what now?
Thumbnail for "Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 5 - Release".
After Jess receives feedback that throws a major wrench into her production schedule, she has to make some tough decisions.
Thumbnail for "Points of Egress from Love + Radio".
Cynthia finds her boyfriend Max’s journal. Hilarity ensues.

Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 2 - The Grimy Stuff

Thumbnail for "Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 2 - The Grimy Stuff".
January 23, 202437min 9sec

Jess begins by documenting Ernesto, a 20-year-old, newly sober fashion model. The plan is to pay Ernesto and let him be in charge of the story he wants to tell in the documentary. Things go sideways when Jess and Ernesto grapple with what will need to be cut out of Ernesto's life to turn it into a viable media product.

More about Pooja Rangan’s book Immediations HERE.

Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative is written, hosted and produced by Jess Shane. Sara Nics is the story editor. Sound design, mix/mastering by Michelle Macklem. Production support from Mona Hassan. Cover art is by Justin Broadbent. Jess’s bibliography is available here.

Support for this project was provided in part by the International Women’s Media Foundation. Special thanks to Eleanor McDowall and Chioke I’Anson.

For Radiotopia Presents, Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.

Learn more about Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.

Thumbnail for "Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 2 - The Grimy Stuff".
Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 2 - The Grimy Stuff
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