Heavyweight
Podcast art for Heavyweight
Presentation
FormatNon-fiction short stories
Created byJonathan Goldstein
LanguageEnglish
Length40–60 minutes
Production
ProductionGimlet Media
Ending theme"Sun in an Empty Room" by The Weakerthans
Audio format
No. of seasons8
No. of episodes58
Publication
Original releaseSeptember 2016 (2016-09) –
December 2023 (2023-12)
Related
Websitegimletmedia.com/shows/heavyweight

Heavyweight is a podcast created and hosted by American-Canadian humorist Jonathan Goldstein where he helps people try to resolve a moment from their past that they wish they could change[1].[2][3] The show is produced by Gimlet Media, which is now part of Spotify Studios.[4]

Goldstein told The New Yorker that the name "Heavyweight" is meant to suggest the emotional burdens that each of us carry around. [1]

The podcast was first released in 2016, and ran for eight seasons. Gimlet and Spotify announced in December 2023 that the podcast would not be renewed, and would discontinue production after its final season.[5]

Podcast format

In each episode, host Jonathan Goldstein attempts to help a guest—typically an ordinary person, not a celebrity—find closure for an unresolved question in their lives. The New York Times described it this way: "Jonathan Goldstein climbs inside the stories that shape people’s lives to see if he can help them create better endings."[6] The Atlantic described the podcast by saying, "Each episode finds the host Jonathan Goldstein moderating a fraught moment intensified by years of distance: a time when someone broke a promise, or another person’s heart. The hurt is still there—sometimes for everyone, sometimes for just one person who can’t let something go. Goldstein leads special-ops soul-searching missions, seeking common ground between the aggrieved and the blissfully ignorant."[7]

As described in the Financial Times: "The first episode featured Goldstein’s 80-year-old father, Buzz, and his estranged brother. When he got them talking you could feel the temperature plummet. The second episode revolved around Goldstein’s friend Gregor, who once loaned the pop musician Moby a box of CDs. In this collection, Moby found the songs that he sampled for his mega-selling 1999 album, Play. Now Gregor wanted his CDs back, along with the life he thought he could have had."[2]

Reception

Heavyweight has been positively reviewed in The New York Times,[8] The New Yorker,[1] The Atlantic,[9] The Financial Times[2], The Irish Times[10] and The Guardian.[11] Writing in the Financial Times, Fiona Sturges called the show "terrifically moving".[12]

The New Yorker wrote: "With gumption, empathy, and comic awkwardness, [Goldstein] ventures into people’s lives and tries to help them resolve things from the past: an unsolved human mystery, lingering guilt, a falling-out, hurt that’s turned to grievance."[1] The Guardian wrote: "Goldstein leads his subjects back to that crucial moment when things went wrong and then helps them confront it so they can move on. Enthralling."[11]

Over the years, Heavyweight has appeared on numerous critic's lists as one of the best podcasts in the industry. The show was named the Number One podcast of 2016 by The Atlantic[7], one of the best podcasts of 2019 by The Economist,[13] and one of the best podcasts of 2023 by The Week and The New York Times[14].[15]

The show spent 4 days at #1 on the US iTunes podcast charts in September 2016, following its series premiere.[16] In Canada, the show was at #1 for thirteen days.[17]

Awards

Heavyweight has received 6 podcast industry honors[18], including 2 nominations for the Best Society and Culture Podcast through the Ambies.[19] In 2020, “The Marshes” episode(#30) was nominated for an IDA Documentary award for best audio documentary,[20] and the Third Coast International Audio Festival gave the episode "Gregor" the TC/RHDF 2017 Skylarking Award in 2017. That episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Chris Neary, Wendy Dorr and Kalila Holt.[21]

Series overview

Season Episodes Release date Notes
First episode Last episode
1
  1. Buzz[22]
  2. Gregor[23]
  3. Tara[24]
  4. Tony[25]
  5. Galit[26]
  6. James[27]
  7. Julia[28]
  8. Jeremy[29]
September 23, 2016 November 15, 2016
2
  1. Milt[30]
  2. Rose[31]
  3. Christina[32]
  4. Jesse[33]
  5. Kenny[34]
  6. Isabel [35]
  7. Dina[36]
October 26, 2017 December 7, 2017
3
  1. Rob[37]
  2. Skye[38]
  3. Sven[39]
  4. Joey[40]
  5. Soraya[41]
  6. Rachael[42]
  7. Marchel[43]
  8. Alex[44]
October 4, 2018 December 13, 2018 A special episode, a recording of a Heavyweight live show was released between episodes #18 and #19.
3.5
  1. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 1[45]
  2. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 2[46]
  3. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 3[47]
  4. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 4[48]
  5. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 5[49]
  6. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 6[50]
  7. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 7[51]
  8. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 8[52]
August 1, 2019 September 19, 2019 The Heavy Wait Diaries: Short essays from Goldstein released in the lead up to Season 4.

Episodes available only on Spotify

4
  1. Jimmy and Mark[53]
  2. Becky and Jo[54]
  3. Beverly and Van[55]
  4. Scott[56]
  5. Dr Muller[57]
  6. Elyse[58]
  7. The Marshes[59]
  8. Marie-Claude[60]
September 26, 2019 December 19, 2019
4.5
  1. Heavyweight Checks In 1[61]
  2. Heavyweight Checks In 2[62]
  3. Heavyweight Checks In 3[63]
  4. Heavyweight Checks In 4[64]
  5. Heavyweight Checks In 5[65]
  6. Heavyweight Checks In 6[66]
  7. Heavyweight Checks In 7[67]
  8. Heavyweight Checks In 8[68]
March 8, 2020 June 18, 2020 Heavyweight Check in: Short stories primarily covering how Heavyweight cast and former guests are doing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
5
  1. Vivian[69]
  2. Bobby[70]
  3. Annie[71]
  4. Rachael and Jon[72]
October 26, 2017 December 7, 2017
5.5
  1. Check In: Do You Like Music?[73]
  2. Check In: Curtis Sittenfeld[74]
  3. Check In: Holiday Special[75]
  4. Heavyweight Short: Hallie[76]
  5. Heavyweight Short: The Sharing Place[77]
  6. Heavyweight Short: A Canadian Tale[78]
December 3, 2020 July 15, 2021 Heavyweight Check in: Short stories primarily covering how Heavyweight cast and former guests as well as a Trio of "Shorts".
6
  1. Brandon[79]
  2. John[80]
  3. Justine[81]
  4. Stephen[82]
  5. Barbara Shutt[83]
  6. Barbara Wilson[84]
  7. Mark[85]
  8. Maura[86]
September 30, 2021 December 16, 2021 The series transitioned to Spotify exclusive with episode #41.
7
  1. Sara[87]
  2. Sgt. John Kapphahn[88]
  3. Dan[89]
  4. Frederick J. Brown[90]
  5. Ben[91]
  6. Another Roadside Attraction[92]
  7. Nick[93]
  8. The Elliotts[94]
September 22, 2022 December 22, 2022
8
  1. Lenny[95]
  2. Leif[96]
  3. Victor and Maite[97]
  4. Toby[98]
  5. 44 Photos[99]
  6. The Budget Motel[100]
Heavyweight Short: Yasser[101]
Heavyweight Short: Loch[102]
  1. Harry[103]
October 5, 2023 December 21, 2023

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Larson, Sarah (8 December 2017). ""Heavyweight," the Podcast That Contends with Our Regrets". The New Yorker. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Sturges, Fiona (Oct 9, 2016). "Podcast review — Heavyweight: 'Terrifically moving'". Financial Times. Retrieved Jan 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Heavyweight". Gimlet Media. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  4. ↑ Weprin, Alex (2023-06-05). "Spotify to Slash Podcast Workforce, Combine Parcast and Gimlet Studios in New Round of Cuts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  5. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/4/23988438/spotify-cancels-gimlet-podcast-heavyweight-layoff
  6. ↑ Mills, Andy (May 26, 2017). "What we're reading: special podcast edition". The New York Times. Retrieved Jan 26, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Standley, Laura Jane (Dec 18, 2016). "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2016". The Atlantic. Retrieved Jan 26, 2020.
  8. ↑ The Daily Team (26 May 2017). "What We're Reading: Special Podcast Edition". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  9. ↑ Standley, Laura Jane; McQuade, Eric (18 December 2016). "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2016". The Atlantic. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  10. ↑ Griffin, Sarah (23 March 2019). "Podcast of the week: Heavyweight". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  11. 1 2 Verdier, Hannah (29 September 2016). "Heavyweight: the podcast that goes back to when people's lives went wrong". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  12. ↑ Sturges, Fiona (9 October 2016). "Podcast review — Heavyweight: 'Terrifically moving'". Financial Times.
  13. ↑ Prospero (2019-12-18). "The best podcasts of 2019, The best podcasts of 2019". The Economist. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
  14. ↑ Ugwu, Reggie (2023-12-04). "Best Podcasts of 2023". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  15. ↑ updated, The Week UK last (2023-01-19). "The best podcasts of 2023". theweek. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  16. ↑ "Gimlet - 'Heavyweight' American iTunes Chart Performance". iTunes Charts. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Gimlet - 'Heavyweight' Canadian iTunes Chart Performance". iTunes Charts. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "Heavyweight (Podcast Series 2016–2023) - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  19. ↑ "Heavyweight (Podcast Series 2016–2023)". IMDb. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  20. ↑ "36th Annual IDA Documentary Awards". International Documentary Association. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  21. ↑ "Announcing the winners of the 2017 Third Coast/Richard H. Driehaus Competition!". Third Coast International Audio Festival. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  22. ↑ "#1 Buzz". Spotify. 23 September 2016.
  23. ↑ "#2 Gregor". Spotify. 24 September 2016.
  24. ↑ "#3 Tara". Spotify. 4 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "#4 Tony". Spotify. 11 October 2016.
  26. ↑ "#5 Galit". Spotify. 25 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "#6 James". Spotify. November 2016.
  28. ↑ "#7 Julia". Spotify. 8 November 2016.
  29. ↑ "#8 Jeremy". Spotify. 15 November 2016.
  30. ↑ "#9 Milt". Spotify. 28 September 2017.
  31. ↑ "#10 Rose". Spotify. 26 October 2017.
  32. ↑ "#11 Christina". Spotify. 2 November 2017.
  33. ↑ "#12 Jesse". Spotify. 9 November 2017.
  34. ↑ "#13 Kenny". Spotify. 16 November 2017.
  35. ↑ "#14 Isabel". Spotify. 30 November 2017.
  36. ↑ "#15 Dina". Spotify. 7 December 2017.
  37. ↑ "#16 Rob". Spotify. 4 October 2018.
  38. ↑ "#17 Skye". Spotify. 11 October 2018.
  39. ↑ "#18 Sven". Spotify. 18 October 2018.
  40. ↑ "#19 Joey". Spotify. November 2018.
  41. ↑ "#20 Soraya". Spotify. 8 November 2018.
  42. ↑ "#21 Rachael". Spotify. 15 November 2018.
  43. ↑ "#22 Marchel". Spotify. 6 December 2018.
  44. ↑ "#23 Alex". Spotify. 13 December 2018.
  45. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 1". Spotify. August 2019.
  46. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 2". Spotify. 8 August 2019.
  47. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 3". Spotify. 15 August 2019.
  48. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 4". Spotify. 22 August 2019.
  49. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 5". Spotify. 29 August 2019.
  50. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 6". Spotify. 5 September 2019.
  51. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 7". Spotify. 12 September 2019.
  52. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 8". Spotify. 19 September 2019.
  53. ↑ "#24 Jimmy and Mark". Spotify. 26 September 2019.
  54. ↑ "#25 Becky and Jo". Spotify. 3 October 2019.
  55. ↑ "#26 Beverley and van". Spotify. 10 October 2019.
  56. ↑ "#27 Scott". Spotify. 24 October 2019.
  57. ↑ "#28 Dr. Muller". Spotify. 7 November 2019.
  58. ↑ "#29 Elyse". Spotify. 21 November 2019.
  59. ↑ "#30 the Marshes". Spotify. 12 December 2019.
  60. ↑ "#31 Marie-Claude". Spotify. 19 December 2019.
  61. ↑ "Heavyweight Checks in". Spotify. 18 March 2020.
  62. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 2". Spotify. 27 March 2020.
  63. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 3". Spotify. 14 April 2020.
  64. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 4". Spotify. 27 April 2020.
  65. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 5". Spotify. 7 May 2020.
  66. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 6". Spotify. 22 May 2020.
  67. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 7". Spotify. 4 June 2020.
  68. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 8". Spotify. 18 June 2020.
  69. ↑ "#32 Vivian". Spotify. 15 October 2020.
  70. ↑ "#33 Bobby". Spotify. 22 October 2020.
  71. ↑ "#34 Annie". Spotify. 5 November 2020.
  72. ↑ "#35 Rachel and Jon". Spotify. 12 November 2020.
  73. ↑ "Check in: Do You Like Music?". Spotify. 3 December 2020.
  74. ↑ "Check in: Curtis Sittenfeld". Spotify. 10 December 2020.
  75. ↑ "Check in: Holiday Special". Spotify. 17 December 2020.
  76. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: Hallie". Spotify. 17 June 2021.
  77. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: The Sharing Place". Spotify. July 2021.
  78. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: A Canadian Tale". Spotify. 15 July 2021.
  79. ↑ "#36 Brandon". Spotify. 30 September 2021.
  80. ↑ "#37 John". Spotify. 7 October 2021.
  81. ↑ "#38 Justine". Spotify. 21 October 2021.
  82. ↑ "#39 Stephen". Spotify. 28 October 2021.
  83. ↑ "#40 Barbara Shutt". Spotify. 18 November 2021.
  84. ↑ "#41 Barbara Wilson". Spotify. 18 November 2021.
  85. ↑ "#42 Mark". Spotify. 9 December 2021.
  86. ↑ "#43 Maura". Spotify. 16 December 2021.
  87. ↑ "#44 Sara". Spotify. 22 September 2022.
  88. ↑ "#45 Sgt. John Kapphahn". Spotify. 29 September 2022.
  89. ↑ "#46 Dan". Spotify. 6 October 2022.
  90. ↑ "#47 Frederick J. Brown". Spotify. 27 October 2022.
  91. ↑ "#48 Ben". Spotify. 10 November 2022.
  92. ↑ "#49 Another Roadside Attraction". Spotify. 17 November 2022.
  93. ↑ "#50 Nick". Spotify. 15 December 2022.
  94. ↑ "#51 The Elliotts". Spotify. 22 December 2022.
  95. ↑ "#52 Lenny". Spotify. 5 October 2023.
  96. ↑ "#53 Leif". Spotify. 12 October 2023.
  97. ↑ "#54 Victor and Maite". Spotify. 19 October 2023.
  98. ↑ "#55 Toby". Spotify. 2 November 2023.
  99. ↑ "#56 44 Photos". Spotify. 9 November 2023.
  100. ↑ "#57 The Budget Motel". Spotify. 16 November 2023.
  101. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: Yasser". Spotify. 7 December 2023.
  102. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: Loch". Spotify. 14 December 2023.
  103. ↑ "#58 Harry". Spotify. 21 December 2023.
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