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Heavyweight (podcast)

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Heavyweight
Podcast art for Heavyweight
FormatNon-fiction short stories
LanguageEnglish
Creative team
Created byJonathan Goldstein
Music
Ending theme"Sun in an Empty Room" by The Weakerthans
Production
ProductionGimlet Media (2016-2023)
Pushkin Industries (2025-present)
Length40–60 minutes
Technical specifications
Audio format
Publication
No. of seasons9
No. of episodes66
Original releaseSeptember 23, 2016 (2016-09-23) –
present
Related
Websitewww.pushkin.fm/podcasts/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] Produced by Goldstein, Stevie Lane, and Kalila Holt, the show was launched on Gimlet Media in 2016 and has aired at Pushkin Industries since 2025.

Podcast format

[edit]

The podcast follows host Jonathan Goldstein as he helps a guest attempt to find closure about an unresolved question, relationship or event in their lives.[4][5] Each episode begins with a phone call to Goldstein's friend, Jackie Cohen, before the introduction of a guest who may be known to Goldstein, like family or friends, or listeners who have contracted the show for assistance.[6] The first episode featured Goldstein's father Buzz and his estranged brother, and the second featured Goldstein's friend Gregor who wanted a CD collection back from Moby.[2]

Production

[edit]

Heavyweight is produced by Goldstein, along with Stevie Lane and Kalila Holt.[7] The show's theme song, "Sun in an Empty Room" by The Weakerthans, plays at the end of each episode. Goldstein told Sarah Larson of The New Yorker that the name "Heavyweight" is meant to suggest the emotional burdens that each of us carry around.[1]

The show launched in 2016 on Gimlet Media.[8] The podcast later aired on Spotify following the company's 2019 acquisition of Gimlet, and cancelled in December 2023 as part of a move away from narrative-driven shows to personality focused productions.[9] In February 2025, it was announced the they would be joining Pushkin Industries and begin producing new episodes later that year.[10]

Reception

[edit]

Heavyweight has been positively reviewed in The New York Times,[11] The New Yorker,[1] The Atlantic,[12] The Financial Times,[2] The Irish Times[13] and The Guardian.[14] Writing in the Financial Times, Fiona Sturges called the show "terrifically moving".[15]

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."[14]

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,[5] one of the best podcasts of 2019 by The Economist,[16] and one of the best podcasts of 2023 by The Week and The New York Times.[17][18]

The show spent 4 days at #1 on the US iTunes podcast charts in September 2016, following its series premiere.[19] In Canada, the show was at #1 for thirteen days.[20]

Awards

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Heavyweight has received 6 podcast industry honors,[21] including 2 nominations for the Best Society and Culture Podcast through the Ambies.[22] In 2020, the episode "The Marshes" was nominated for an IDA Documentary award for best audio documentary,[23] 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.[24]

Series overview

[edit]
Season Episodes Release date Notes
First episode Last episode
1
  1. Buzz[25]
  2. Gregor[26]
  3. Tara[27]
  4. Tony[28]
  5. Galit[29]
  6. James[30]
  7. Julia[31]
  8. Jeremy[32]
September 23, 2016 November 15, 2016
2
  1. Milt[33]
  2. Rose[34]
  3. Christina[35]
  4. Jesse[36]
  5. Kenny[37]
  6. Isabel [38]
  7. Dina[39]
October 26, 2017 December 7, 2017
3
  1. Rob[40]
  2. Skye[41]
  3. Sven[42]
  4. Joey[43]
  5. Soraya[44]
  6. Rachael[45]
  7. Marchel[46]
  8. Alex[47]
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[48]
  2. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 2[49]
  3. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 3[50]
  4. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 4[51]
  5. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 5[52]
  6. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 6[53]
  7. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 7[54]
  8. The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 8[55]
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[56]
  2. Becky and Jo[57]
  3. Beverly and Van[58]
  4. Scott[59]
  5. Dr Muller[60]
  6. Elyse[61]
  7. The Marshes[62]
  8. Marie-Claude[63]
September 26, 2019 December 19, 2019
4.5
  1. Heavyweight Checks In 1[64]
  2. Heavyweight Checks In 2[65]
  3. Heavyweight Checks In 3[66]
  4. Heavyweight Checks In 4[67]
  5. Heavyweight Checks In 5[68]
  6. Heavyweight Checks In 6[69]
  7. Heavyweight Checks In 7[70]
  8. Heavyweight Checks In 8[71]
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[72]
  2. Bobby[73]
  3. Annie[74]
  4. Rachael and Jon[75]
October 15, 2020 November 12, 2020
5.5
  1. Check In: Do You Like Music?[76]
  2. Check In: Curtis Sittenfeld[77]
  3. Check In: Holiday Special[78]
  4. Heavyweight Short: Hallie[79]
  5. Heavyweight Short: The Sharing Place[80]
  6. Heavyweight Short: A Canadian Tale[81]
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[82]
  2. John[83]
  3. Justine[84]
  4. Stephen[85]
  5. Barbara Shutt[86]
  6. Barbara Wilson[87]
  7. Mark[88]
  8. Maura[89]
September 30, 2021 December 16, 2021 The series transitioned to appearing exclusively on Spotify with episode #41.
7
  1. Sara[90]
  2. Sgt. John Kapphahn[91]
  3. Dan[92]
  4. Frederick J. Brown[93]
  5. Ben[94]
  6. Another Roadside Attraction[95]
  7. Nick[96]
  8. The Elliotts[97]
September 22, 2022 December 22, 2022
8
  1. Lenny[98]
  2. Leif[99]
  3. Victor and Maite[100]
  4. Toby[101]
  5. 44 Photos[102]
  6. The Budget Motel[103]
Heavyweight Short: Yasser[104]
Heavyweight Short: Loch[105]
  1. Harry[106]
October 5, 2023 December 21, 2023
9
  1. Etta[107]
  2. The Messenger[108]
  3. The Bank Robber[109]
  4. Stefano[110]
  5. Jasmine[111]
  6. Heavyweight: Live from New York [112]
  7. Kevin[113]
  8. Meredith[114]
 September 18, 2025 December 18, 2025
10 67. Jenna[115] September 17, 2026 Ongoing

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Larson, Sarah (December 8, 2017). ""Heavyweight," the Podcast That Contends with Our Regrets". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Sturges, Fiona (October 9, 2016). "Podcast review — Heavyweight: 'Terrifically moving'". Financial Times. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Heavyweight". Gimlet Media. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  4. ↑ Mills, Andy (May 26, 2017). "What we're reading: special podcast edition". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Standley, Laura Jane (December 18, 2016). "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2016". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  6. ↑ Greenberg, Jake (February 15, 2018). "Buried in the Anxieties of Others". Podcast Review. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ Quah, Nicholas. "Heavyweight's Return From the Dead". Vulture. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  8. ↑ Testa, Jessica (February 25, 2025). "'Heavyweight,' an Acclaimed Narrative Podcast, Returns". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ Shapiro, Ariel (December 4, 2023). "Spotify cancels industry-favorite podcast Heavyweight". The Verge. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  10. ↑ Huston, Caitlin (February 25, 2025). "'Heavyweight' Podcast Sets Return With Pushkin Industries". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  11. ↑ The Daily Team (May 26, 2017). "What We're Reading: Special Podcast Edition". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  12. ↑ Standley, Laura Jane; McQuade, Eric (December 18, 2016). "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2016". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  13. ↑ Griffin, Sarah (March 23, 2019). "Podcast of the week: Heavyweight". The Irish Times. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  14. 1 2 Verdier, Hannah (September 29, 2016). "Heavyweight: the podcast that goes back to when people's lives went wrong". The Guardian. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  15. ↑ Sturges, Fiona (October 9, 2016). "Podcast review — Heavyweight: 'Terrifically moving'". Financial Times.
  16. ↑ Prospero (December 18, 2019). "The best podcasts of 2019, The best podcasts of 2019". The Economist. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  17. ↑ Ugwu, Reggie (December 4, 2023). "Best Podcasts of 2023". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  18. ↑ "The best podcasts of 2023". theweek. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Gimlet - 'Heavyweight' American iTunes Chart Performance". iTunes Charts. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Gimlet - 'Heavyweight' Canadian iTunes Chart Performance". iTunes Charts. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Heavyweight (Podcast Series 2016–2023) - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Heavyweight (Podcast Series 2016–2023)". IMDb. January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  23. ↑ "36th Annual IDA Documentary Awards". International Documentary Association. October 27, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Announcing the winners of the 2017 Third Coast/Richard H. Driehaus Competition!". Third Coast International Audio Festival. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  25. ↑ "#1 Buzz". Spotify. September 23, 2016.
  26. ↑ "#2 Gregor". Spotify. September 24, 2016.
  27. ↑ "#3 Tara". Spotify. October 4, 2016.
  28. ↑ "#4 Tony". Spotify. October 11, 2016.
  29. ↑ "#5 Galit". Spotify. October 25, 2016.
  30. ↑ "#6 James". Spotify. November 2016.
  31. ↑ "#7 Julia". Spotify. November 8, 2016.
  32. ↑ "#8 Jeremy". Spotify. November 15, 2016.
  33. ↑ "#9 Milt". Spotify. September 28, 2017.
  34. ↑ "#10 Rose". Spotify. October 26, 2017.
  35. ↑ "#11 Christina". Spotify. November 2, 2017.
  36. ↑ "#12 Jesse". Spotify. November 9, 2017.
  37. ↑ "#13 Kenny". Spotify. November 16, 2017.
  38. ↑ "#14 Isabel". Spotify. November 30, 2017.
  39. ↑ "#15 Dina". Spotify. December 7, 2017.
  40. ↑ "#16 Rob". Spotify. October 4, 2018.
  41. ↑ "#17 Skye". Spotify. October 11, 2018.
  42. ↑ "#18 Sven". Spotify. October 18, 2018.
  43. ↑ "#19 Joey". Spotify. November 2018.
  44. ↑ "#20 Soraya". Spotify. November 8, 2018.
  45. ↑ "#21 Rachael". Spotify. November 15, 2018.
  46. ↑ "#22 Marchel". Spotify. December 6, 2018.
  47. ↑ "#23 Alex". Spotify. December 13, 2018.
  48. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 1". Spotify. August 2019.
  49. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 2". Spotify. August 8, 2019.
  50. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 3". Spotify. August 15, 2019.
  51. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 4". Spotify. August 22, 2019.
  52. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 5". Spotify. August 29, 2019.
  53. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 6". Spotify. September 5, 2019.
  54. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 7". Spotify. September 12, 2019.
  55. ↑ "The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 8". Spotify. September 19, 2019.
  56. ↑ "#24 Jimmy and Mark". Spotify. September 26, 2019.
  57. ↑ "#25 Becky and Jo". Spotify. October 3, 2019.
  58. ↑ "#26 Beverley and van". Spotify. October 10, 2019.
  59. ↑ "#27 Scott". Spotify. October 24, 2019.
  60. ↑ "#28 Dr. Muller". Spotify. November 7, 2019.
  61. ↑ "#29 Elyse". Spotify. November 21, 2019.
  62. ↑ "#30 the Marshes". Spotify. December 12, 2019.
  63. ↑ "#31 Marie-Claude". Spotify. December 19, 2019.
  64. ↑ "Heavyweight Checks in". Spotify. March 18, 2020.
  65. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 2". Spotify. March 27, 2020.
  66. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 3". Spotify. April 14, 2020.
  67. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 4". Spotify. April 27, 2020.
  68. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 5". Spotify. May 7, 2020.
  69. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 6". Spotify. May 22, 2020.
  70. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 7". Spotify. June 4, 2020.
  71. ↑ "Heavyweight Check in 8". Spotify. June 18, 2020.
  72. ↑ "#32 Vivian". Spotify. October 15, 2020.
  73. ↑ "#33 Bobby". Spotify. October 22, 2020.
  74. ↑ "#34 Annie". Spotify. November 5, 2020.
  75. ↑ "#35 Rachel and Jon". Spotify. November 12, 2020.
  76. ↑ "Check in: Do You Like Music?". Spotify. December 3, 2020.
  77. ↑ "Check in: Curtis Sittenfeld". Spotify. December 10, 2020.
  78. ↑ "Check in: Holiday Special". Spotify. December 17, 2020.
  79. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: Hallie". Spotify. June 17, 2021.
  80. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: The Sharing Place". Spotify. July 2021.
  81. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: A Canadian Tale". Spotify. July 15, 2021.
  82. ↑ "#36 Brandon". Spotify. September 30, 2021.
  83. ↑ "#37 John". Spotify. October 7, 2021.
  84. ↑ "#38 Justine". Spotify. October 21, 2021.
  85. ↑ "#39 Stephen". Spotify. October 28, 2021.
  86. ↑ "#40 Barbara Shutt". Spotify. November 18, 2021.
  87. ↑ "#41 Barbara Wilson". Spotify. November 18, 2021.
  88. ↑ "#42 Mark". Spotify. December 9, 2021.
  89. ↑ "#43 Maura". Spotify. December 16, 2021.
  90. ↑ "#44 Sara". Spotify. September 22, 2022.
  91. ↑ "#45 Sgt. John Kapphahn". Spotify. September 29, 2022.
  92. ↑ "#46 Dan". Spotify. October 6, 2022.
  93. ↑ "#47 Frederick J. Brown". Spotify. October 27, 2022.
  94. ↑ "#48 Ben". Spotify. November 10, 2022.
  95. ↑ "#49 Another Roadside Attraction". Spotify. November 17, 2022.
  96. ↑ "#50 Nick". Spotify. December 15, 2022.
  97. ↑ "#51 The Elliotts". Spotify. December 22, 2022.
  98. ↑ "#52 Lenny". Spotify. October 5, 2023.
  99. ↑ "#53 Leif". Spotify. October 12, 2023.
  100. ↑ "#54 Victor and Maite". Spotify. October 19, 2023.
  101. ↑ "#55 Toby". Spotify. November 2, 2023.
  102. ↑ "#56 44 Photos". Spotify. November 9, 2023.
  103. ↑ "#57 The Budget Motel". Spotify. November 16, 2023.
  104. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: Yasser". Spotify. December 7, 2023.
  105. ↑ "Heavyweight Short: Loch". Spotify. December 14, 2023.
  106. ↑ "#58 Harry". Spotify. December 21, 2023.
  107. ↑ "#59 Etta". Spotify. September 18, 2025.
  108. ↑ "#60 The Messenger". Pushkin Industries. September 25, 2025.
  109. ↑ "#61 The Bank Robber". Pushkin Industries. October 2, 2025.
  110. ↑ "#62 Stefano". Pushkin Industries. October 16, 2025.
  111. ↑ "#63 Jasmine". Pushkin Industries. October 30, 2025.
  112. ↑ "Heavyweight: Live from New York". Pushkin Industries. November 13, 2025.
  113. ↑ "#64 Kevin". Pushkin Industries. November 20, 2025.
  114. ↑ "#65 Meredith". Pushkin Industries. December 11, 2025.
  115. ↑ "#67 Jenna | Heavyweight". Pushkin Industries. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
[edit]
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