There’s something special about the small town of Montrose, surrounded by the majestic mountains and quiet mesas of western Colorado. One night, an explosion in the night sky draws townspeople out to search for something more. Something bigger. Something… out of this world.  Special thanks to Brendan Borrell for his original reporting in Montrose and Delta, Colorado. You can read more about the continuing fall out between Steve Curry and Blaine Reed in his article in The Verge.  Additional thanks to Blaine and his brother Blake Reed, Ryan Brown, Zillamay at Mountain of the West, Paul Paladino, Dave Lehman, and Duane Renfrow. Produced by Shaina Shealy and Jazmín Aguilera, original score by Renzo Gorrio Season 11 - Episode 1  The beat doesn’t happen without YOU. Support Snap storytelling... stories you won't hear anywhere else.

An openly gay luchador full of talent faces an uphill battle to get the crowd and the press on his side. A woman takes on superhero duty, serving as a heroine of the streets. And Neal Brennan rocks three mics. Snap Judgment presents, “The Performers.” Exploring the magic behind the stagecraft. STORIES Magic Lamp Glynn's good luck charm goes missing. Produced by Mark Ristich Cassandro El Exotico Cassandro is an up-and-coming luchador, a professional Mexican wrestler. He wants to get to the big arenas. He's got the talent, no doubt. But because he's also one of the only openly gay fighters, he's got an uphill battle to get the crowd and the press on his side.  Produced by Eliza Smith, original score by Leon Morimoto  The Lusty Lady - Gina Gold  Pimps beware! Gina Gold is on superhero duty. Performed live at Snap LIVE! in Oakland's Paramount Theater Music composed by Alex Mandel, music performed by Alex Mandel, David Brandt, and Tim Frick  Three Mics - Neal Brennan  Neal Brennan writer, director, comedian and co-creator of Chappelle's Show is in the studio telling a story from his one-man show, "3 Mics". Performed by Neal Brennan, produced by Lina Misitzis and Mark Ristich Snap Classic - Season 7 Episode 10 The beat doesn’t happen without YOU. Support Snap storytelling... stories you won't hear anywhere else.

Tom was a cop. Jason was a teenager in a gang. One night in 1997, they had a violent encounter that Tom describes as “inevitable.” Tom and Jason relate the story of that night and the series of events that unfolded in the years afterward.  Snap Judgment presents, “Tell Christy I Love Her,” a special spotlight on the Ear Hustle Podcast, from PRX’s Radiotopia. Content Advisory: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. Listener discretion is advised. Thank you to those who shared their stories with Ear Hustle for this episode: Jason Samuel and Tom & Christy Morgan. A BIG thanks and so much love to the Ear Hustle crew!  Also, thanks to Jason Cohen and CNN for letting Ear Hustle use audio from their episode,  “Officer Down” from the program, The Redemption Project. This story wouldn't have been possible without Martina Lutz Schneider from the restorative justice group, Ahimsa Collective. Be sure to visit www.EarHustleSq.com to hear more stories, see pictures from episodes, and follow everything Ear Hustle. Listen to the full song from Antwan Banks Williams, “Powerful”, and follow Antwan here. Ear Hustle comes to us from PRX’s Radiotopia and is produced by Earlonne Woods, Nigel Poor, Rhasaan “New York” Thomas, John “Yahya” Johnson, Pat Mesiti-Miller, and Bruce Wallace. This episode is scored with music from Antwan Williams, David Jassy, Rhashiyd Zinnamon, Lee Jaspar and Matt Glasbey. Senior Producer Curtis Fox, Digital Producer Erin Wade, and Executive Producer Julie Shapiro. Artwork by: Antwan Williams

A loan shark crusades against the dark side of the payday industry, after running a risky business. A student discovers a kid named Hitler at college orientation, leading to a search for more Hitler’s. And a survivor of criminalization and state violence takes the stage as a means of healing. STORIES A Loan Shark’s Debt From the heyday to mayday, of payday loans. Special thanks to Gary Rivlin, a reporting fellow with The Investigative Fund for bringing this story to Snap Judgment. For more info, check out Gary’s story in The Intercept. You can also contact Phil at his email address  Produced by Davey Kim, original score by Leon Morimoto A Kid Named Hitler On his very first day of college, Joe swore he heard something that he couldn’t possibly have heard...  If you want to learn about more people named Hitler, check out director Matt Ogen’s fascinating documentary “Meet The Hitlers,” in which he interviews Hitlers from all over the world.  It’s currently available on iTunes and Amazon.  For more information on his upcoming projects, including a documentary about a high school on the US-Mexico border and a new documentary series about fighting culture around the world, be sure to check out mattogens.com.  You can also follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram. Produced by Joe Rosenberg, original score by Renzo Gorrio Power: From the Mouths of the Occupied A survivor of criminalization and state violence takes the stage as a means of healing. African Americans work with LA-based director - and Black Lives Matter co-founder - Patrisse Khan-Cullors to tell stories about traumatic encounters with law enforcement. This was included in the live Seattle production of Power: From the Mouths of the Occupied. BIG thanks to Luzviminda Uzuri Carpenter for sharing your story with Snap. To learn more about Power: From the Mouths of the Occupied, and the work of Patrisse Cullors check out her website. If you want to hear more from Luzviminda, check out her talk show. Produced by Patrisse Cullors and C. Davida Ingram Snap Classic - Season 8 Episode 5

A poet delivers a devastating portrait of the relationship that made him who he is today. Two men come face to face one night in the dark canyon-lands of southern Utah. And a dangerous anarchist steals, kills, and escapes, until one day when he can run no further.  It’s Snap’s 2019 Look Back Special... time to look back before we move forward. Happy Holidays to all!  STORIES A Little Time  Glynn and his son stumble upon an incredible creature in the woods.  Produced by Lauryn Newson My Best Friend  In his first appearance on the Snap Judgment stage, Ise Lyfe delivers a devastating portrait of the relationship that made him who he is today. Performed at Snap LIVE. Original Music by Alex Mandel, music performed by Alex Mandel and the Snap Judgment Players (Tim Frick and David Brandt), re-recording mix by Pat Mesiti-Miller Produced by Glynn Washington and Mark Ristich The Incident At Poison Spider Mesa The story of two men who come face to face one night in the canyonlands of southern Utah. Brody Young is a Utah State Park Ranger and motivational speaker, helping other people figure out how to survive the unsurvivable.  To find out more about his story, be sure to check out his website. Produced by Joe Rosenberg, original score by Leon Morimoto Chaotic Good Malaclypse was part of a dangerous anarchist group. They stole, they killed, they escaped, until one day when Malaclypse could run no further... Dan has been playing and organizing LARPs for 20 years. He posts bad LARP advice on Twitter at LarpTips. Produced by Jazmin Aguilera, original score by Renzo Gorrio  Season 10 Episode 37

After traumatic experiences underwater, a diver falls in love with the ocean again by building a secret kingdom for seahorses. BIG thanks to Roger Hanson. Roger’s writing a children’s book, called “A Seahorse of a Different Color,” about a unique seahorse who was born different. It comes out in June. Roger has previously been covered by the LA Times and Spectrum Channel 1, which called him the “world’s foremost expert on the Pacific Seahorse.” Seahorse Update: In September, pregnant Deep Blue stopped showing up. Roger thinks he was eaten by an octopus. He’s moved any remaining octopuses in the area and resettled them elsewhere.  Produced by Liz Mak, original score by Leon Moriomoto  Season 10 Episode 36

A woman arrives in India only to discover that the baby she’s there to adopt has just been rescued from an orphanage tied to a child trafficking ring. Listen to Part Two of this amazing journey.  BIG thanks to Danielle and Annaporva Green for sharing your story with Snap. Read more incredible stories from Danielle in her book, A Magnificent Obsession. Produced by Nancy López, original score by Renzo Gorrio  Season 10 Episode 35

When 14-year-old Annaporva finally decides to ask her mother about her biological family a story so unexpected unravels - there’s kingpins, death threats, and Maneka Gandhi.  A HUGE thank you to Danielle and Annaporva Green for sharing your story with Snap. For more stories from Danielle, check out her book, A Magnificent Obsession. Produced by Nancy López, original score by Renzo Gorrio  Be sure to listen to next week's Snap episode to hear Part Two of this story. Season 10 Episode 34