2026 Update: Tony

2026 Update: Tony

Author: Pushkin Industries March 12, 2026 Duration: 42:51

Today, we speak with Jonathan's longtime friend Tony. A lot's changed in his life since the episode came out ten years ago. 

Tony messed up his relationship with each of his three godchildren owing to three difficult chapters in his life. Now, childless and single in his late 40’s, and fearing he may never have kids of his own, Tony wants to win them back.

You can sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/heavyweight

This episode was produced by Jonathan Goldstein, Wendy Dorr, Chris Neary, and Kalila Holt, with editing by Jorge Just and Alex Blumberg. Special thanks to Emily Condon, Anna Asimakopulos, and Jackie Cohen. The show was mixed by Haley Shaw. Music by Christine Fellows, John K Samson, Blue Dot Sessions, Michael Smith, Wonderly, and Hew Time. Our theme song is by The Weakerthans courtesy of Epitaph Records. Mixing on this update by Sarah Bruguiere.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


There’s a particular kind of memory that doesn’t fade-it’s the unresolved moment, the regret that quietly shapes a life. Heavyweight, from Pushkin Industries, is built on the belief that it’s never too late to go back and try to set things right. Host Jonathan Goldstein doesn’t just reminisce; he gets in the car, makes the phone call, and arranges the meeting. Each episode is a deeply human, often surprisingly funny journey into someone’s past to confront a lingering question: an apology never given, a friendship lost over a misunderstanding, a childhood promise broken. The tone here is a unique blend, fitting its categories of Society, Comedy, and Culture-it’s empathetic and thoughtful, yet laced with Goldstein’s wry, self-deprecating humor. You’ll hear the awkward silences, the nervous laughter, and the genuine breakthroughs. This isn’t a podcast about easy answers; it’s about the messy, courageous, and cathartic process of seeking closure, one personal heavyweight at a time. The conversations are intimate, the stories are specific, and the emotional weight is real, making for listening that is both moving and unexpectedly uplifting.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Heavyweight
Podcast Episodes
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:01
Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter will be presented to ease the burden of your wait. In Chapter 2, Jonathan tells a ridonculous lie.
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:35
Heavyweight Season 4 begins September 26th. Until then, we bring you The Heavy Wait Diaries. Each Thursday, a new chapter will be presented to ease the burden of your wait. In Chapter 1, Alex wants to see Jonathan in the…
#23 Alex [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:22
16 years ago, Gimlet Media CEO and founder Alex Blumberg made a promise that he didn’t keep. And it’s been eating at him ever since. In this season finale, Jonathan sets out to clean up his boss’s mess.
#22 Marchel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:11
Russian Ark is a cinematic masterpiece. Dozens of sets, thousands of actors, years of planning. It’s a perfectly executed work of art. Almost. In this episode, Jonathan sets off to find the one guy who ruined it for ever…
#21 Rachael [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:26
Ten years ago, Rachael had a baby. She never told the father. All these years later, she thinks it’s about time she did.
#20 Soraya [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:43
When Soraya was in college, her favorite professor hired her on to help research a book she was writing. But when she fell into a deep depression and dropped out of school, she abandoned both the book as well as the prof…
#19 Joey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
Joey recently had a very bad day, all due to awkward misunderstandings. So now, he's enlisted the help of Jonathan "Debonair" Goldstein and Jonathan’s friend Gregor to redo the day and set things right.
Zoe, PJ, and Chanel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:27
Heavyweight performed a sold-out live show in Brooklyn, NY, last June. Jonathan is joined by This American Life’s Zoe Chace and Reply All’s PJ Vogt to talk about Heavyweight stories that never made it onto the air… until…
#18 Sven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:50
Sven was on a jury that sentenced a man named Paul Storey to death. He's regretted it ever since. Then, eight years later, Sven gets an email from Paul’s mother.

«1...678910