Check In: Curtis Sittenfeld

Check In: Curtis Sittenfeld

Author: Pushkin Industries December 10, 2020 Duration: 31:59
Jonathan speaks with Curtis Sittenfeld about her novel Rodham, which deals with many of the themes we explore on Heavyweight: things like returning to the past to change it, and the question of what our lives might have been like if we’d made one decision differently. Rodham is a novel about what Hillary Clinton’s life and political career might have looked like if she had never married Bill Clinton.

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
#27 Scott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:17
Eight years ago, when Scott was addicted to heroin, he crossed a line he thought he would never cross. And he’s been trying to uncross it since.
#26 Beverley and Van [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:16
Ashley’s grandmother, Beverley, had a hard life and an unhappy marriage. But she spoke frequently of a man named Van. Ashley believes Van was the great unfulfilled love of her grandmother’s life. And now, she wants to kn…
#25 Becky and Jo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
Becky and Jo were raised by a procession of eccentric babysitters, 16 in total. But their favorite was Leticia. The girls adored her… right up until the day she mysteriously vanished. Twenty years later, Becky and Jo wan…
#24 Jimmy and Mark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:22
When he was only 10 years old, Jonathan Marshall was sent on a 240 mile bicycle trip. 3 days. Across 2 states. With no adult supervision. 45 years later, Jonathan can’t stop thinking about the trip. Or the little boys he…
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 8 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:45
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 8—the final chapter—Jonathan takes a…
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:41
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 7, the most challenging interview of…
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:45
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 6, Jonathan gets a new co-host.
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:10
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 5, the Heavyweight union rep threate…
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:21
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 4, Jonathan spends the weekend in a…
The Heavy Wait Diaries: Chapter 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:59
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 3, Jonathan goes to a strategy meeti…