How Heavyweight podcast host Jonathan Goldstein helps strangers resolve their past traumas
Images provided by Spotify / Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
I love the podcast series Heavyweight, which started as a Gimlet Media show in 2016 and is now part of Spotify’s podcast empire. It’s funny, well-scripted, and surprising. Also, it’s heart-warming. I need it! On the show, host Jonathan Goldstein assists his guests in confronting unresolved past conflicts, which can range from genuinely traumatic experiences to smaller spats.
The fourth season premieres this week, so I spoke with Goldstein about his process for creating the show, what he looks for in guests, and, of course, whether he buys this idea that we’re all living through the “golden age of podcasts.”
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Season four started this week. How long have you been working on these...