In the Big Top, the Ringmaster wows the crowd in his top hat and sparkly jacket. But underneath the glitz is a feeling that only a father can lay to rest. And what do you do when your family’s big moment on national TV turns into a total disaster? ...Happy Father's Day y'all! RingmasterIn the Big Top, the Ringmaster wows the crowd in his top hat and sparkly jacket. But underneath the glitz is a question that only a father can lay to rest. Thank you Jonathan Lee Iverson for sharing your story with us! Jonathan is a Ringmaster to this day, you can find him touring up and down California. Produced by Anna Sussman. Original score by Derek Barber. Photo credit: Wednesday Aja.The Angry Marriage? What do you do when your family’s big moment on national TV turns into a total disaster?A huge thank you to Charles, Linda and Rebecca Kraus for sharing your story with Snap!You can find all things Charles the Clown including videos, songs, magic tricks, puppet routines and even book Charles for your next event in the Bay Area. Dr. Bonnie Maslin and The Today Show did not respond to our requests for comment about this story.Produced by Bo Walsh. Original score by Dirk Schwartzhoff. Edited by Regina Bediako & Anna Sussman. Season 16 - Episode 25 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week on Snap, we go to Guadalajara, Mexico where Dante meets Jorge. As they start to understand each other they soon discover that what brings them together also sets them apart.This episode contains sexual references, sensitive listeners please be advised.Thank you, Dante and Jorge, for sharing your story!The Spanish version of this episode is available at CUIR: Historias Disidentes, a non-fiction podcast that showcases stories from the Latinx LGBTQ+ community and from people who challenge the way we think about love, identity, sex and pleasure. You can listen to more CUIR episodes anywhere you listen to podcasts and on the CUIR website: https://estonoesradio.mx/programas/cuirJorge was voiced by Terry Holiday, one of the most prominent trans actresses in Mexico. You can read more about Terry in this Vice article (in Spanish).Produced by Erick Yáñez, edited by Nancy López. Reported by Dante Ureta. Original score by Renzo Gorrio. Art by Teo Ducot.Snap Classic - Season 16 – Episode 24 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

After years of fighting battles as a child soldier, a Sudanese man finds himself a refugee in Australia. As he struggles to overcome his past, he comes face-to-face with his childhood tormentor on a TV show.This episode recounts real events that happened to a child soldier, including graphic scenes inside a prison camp, listener discretion is advised.Thank you, Ayik, for sharing your incredible story with us! To learn more about Ayik’s life, check out his memoir, The Lost Boy. You can also catch Ayik on Harrow, a crime drama on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Produced by Ruby Schwartz, edited by Nancy López. Special thanks to Wendy Love. Original score by Renzo Gorrio. Artwork by Teo Ducot.This week’s music spotlight features the song “Rocketeer” from our very own Renzo Gorrio! Renzo scores so many stories on Snap (like this one!) and he produces under the name Hydroplane. Listen to “Rocketeer” from his album “Rockets” available on cassette, vinyl, and digitally on Bandcamp.Snap Classic – Season 16 – Episode 23 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Have you ever wanted something so badly you’d do anything to make it happen? Sixteen-year-old Mohamed decides to dig deep in his religion to take the next step with his crush. There’s no love like young love… especially when it’s a secret. This story contains strong language, discusses sexuality, and mentions corporal punishment. Please take care while listening.BIG thanks to Mohamed Ali for sharing his story with us! Mohamed is an artist and comedian, he just got back to Canada after spending the last few years working and performing in Southeast Asia. Check out his Instagram!Special thanks to Zahra Noorbakhsh. Big thanks as well to Zaiba Hasan & her crew from the podcast Mommying While Muslim.Produced by Regina Bediako, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot.Snap Music Spotlight: “Honest” by Jada Imani (produced by Dakim)Jada Imani is an East St. Louis-born, Bay Area-raised Hip-Hop R&B artist and organizer. In addition to a whole bunch of great music, Jada recently launched a new product line called “Good For The Soul”. Be sure to check out her Patreon and follow her on social media!This song comes to us from the compilation Water For The Town Vol. 4, a project series from SmartBomb created to raise mutual aid and awareness for various organizations and grassroots movements doing vital work right here in Oakland.The song is produced by Dakim, be sure to check out more of Dakim’s music and follow them on Instagram!Season 16 – Episode 22 - Snap Classic Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Three epic romances, but only one of them makes it into the time capsule. Nichole, Zakiya, and Emmanuel must choose the best Black Love story for the world of the future.This week on Snap, we're featuring an episode from our friends at Our Ancestors Were Messy.Our Ancestors Were Messy, is a podcast covering the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines in the Black newspapers of segregated communities during the pre-Civil Rights era. On each episode, host Nichole Hill and her guests follow the story of an ancestor in search of opportunity, adventure, love, and a way to beat Jim Crow. Hill and her guests learn the mess - and eventual history - their ancestors make along the way. You can listen to this incredible show on any podcast platform!Our Ancestors Were Messy is hosted by Nichole Hill (@nicholewthanh). This episode feautres Emmanuel Dzotsi (@newsmanual_) and Zakiya Gibbons (@zak_sauce). Executive Producer A.A. Hernandez. Sound design by Helena de Groot. Story Producer Martina Abrahams Ilunga (@m_tina). Research Producer Chioke I'Anson. Story Editing by Shonte Hill. Show Art by Aseloka Smith.Season 16 - Episode 21 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices