Podcast find of the week: Heavyweight by Jonathan Goldstein

Podcasters have been trying to replicate the secret sauce of Heavyweight since it became one of the most beloved shows of all time, but the ingredients are nuanced and many. Released by Gimlet Media in 2016, all eight seasons are required listening for anyone wanting to understand what podcasts are capable of. Host Jonathan Goldstein tries to help everyday people resolve a moment from their past, the “heavy weight” that they still carry many years later. Some come from deep hurt, others from an unsolved mystery or from regret and the desire to put things right.

Goldstein’s own drive and flair for storytelling plays a large part. He handles even the most traumatic cases deftly, with gentleness and humour but always the sense that he is very much on the side of his interviewees. His commitment to investigating every last detail, fuelled by his own endless curiosity, is marvellous – although you can’t help but wonder how much research this deep must cost and how it lasted as long as it did. Heavyweight was cancelled by Spotify in December, although there is hope it will soon find a new home.

Unlike most investigative podcasts, the series stands out for its positive vibe, with the tone set by Goldstein briefly prank-calling his “third best friend” Jackie at the top of each episode. Some of the memories are painful – Goldstein occasionally asks with his trademark solicitousness that we “listen with care” – but upbeat snippets of taped conversation, dreamy musical interludes and his own honesty and consideration for others all contribute to this oddly profound and touching treatise on humanity.

Episodes No 2 Gregor, No 27 Scott and No 49 Another Roadside Attraction are among the recommended, but I find it impossible to single out a favourite. The redemptive powers of the series build with each resolved case, so I generally advise starting at the beginning. Also worth a mention is No 37 John, which features John Green, host of The Anthropocene Reviewed, sharing an update on his sliding-doors moment.