2026 Update: Christina - Heavyweight

Transcript

Jonathan Goldstein (0:06)

Pushkin.

Christina Wismer (0:11)

Hi.

Jonathan Goldstein (0:12)

You know, when you meditate, you're supposed to acknowledge the breath and put a name to it. Like, that was a small breath. That was a big breath. If I had to put a name to that hello, I would say hesitantly, cheerful. Yeah, I'll take that. That's a part of my meditation. Is naming your hellos kind of weird, but.

Podcast Host/Interviewer (0:33)

All right, we're gonna revisit another great episode today.

Jonathan Goldstein (0:38)

Hit me.

Podcast Host/Interviewer (0:39)

It's called Christina.

Jonathan Goldstein (0:41)

Oh, yeah. It's truly one of my favorite episodes.

Podcast Host/Interviewer (0:44)

Yeah, it's a really good one.

Jonathan Goldstein (0:46)

Oh, yeah. I love it. I will say this, and maybe you can confirm this fact. Check me on this, but this was an early season two. And. And up until this point, I had largely worked with people that I already knew, like friends and family. And this. This was the first time that I was actually, like, traveling out in the world to meet someone.

Christina Wismer (1:08)

Yeah, that is true.

Jonathan Goldstein (1:09)

Yeah. And I'll never forget, but when they met me at the airport, Christina and her husband Levi, I just remember, like, seeing the look of hope and respect almost in their eyes.

Christina Wismer (1:22)

Yeah.

Jonathan Goldstein (1:23)

And I just felt like, oh, my God, these poor people. Like, I don't deserve that look at all. But I really better get it together.

Podcast Host/Interviewer (1:31)

And then.

Jonathan Goldstein (1:32)

You've gotten it together for 10 years now. You know what I do? I look at myself in the bathroom mirror and I slap myself in the face and I say, get it together, boy.

Christina Wismer (1:41)

Well, it's working.

Summary

Heavyweight Podcast – “2026 Update: Christina”

Host: Jonathan Goldstein
Original Episode Date: [approx. 2017] | Update Air Date: May 7, 2026
Podcast Production: Pushkin Industries

Episode Overview

This episode revisits Christina’s story, originally one of season two’s standout episodes. Host Jonathan Goldstein checks in with Christina nearly nine years after her first appearance, reflecting on the pivotal confrontation with her former foster mother, Isabel, about a life-altering decision from Christina’s youth: being forced to quit basketball—the one thing that gave her a sense of confidence and hope. The update explores what has changed for Christina since that original conversation, how she has made peace with her past, and what forgiveness, acceptance, and moving forward look like. The tone is characteristic of Heavyweight: contemplative, wry, and gently probing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Episode Setup & Nostalgia

Jonathan begins by reminiscing about the original Christina episode as a turning point for the show:
- “This was the first time that I was actually, like, traveling out in the world to meet someone.” (00:46 – Jonathan)
Christina and Jonathan lightly banter about the emotional vulnerability inherent in these journeys (01:09-01:43).

2. Christina’s Background

Christina grew up in western Canada under difficult circumstances:
- Raised by a single mother with schizophrenia; endured instability, violence, and neglect.
- “She started becoming violent…there’s no food in the house…she wouldn’t do laundry…so I started stealing clothes just so I could have clean clothes for school.” (07:21-08:17 – Christina)
Christina left home to become a live-in nanny at age 12, before social services removed her and placed her in foster care with Isabel (08:32).

3. Life with Foster Mother Isabel

Isabel is depicted as strict, favoring her biological grandson David while Christina struggled for approval.
- “If I was five minutes late for curfew, I would be grounded for a month…it felt like I was always grounded and afraid all the time…” (09:33 – Christina)
Christina found solace and confidence on the basketball court, becoming a team captain (10:27), contrasting sharply with her meek off-court personality.

4. Basketball: Promise and Loss

Basketball represented hope, escape, and the possibility of college via scholarship:
- “It was, like, the only time where I felt powerful.” (11:30 – Christina)
This hope was dashed when Isabel issued an ultimatum: Christina needed a B average to keep playing. Struggling with certain subjects, she failed to reach this standard and was forced to quit (12:43).
- “She took something from me that I’ve not been able to get back…that passion for something…this huge dream…” (13:49–13:57 – Christina)

5. The Decision’s Lingering Pain

Christina admits she has not forgiven Isabel for this, and wants to understand Isabel’s motivation (14:19).
“I want to just hear her say that she just genuinely wanted me to have better grades. But I know that’s just such BS…not letting me play basketball, I’m having such a hard time letting go of that…” (15:08 – Christina)

6. Confronting the Past: The Visit to Isabel (21:27 – 40:42)

Jonathan and Christina travel to see Isabel, now 95 and still sharp-tongued:
- Isabel characterizes Christina as “this wild looking thing” in need of “training to live in a home.” (24:44 – Isabel)
- Isabel makes her favoritism of David explicit: “He is the most perfect person I’ve ever raised.” (25:58 – Isabel), sidelining Christina’s experiences even in the present conversation.
Christina hesitantly raises the basketball incident:
- Isabel claims not to remember: “I don’t remember that at all.” (28:43–28:52 – Isabel)
- Isabel had no sense of Christina’s attachment to basketball: “I didn’t know it, no.” (29:38 – Isabel)
Reflection on their shared, yet different, forms of loss:
- Isabel gave up school early due to family obligations. She equates education with self-sufficiency, believing this motivated her push for grades (32:34).
The conversation eventually leads to some common ground, as both acknowledge the trauma of growing up with mentally ill parents (35:30–36:40).
Ultimately, Isabel exhibits little regret:
- “I have no regrets about it…It would depend what kind of a mood I’m in.” (37:14–37:43 – Isabel)

Notable Quotes:

“Regretting something is a waste of time. You move on, find something else to be passionate about.” (38:51 – Isabel)
“It wasn’t everything I needed, but I feel like that’s how she shows love…in a way that I understand now, whereas before I just felt like she just didn’t even like me.” (41:19 – Christina)

7. Basketball Redemption (42:48 – 45:00)

Jonathan surprises Christina with a basketball game, providing a cathartic moment:
- “But when she gets going, it seems to come back to her…There was a different side to Christina that was coming out on the court.” (44:02 – Jonathan)
Christina and her husband Levi play like kids, momentarily freed from the weight of the past.

8. The 2026 Update: Revisiting the Past (46:06 – 52:18)

Jonathan checks in with Christina in Portland, nearly nine years after their confrontation with Isabel.
Isabel has since passed away; Christina visited her before the end. No “deathbed regrets,” but the exchange was kind.
Christina reflects on the process of forgiveness and letting go of old stories:
- “I blamed her for ruining my life for a lot of years. And in order for me to move forward, I needed to let go of that, you know, old kind of story.” (47:58 – Christina)
- “It’s a really dangerous thing to guess what our life would have or could have been like…that kind of steals the joy from the present moment.” (48:31 – Christina)
The on-air confrontation had a healing effect, offering perspective to both Christina and her husband Levi:
- “After our interview, Levi got really emotional and was like, I can’t imagine how hard that was for you…gave him a little bit more perspective…maybe a bit more compassion.” (49:42 – Christina)
Lighthearted note: Christina and Levi have combined their last names for fun (“Whizzingham”), continuing their playful spirit.

Most Memorable Moments & Quotes

On Christina’s lost passion:
- “She took something from me that I’ve not been able to get back.” (13:49 – Christina)
On the futility of regret:
- “Regretting something is a waste of time. You move on, find something else to be passionate about.” (38:51 – Isabel)
On the fundamental question of parental love:
- “It wasn’t everything I needed…but I feel like that’s how she shows love.” (41:19 – Christina)

Timestamps for Key Segments

Introduction & Original Episode Framing: 00:12-01:46
Christina’s Backstory: 06:16-09:55
Basketball Becomes Lifeline: 10:27-12:15
Forced to Quit & Aftermath: 12:43-14:19
Confrontation Plan: 15:35-16:20
Meeting Isabel – Tension & History: 21:27-28:14
Christina Asks Her Question: 28:18-30:00
Isabel's Justification, Shared Childhood Trauma: 30:36-36:40
Regret & Final Reflections: 37:14-40:42
Cathartic Basketball Game: 42:48-45:00
2026 Update – Christina’s Reflections: 46:06-52:18

Episode Tone & Language

True to Heavyweight’s established tone, the episode weaves together warmth, dry humor, vulnerability, and moments of raw emotional honesty. Jonathan’s questions are gentle but persistent, while Christina is candid both about her pain and her process of healing.

Summary Takeaway

This update on Christina’s episode explores how the pain of old wounds dulls—and how new insight and self-forgiveness can bring peace, even without apology or closure from those who’ve hurt us. Christina's journey encapsulates a universal challenge: making peace with an imperfect past and recognizing love in forms we may not have once recognized.

“I just made a decision that I was done letting my past define me or steal my joy, essentially.” — Christina (48:31)

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Produced by Pushkin Industries. Host & Storyteller: Jonathan Goldstein.