Heavyweight Episode Summary: "Check In: What’s to Come"

Release Date: May 15, 2025 | Host: Jonathan Goldstein | Produced by Pushkin Industries

In the episode titled "Check In: What’s to Come," Jonathan Goldstein reconnects with his team members, Stevie and Kayleigh, to discuss the hiatus they've experienced, the challenges faced during this period, and the exciting plans for the future of the podcast. This reflective and candid conversation offers listeners an inside look into the personal and professional lives of the Heavyweight team, highlighting resilience, creativity, and anticipation for upcoming projects.

1. Navigating Layoffs and Industry Challenges

The episode opens with Jonathan addressing the team about the uncertainties they've faced, particularly being laid off—a significant event that has impacted their podcasting journey.

Stevie: "We were all laid off." [02:22]

Kayleigh: "I was talking to other people, you know, who have taken their shows to new places or had their shows canceled. And everyone told me, like, it's gonna take longer than you think." [02:35]

Stevie elaborates on the tumultuous year, describing the arduous process of finding a new platform for Heavyweight. The team shares their frustrations with the prolonged search and the variety of meetings—some productive, others not.

2. Personal Reflections and Coping Mechanisms

Jonathan opens up about the emotional toll the hiatus took on him after two decades of continuous production. He describes feeling "at sea" and struggling to find a new routine outside of his established deadlines and responsibilities.

Jonathan: "I realized that I had been kind of on the carousel of deadlines and production for almost 20 years. So, stopping affected me in a way that I didn't anticipate." [02:40]

To cope, Jonathan engaged in personal activities such as taking his son to school, going on runs, and attempting to learn piano—though he humorously admits his skills remain rudimentary.

3. Team Members' Personal Endeavors

Kayleigh shares her approach to the year off, emphasizing a complete disconnect from structured work. She reflects on her activities, which include traveling, reading multiple books, and indulging in her passion for jewelry making and blacksmithing.

Kayleigh: "I keep calling it my year off. And everyone's like, off of work, and I'm like, off of everything." [05:34]

Her creative pursuits provided a sense of fulfillment despite the unstructured nature of her time.

Stevie discusses her personal projects, including participating in the Brooklyn Public Library's "Browse the Branches" initiative. This involved visiting all 62 library branches, earning a tote bag as a reward.

Stevie: "It was a little embarrassing always to walk up to them and be like, hey, can I have the sticker? But I did it. So that was probably my biggest accomplishment of the year." [06:41]

4. Creative Projects During the Hiatus

The team reveals how they kept their creative juices flowing by creating audio stories for each other, initially as a means to entertain and maintain their skills.

Jonathan: "We weren't making Heavyweight. We were trying to entertain each other and keep those gears from rusting." [07:33]

These stories evolved into a fun project, leading them to share these creations with their audience as a bridge until the new season launched.

5. Upcoming Season and Special Releases

Looking ahead, Jonathan, Stevie, and Kayleigh tease the return of Heavyweight with a new season later in the year. In the meantime, they plan to release a series of special content:

• Revisiting Favorite Episodes: They'll bring back beloved episodes with fresh updates, providing listeners with new perspectives and developments.

• New Audio Stories: Each member has crafted personal narratives reflecting their experiences during the hiatus.

Kayleigh: "I made a story about something I found myself doing a lot of in this time off, which was solving long standing customer service issues." [08:11]

Stevie: "I spent some time trying to do things that freaked me out, but that I felt that I needed to try at some point in my life." [08:22]

Jonathan: "I made a story about one of the things that I did during our year off was I stopped drinking..." [08:49]

These stories aim to entertain and engage listeners, providing a personal touch to the upcoming season's anticipation.

6. Closing Remarks and Music Performance

As the episode concludes, Jonathan humorously showcases his ongoing attempt to learn piano, adding a light-hearted end to the heartfelt discussion.

Jonathan: "You know, conveniently, I've been sitting behind the piano this whole time." [10:17]

The episode wraps up with a preview of what's to come, leaving listeners excited for the new content and the return of Heavyweight's signature storytelling.

Notable Quotes:

• "We were all laid off." – Stevie [02:22]
• "I realized that I had been kind of on the carousel of deadlines and production for almost 20 years." – Jonathan [02:40]
• "I keep calling it my year off. And everyone's like, off of work, and I'm like, off of everything." – Kayleigh [05:34]
• "We were trying to entertain each other and keep those gears from rusting." – Jonathan [07:33]
• "I made a story about one of the things that I did during our year off was I stopped drinking." – Jonathan [08:49]

Conclusion

"Check In: What’s to Come" serves as a heartfelt update from the Heavyweight team, showcasing their resilience in the face of industry challenges and personal growth during their hiatus. Through honest reflections and creative endeavors, Jonathan, Stevie, and Kayleigh set the stage for a promising new season, reinforcing their commitment to storytelling and connection with their audience.