Snap Judgment: "Monkey Sister" (Tooth & Claw)

Release Date: January 22, 2026
Podcast: Snap Judgment (with PRX)
Host: Glynn Washington
Featured Voices: Hannah Freeman, Allison Pascoe, Tim Snyder

Episode Overview

This episode of Snap Judgment’s “Tooth & Claw” series explores the story of Hannah Freeman, who grew up in upstate New York with a capuchin monkey named Amelia that her mother raised as her first child. Through intimate interviews and vivid storytelling, the episode unpacks the unique dynamic of treating an animal as a family member, how social hierarchies and sibling rivalry translated into this cross-species relationship, and what it means to grow up as "the girl with the monkey sister." Not only is it a family story, but also a meditation on identity, belonging, and the blurring lines between pet, sibling, and self.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Pets, Family, and the Nature of Sibling Rivalry

• Glynn Washington opens with humor about the limits of "family" when it comes to pets. (03:29)
• Memorable Quote:
  • "Personally, I don't believe in pets you can call the exterminator on." – Glynn Washington [03:31]

2. Amelia's Origin: How a Monkey Became a Family Member

• Allison Pascoe (Hannah’s mom), a zoologist and vet tech, rescued Amelia after the capuchin monkey was seized from an Egyptian ship.

• Amelia’s background: likely a market performer, arrived malnourished, partial to coins and cigarettes.

• Allison nursed her back to health, forming an intense human-animal bond that led her to adopt Amelia rather than place her in a sanctuary.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "She was very much like a baby. I took her everywhere with me... So when I finally had Hannah, it wasn't that much different." – Allison Pascoe [07:36]
  • "My sister’s name was Amelia. But the strange thing about my sister is that she was not a human. She was a monkey." – Hannah Freeman [04:23]

3. Childhood: Monkey as Playmate, Family, and Celebrity

• Hannah describes Amelia as both a sibling and a playmate, sharing meals, games, and occasional chaos, much to the confusion of outsiders.

• Amelia’s fame:

  • Starred in George Romero’s film "Monkey Shines".
  • Appeared on David Letterman and funded the family’s house through her movie earnings.
  • Became a local celebrity, often overshadowing Hannah socially.

• Notable Moments:

  • "Amelia would eat spaghetti with her feet, and everyone would lose their mind... but I’d get a good grade and it was just 'OK, great job.'" – Hannah Freeman [12:02]
  • "She literally ate my homework. And I had to go to the school psychologist, because when I said that, the teacher didn’t know I was telling the truth." – Hannah Freeman [09:15]

4. Adolescence: Rivalry Intensifies, Monkey Rules the House

• As Hannah hits puberty, Amelia’s behavior shifts. Their interactions grow adversarial:

  • Amelia steals food and personal items, plays tricks, and seems to target Hannah specifically (but not her brother).
  • Allison describes this as typical primate social hierarchy: Amelia felt threatened by Hannah’s emerging adulthood, setting off a battle for “alpha-female” status in the family.

• Memorable Scenes and Quotes:

  • "She would hide behind darkened doorways and wait for me to come through, and then she would jump out and bite my Achilles tendon and run away and laugh. It was like living with a goblin." – Hannah Freeman [14:30]
  • "Her whole social system is based on a series of hierarchies. That's how it works in the primate world... I was the alpha woman, and she wanted to be number two." – Allison Pascoe [14:56]

5. Parental Guidance and Resentment

• Hannah feels unsupported as Allison refuses to intervene:

  • Allison advises Hannah to confront the monkey directly and establish dominance, a tactic Hannah is reluctant and frightened to attempt.
  • The unresolved hierarchy leads to resentment and strained mother-daughter relations.

• Key Quotes:

  • "The frustrating thing... my mom would say, 'I can’t. She won’t respect you. You have to do it yourself, or she’s never going to stop.'" – Hannah Freeman [16:26]
  • "If you’re not going to restrain her, then there’s nothing I can do for you." – Allison Pascoe [16:41]

6. The Climax: Monkey vs. Teenage Love

• In high school, the novelty of a monkey at home becomes embarrassing.
• Hannah recounts her first romantic experience derailed by Amelia, who bursts into the room during her attempt to lose her virginity, causes chaos, sets mosquito netting on fire, and then “drops the mic.”
• Standout Storytelling:
  • "My boyfriend covers his junk with a pillow because there's a raging monkey running around the room… She has herself tangled now… the mosquito netting bursts into flames. And now she's running, and she's like a comet trailing this fire behind her." – Hannah Freeman [32:01]
  • "Amelia jumps on the bed. She takes a shit, like she's dropping the mic, and then she hoots a little triumphantly, and she just strolls on out." – Hannah Freeman [32:33]

7. Endings and Complicated Grief

• Hannah leaves for LA; Amelia ages and passes away after 33 years with the family.
• The family holds a lavish, humorous, and loving funeral for Amelia, complete with a portrait, lilacs, and bananas as Viking oars.
• Hannah describes her feelings as a mix of sadness, relief, and nostalgia.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "She lived probably what would have been to 90s in human age. But I have to say that when she passed, I was ready, you know, it was time for her to go. And I'd also had her for 33 years. She was a huge part of my..." – Allison Pascoe [35:23]
  • "Part of me thinks that in some weird way beyond the grave, that this was... maybe this was her giving me a message... She did make good in the end… even beyond the grave, that old bitch is laughing. And she had the last laugh." – Hannah Freeman [38:00]

Timestamps for Key Moments

| Time | Segment/Event | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------| | 04:23 | Introduction of Amelia as Hannah’s “sister” | | 05:51 | Allison explains how she adopted Amelia | | 09:15 | "She literally ate my homework" | | 12:02 | On Amelia overshadowing Hannah socially | | 14:56 | Amelia's social dominance and hierarchy | | 17:01 | Allison and Hannah debate confronting Amelia | | 32:01 | Amelia interrupts Hannah’s attempt at sex | | 35:03 | Amelia’s final days and passing | | 36:10 | The open-casket monkey funeral | | 38:00 | Hannah finds closure and a new beginning |

Notable Quotes

• "My sister really was a monkey. I didn’t think of her as a pet. She was a member of the family." – Hannah Freeman [09:15]
• "If she thought that she could intimidate you, she would. Her whole social system is based on a series of hierarchies." – Allison Pascoe [14:56]
• "It was like living with a goblin." – Hannah Freeman [14:30]
• "Amelia jumps on the bed. She takes a shit, like she's dropping the mic, and then she hoots a little triumphantly, and she just strolls on out." – Hannah Freeman [32:33]
• "Even beyond the grave, that old bitch is laughing. And she had the last laugh. And I thought that I had outlived her and outlasted her. And she's like, I bought the house and I got you your husband. Ha ha ha." – Hannah Freeman [38:00]

Overall Tone and Reflections

The episode is raw, funny, and bittersweet, blending the absurdities of growing up with a monkey as a sister with deep questions about belonging and competition within families. Hannah’s storytelling is self-aware, oscillating between laughter and pain, while her mother’s practical, sometimes ruthless, zoologist’s perspective frames this unusual dynamic as both animal behavior and family idiosyncrasy. The result is a uniquely Snap Judgment meditation on how “family” is defined by experience, not only biology.

Useful for New Listeners

• Anyone can jump in and understand the emotional and cultural terrain covered in “Monkey Sister” without knowing the full Snap Judgment canon.
• The story is universal in its exploration of sibling rivalry, parental expectations, acceptance, and identity—albeit viewed through a wildly unconventional lens.

For more stories on animals, family, and what makes us human, explore Snap Judgment’s "Tooth & Claw" series or Hannah Freeman’s memoir, "Everything Sucks."