Losing (full episode)

State of the Human

When you lose something, there’s an emptiness, a hole, where that something used to be. And you have to figure out a way to keep living your life with that loss. Even though the emptiness will always be there, what can be gained from trying to fill it? What can be gained from losing? This episode has four stories about people who lose something, and then look for new things to fill the emptiness. A lifelong dream gets derailed by a butterfly knife, an athlete’s passion for her sport crumbles after an injury, a girl searches for something she isn’t really sure she wants to find, and a woman slowly loses her ability to hear. Host: Jackson Roach Producers: Jackson Roach, with help from Jonathan Kleiman, Will Rogers, Nina Foushee, Jake Warga, Christy Hartman, Claire Schoen and Jonah Willihnganz Featuring: Owen O Súilleabháin, Gabriel Lomeli, Amabel Stokes, Julia Berkson, Mitch Berkson, Olivia Berkson, Claire Richards, Daniela Roop, Jody Louise Music: All music in this episode originally composed by Owen Ó Súilleabháin Story 1: Hole-Hearted Description: When a policeman stopped Gabe Lomeli on the street, he thought he had nothing to hide, but that one interaction would shift the course of his dreams. Producer: Maddie Chang with help from Will Rogers Featuring: Gabriel Lomeli Story 2: Getting Off Track Description: As a successful track athlete, Amabel Stokes has crossed many finish lines. In this story, she learns to move beyond the red tape. Producer: Justine Beed Featuring: Amabel Stokes Story 3: An Eventful Brunch Description: A lovely meal in a small mountain villa is interrupted by a stumbling man with his hand tight against his stomach. Everyone spends the rest of the morning frantically searching for something they’re not sure they want to find. Produced by: Maddy Berkson with help from Nina Foushee, Jackson Roach, and Jonathan Kleiman. Featuring: Julia Berkson, Mitch Berkson, Olivia Berkson, Claire Richards, Daniela Roop Story 4: Forgiveness Description: Dr. Fred Luskin, founder of the Stanford Forgiveness Project, shares his story of loss, and how he learned to move forward. Producer: Jake Warga, Emma Heath, Jon Kleiman Featuring: Dr. Fred Luskin Story 5: Sound by Sound Description: In her twenties, Jody Louise started to lose her hearing, and her doctors couldn’t figure out why. Producer: Jackson Roach with help from Maya Lorey Featuring: Jody Louise