This is my story too, and that’s why I launched this podcast. I’m Dan Weissmann. My work has appeared in outlets like Marketplace, Planet Money, 99 Percent Invisible, and NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
An Arm and a Leg is designed to be entertaining, empowering— even useful. As a reporter, I bring my skill at finding and telling revealing, surprising stories. But the project’s big focus— since I’m in this mess too—is connecting and problem-solving, together.
You are not alone. We may be screwed, but we’re together. And if we want to get even a little bit less-screwed, we need each other. If nothing else, we can be good company to each other.
• We can have a good, dark laugh.
• We can offer each other empathy.
• We can sing hilarious punk-rock campfire songs of rage at whoever turns out to be responsible.
So I’ll be looking to you, over time, to offer up your own stories— by sending in voice memo recordings (and email, and FB posts). Also, punk-rock campfire songs.
In the first two seasons we:
• Pulled back the curtain and show how the dark machinery works. A simple leg brace shows how insurance companies allow— even encourage— crazy price gouging.
• Checked out inventive hacks: Renaissance-fair workers have cooked up a creative, home-brew safety net. Folks are even hacking insulin!
• Told some wild stories. Like one woman’s epic quest for health insurance. To keep her family out of medical bankruptcy, she made crazy sacrifices— and tweaked history.
We’ve also had some lovely feedback in the press including being named one of the best podcasts of 2019 (so far).
We can’t count on single-payer or some other big fix coming to save our butts anytime soon. (We don’t even have to agree on what that big fix ought to be. No matter what our politics, we’re all screwed.)
But we need each other’s help and company RIGHT NOW, just muddling through the mess we’re in.
You know what? I think it’s going to be fun.
Meanwhile:
- Are you game to share your two cents about stuff we should do?
- Maybe you can support us with a donation to help us publish more episodes in 2020?
Thanks! Talk with you soon.
Till then… take care of yourself.
Dan Weissmann
(creator & host)
Dan is a veteran reporter for outlets like Marketplace, 99 Percent Invisible, Planet Money, and Chicago’s WBEZ.
@armandalegshow
Our Team
Dan Weissmann
Creator & Host
Dan is a veteran reporter for outlets like Marketplace, 99 Percent Invisible, Planet Money, and Chicago’s WBEZ. His work reflects sophisticated reporting, an engaging narrative voice, and a knack for snappy, accurate breakdowns of complex subjects—from urban segregation to the economics of America’s largest crop to the engineering miracles that turned the Chicago River into a sewer. Dan lives in beautiful Evanston, Illinois, with his beautiful family. You can find more of his work at danweissmann.com
Daisy Rosario
Consulting Managing Producer
Daisy Rosario is an executive producer at Stitcher focused on original podcasts. She was previously managing producer for podcasts at WAMU 88.5 in Washington, DC. She came to WAMU from the startup 60dB.
Before 60dB, Daisy was a producer on the first season of the podcast Sooo Many White Guys, hosted by Phoebe Robinson for WNYC Studios. She is also a former senior producer for the weekly NPR-distributed show and podcast, Latino USA.
In her spare time, Daisy is co-host and co-creator of the podcast Serially Obsessed, where she and a former prosecutor and a media critic break down each episode of the podcast Serial.
Before audio journalism, Daisy had a lot of strange, but useful jobs. Among other things, she was a comedian and live event producer who began piloting podcast ideas in 2005. She still performs monthly in CPT: Comedy People’s Time, an improv and stand-up show in New York City.
Adam Raymonda
Audio Wizard
Adam is an audio engineer, composer, sound designer, based in upstate New York. He’s worked with outlets like The Ringer, Audible, Uncover Studios, VICE, and Breadcrumbs.
Adam is the CEO of Rogue Dialogue Productions which is currently producing its first podcast Windfall which is like a big budget Sci-Fi HBO show, but for your ears. He also produces music under the name Garbage Person. RIYL: The Dear Hunter / Sigur Ros / Kimbra / Sufjan Stevens. Find out more at www.adamraymonda.com
David Winer
Composer
Composer and Multi-instrumentalist David Winer has been writing and playing music for most of his life. His agility with countless musical styles has won him 2 AICP awards, 3 Clios, 1 Addy. He has been shortlisted at Cannes and nominated for 4 Grammys as a musician and producer. David is Creative Director at Fancy Mountain Music and Sound, and leads the Chicago band Ponds & Fleshman, whose music is dope as hell.
David lives with his wife and two children in Evanston, Illinois. His marinated jerk chicken is delicious!
Sean O’Neill
Designer, Visual Identity
Sean is an illustrator and writer living in Chicago. His colorful, vibrant illustrations have appeared in publications from Pearson, Harcourt, McGraw-Hill, Capstone Press, and many others. He is the creator of the Rocket Robinson series of graphic novels for young readers, published by Dark Horse Comics. Sean is also known for his series of live-drawing “whiteboard” videos on language and other topics, produced by mentalfloss.com.
Ann Heppermann
Editor, Season 3 and SEASON-19
Ann Heppermann has been working in audio for nearly 20 years. She’s reported, produced and edited for everywhere under the sun, including: This American Life, Radiolab, 99% Invisible, and many others. She has received numerous awards, including a Peabody, and in 2011 was named a United States Artists Rockefeller Fellow. She has also edited a number of narrative podcasts like Heaven’s Gate, the feminist women’s history podcast No Man’s Land and an upcoming series with Complex Magazine. Bitch Magazine called her a “sort of Goddess of podcasting,” which makes her extremely proud.
Whitney Henry-Lester
Editor, Seasons 1 and 2
Whitney is a versatile audio producer/editor/sound designer, production manager, and aspiring placemaker.
A collaborator at heart, she has worked with audio organizations such as PRX, StoryCorps, The Third Coast International Audio Festival, Heritage Radio Network, and CHIRP radio.
Whitney edits under the nickname The Darling Killer, she’s a founding member of The Recollective, a scrappy multimedia collective, and she currently runs a radio residency in Lima, Peru.
Mucca Pazza
Contributing Musicians, Inspiration
A Chicago treasure since 2004, Mucca Pazza‘s self-description — “the marching band that thinks it’s a rock’n’roll band” — doesn’t begin to do the group justice. We’re honored to have Mucca’s War of Amusements grace the end of Episode 4, season 1.
Daniel Fernandez
Intern, Season 2
Daniel is a 2019 graduate of Northwestern University, where he studied journalism and history. He was a founding member of the school’s undergraduate prison education program, and the editor for North by Northwestern, a student quarterly.
Before coming to An Arm and a Leg, he wrote and researched stories for Smithsonian, including a piece on invasive species that was a finalist for a 2018 National Magazine Award. You can read more of his writing at danielfernandezwrites.com
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