Love this story, thank you for creating this.

Listening to Wilhelmina, Stephanie and Katherine’s stories helped me get closer to coming to terms with my s personal journey. I’m a male, former classical ballet dancer from a major NYC company and I too have experienced some of the issues discussed, though from a different POV. Thank you for bringing our unique experiences to light.

Well researched & great delivery on both seasons. Really enjoyed the ballet & the viewpoints for making dance more inclusive.

You achieved that difficult balance of analysis, in depth and painful reporting, dissection and humanity in telling this story. BRAVA for the sincerity and the emotional and practical conclusions.

Love both seasons of The Turning. Erika is such a good writer and storyteller. Plus, she always includes many perspectives. The only bad part is that there are a lot of annoying, repetitive commercials but I’ve been skipping through them.

The host and production team do an excellent job.

I would give the first season 5 stars. Incredible look inside Mother Theresa’s world. They talked to many different people to get a variety of perspectives but they’re all part of that world. Really fascinating, and so different from how most of us see her and her world. The second season looks at some really important issues in the ballet world and does it in very interesting and personal ways: firsthand accounts of sexual misconduct, homophobia, sexism, racism, body image, etc. But it has a couple of problems. First, while each episode stands well on its own, the season as a whole is confusing: Is it about Balanchine? Or is it about the New York City Ballet? Is it about ballet in general? Second, it’s very difficult to do a podcast about an art form that is mainly visual. When it comes to choreography and the movements, a picture or video are worth far more than a thousand words. After listening to the words, I tried to Google how Balanchine’s arabesque is different because I wanted to see it and not just hear a description of it. If I could rate the seasons separately, I’d give the second season 4 stars.

As someone who danced ballet as a girl and has loved it ever since, I was riveted by season 2. Fascinating, thought-provoking, and just as nuanced as season 1. I wasn’t prepared for this but episode 6 made me cry, it brought back so many feelings and memories. Thank you.

This is such a beautifully captured telling. You hear about ballet and the culture from all angles which I really appreciated. It has just really stuck with me. Thank you so much for your wonderful and deep work.

Learning about Mother Theresa and the former sisters’ stories was fascinating. As a non-Catholic, I had no particular preconceptions, except I was vaguely aware of some of the darker aspects of her ministry. Yet this podcast is nuanced—the interviewer’s questions were thoughtful and allowed the women to fully tell their stories—their experiences were often very painful but also inspiring. These are amazing women and I enjoyed getting to know them.

… but Season 2 (Balanchine) after fascinating introductory episodes seemed to become increasingly overwhelmed by wokey/PC concerns (Balanchine was racist and bad, he wasn’t a great artist because elitism is bad, beauty and skill is elitist and bad, etc.) and became nearly unlistenable to me toward the end without massive amounts of fast-forwarding. I skipped the lesbian episode entirely as I couldn’t take the echo chamber- preachiness at that point. I hope future seasons are as thoughtful, nuanced and mature as Season 1.

As an ex-Catholic reckoning with problematic Catholic beliefs and figures, Season 1 of this podcast had me hooked and enthralled. I thought there was no way I’d enjoy Season 2 as much, having no background in or knowledge of ballet, but boy was I wrong. Both seasons—amazingly researched and critical—address powerful, profound themes that touch so many parts of human life: cult-like thinking, self-sacrifice and perfectionism, expression vs. loss of individuality, and how these behaviors affect our social and internal life. Even though I never joined a religious order, nor danced ballet, I found myself relating to so many of the tough questions posed by the interviewees and the hosts. Incredibly thought-provoking, brilliantly produced, and devastatingly beautiful podcast. I hope there’s a Season 3!

I’d say that the people who speak about Arthur Mitchell have drunk the koolaid. Don’t be fooled, he was as abusive as any of the others.

I LOVED this podcast. To hear participants in the NYC Ballet world speak about growing up in the world was really eye opening. My exposure to ballet was via tv and the celebrity figures of Nureyev and Fonteyn and later Baryshnikov. Obviously limited, but ballet was still enticing. I also read Suzanne Farrell’s memoir of her life as Balanchine’s muse during the pinnacle of NYC Ballet. So much beauty and so much physical and emotional pain exists side by side and much of it is discussed in this exceedingly well done podcast. I also appreciated the perspective of African American and LGBTQ dance history and performers.

Season 2 was nuanced and intelligent, compassionate and illuminating. The ballet world beyond Balanchine might have been important to bring in at times though. For example, how did Frederick Ashton train and coach and treat his dancers, by comparison with Mr B? Also odd to never mention Jerome Robbins. I must plead for at least targeted ads for an audience of ballet fans though. The ads were just awful. Great production values - writing, editing, sound, music. Loved the show!

Thank you for delving into the complex story of mother Teresa. I have always found her to be a problematic figure and wanted to know more. After reading Christopher Hitchens’ book, God Is Not Great, I was fascinated by his views of her but was not keen on his tone. You have broadened the conversation to encompass a much bigger issue and handled it beautifully. I look forward to season 2.

Actually really enjoying the content but just a lot of commercials so I’m giving up at episode 2.

Unique documentaries

I never particularly cared about ballet, but this is fascinating and beautifully told. I loved season 1 and will listen to any future season of this show.

Bravo! This podcast is helping me to see more clearly. Don’t stop!! Please keep peering below the surface to help us see the cost of maintaining these patriarchal systems. Thank you!!!

As a woman who grew up Catholic, attended Catholic school, and considered becoming a nun myself, this podcast is so eye-opening in both good and bad ways. I’m very grateful for everyone who shared their stories and very personal experiences. I’m so thankful to hear it all. Thank you for bringing this subject out! Everyone can benefit from listening to this podcast. I came here from ads about season 2, but started with season 1. I look forward to the next season on a different subject as well!

I really appreciated the care with which Erika takes in describing the relationship between ballet and the patriarchal culture. She obviously loves ballet and also sees the down side of it. Thank you for this beautiful show.

Just finished the final episode in tears. WOW. Season one was also moving and fascinating, but Room of Mirrors is next level. The simmering, beautiful, looming string music is so evocative from the start. I cannot stress enough how much of a MOOD this podcast creates when you listen. On top of getting chills or feeling wonder or dread from the stunning music, this podcast covers so much. The historical, the personal, the political, the body politic of it all — Erika didn’t miss. She looked at every angle of this elite ecosystem and brought us in fully. The broad implications here — questions about greatness, achievement, elitism, authority, and how intergenerational culture infuses itself into young people — are for anyone and everyone to explore, regardless of interest in ballet. I have so many questions and realizations swirling in my head after this. There are also entire episodes devoted to race and queerness in ballet, with amazing interviews. I learned so much. And at the same time, it’s touching and personal. I have no background in ballet, but my aunts and cousin were deep in it. This put so much into perspective about what I witnessed as a child around ‘being enough’ for ballet, and what that does to a girl from when she’s young, on through her entire life. This was one of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. It swept me up completely, taking me to pre-Bolshevik Russia, 1960’s Brooklyn, and right into the secret heart of elite ballet studios and dorms. Huge thanks to Snap Judgement for introducing it, because I wouldn’t have sought out a story about ballet on my own. But wow. Thank you for this work, Erika and team — it’s journalism, but clearly done by an artist.

From a person who grew up in a ballet studio and LOVED to dance, but was never good/skinny enough to become professional, this podcast is kinda blowing my mind. I’ve already sent it to all my childhood ballet friends. If you have a ballet history, this is truly a must listen.

because I can’t stop listening to this totally engrossing pod. Exceptionally well done.

As a retired ballet dancer season 2 is everything! It’s been many years since I retired, but this brings me right back to the studio, rehearsals, casting, fittings, the drama and the stage. Tears of joy, pain, exhaustion, and feeling free when I finally recover from my past. Very well done ladies! BRAVA 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I loved listening to season 1 while the episodes piled up to binge for season 2. The production and storytelling is really impressive and I can’t wait for more from this group.

Very well done! So interesting, and great interviews, never a dull moment!

A peek into insular worlds. An entering—and at times, popping—of the bubble. Fascinating, raw story telling in a well polished and well-recorded format. Discovered in season 2 and can’t stop listening.

after hearing a snippet on a local radio station this podcast caught my attention. As an ex ballerina some would not bother with something like this. For me it was the opposite! A great listen from start to finish.

Two seasons in and The Turning has become a gold standard. Beautifully written and produced.

Well told, and the narrator does a great job of guiding the story while not getting in the way of it. The interviewees are incredibly captivating! Can’t wait for the next episode!

Amazing storytelling accompanied by the worst, most jarring ad breaks possible.

Great story telling!

A superbly produced gem. Truly a joy to listen to. The music and stories flow together in an almost immersive dream. Could not recommend highly enough.

Well researched and enlightening.

It’s very annoying to listen to an ad for the podcast I’m currently listening to. In the middle of the podcast I’m currently listening to

I found this podcast to be very interesting. Saddened by some of the terrible things many sisters went through. Great editing and research.

This is a superbly done podcast. I feel like they made a sincere effort to present unbiased and objective perspectives. It was very nice to have virtually all of their information come from members of the organization. It provided unique insight and it gave the ladies a positive outlet for expression. Very well done. I wish there was more.

Thought-provoking, powerful, and empathetic.

I’m grateful that this topic was investigated and shared so deliberately.

This series was so interesting. I blew through the entire thing in 2 days. Really well done.

This atheist enjoyed every minute.

This podcast had me hooked from the first episode. Well worth the listen.

Great host, great story! Fascinating! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻I applaud the bravery of those who chose to speak and tell their story. Loved every minute!

Excellent, respectful, yet completely honest reporting. I volunteered at Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Calcutta and at her place in Varanasi as well. This podcast provided an explanation for what shocked me at both of these places: the angry, dead behind the eyes nuns. The way the podcast described how new people were handled at the place for the dying was exactly the way they treated the children in the orphanage. I worked on the “handicapped” ward. They’d just yank the kid out of their crib, plop them on the concrete floor, pour pitchers of cold water on them, roughly scrub them with soap, throw em back in the crib and shove a bottle in their mouth. On older girl, probably around 8/9 was actually tied by her wrists to a bedpost. I asked why and they said she wouldn’t behave. “Recreation” time consisted of a bunch of kids sitting on the floor while a nun glared at them while aggressively hitting a metal pan with a stick. o_0 I put all this down to the sisters not having enough time, energy, or people to care for so many children. But now I believe it was a lot more than that. And it didn’t even occur to me until this podcast to consider the fact they had millions of dollars, which they could have used for better care, to hire more help, and on and on. It has become somewhat chic to criticize Mother Teresa these days, but I think that is as wrong as blindly adoring her. She was a flawed human who managed to do an immense amount of good, even as many suffered in the process. Nothing is ever black and white. This podcast’s balanced approach is so helpful and appreciated.

I’m a Catholic, and I recommend this podcast. It shows that even the people at the top of a religion can be imperfect, controlling, and out-of-bounds. There are insider things that happen(ed) in the Catholic world, and this podcast helps to question what happens. Thank you for putting this together.

This was recommended to me by a friend and I was glued to it every time I was in my car or doing chores! It was a fascinating look into a very complicated group lead by a woman who the media and the Church made more into a myth.

I found this podcast fascinating and well done. So interesting to hear the many stories of the former sisters. I had no idea what they went thru. Definitely recommend giving this a listen.

I enjoyed this podcast. I was a Sister of Mercy in the San Francisco Bay Area. As I read about the MC’s I was saddened however grateful to have been in a community of Sisters founded by a woman (from the 19th century)who believed strongly that “mortification” (suffering) was not something to seek but rather a consequence of life. She insisted that the Sisters have good mattresses and good food and a good education to have the energy and gifts for good works. I left because I wanted to get married. I have nothing but gratitude for the amazing 20 years I wore the habit of a nun.