Somebody

When Shapearl Wells's son Courtney is found outside a Chicago police station with a fatal bullet wound, Shapearl immediately distrusts the official narrative.

Best Serialized Story2020 Third Coast / Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition

2020 / Shapearl Wells / Alison Flowers / Bill Healy / Sarah Geis / Bart Warshaw / Somebody Podcast, USA

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When Shapearl Wells's son Courtney is found outside a Chicago police station with a fatal bullet wound, Shapearl immediately distrusts the official narrative.

So she launches her own investigation into her son’s murder and teams up with journalists from the Invisible Institute to confront the cops and find the truth about Courtney's death. Somebody explores the racial disparities and turbulent relationship between law enforcement and citizens in one of America’s largest cities.

Somebody was narrated by Shapearl Wells, produced by Alison Flowers and Bill Healy, and edited by Sarah Geis for Invisible Institute, Topic Studios, The Intercept and iHeart Radio, in association with TenderfootTV. It was mixed by Michael Raphael with sound design by Bart Warshaw and Carl Scott.

produced by

Bill Healy

Bill Healy (he/him) has spent his life listening to people. At age 10, he started writing a weekly newspaper column called the Youth Perspective, about the suburb where he grew up.

Sarah Geis

Sarah Geis (she/her) is a long-time editor, producer and educator who is influenced by oral history, documentary theater, and Lynda Barry.

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