Longform

  • Podcast
  • Best Of
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
  • Archive

    • Sections
    • Publications
    • Writers
    • Tags
  • Random Article
  • Contact

    • podcast@longform.org

Publications

Philadelphia Magazine

Business

Urban Outfitters Bares All

Inside the secretive $3.4 billion Urban Outfitters empire as it reaches a crucial crossroads.

Jason Fagone Philadelphia Magazine Aug 2016 20min Permalink

What Would You Do If You Found a Bag of Human Ashes?

The challenge of finding answers about some abandoned cremains.

Liz Spikol Philadelphia Magazine Oct 2015 20min Permalink

Crime

My Kidnappers

Almost ten years after his kidnapping, a man writes to the people who threatened his life.

Bradford Pearson Philadelphia Magazine Sep 2015 20min Permalink

Arts

The Voice

On the life and death of The Voice contestant Anthony Riley.

Malcolm Burnley Philadelphia Magazine Jul 2015 10min Permalink

Crime

The Edward Snowdens of 1971

In March 1971, John and Bonnie Raines broke into an FBI office, stealing documents that revealed that the government was spying on its own citizens. Today, they’re hailed as heroes. Is this what the future holds for Edward Snowden?

Steve Volk Philadelphia Magazine Jan 2015 20min Permalink

History

Birdie Africa: The Lost Boy

What happened to the only child who survived the 1985 MOVE bombing.

Jason Fagone Philadelphia Magazine Feb 2014 25min Permalink

Arts

Jon Gosselin in the Wilderness

The reality TV star today.

Simon van Zuylen-Wood Philadelphia Magazine Dec 2013 20min Permalink

Science

Has Carl June Found a Key to Fighting Cancer?

The long road to a potential breakthrough.

Jason Fagone Philadelphia Magazine Aug 2013 Permalink

Sports

Thin Mountain Air

How pitching phenom Steve Carlton became a yoga-loving conspiracy theorist who calls a concrete bunker his home.

Pat Jordan Philadelphia Magazine Apr 1994 30min Permalink

Arts

Thing of Beauty

The tragic life of 70s-era supermodel Gia Carangi.

  1. Part One

    On Gia’s early years as a bisexual “Bowie kid” in working class Philadelphia.

  2. Part Two

    On Gia’s heroin addiction and death from AIDS at age 26.

Stephen Fried Philadelphia Magazine Nov 1988 1h15min Permalink

Boo-Boos in Paradise

Fact-checking David Brooks.

Sasha Issenberg Philadelphia Magazine Apr 2004 15min Permalink

Best Article Crime

Who is the Boy in the Box?

A fingerprint expert spends decades investigating the death of an unidentified boy found in the woods in 1957.

  1. Part 1

  2. Part 2

Sabrina Rubin Erdely Philadelphia Magazine Nov 2003 20min Permalink

Trashed

An investigation into how a 19-year-old college freshman ended up buried in a landfill.

Dan P. Lee Philadelphia Magazine Jun 2008 15min Permalink

It's a Wawa World

Inside the cult appeal of the hit convenience mart/gas station Wawa.

Don Steinberg Philadelphia Magazine Jun 2011 15min Permalink

Sex Religion

Catholics in Crisis

An investigation into clergy sexual abuse in Philadelphia.

Robert Huber Philadelphia Magazine Jun 2011 25min Permalink

Crime

Who Killed Ellen Andros?

A woman is killed. Her husband is accused. A famous/infamous medical examiner investigates.

What’s going on here isn’t just science. It’s something deeper, something stranger, something at the same time both terrifying and fascinating.

Dan P. Lee Philadelphia Magazine Oct 2006 25min Permalink

Crime

The Town That Burned Itself Down

For 18 months, Coatesville, Penn., was besieged with an improbable number of arsons.  But who started the fires – and why?

Matthew Teague Philadelphia Magazine Jan 2010 20min Permalink

Science

Body Snatchers

Intended for cremation, 244 bodies are instead harvested for organs and tissue. The story of the families of the dead, the men who profited off the scheme, and the unwitting recipients of black market body parts.

Dan P. Lee Philadelphia Magazine Mar 2008 20min Permalink

Sports Travel

Allen Iverson: Fallen Star

A reporter heads to Istanbul, where Iverson is playing minor league hoops in a 3,200-seat arena and hanging out at T.G.I. Friday’s.

Robert Huber Philadelphia Magazine Dec 2010 Permalink

Dead Man Talking

Brian Hickey, a journalist who was induced into a coma after being left for dead following a hit and run accident, reports the story of his recovery.

Brian Hickey Philadelphia Magazine May 2009 15min Permalink