A podcast
re-investigating the disappearance of Joseph Smedley.
Joseph was an ambitious 20 year old sophomore attending Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He was bright, smart, funny, and relentlessly determined.
His life hadn’t been easy and he’d overcome a lot to get himself into school. He’d recently become a member of a popular fraternity on campus, Sigma Pi and was pursuing a degree in bio-chemistry and pre-pharmacology. He dreamt of one day becoming involved in pharmaceuticals, even researching and creating life saving medications.
Out of the blue, late the night of September 27, Joseph walked out of his shared off-campus home and vanished.
His body was found nearly five days later. Joseph was found in a local lake, weighed down by a backpack full of rocks.
His story never received the attention it deserved and his family is still left wondering, what really happened to Joseph?
A Heavy Weight is a series dedicated to bringing awareness to Joseph’s case with the hope his family will finally receive the answers they’ve been looking for.
Listen on –
Stacy Jane
Thank you for being here and listening to A Heavy Weight.
I host, write and produce this series, but it’s not a project I could do alone. Joseph’s family and friends have been gracious in allowing me to help tell a piece of his story.
A special thank you to Vivianne, who has worked tirelessly on her brother’s case. The work is never-ending, tiring, and at many times frustrating and sad, but Vivianne remains a steadfast light keeping her brothers name alive. This series is, by and large, thanks to her.
Follow Joseph’s Story
Vivianne Bernas
Vivianne Bernas is Joseph's oldest sister and the founder of the Justice for Joseph Organization. She has been the main advocate for his case and has worked tirelessly to find answers for the last 6 years. She has written letters to the city of Bloomington, orchestrated events, started petitions and raised funds for the organization, to help pay for a 2nd autopsy, attorney fees and a Private Investigator. Vivianne has also worked to share Joseph's story on many different media platforms, including, news articles, podcasts, and documentaries. You can get involved by signing the petition, using the hashtag #JusticeForJoseph and following Justice For Joseph on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Jozef Caldwell
Jozef Caldwell is an audio engineer, tech, and studio manager at Russian Recording in Bloomington, IN. He holds a BS in Audio Engineering from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He has recorded everything from opera to metal, live tangos to film scores, and writes and performs with a variety of bands and artists.
Mike Bridavsky
Mike Bridavsky is a musician, recording engineer, and producer that owns and operates Russian Recording, an analog recording studio based out of Bloomington, IN. He has engineered, produced, and mastered over 1,500 records since 2003. In 2011 his life changed when a magical space cat named Lil BUB entered his life. Since then, he has helped BUB author two books, develop and produce her own talk show, write and produce her own Animal Planet TV Special, and helped her establish her own non-profit organization, Lil BUB's Big FUND for Special Needs Pets. Mike and his wife Stacy live in Bloomington, IN with their two children, four cats, and one-eyed dog.