Lost in the Wilderness

By Karl Stevens and Daniel Bogard

Religion & Spirituality Spirituality Christianity Judaism

What's Lost in the Wilderness about?

Every week Karl Stevens (the priest) and Daniel Bogard (the rabbi) engage in Chevruta study of scripture. We started with the Book of Exodus in 2017, and will be moving on the the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in 2018. Lost in the Wilderness is made possible by generous contributions from Christ Church Cathedral and the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Lost in the Wilderness episodes:

09.10.2018
Episode 41: Party Mitzvah at the End of Exodus
Daniel and Karl reach the end of their own personal Exodus by finishing off Chapter 40 and drinking champagne. Then they reflect on the journey and answer a listener question. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08.24.2018
Episode 40: The Blue Snail Edition
Daniel and Karl are joined by Hattie Koher, a Methodist youth pastor and old college friend of Daniel's for an episode that's all about the ephod. In addition to talking about priestly bling, we also get into a discussions...
08.17.2018
Episode 39
Karl and Daniel are joined by Shira Berkowitz of Central Reform Congregation in Saint Louis for a discussion of feminism, justice work, and lots and lots of instructions on how to build the tabernacle! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
08.02.2018
Episode 38
Karl and Daniel are joined by Cantor Joshua Finkel of Shir Hadesh Reconstructionist Community in Saint Louis. Which is a relief because, frankly, Ch. 37 of Exodus is more tedious repetition of what we've read before. So we spend about...
07.27.2018
Episode 37
The great Robert Alter describes Chapter 36 as the greatest example of extravagant repetition in the entire book of Exodus. That doesn't mean that it can't be fun! Karl and Daniel use this opportunity to talk about repetition...
07.23.2018
Exodus 35
Is Judaism a religion or a people? What does identity mean, and how many can we have and still be coherent? Is it better to be consumerist or materialist? And what lengths will Daniel go to in...
07.07.2018
Episode 35: We're Back, and We Might Just Believe in the Same God
After a month long hiatus, we return to dig deep into chapter 34 of Exodus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05.28.2018
Program Announcement
We recorded a podcast last week, but then a terrible technical snafu took it away from us. And I'll be gone next week, and Daniel will be moving the following week. So we'll be on a brief hiatus until mid-June....
05.17.2018
Episode 34: Rambam-palooza
This week we finally take a deep dive into Daniel's favorite rabbi, the 12th c. Spanish philosopher Maimonides, also known as Rambam. Which means that we get super philosophical, talking about God and nature and the limits of human knowledge....
05.11.2018
Episode 33: The Golden Calf!
At last, we have come to the much anticipated Ch. 32, when God sends Moses down the mountain to break up a wild party and, more importantly, stop the chosen people from worshipping idols. Hot stuff! And Daniel has provided...
05.03.2018
Episode 32: Waiting for the Next Jew
Exodus 31 is great for artists and crafts people, and great for people who just need a day of rest! Karl and Daniel spend about thirty minutes talking about the first seventeen verses, and then thirty minutes talking about verse...
04.26.2018
Episode 31: One Year in Gehenna
Daniel and Karl are joined by Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp as we delve into Ch. 30, learn that Gehenna isn't just a suburb of Columbus, reflect on giving and justice, and consider the ethics of counting people. Hosted on Acast. See...
04.19.2018
Episode 30: Incense-ify the Ram!
Daniel and Karl go deep into the weeds of ordination rituals for the High Priest as they read Exodus 30. Along the way, they throw in some thoughts about Jerusalem Syndrome, the sad life of Schmuel the Ephod Cleaner, and...
04.14.2018
Episode 29: Priestly Bling
Daniel and Karl are joined by Rabbi Daniel Vaisrub, and many things are revealed about Judaism that Karl never knew. Such as the apocalyptic hope that the third temple will descend from on high and that the ephod might just...
04.04.2018
Episode 28: Horns as Handlebars and the Nature of Sin
Ch. 27 of Exodus is all about the tabernacle (what a surprise, given that it's been the theme of the last few weeks). But Karl and Daniel find a way to talk about sin, and the way that both Judaism...
03.29.2018
Episode 27: The Ikea Manual from Mount Sinai
Daniel and Karl are joined by members of Saint Andrew's, Evanston as they discuss Ch. 26, a chapter mostly composed of instructions for building the tabernacle. And yet somehow they manage to wander into discussions of unicorn creation myths and...
03.23.2018
Episode 26: Almond Scented Light
Acolytes and Altar Guild members, rejoice! We have now gotten to the part of Exodus that deals with liturgy, describing all of the wonderful implementa of the tabernacle with glittering adjectives (mostly because everything is gold plated). Daniel and Karl...
03.17.2018
Episode 25: Bring Cucumber Sandwiches to the Next Blood Sacrifice
Okay, it's a weird title, but we sure amused ourselves as we talked about Exodus 24, in which Moses and friends are somehow back at the foot of the mountain and about to go up it for the first time,...
03.09.2018
Episode 24: Live at the Cathedral
Daniel and Karl record live in front of an audience at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati. The audience was amazing in contributing to our chevruta Bible study of chapter 23. We took questions and heard from a variety of readers as we...
02.28.2018
Episode 23: Power and Privilege Lead Us Into Responsibility, Not Freedom
There's a whole lotta law going on in Chapter 22 of Exodus, but it leads Daniel and Karl into discussions of King David and the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, the Babylonian Exile and, oh yeah, Exodus. Join us! Hosted on...
02.21.2018
Episode 22: Oxen, People with Duck Heads, and Lawyers
We're still at Mt. Sinai (after all, we just got there) and the law is getting more and more exact and elaborate. This week it also becomes downright unpleasant, as we have to contemplate the fact that the Israelites are...
02.08.2018
Episode 21: The Ten Commandments
What are all those courthouse monuments and bulletin boards on the highway all about, anyway? The Ten Commandments might form the basis of civil society in the west, or they might be a specific set of rules given to a...
02.02.2018
Episode 20: Daniel's Favorite Midrashim
All right, we've finally arrived at Mount Sinai! And it only took 19 chapters and 20 episodes. As Daniel says, all the most famous midrashim speak to this moment of Exodus. In our discussion, we touch on cultural appropriation, our legacy...
01.25.2018
Episode 19: Holy Bureaucracy, Jethro!
Let's face it, Jethro must have been one of history's top five father-in-laws. In Ch. 18 of Exodus, he visits Moses and shows him how to set-up a bureaucracy. In our current context, this might seem like an odd thing...
01.18.2018
Episode 18: Interior Amaleks
As they dive into ch. 17, Karl and Daniel talk about sin and evil, and the understanding of Amalek in Judaism. How should we think about and treat our enemies? How should we confront the evil in ourselves? The rabbinic...
01.10.2018
Episode 17: Dipping Dots and Quail
Daniel and Karl ponder the culinary value of manna, read some excellent midrash, and talk about the Sabbath and ecology, all while dipping (pun intended) into Ch. 16 of Exodus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
01.04.2018
Episode 16: The One with Singing
This week Daniel and Karl are joined by Cantor Cheryl Wunch, calling in from Toronto to sing portions of Chapter 15 of Exodus, answer all of Karl's questions about cantors in general, and reflect on (of course) the nature of...
12.20.2017
Episode 15: Job Makes a Cameo Appearance
The Israelites have finally gotten to the Reed Sea, the Pillar of Fire and the Pillar of Cloud are introduced into the story, and (oddly) Job makes a cameo appearance in the midrash. What could be more fun than that?...
12.14.2017
Episode 14: The Marks of the Tefillin
This week Daniel and Karl are joined again by Robin Holland for their investigation of Exodus 13. Daniel gives us the lowdown on a lot of Jewish practice, including the use of tefillin (in English, phylacteries) in prayer. Hosted...
12.09.2017
Episode 13: How to Spot Good Hummus
This week Daniel and Karl discuss Exodus, Ch. 12, give an overview of the Documentary Hypothesis, delve deep into Jewish religious traditions, and give some grocery shopping advice! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.16.2017
Episode 12 - Intolerable Tolerance
This week Daniel and Karl are joined by the great Phyllis Spiegel as they delve into Exodus, Ch. 11. On the surface, Ch. 11 seems like a lot of throat-clearing for Ch. 12. But it does, in fact, allow us...
11.09.2017
Episode 11: Zombie Pickled Locusts
Daniel and Karl delve into Jewish mysticism (and a little Christian mysticism, too) as they discuss Exodus Ch. 10. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.02.2017
Episode 10: Auschwitz or Sinai
Daniel and Karl use Chapter 9 of Exodus as an opportunity to talk about idealism and realism, trauma and hope. In particular, they discuss ideas articulated in Rabbi David Hartman's article "Auschwitz or Sinai?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
10.26.2017
Episode 9: If you see a giant frog, don't poke it
Karl, Robin and Daniel delve into Exodus, Ch. 8, the plagues, the nature of good and evil, the nature of mercy and justice, and all the other large and intense questions, with a little midrashic humor thrown in. Hosted on...
10.18.2017
Episode 8: Herbs to Herbtown
This week Daniel and Karl are joined by Robin Holland for their discussion of Exodus Chapter 7. The plagues begin! There are magical battles between the Levite Bros. and Pharaoh! And we get to ask questions about free will, systems...
10.11.2017
Lost in the Wilderness Episode 7: Moses and Aaron Goldstein
Daniel and Karl are joined by Maggie Leidheiser-Stoddard to discuss Exodus Chapter 6, a chapter full of quarreling with God, insecurity about leadership, and lots and lots of genealogy. We all ended up feeling sorry for Moses, and wondering why...
10.05.2017
Episode 6: May You Live 120 Years
Daniel and Karl dive into Chapter 5 and discuss the nature of God, the nature of social movements, the struggle for justice, and the tragedy of injustice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.28.2017
Episode 5: The Eternal Donkey
Karl and Daniel delve into Exodus, Ch. 4 and make many jokes about donkeys and circumcision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.26.2017
Episode 4: The Burning Bush
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.13.2017
Episode 3: Pharaoh's Daughter
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.07.2017
Lost in the Wilderness Episode 2
This week Karl and Daniel take on Exodus Ch. 1 for their Chevruta Bible Study. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.01.2017
The Oven of Acknai
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's Lost in the Wilderness about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Lost in the Wilderness episodes:

Episode 41: Party Mitzvah at the End of Exodus

Episode 40: The Blue Snail Edition

Episode 39

Episode 38

Episode 37

Exodus 35

Episode 35: We're Back, and We Might Just Believe in the Same God

Program Announcement

Episode 34: Rambam-palooza

Episode 33: The Golden Calf!

Episode 32: Waiting for the Next Jew

Episode 31: One Year in Gehenna

Episode 30: Incense-ify the Ram!

Episode 29: Priestly Bling

Episode 28: Horns as Handlebars and the Nature of Sin

Episode 27: The Ikea Manual from Mount Sinai

Episode 26: Almond Scented Light

Episode 25: Bring Cucumber Sandwiches to the Next Blood Sacrifice

Episode 24: Live at the Cathedral

Episode 23: Power and Privilege Lead Us Into Responsibility, Not Freedom

Episode 22: Oxen, People with Duck Heads, and Lawyers

Episode 21: The Ten Commandments

Episode 20: Daniel's Favorite Midrashim

Episode 19: Holy Bureaucracy, Jethro!

Episode 18: Interior Amaleks

Episode 17: Dipping Dots and Quail

Episode 16: The One with Singing

Episode 15: Job Makes a Cameo Appearance

Episode 14: The Marks of the Tefillin

Episode 13: How to Spot Good Hummus

Episode 12 - Intolerable Tolerance

Episode 11: Zombie Pickled Locusts

Episode 10: Auschwitz or Sinai

Episode 9: If you see a giant frog, don't poke it

Episode 8: Herbs to Herbtown

Lost in the Wilderness Episode 7: Moses and Aaron Goldstein

Episode 6: May You Live 120 Years

Episode 5: The Eternal Donkey

Episode 4: The Burning Bush

Episode 3: Pharaoh's Daughter

Lost in the Wilderness Episode 2

The Oven of Acknai