Chutzpod!

Rabbi Shira and Joshua go on a Hanukkah retrospective: how it started 2,200 years ago, how it's evolved through the Medieval era until today. It will have you rethinking the Hanukkah story you thought you knew. Is the oil the most important miracle of the holiday? Or is the true miracle that Shira had positive things to say about Hanukkah? Grab a jelly donut and a latke and tune in today.

Episode Timecodes:

(40:10) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

For our foremothers Rachel and Leah (and Bilhah and Zilpah) it's all about what they said (or couldn't say). How does this week's Torah portion hold up against the Bechdel Test? We're also joined by New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor to discuss her Judaism, her work uncovering workplace harassment in Hollywood, and the new film She Said, out in theaters now.

Episode Timecodes:

(13:20) - Jodi Kantor Interview

(42:10) - Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

In our final episode before Thanksgiving, we welcome Sarah Podemski, an award-winning Anishnaabe and Ashkenzai artist and actress (Reservation Dogs). Before we get to it, Joshua and Rabbi Shira discuss this week's Torah portion Chayei Sarah about the life (and really the death) of our matriarch Sarah.

Episode Timecodes:

(6:15) Sarah Podemski Interview

(33:10) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

Rabbi Shira and Joshua react to Election Night and tie it into this week's Torah portion of Vayera. We also welcome on Jodi Rudoren, editor in chief of The Forward, to discuss how she handles criticism from all corners of the Internet, her experiences at the New York Times, and her take on the hamentashen vs. latke debate.

Episode Timecodes:

(15:30) - Jodi Rudoren Interview

(41:45) - Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

Rabbi Shira and Joshua get back to basics with a Torah discussion about parshat Lech Lecha on going forth. We discuss the duality of fire, the concept of being a blessing, and the dynamics between Abram (Abraham) and Sarai (Sarah).   

(36:15) Rabbi Shira’s Guided Meditation

Rabbi Shira and Joshua are hosting the Americans for Peace Now Annual Gala on Sunday 10/30 and to prepare for the gig, we are joined by one of the honorees, Letty Cottin Pogrebin.  Letty's accomplishments are too long to list, but we spend a lot of time focusing on her new book "Shanda: A Memoir of Shame and Secrecy”.  We all have elements from our past we are ashamed of, but should we be?  We also explore the significance of the number 40 in honor of our 40th episode and this week's Torah portion, the story of Noah and the ark.

Episode Timecodes:

(12:30) - Interview with Letty Cottin Pogrebin

(42:45) - Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) is the only person to ever serve as both synagogue president and U.S. Senator. She joins the rabbi and Joshua this week to discuss navigating shul politics, the pursuit of Tikkun Olam, and even Broadway musicals. Before the interview, Chutzpod! addresses the recent comments by former President Trump on American Jews.

Episode Timecodes:

(15:30) Senator Rosen Interview

(34:15) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

For our 2nd Sukkot themed episode, we examine the harvest side of the holiday as Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome on Gerardo Reyes Chavez, a key leader for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida. Gerardo has been working in the fields since he was eleven years old and shares the difficult perspective of being a worker of the land and their continuing struggle for basic human rights.

Episode Timecodes:

(07:05) Interview with Gerardo Reyes Chavez

(37:10) Rabbi's Shira's Guided Meditation

As Sukkot approaches, we bring on a botanist to dig into the agricultural side of this underrated Jewish holiday.  Chutzpod! is joined by Holly Poole-Kavana from Little Red Bird Botanicals to talk about how plants are used for sacred traditions. What is the significance of the willow, myrtle, date palm, and of course the Etrog!  Plus, get a “peek” at Rabbi Shira’s backyard sukkah, featuring botanical murals by artist Mai-Han Nguyen (@nah_iam on Instagram).

Hope everyone had an easy fast!

Episode Timecodes:

(13:45) Interview with Holly Poole-Kavana

(38:10) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation

Our first episode of 5783 is jam-packed. Rabbi Shira and Joshua open with author Nathan Englander, playwright Josh's new play, What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank.

We then welcome Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, author of On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World to help us figure out how to make things right with other human beings. Why are we so bad at saying sorry?

Episode Timecodes:

(00:30) Interview with Nathan Englander

(12:10) Interview with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

(50:20) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation