I had a takeaway from a recent family trip to Disney World that surprised me: Disney didn’t really do much for my kids- but "Thank You Hashem" completely does. I talk about why that is, what actually captures my kids’ excitement and imagination, and how "Thank You Hashem" has built a warm, joyful Jewish world through music, characters, and community. A reflection on simcha, chinuch, and the influences I want to shape my kids’ emotional and spiritual lives.

This longest ever episode (by far!!) of "Depends on the Context" is meant to serve as a time capsule.

After 23 years and 144 Phish shows, on New Year’s Eve 2025 at Madison Square Garden I FINALLY caught Spock’s Brain- one of the rarest, most elusive, and most coveted songs in the entire Phish catalog.

What makes this moment hit even harder is the context: just yesterday, I recorded a podcast about Phish fatigue- about feeling “whelmed,” and being a veteran fan with fewer " Phish firsts" remaining.

And then the very next day… Spock's Brain 🖖🧠 🤯🤯🤯

This episode walks through:

• why the ultra rare Spock’s Brain is a true “white whale”

• every missed opportunity I had of of catching Spock's Brain, dating back to 2003

• the MSG gag, the milk cartons, and the moment everything clicked

• why this bust-out will forever be a central highlight in my Phish career

• and an unexpected personal symbolism that made the night feel like more than just a coincidence

This one isn’t for algorithms.

It’s for memory.

Recorded during Phish’s '25-'26 NYE run at MSG, I talk about how while Phish is still my all-time favorite band, I don’t feel the same pull to chase shows anymore. After many many Phish shows, the love is still there- but my time, energy, and priorities have shifted.

On the last night of November, Avi reflects on the coming weeks as he and Katie prepare, (B'Siyata D’shamaya) to welcome their third child. He talks about how each child reshapes a family, the shifting world each baby is born into, and the deep gratitude to he feels to Hashem for entrusting them with another precious neshama.

B'shaah Tovah!

We're rapidly heading towards Not Pashut Times (H/T https://notpashuttimes.blogspot.com/)

In 2019, I had an idea I couldn’t shake: what if every shiur on YUTorah could be "unlocked"- ie being transcribed and searchable. In this episode I share the story of how I first tried to build such a product in 2019, came across something a bit similar in 2024, and why FINALLY (!) 2025 the tech — and the timing — feels right. Am excited to start this side project/ passion project and see what comes of it.

Two weeks in Israel showed me three things: life feels normal even in wartime, strangers genuinely are happy for you when you mention you’re considering making Aliyah, and every hostage is remembered like family.

A glimpse of Israel you won’t see in the headlines.

In this episode, I share why I built a Chrome extension that shows the name, photo, and story of a victim of October 7 every time you open a new tab, what it took to build it, and why I built it.

Since 2005, my friend The Siz and I have had one call a year- on NBA Draft night. That’s it. We don’t talk the rest of the year. What started as two Reishit guys geeking out over basketball turned into a 21-year ritual that never went away.

Here's the story about it.

JQY should NOT celebrate anti-Zionists and those who demonize Israel.