Pod Drash

The idea of teshuva rests on the belief that we can break from our past habits and transform ourselves. But sometimes people – whether the victim or not, whether knowingly or unknowingly – continue to hold fast to our past as part of their posturing towards us. Listening in on Invisibilia’s episode The Personailty Myth, which tells of the complicated relationship between a prisoner and a work colleague, allows us to explore ways in which we sometimes chain others – and ourselves – to the past.

Guests: Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses (Romemu), Professor David Dow (University of Houston, Texas Innocence Network)

Content warning: This episode mentions violent crime and rape. 

Click here to download this episode's Discussion Guide.
Click here to hear the Invisibilia episode, The Personality Myth.
Click here for Leon and Joel's full study session.
Click here to view the source sheet for this episode.
Click here to visit the episode page on our website.

Episode image by Miguel Palomino Urdapilleta from Pixabay

Sometimes effectuating change takes a very long time. This episode begins with “The Meatball and Chain,” a segment of This American’ Life’s Episode 668, which tells of a slow-brew teshuva. From there we explore the barriers that we often erect between us and our own wrongdoings – with an eye towards deconstructing them. 
Guests: Rabbi Professor David Ellenson (Brandeis), Ariel Kaminer (Buzzfeed)

Click here to download this episode's Discussion Guide.
Click here to hear the segment on This American Life's episode, The Long Fuse.
Click here for Leon and Joel's full study session.
Click here to view the source sheet for this episode.
Click here to visit the episode page on our website.

Episode image by TweSwe from Pixabay.

Sometimes it’s too long, sometimes it’s too short. Sometimes it’s too technical, other times its strokes are too broad. But occasionally, it’s just right. After listening to Dan Harmon’s public apology for sexually harassing her, Megan Ganz describes in This American Life Episode 674, Get a Spine, how Harmon nailed it. We try to unpack what worked – and what still might have been missing.

Click here to download this episode's Discussion Guide.
Click here to hear the segment on This American Life's episode, Get a Spine.
Click here to hear Dan Harmon’s confession on Harmontown (go to 17:43).
Click here for Leon and Joel's full study session.
Click here to view the source sheet for this episode.
Click here to visit the episode page on our website.

Episode image by Willfried Wende from Pixabay.

One of the most difficult – and potent – ways of going about teshuva is to see look at ourselves critically by trying to see ourselves from outside. We begin by listening to The Nod’s episode One on One alongside a different version of it that aired on This American Life, in which a daughter broaches a difficult conversation with her dad, taking him back to a basketball game he’d rather forget. Through them we explore the complex relationship
between experiencing from within, looking at ourselves, and hearing how other
people experience us.

Click here to download this episode's Discussion Guide.
Click here to hear The Nod's episode, One on One.
Click here to hear the segment on This American Life's episode, Seeing Yourself in the Wild.
Click here for Leon and Joel's full study session.
Click here to view the source sheet for this episode.
Click here to visit the episode page on our website.

Episode image by Andre Tan from Unsplash.

How do we move on when the apology we so long for – and the resolution and accountability week seek – refuse to come? We begin a snippet from Heavyweight's episode 11, Christina, and from there we explore perhaps one of the thorniest issues of teshuva and of human relationships in general: how can I move on, personally and in a specific relationship, when instead of a clean, new start with the other side I just get muck? Featured guests: Rabbi Sharon Brous (IKAR LA) and Jonathan Goldstein (host, Heavyweight).

Click here to download this episode's Discussion Guide.
Click here to hear Heavyweight episode 11, Christina.
Click here for Leon and Joel's full study session.
Click here to view the source sheet for this episode.
Click here to visit the episode page on our website.

Episode image by David Mark from Pixabay.

Pod Drash takes a fantastic podcast that’s aired elsewhere and riffs on it – or, to say it Jewishly, drashes it. Meet Creator and Host Leon Wiener Dow and hear about the incredible array of guests who will join him in Season One to explore the subject of teshuva, or repentance. Pod Drash provides added depth to an already amazing podcast story, and it allows ancient Jewish texts to speak to the urgent issues of the day. Coming August 20.