Tablet Studios

Spies, sex, and comedy!

Our Jewish guest is journalist Matti Friedman, whose newest book, 'Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel', explores the little-known story of four Mizrahi Jews who went undercover as Arabs during the time of the country's founding. He tells us how the story of these young Jewish men from Arab countries, who risked their lives as part of a ragtag intelligence unit, adds texture to the overwhelmingly Ashkenazi narrative of Israel's founding.

Our gentile of the week is Pete Holmes, who talks to us about his new book, 'Comedy Sex God', his HBO show Crashing, and his journey from being raised Evangelical Christian to becoming a follower of spiritual teacher Ram Dass.

Join us Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. at the Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center for a live taping with Leon Neyfakh, host of the podcasts Slow Burn and the forthcoming FIASCO, and FiveThirtyEight writer and podcaster Clare Malone. Get your tickets here.

We’re heading to Chicago! See us live Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Logan Square Auditorium with special guest Blair Braverman, who recently became the second Jewish woman to complete the Iditarod. Presented with Hadassah Chicago-North Shore. Get your tickets here.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Email us at [email protected] or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group.

This episode is sponsored by Unpacked, a new series of Jewish educational videos from Jerusalem U that offer a complete history of modern day Israel, 10 minutes at a time. Check it out at unpacked.media/unorthodox.

We're also sponsored by FindYourSummer.org, with nearly 400 summer programs for Jewish teens to choose from, ranging from domestic and international travel to internships and more. New York-area teens are eligible for scholarships to select programs. Find your program at FindYourSummer.org.

Additional support comes from Harry's. Get your free trial shave set at Harrys.com/UNORTHODOX.

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We're talking about the mamas (the mamas) in honor of Mother's Day.

Our Jewish guest is Catherine Reitman, creator and star of the Netflix show Workin Moms. She tells us how spending Mother's Day after her first child was born on a film set far from her family inspired her to create the show, which follows four mothers as they navigate their personal and professional lives after having children.

We also talk to Judith Rosenbaum, executive director of the Jewish Women’s Archive, about their new initiative to honor all the inspirational woman in our lives. 

Our gentile of the week is Karen Malone Wright, founder of The Not Mom, an online space for women who do not have children, either by choice or by chance. She tells us what not to say to a woman who doesn't have children, on Mother's Day or any day, and what she's learned from childless and childfree women around the world who have attended her Not Mom summits.

Plus, producer Josh Kross brings us an unexpected story of an escape from Russia.

Join us Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. at the Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center for a live taping with special guests Leon Neyfakh, host of the podcasts Slow Burn and the forthcoming FIASCO, and FiveThirtyEight writer and podcaster Clare Malone. Get your tickets here.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Email us at [email protected] or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group.

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It's a star-studded, carb-filled post-Passover episode! Our first Jewish guest is designer Rebecca Minkoff, who tells us about sewing her own bat mitzvah dress, starting a handbag and clothing company with her brother, Uri, and her early involvement with—and break from—the Women's March (plus how she continues to support women today).

Our second Jewish guest is Moriel Rothman-Zecher, author of Sadness is a White Bird, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in Debut Fiction. He tells us about moving from America to Israel as a teen--a journey mirrored by the book's protagonist--and how, after years of excitement about the idea of serving in the Israel Defense Forces, he ultimately become a conscientious objector, serving two weeks in military jail after refusing to join the IDF.

Our gentile of the week is Gretchen Rubin, whose latest book is Outer Order, Inner Calm. She explains how getting control of our stuff helps us get control of our lives, and describes the four personality tendencies (upholders, questioners, obligers, and rebels) that animated her last book.

Plus, we call Blair Braverman, the Jewish dog sledder who recently completed the Iditarod!

Join us Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. at the Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center for a live taping with special guests Leon Neyfakh, host of the podcasts Slow Burn and the forthcoming FIASCO, and FiveThirtyEight writer and podcaster Clare Malone. Get your tickets here.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Email us at [email protected] or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group.

This episode is sponsored by Harry's. Get your free trial shave set at Harrys.com/UNORTHODOX.

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Since we're off this week, we're bringing you a special Kosher for Passover treat in our feed, a taste of our sister podcast, Israel Story.  We've got a Ruth-themed episode from them called Whither Thou Goest. 

If you like what you hear, you should subscribe to their show wherever you listen to ours, AND check out israelstory.org to see their upcoming U.S. tour schedule—they’ll be here from May 7 to may 21st, and might just be heading to your city for a live show. With that,  I’ll leave you to listen. Chag Sameach and see you next week!

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We're getting in the mood for matzo with a jam packed Passover episode.

We speak with New York Times food writer Melissa Clark about her Passover menu, which includes a new brisket recipe, and, later on in the week, matzo lasagna.

Paul Germain, the TV writer responsible for the Rugrats Passover episode, which aired in 1995 and offered a remarkable animated retelling of the story of Exodus, tells us about how that episode got made.

PLUS Cat Goldberg on 4/20 seders,  Gabriel Stulman on the Moroccan celebration of Mimouna,

And thanks to The Marshall Project's Simone Weichselbaum, disgraced former charity head William Rapfogel tells us about the time he threw a Seder behind bars.

Episode sponsors:

The UJA-Federation Matzah Challenge is back! Here’s how it works: Take a picture of your matzah creation between April 19 and April 27 and post it to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtag #matzahchallenge. Tag a friend: for every matzah photo that’s posted, $18 will be donated to someone in need.

One Day University brings together the best professors to give their most engaging lectures to audiences of all ages. On April 28, Mark Oppenheimer will be teaching a class called 'American Jews: Where are they now?' Register at www.OneDayu.com. or by calling 800 300 3438.

The kosher meal kit service JChef delivers all the ingredients you need to make delicious kosher recipes without schlepping to the market. If you order between now and Passover, you'll get 30 percent off your first order—and if you refer a friend who places an order, you'll also get a free classic meal box. Go to JChef.com/Unorthodox to get yours today.

Unorthodox Wines is a unique take on kosher wine that's perfect for your Seder. Get free shipping on your order at www.bitly.com/unorthowine.

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Everything you ever wanted to know about Jewish last names, with name change stories from our hosts and listeners. Plus, Noah Levinson investigates the story behind immigrant name changes at Ellis Island.

Want to share your family's story? Email us at [email protected] or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes! Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

This episode is sponsored by Unorthodox Wine, offering beautiful kosher wines from South Africa. Get free shipping on any order when you visit bitly.com/unorthowine.

This episode is also brought to you by KOL Foods, delivering great tasting, healthy, sustainable, and ethically raised meat. This Passover, go to KOLFoods.com and use the code UNORTHODOX to receive a 10-percent discount on your next order.

Additional support comes from JChef, the new kosher meal kit and the perfect solution for Passover. Go to Jchef.com/unorthodox and use coupon code Unorthodox30 to get 30 percent off your first order. Plus, refer a friend who places an order before Passover and you’ll get a free classic meal box. (edited) 

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This week on Unorthodox, it's Adar Madness! Make your picks for Liel's middle name here.

We've got two Jewish guests this week. The first is psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb, who writes the “Dear Therapist” column for The Atlantic. Her latest book, Maybe You Should Talk To Someone, is about her life as a therapist, and about starting to see a therapist herself after an unexpected and traumatic breakup.

Our second guest is Clevelander Harley Cohen, who was assigned the seat next to Mark on the flight to Cleveland for our November live show at the Mandel JCC. Harley is a Jewish Deadhead (a Grateful Dead megafan), and he told Mark about his embrace of Jewish practice later in life and his love of the iconic jam band, and the ways in which the two are intertwined.

We love to hear from you! Send comments and questions for Unorthodox to [email protected] or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes! Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

This episode is sponsored by Hebrew College. The Jewish community needs rabbis who are creatively engaging with Jewish tradition, and Hebrew College’s rabbinical school is currently accepting applications. Visit Hebrewcollege.edu/unorthodox to find out more.

This episode is also brought to you KOL Foods, delivering the best tasting, healthiest, most sustainable, and most ethically raised meat anywhere! Go to KOLFoods.com and use the code UNORTHODOX to receive a 10 percent discount on your next order.

Additional support comes from Unorthodox Wine, offering beautiful kosher wines from South Africa. Get free shipping on any order when you visit bitly.com/unorthowine.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, you'll never look at an Einstein Bros. bagel the same way again.

Our Jewish guests are David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, co-writers and co-stars in the Off-Broadway play The Other Josh Cohen. They tell us about meeting at the performing arts summer camp French Woods and working together ever since, most recently collaborating on this rollicking musical tale of mistaken identity (apparently there are a lot of Josh Cohens out there!).

Our gentile of the week is Drew Magary, a columnist for GQ and Deadspin, and the author of the memoir Someone Could Get Hurt: A Memoir of Twenty-First-Century Parenthood. He tells us about his highly controversial recent columns about bagels, and asks us if he's in for a year of shlepping his now 12-year-old daughter to bar mitzvahs in the Maryland area.

We love to hear from you! Send comments and questions for Unorthodox to [email protected] or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes! Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

This episode is also sponsored by JChef, the new kosher meal kit and the perfect solution for Passover. Go to Jchef.com/unorthodox and use coupon code Unorthodox30 to get 30 percent off your first order.

This episode is also sponsored by Harry's, offering a great shave at a great price. Get a free trial shave set at Harrys.com/UNORTHODOX.

Additional support comes from Unorthodox Wine, offering beautiful kosher wines from South Africa. Get free shipping on any order when you visit bitly.com/unorthowine.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, we're celebrating the publication of The 100 Most Jewish Foods: A Highly Debatable List with an episode dedicated to Jewish food. Throughout the episode you’ll hear from contributors to the book—including Jill Kargman, Gil Hovav, Gail Simmons, Shalom Auslander, Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs of Food52, and many more—who will be reading their entries.

We talk to Tablet editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse, who edited the collection, as well as Gabriella Gershenson, who edited the recipes in the book. We also sit down with Dr. Beth Ricanati, the author of Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs, who tells us about the healing power of baking bread. Naama Shefi and Amanda Dell tell us about their work at the Jewish Food Society and their Schmaltzy storytelling events.

Plus, Brette Warshaw explains the difference between corned beef and pastrami, listener Sonia Marie Leikam tell us about brewing kosher beer in Portland, and the story of a special pie delivery to Pittsburgh's Jewish community.

Get your copy of The 100 Most Jewish Foods at Tabletmag.com/100JewishFoods.

Tell us your Jewish food memories! Email us at [email protected] or leave a message at 914-570-4869.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes! Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

The music on today's episode is by the klezmer duo Farnakht.

This episode is sponsored by Hebrew College. The Jewish community needs rabbis who are creatively engaging with Jewish tradition, and Hebrew College’s rabbinical school is currently accepting applications. Visit Hebrewcollege.edu/unorthodox to find out more.

This episode is brought to you by Unorthodox Wine, offering beautiful kosher wines from South Africa. Get free shipping on any order when you visit bitly.com/unorthowine.

This episode is brought to you KOL Foods, delivering the best tasting, healthiest, most sustainable, and most ethically raised meat anywhere! Go to KOLFoods.com and use the code UNORTHODOX to receive a 10 percent discount on your next order.

Unorthodox is supported by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, which is presenting Diaspora Songs: Yiddish Meets Ladino, Thursday, March 28, at 7:30 pm.  The event is a part of Carnegie Hall’s “Migrations, The Making of America Festival” and co-sponsored by The Yiddish Book Center. Visit jccmanhattan.org/music for tickets. 

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This week on Unorthodox, an update from Belgium, and Lin-Manuel Miranda's bar mitzvah-dancing past.

This week's interviews were recorded live at the Marlene Meyerson Manhattan JCC during our Valentine's Day show. Our Jewish guest is dating app ghostwriter Meredith Golden, whose job is to make your dating profile better and to get you dates! She tells us about the mistakes most men and women are making on their profiles, and polls the audience about with dating apps they prefer.

Our next guests are Jess Salomon and Eman El-Husseini, married comedians from Canada. Jess is Jewish and Eman is Palestinian, and they tell us about how they met, what their parents think, and the comedy they've found in the tensions of their particular union.

This episode is brought to you by Unorthodox Wine, offering beautiful kosher wines from South Africa. Get free shipping on any order when you visit bitly.com/unorthowine.

This episode is brought to you KOL Foods, delivering the best tasting, healthiest, most sustainable, and most ethically raised meat anywhere! Go to KOLFoods.com and use the code UNORTHODOX to receive a 10 percent discount on your next order.

The Jewish Education Project is doing incredible work empowering Jewish educators across the country. On April 11, the Jewish Education Project is throwing a party honoring its retiring CEO Bob Sherman, and recognizing the impact of the UJA-Federation New York’s John Ruskay and Alisa Rubin Kurshan .Visit JewishEdProject.org/Benefit and use the promo code UNORTHODOX for a special discount for Unorthodox listeners.

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