That's So Kvetch!

This episode is for all spiritual seekers out there! In this episode, I chat with Maggi, who runs her own art business based in Jerusalem. Together we discuss the ups and downs of her spiritual journey and how to deal when you hit a spiritual low. Also an olah chadashah, we begin with her Aliyah story and what inspired her to move in the first place. Then we dive into how things spiritually shifted for her through trauma and life changes, and what happened when she stopped feeling as connected. We explore questions like: What does God really want from us? Does he tally our actions? What do you do when your family isn’t as religious? Does God want us to push ourselves to do things that don’t feel authentic to ourselves? I hope you enjoy this cathartic and vulnerable episode. 

(0:00 -11:26) - Birthright, spiritual experiences and conversion

(11:26-22:00) - Leaving seminary and new questions arising

(22:00-28:00) - What are all these rules really about?

(28:00-35:00) - The role of religious guilt and shame, and why is religion so divisive?

(35:00-42:00) - Owning yourself and self compassion

(42:00-end) - final blessing

In this episode, I dive into the stages of moving to a new country. Future olim, this episode is for you! I start off with a debrief from last week’s incredible Purim celebration. I dressed as a man and the cross-dressing experience lent to a very fun social experiment and I share all the hilarious reactions as well as an exploration of masculinity vs. femininity. Then, I dive into the 5 stages of acclimating to a new country, share stories from learning Hebrew, difficult Saturday nights, to building up my confidence. It’s amazing to look back at how much things have changed and evolved. Lastly, I finish off with a little piece of Torah and a meditation on redemption and what it can bring to our own lives.

As always, you can email [email protected] for any ideas or thoughts that came up for you!

(0-3:38)- Intro

(3:38-15:40) - Purim debrief and reactions to my costume

(15:40-27:24) - 1st three stages, culture and language barriers

(27:24-32:37) - Assimilation, biculturalism, and snails?

(32:37-end) - Torah on redemption and final blessing!

In this episode, I have a conversation with Bodhi River, community builder, bodyworker, and soon-to-be joining a school for communal learning in Italy! Together, we dive into how to let go and create closure for yourself in situations when you don’t get it. Through a series of metaphors from the blue ball to the regenerative cake, we talk about dealing with rejection, having healthy boundaries, loving ourselves, and feeling full all on our own. We can truly depend on ourselves to give ourselves love! I hope you’ll enjoy this cathartic and hopeful episode. Happy listening!

(0:00-10:18)- Bodhi’s life at the kibbutz

(10:18-15:00) How to notice when you are giving yourself away

(15:00-27:00) Refueling yourself all on your own

(27:00-35:55) Managing desires, expectations on others, and self-regulating on dating apps

(35:55 -end) Embracing your inner child + final blessing

That’s So Kvetch is back and just in time for Valentine’s Day!

In honor of the day, I wonder about my relationship with love, why I am so attracted to it, and how it’s impacted me both positively and negatively. Why does love make people go so dumb? It’s based in science! I talk about the chemicals and hormones behind love. Lastly, I talk about the important role of having hope and believing in order to get to love. We need to be kind to ourselves when we experience these feelings because it is so human to want to connect with someone else. I hope you’ll enjoy this honest and validating episode. Cheers to a brand-new season!

(0:00-7:30) - Why I left and why I’m back!

(7:30-11:30) - Redefining being a Jew in Jerusalem

(11:30-18:00) - Intro - Why am I so obsessed with love?

(18:00-28:55) - The science behind lust, attraction, and attachment

(28:55 -33:30) - Hope is the first step to getting to love

(33:30 -end) - Dating catch up, my current dating mentality, and pep-talk!

Email [email protected] for thoughts, ideas, or questions!

If you are in a moment in your life where you are wondering “where am I going next?” or “how am I going to create the future I want?”, then this episode is for you! Also for my close friends, consider this a grand catch-up! In this reflective episode, I chat about the ups and downs of living in Jerusalem. I go into detail about why I moved, and share cute stories about crying on the trains, dancing in the shuk on Hanukkah, practicing my Hebrew on dating apps, and more! I also chat about some of the things I’ve been struggling with and observations about Israeli culture and why I actually really vibe with it. Ultimately, it is difficult to be in a state of flux, but it is also ok to be in a state of finding. This hopeful and calm episode will surely entertain you. Happy listening!

(0:00- 7:32) Where I’m at in life right now

(7:32-19:00) Wonderful moments with Israeli people

(19:00-24:30) Concerts, artsy things and cigarettes

(24:30-29:00) Bubby cart Osherad fiasco

(29:26-34:15) 7 Things I’ve learned so far

(34:15-end) The in-between phase is hard

I enjoy diving into stigmas and talking about Jewish culture, and this episode is non other than that. First, I share updates and funny stories from my new life in Israel. Then, I chat about the stereotype of being a Jewish good girl and bad girl and how it’s affected me, and how I think it affects the Jewish world. I also share the scandalous story of Lilith and her symbolism in Jewish feminist lore. Happy listening!

(0:00-9:14) Intro and funny moments in Israel

(9:14-12:20) Why this topic is important

(12:20-18:42) Adam and Lilith’s fight

(18:42-22:25) Bad girl stigma heart spill

(22:25-31:11) why this stereotype happened and cognitive dissonances in Judaism

(31:11-34:00) How to deal with feeling like a “bad girl”

(34:00-end) obscure midrashim and conclusion

I moved to Jerusalem in Israel - to a land that Hashem will show me the way - my own personal Lech Lecha journey. In this episode, I chat about the recent move, and the big and little adjustments that I’ve dealt with in the two weeks I've been here. Then, I share a story from the Gemara about a woman named Homa and R’ Hisda’s daughter. (Which I learned at Pardes from Gila Fine!) In the story, Rabba becomes aroused by the skin of his dead friend’s wife and runs home to consummate his urge with his wife. You’ll have to listen to hear what happens next and learn about ironies and hypocrisies within the story. This is a juicy one. Happy listening!

(0:00-12:37) - Little and big adjustments

(12:37-17:32) - What transcends language?

(17:32-26:00) The story of Homa, the femme fatale

(26:00 -29:00) Hasidut question: Should love come from the mind or the heart?

(29:00 -end) My blessing to you!

This episode is for the sensitive people out there! In this reflective episode, I chat about a variety of topics, from some announcements in my personal life to the story of Chana’s prayer, feeling like “too much”, breakups and more. The concept of being “too much” has come up for me in a variety of aspects of life, and I wanted to talk about the struggles behind feeling this way, the beauty of feeling, and why it is good to stay soft and open. Then, I share two moments when I felt the connectedness of everyone dealing with something. Then I chat about how Chana from the Torah was seen as “too much” in her story and what we can learn from that story. Then we talk about breakups, and I share some tips from a recent one I experienced, and end with a blessing, as always. This episode was cathartic and calming and I hope you enjoy listening!

(0:00-9:16) - Announcements

(9:16-13:52) - What does it mean to be “too much”?

(13:52-17:14) Examples from life

(17:14-20:09) Summer reflections and the time of transition (random tangent?)

(20:09-26:50) The story of Chana, and some halakhot of prayer

(26:50 -end) Breakups!

In this episode, I chat with my older brother Boris, all about sustainability, Jewish journeys, parenting, and more! I’m always looking to improve environmentally, and Boris shared some of his best tips with me, on how to be kinder to our planet. Boris shares his career journey from software engineering to sustainable landscape design and we learn all about the wonders of growing your own food. Also, when Boris was my age, he quit his job and moved to India for four months, and we hear more about why he chose that adventure! Then, on parenting, we talk about how Judaism plays a role and the beauty of the rituals and ethics that it provides. Boris knows what he’s talking about and his calming and educational voice is sure to bring you some peaceful vibes as well as teach you something new along the way! Happy listening!

In this episode, I chat with sex educator and coach Elena Potek. Elena works one-on-one with clients to help them harness their sexual energy, reframe old narratives around sexuality, and get in touch with their most authentic selves. I am fascinated by this concept of sexual energy and what it means and how we can tap into it and Elena helps answer all my questions. Then we talk about ideas surrounding sexuality that Elena learned growing up in an Orthodox environment and Elena shares her journey on how she moved away from that mindset. Along the way, we discuss the virginity construct, Elena shares some funny stories from her travels, and we finish off with a conversation about self-confidence and battling self-doubt. I especially loved Elena’s point about how people mirror each other’s energy and how the energy you put out into the world is the energy you will get back. Happy listening!

Follow Elena on Instagram at @Elena_potek and check out her website to find out more!

Sexual energy playlist curated by Elena: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4sDM6klCjjDCQkD9OtzTR0?si=b562b52ba2834a07

(0:00-5:58) Intro

(5:58-12:00) sexual energy FAQ

(12:00-18:06) Growing up orthodox and how that impacted Elena

(18:06-25:50) the stigma of losing virginity

(25:50-29:57) lessons learned from backpacking in South America

(29:57-34:48) What do people struggle with most?

(34:48- 39:30) Issues in sex ed and dealing with shame

(39:30-end) some positive dating related advice