May 7, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 80 - Putting the Pieces Together

Samson apparently loved Delilah and word puzzles. In today’s world, before he attacked the philistines, he probably would have finished that morning’s Wordle. With so many types of puzzles in the world today, we try to piece together an episode with the clues given on the box. Would you consider that to be cheating though? If you’re confused, perhaps you should listen to figure this one out with us.

00:01:08 Judges Chapter 14
00:03:22 Puzzles
00:05:29 Puzzling habits
00:07:12 Escape Rooms with leadership
00:12:38 What’s Jewish about puzzling?
00:16:25 Get a clue
00:25:47 Infusing it all together
00:27:52 The 100 Prisoner Puzzle
00:34:40 Having a healthy argument
00:39:37 Modular puzzles

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April 23, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 79 - Let’s Get Together: Live In Austin!

Barak, Ethan, and RDY were finally in the same zip code together, for the first time ever! So they decided to record an episode with the locals! When these nerds get together they play board games, watch superhero movies, visit comic book shops, go to escape rooms, and tell wonderfully terrible jokes. So what happens when you put them together in a room full of Jews? It turns out, you end up with a definitely-not-fake laugh track! This episode comes to you live from Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, TX!

00:01:09 When nerds get together
00:02:05 When Jews get together
00:02:43 Food
00:12:24 Small Gatherings
00:14:09 Coming together for support
00:23:26 Expanding Your Knowledge
00:31:59 Playing People Geography
00:36:12 Breaking the Star Trek barrier
00:37:00 Arguing
00:43:01 Our favorite arguments
00:57:31 Favorite way to get together

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April 9, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 78 - New Games, Old Wisdom

In this episode, we dice into the world of reboots, remastering, and retelling, both in the sacred and the pixelated. Ethan begins by sharing his love for the remastered version of one of his favorite games, Star Wars: Dark Forces, and what changed in its recent rerelease. We discuss movie reboots, and why it’s sometimes okay for things to change. And while some properties struggle with an updated version, some things in life seem to only get better with each replay.

00:00:41 Time Warps
00:02:45 Star Wars Dark Forces
00:05:08 Pirkei Avot Chapter 5
00:06:43 Love for Retro Gaming
00:13:05 Why retell and remaster?
00:15:42 Sometimes you turn it and nothing happens
00:18:01 Turn it and use it again
00:20:07 Retelling, Remastering, and Rebooting, Oh my!
00:24:02 What do we want to keep the same?
00:26:31 Changes we look forward to

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March 26, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 77 - God Plans, Man Laughs

There’s a new episode of Torah Smash! Yes, and… the Jewish tie in is a story from Genesis! Yes, and… the hosts find more ways to comment about muppets. With a topic like improv, anything can happen! Let’s talk about laughter and where it can be found in the world and in our work as Jewish professionals. We also explore how laughter is utilized in Jewish holidays, even in the darkest of times.

00:02:40 Genesis 17:17
00:05:31 Improvisational Acting and Comedy
00:07:07 The 3 main rules of improv
00:09:40 Yes, And-ing Judaism
00:20:29 Laughing in the face of tragedy
00:25:40 Celebrating after redemption
00:27:32 Argumentative improv
00:30:19 Does comedy need darkness?

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March 12, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 76 - Separating the Nerdy from the Mundane

After last episode’s connection to Shabbat, there was only one logical topic for the next conversation: havdalah! We learn about the ritual objects of havdalah and the meaning behind this short, weekly celebration. We discuss when we keep our nerdy parts of our lives separate, we find some sweetness in nerd culture, and we also talk about the bad body odor of gamers, for some reason. Once we’ve gotten to that point, how can we separate ourselves from that space?

00:00:41 Torah Smash Live!
00:01:32 Part II: Havdalah (Separation)
00:08:46 What are the nerdy things we do that we want to keep separate?
00:13:56 What are the spaces you wish were ceremoniously separated?
00:17:17 Sacred symbols of separation that bring us joy
00:21:51 Taking in the sweetness of nerd culture
00:28:13 Symbols of light in nerd culture
00:32:45 Ritual moments

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February 26, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 75 - Shabbat: There’s A Nap For That

Shabbat is a way for us to reflect on the week and reset ourselves. We power ourselves down and find ways of interacting with our loved ones and our community in ways that can really nourish our soul. So, this is a reminder to download that special app on your smartphone that will help you appreciate and recognize shabbat. And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to organize your apps and delete the ones that just fill up the space without any significance. After that, go take a nice shabbat schluff.

00:00:37 Torah Smash! Live! Coming to Austin, March 2025
00:01:14 Let’s talk about Shabbat
00:03:00 Observing Shabbat in our own ways
00:10:01 What 3 apps would you keep?
00:15:14 What you need is… more Shabbat
00:18:12 Cutting back on Apps
00:23:00 Categorizing
00:25:33 Using apps unexpectedly
00:27:55 Intentional usage and intentional feeling
00:36:14 What changes are you going to make now?

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February 12, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 74 - JudAIsm

Artificial intelligence is everywhere—even in the clergy world! In this episode, we welcome Rabbi Josh Fixler, who was recently featured in The New York Times for his insights on how religious leaders are using AI. Join us as we explore the intersection of faith and technology, discuss the opportunities and challenges AI presents to clergy, and maybe even ask the big question: If a chatbot gives a sermon, does it count? Tune in for a fascinating conversation that’s more than just artificial—it's intelligent!

00:04:14 New York Times: At the Intersection of AI and spirituality
00:07:52 Rabbi Bot
00:12:28 Chatgpt’s suggestions for utilizing AI in Judaism
00:20:39 The differences between how two religions related to technology
00:24:21 AI and Jewish Education
00:30:58 Can you use AI with pastoral care?
00:37:23 The turing test and the most human human
00:43:44 Golem qualities of an AI
00:45:47 Welcome to the podcast… Rabbi Bot!

Rabbi Josh Fixler’s Sermon on AI with his Rabbi Bot: https://youtu.be/f_PO5Y-VQ3s?si=09or25CdNjNC9Yh_

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January 29, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 73 - Kosher or Not Kosher?

It’s time for everyone’s favorite game show when it comes to Jewish food… Kosher! Or! Not! Kosher?! Join us as we explore some fantasy foods, science fiction foods, and some soon-to-not-be so science fiction food based questions when it comes to keeping kosher. Do we think the Klingons follow similar laws when making their ritual wines? How about Dungeons & Dragons characters? What about your video game characters? Plus, Barak shares his one unfortunate food allergy and RDY may have an alternative choice for him! But, would that also be allowed as kosher?

00:01:05 Laws of Kashrut
00:06:19 Susan Ivanova from Babylon 5
00:08:50 Unreal foods we want to try
00:09:56 Klingon Blood Wine
00:14:03 D&D’s Create Food and Water Conjuration
00:16:54 Meat cloned in a lab
00:24:24 RDY asks the wrong question
00:27:44 Are they really two generations?
00:31:20 Star Trek’s Food Replicator
00:35:28 Dietary Laws in the Torah
00:40:40 Futuristic food isn’t futuristic

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January 15, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 72 – Leviticus All Along …With Special Guest Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner

We are thrilled to welcome the first character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to join us on Torah Smash, Rabbi Levin, played by real life clergy, Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner. She shares about her journey into the MCU, we discuss our thoughts of the newest Jewish character to be portrayed in this world, and we share some of our favorite parts of the series. Just like the show, you may have to relisten to this one again to make sure you caught everything. Follow us my friends, to this episode at the end.

00:04:20 The road to Agatha All Along
00:06:31 Finding the right MCU Rabbi
00:07:58 Leviticus 10:1
00:11:31 A Talmudic retelling or foreshadowing?
00:16:08 Evaluating the Jewish depiction
00:23:12 Finding the meaning of names
00:25:44 Learning the Torah Portion
00:31:07 Other Jews on set
00:32:32 Experiencing and Appreciating
00:36:11 Favorite foreshadowing
00:41:11 Our hopes for next Jewish depiction in the MCU

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January 1, 2025
Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
Episode 71 - The Wheel of New Years

The Wheel of Time turns, and we return with another episode for you. Did you know that Judaism celebrates four different new years? So, that means that American Jews celebrate 5 different New Years! And if you’re stuck in a time loop, the number is much higher than that! Join us as we celebrate and mark this time on our calendars. We share why time was invented, how we decide to mark time, and question the idea of time altogether!

00:01:48 Happy Four New Years!
00:06:52 The Wheel of Time Series
00:09:50 In A beginning
00:13:29 The observer’s anniversary versus the character’s anniversary experiences
00:14:29 Q’s Tapestry and other nerdy wheels of time
00:19:42 Spotify Wrapped and Steam winter sale
00:22:29 Nerd convention calendars
00:25:00 Paying attention to the other new years’
00:29:14 Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end
00:34:27 Why do we need time?
00:42:34 Remembering time and keeping time sacred

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