Yenta!

Frank Smith is a big deal in the world of queer cinema (Open To It), but most importantly he's Antonia's friend from HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH AND DEBATE. This is an iconic Yenta where Frank and Antonia take Raye captive and force them to learn about speech team.

We yenta about:

- Heated Rivalry gossip

- Closed open relationships

- Antonia's shabbats

- Catholics are liberal in Boston

- Speech and debate (so much)

- Balancing trauma and humor

- Indie filmmaking is hard

- Women writing gay male media

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Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Frank Smith: https://www.instagram.com/frank.arthur.smith/?hl=en

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

Effie Meadows is here! She's a Comedy Store regular and the best roaster we know. There are literally so many hot takes in this episode. The gossip is hot!

We Yenta about:

1. Gender discourse vs real-life queerness

2. Effie hates drag

3. Taylor Swift as a spiritual figure

4. Religion, kink, humiliation, and shame

5. Sugar daddies, surgeries, and the real cost of transitioning

6. Comedy Store culture and roast comedy

Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Effie Meadows: https://www.instagram.com/effiesayshi/?hl=en

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

Rabbi Iggy is tattooed, gay, obsessed with Talmud, and the rabbinic voice behind Sinners Shabbat in NYC and Beit T'shuvah in LA (an addiction treatment center and spiritual community). He's a rabbi to a million celebrities, and most importantly, he was Raye's wedding rabbi! So he's a real Yenta VIP. This is an amazing Jewish conversaion about tension, pleasure, discipline, and belonging. I know, gross.

We Yenta about:

- Religion as kink

- Coldplay on Yom Kippur

- Spiritual discipline

- Cringe as a spiritual warning sign

- Gay life in yeshiva

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Sponsored by the Mandel Cultural Leadership Program: https://mandelinstitute.org/programs/cultural-leadership/cultural-leadership-application-faq/

Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Rabbi Iggy: https://www.rabbiiggy.com/

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

Timestamps:

0:00 – Cold open: pain, PT, and discipline

4:04 – Rabbi Iggy intro

6:25 – Yeshiva gossip

11:01 – Sinners Shabbat

16:16 – Tension and pleasure

20:23 – Cringe and belonging

28:39 – Teshuva explained

42:34 – Gossip!!

Tuli Skaist is a Jewish music legend, community builder, teacher, executive director of his shul, and one of the wisest Jews we know. He grew up ultra-Orthodox, went to elite yeshivas, rebelled his way out, and somehow became the guy we all go to for Torah, nigunim, and parenting advice. Deep Yenta-heads will also recognize him as Antonia's musical study partner! We love Tuli!We Yenta about: - Growing up ultra-Orthodox and rebelling in tiny ways- Getting kicked out of yeshiva (twice)- Liberal Jews vs Orthodox Jews - Why Torah isn’t owned by one kind of Jew- Nonbinary theology- Rabbis have too much power- Jewish music duh----------------------------------Sponsored by the Mandel Cultural Leadership Program: https://mandelinstitute.org/programs/cultural-leadership/cultural-leadership-application-faq/Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewformRaye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta-------------------------------------Timestamps:0:00 – Intro 3:53 – Growing up ultra-Orthodox7:53 – Kicked out of yeshiva11:09 – Belief vs meaning16:24 – God is nonbinary28:59 – LIberal jewish quirks44:01 – Secrets

It's the nicest comedian in LA, Erin Cholakian! Erin is blowing up on the internets, and she just performed at the Comedy Store for the "Is This Thing On" premier with Will Arnett. It's a classic Yenta sesh about mom trauma, comedy drama, and emotionally topping Michael B Jordan.

We Yenta about:

- Being “mom-fearing,” not God-fearing

- Performing for Searchlight Pictures at the Comedy Store

- Why comedians on Threads are exhausting

- Gatekeeping, insecurity, and high-school energy

- Doming Michael B. Jordan at axe throwing

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Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Erin Cholakian: https://www.instagram.com/erin_cholakian/?hl=en

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

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Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

1:45 – Searchlight / Comedy Store story

5:20 – Hecklers in life and the internet

9:37 – Comedians on the internet

13:55 – Gratitude, insecurity, and gatekeeping

31:35 – Religious traumaaaaaa

43:30 – Gossip!!

It's just the Yentas this week, and we're spending an entire episode on our new obsession: HOCKEY SMUT. It's nothing but Heat Rivalry today, including our very own pitch for a religious sapphic version of Shane and Ilya.

We Yenta about:

- Why people pretend they’re over coming-out stories

- Emotional intimacy as the true climax (queeeeeer)

- Why sapphic stories never get the same cultural attention

- The sapphic version of Heated Rivalry

Sponsored by the Mandel Cultural Leadership Program: https://mandelinstitute.org/programs/cultural-leadership/cultural-leadership-application-faq/

**Side note, you'll notice that the video quality is weird. This was our first day shooting with our new upgraded cameras, but put them on the wrong setting! We promise it'll get better! xoxoxo

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Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

-------------------------------------

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

3:48 - Literally nothing but Heated Rivalry

Jonah Feingold has created the most Jewish rom-com we've ever seen. He’s the writer, director, actor, and editor behind the brand-new 31 Candles (playing in AMCs), as well as Dating & New York, At Midnight (Paramount+), and EXmas (Amazon). Jonah is obsessed with chemistry, crushes, and sweaters, and he's our official straight boy crush of 2025! (Plus we have a cameo from 31 Candles' producer Jonah Weinstein who is a queer Jewish icon.)

We Yenta about:

- Sliding into DMs

- Why 31 Candles is the most Jewish romcom ever

- Jewish identity without belief

- Romcom chemistry, movie stars, and why studios ruined everything

- Lesbian-coded sweaters

- Dating in 2025: no contact, shared locations

- Winning your ex back (bad advice, worked anyway)

- Hiding tattoos from Jewish parents forever

------------

Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Jonah Feingold: https://www.instagram.com/jonahfeingold/

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

--------------

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

1:55 - 31 Candles: The Most Jewish RomCom

3:55 - Casting for chemistry

8:57 - Queer & Jewish identity

11:32 - “Being Jewish isn’t about feeling Jewish”

18:22 - Writing a romcom

35:52 - Judaism onscreen (Nobody Wants This)

42:38 - Dating in 2025

55:37 - Secrets!!

Returning fan-favorite Yentas Micah O'Konis and Marnina Schon (the iconic musical comedy duo Cuplet) are BACK! They're married, glowing, and Tiktok famous! You know them from their viral song “Jacqueline Danfark” and from getting their wedding covered by the New York Timesssssss. Queer Jews are COOL.

We Yenta about:

- The origin story of “Jacqueline Danfark”

- Couples therapy: helpful, harmful, good for content

- Chore fights, fork separation, and domestic Judaism

- More wedding gossip from the two queer Jewish weddings of the century

- She/They semantics

- Midwest kink scene schisms

Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Couplet: https://www.instagram.com/coupletcomedy/

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

5:38 – Couples Therapy

16:03 – M&M's queer Jewish wedding

28:40 – The disco ball dancer incident

32:30 - How to have a great tisch

37:42 - Raye's ceremony drama

43:40 – Secrets!

You know Charlie James, the beloved LA comedian, TikTok prince, book author (“I’m Just a Little Guy”), tattoo apprentice, and the reigning frog-coded heartthrob of the queer Jewish comedy scene. Since his last Yenta appearance, Charlie has written a book, started tattooing, become a synagogue regular, and somehow found himself deep into a personal Judaism renaissance. A perfect Yenta.

We Yenta about:

- Charlie's insane experience at Raye's wedding

- How Alex Edelman secretly found Raye a rabbie

- Charlie’s new tattoo apprenticeship

- Rihanna's baby's Met Gala outfit

- Taylor Swift: bisexual icon? evil genius? both?

- Why queer Jews are getting more religious right now

- Charlie’s morning prayers and kosher-ish lifestyle

- Yenta matchmaking updates

Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Charlie James: https://www.instagram.com/malecowgirl/

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

1:43 – Update from last episode

4:55 – Wedding gossip

17:35 – Life updates: Book, Tattoos

21:12 - Dating updates and Rihanna gossip

28:21 – Taylor Swift hot takes

34:12 - Gender update

37:09 – Charlie’s Jewish renaissance

49:04 – Yenta matchmaking update

You know Julie Klausner — creator and star of Difficult People, iconic comedy writer, actor, podcaster, and the patron saint of every self-respecting queer Jew with a Hulu login. She’s been on Bob’s Burgers, she’s written for everyone from Joan Rivers to Billy Eichner, and she’s basically Broadway’s unofficial mayor. This episode is everything you want from a real celebrity Yenta: unfiltered queer wisdom, Jewish cultural analysis, and absolutely deranged gossip.

We Yenta about:

1. How queer Jewish culture keeps you sane when the world is on fire

2. Joan Rivers as the ultimate Jewish mother figure

3. Julie’s hunt for the perfect sushi spot between 14th and 42nd

4. Why Pride Month should be replaced by Queer Summer Vacation

5. Why ukuleles and clowning are aggressively queer

6. The Broadway shows that made us gay

7. Why every good procedural should have a version starring Cate Blanchett

8. What it means to keep “finding your people” at every stage of queer Jewish life

9. An epic game of Jewish, Queer, or Treif?

Announcement! You're invited to take part in the Yenta Matchmaking Experiment!! If you want to be matched with a potential date from the Yenta listener universe, you can submit your profile now! We'll be releasing Patreon episodes of "Yenta Matchmaking" where we go in detail behind the scenes of the matchmaking process. More info here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7TuxHM4DOMN_xfEDkfdhjE9EHjMH7mIoBlFu2N7sQEDiQyg/viewform

Julie Klausner: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-was-your-week-with-julie-klausner/id424991092

Raye Schiller: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller

Antonia Lassar: https://www.instagram.com/antonialastar

Uncut and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/yenta

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

3:30 – Celebrity gossip + Jewish geography

6:30 – Aging out of chaos

8:15 – Pride Month: Exhaustion

13:00 – Julie’s Jewish queer journey

15:45 – Jewish matchmaking

25:40 – Broadway gossip

34:30 – Julie’s goss: Joan Rivers, dinner parties, and Robert Mitchum

50:45 – Jewish / Queer / Treif lightning round