Podcasts about jcc manhattan

Join host Lonnie Firestone as she interviews the creative team behind the Tony Award-winning musical, The Outsiders. This special live episode from the Books That Changed My Life Festival at JCC Manhattan features insightful conversations with lead producer Matthew Rego and cast members Trevor Wayne (Pony Boy) and Kevin William Paul (Bob).Highlights:How S.E. Hinton's classic novel changed young adult fiction and continues to resonate across generations.Challenges of adapting a beloved, interior-driven novel into a vibrant musical, including how and why characters start to sing.Behind-the-scenes stories from the show's creative process, including the unique contributions from first-time musical creators Jamestown Revival and playwright Adam Rapp.Insightful anecdotes about audience reactions, demographics, and personal interactions at the stage door.Discussions about key themes like class division, teenage identity, and emotional vulnerability portrayed through Pony Boy and Bob.Exploration of unique production elements, including powerful choreography and innovative lighting and sound design that enhance the musical's emotional depth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was recorded live at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan on October 9, 2023. It is a conversation with creative and cast members of the Broadway musical, Harmony. They include book writer and lyricist Bruce Sussman, and performers Chip Zien, Julie Benko, Sierra Boggess, and Danny Kornfeld. The narrative of Harmony is set in the 1920s and 30s in Germany, a deeply unsettling time in history, and still the central characters found harmony, not only in the melodic sense but also as a diverse group coming together in partnership. It's an inspiring idea for us all to seek ways to live harmoniously with others. After all, harmony occurs when different sounds blend together.I hope you enjoy the following interview, and please check out the links below to two songs from the cast recording of Harmony. Both were performed live at the event."Where you go”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjyhgYk3GDE"Every Single Day”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWkXyWpoEOk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've got a question for you: What's your relationship with puberty? You know, that inescapable part of every human's experience, marked by body changes, emotional swings, awkward stages, and more? Personally, I don't look back on my journey through puberty with whole lotta fondness. Yet, being that it IS part of every child's development process, puberty is something that we as parents and actually any adult supporting children are going to want to deeply understand so we can help our kids navigate it in a way that preserves their sense of self-worth, body confidence, and emotional, physical, and mental safety. And, what I've learned from my guests for today's show, “modern” puberty, is not the same puberty you and I went through however many years ago. Cara and Vanessa wrote all about it in their wonderful book, This is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained, which explains the science behind all that's happening at this stage in a kid's lives AND also provides insights into how to talk to kids about it. Because, honestly, even talking about all things puberty with our kids can feel super awkward and uncomfortable for them us. But luckily, Cara and Vanessa are here to hold our hand through it all, and provide us with the facts, language, and strategies for helping us navigate these conversations and this phase of life with confidence and calm.   About Cara Natterson Cara Natterson, MD, is a pediatrician, consultant, and New York Times bestselling author. She's also the co-founder and CEO of Order of Magnitude, a company dedicated to flipping puberty-positive. Cara's books focus largely on puberty — some written for the kids going through it, and others for the adults helping them along the way. Her list of titles includes The Care and Keeping of You series with more than 7 million copies in print. While this reach is incredible, the written word is only one way to transform the experience of adolescence. About Vanessa Kroll Bennett Vanessa Kroll Bennett is a puberty educator and writer, a podcaster, and entrepreneur who helps adults navigate uncertainty while they support the kids they love. Vanessa is the co-host of The Puberty Podcast which is exactly what it sounds like and the founder of Dynamo Girl, a company focused on building kids' self-esteem through sports, puberty education and parent workshops. Vanessa consults with organizations, large and small, on how to authentically engage children in their communities. As the host of Conversations on Parenting and Beyond and the first Scholar in Residence at Wasserman Center for Family Life at the JCC Manhattan, Vanessa explores all aspects of growing families. She writes regularly in her Uncertain Parenting Newsletter about the messy process of raising tweens and teens, including her own four children ages 11 to 19.   Things you'll learn from this episode How the way today's kids experience puberty, aka, “modern puberty,” is different from what their parents experienced Why talking about puberty is about more than just body changes and sex, and what other important topics need to be part of the conversation Some of the words that Cara and Vanessa introduce in their book as part of the new vocabulary to use in your conversations with your kids Advice for parents whose kids might be really reluctant to engage in dialogue about the changes that accompany puberty How parents can regulate themselves before having difficult conversations with their kids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more at TheCityLife.org --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/support

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://thecitylife.org/2023/03/30/jcc-manhattan-announces-issues-of-the-court-series-to-explore-upcoming-supreme-court-decisions/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/support

ABOUT ISAAC ZABLOCKI Festival Founder & Director Isaac Zablocki is the Director of Film Programs at JCC Manhattan. He attended film school at Columbia University and went on to work at Miramax Films. Previously, he produced and directed feature films and developed film educational programs for the Board of Education. Since 2004, Isaac has been developing film programs at the JCC including the Israel Film Center. Beyond ReelAbilities, he programs multiple film festivals annually, including the acclaimed Other Israel Film Festival, which focuses on Arab and underrepresented populations in Israel. ABOUT ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York Founded in 2007 by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. The weeklong festival is renowned for its wide-ranging international film selection, riveting conversations, and performances, presented annually in dozens of venues across the New York metropolitan area. In 2010, ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York expanded into an international program, presenting its one-of-a-kind programming in cities throughout the United States, Canada, and South America. ReelAbilities International Program In 2012, other cities across the country followed New York's footsteps by hosting ReelAbilities Film Festivals, starting with Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, ReelAbilities events have been held in over 20 cities across the world – transitioning from ReelAbilities North America to ReelAbilities International. ReelAbilities events have expanded from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America—and take place in many different forms: Film festivals, year round screenings, and special programming that goes beyond film. Since its start, ReelAbilities has consistently received an increasing number of outstanding film submissions from around the globe. The ReelAbilities International headquarters is located in NY, expanding its screenings throughout schools, communities, offices and organizations in communities across the globe. ACCESSIBILITY ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York strives to include all people. All festival venues are wheelchair accessible, and the festival presents all films with open captions. The JCC offers CART (live transcription) at every event for introductions, post-screening conversations, and non-film programming. In 2018 for the first time, the JCC also offers Audio Description for the visually impaired for every feature film and several short films. Some other venues will also offer this accessibility aid. (Audio Description availability is noted on individual venue and program pages.) ASL interpretation will be available at many events at the JCC and may be available at other venues with advance notice. The festival catalog is available in Braille from the JCC box office. If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact the specific venue presenting the event you would like to attend. OUR MISSION ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the U.S. dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. Founded in New York City in 2007, the festival presents international and award-winning films by and about people with disabilities in multiple locations throughout each hosting city. Post-screening discussions and other engaging programs bring together the community to explore, discuss, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.

Andrew Mellen is a keynote speaker, coach, productivity and organizational expert, and the #1 best-selling author of Unstuff Your Life! and The Most Organized Man in America's Guide to Moving.Andrew has helped over 500,000 people and businesses worldwide to remove physical and time clutter so they regain time for the things that matter. He likes to say, “Give me 2 hours once and I'll give you an hour back every day for the rest of your life.”A sought-after authority on productivity and organizing, Andrew's addressed audiences from TEDx, YPO, EO, and Dwell on Design to The Great British Business Show, Seattle Interactive, ICF Converge, and BlogHer. Corporate clients include the NY Mets baseball franchise, American Express, NetApp, Genentech, Goldman Sachs, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Nationwide Insurance, Time, Inc., and the US Depts. of Education and Homeland Security.The media has dubbed Andrew “The Most Organized Man in America.” He has written for and/or appeared everywhere from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Fast Company to CBS Sunday Morning, HGTV and NPR. He hosts the New & Noteworthy podcast, Declutter Your Life On iTunes.He leads workshops and speaks internationally while maintaining a private practice coaching clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies, trade associations and non-profits to CEOs, HNW individuals, award-winning filmmakers and authors, as well as overwhelmed entrepreneurs and solopreneurs everywhere.Andrew is a member of the Experts Collective and serves on the faculty of the New York Open Center in New York City. He speaks frequently on the intersection of spirituality and organization at Omega Institute, San Francisco Zen Center, Tassajara, All Saints Church, JCC Manhattan and the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, among others.Previously, Andrew was an award-winning playwright, actor, producer and director and the former Artistic Director of Alice B. Theater (Seattle), DC Arts Center (Washington, DC) and Shuttle Theater Company (New York).What we talked about:4:15- How Andrew became “The Most Organized Man in America”8:55- What Andrew's business looks like now14:00- Simple tips to stay organized24:15- How getting organized can influence our long term idea of success30:35- Top tips for organizing the kitchen to reduce obstacles to healthy eating35:35- How to organize and rid of a junk drawer41:25- Wrap-upShow notes:Ultimate Weight Loss BundleAndrew's WebsiteAndrew on InstagramAndrew on LinkedInConnect with Stacey:Stacey on InstagramStacey's WebsiteJoin The Herban Farmacy Facebook GroupBecome a Beautycounter consultantShop BeautycounterUse code “CLEANFORALL20” for 20% for first time clientsShop NeogenBook a call with meJoin Holistic Entrepreneur SocietyHolistic Breakthrough LiveSandyBoy Productions Shows:Why is Everyone Yelling?The Up and Running PodcastThe Illuminate PodcastI'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein

5 DELICIOUS DINNER RECIPES to support your weight loss: https://www.chefaj.com/5-delicious-lo... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Mellen is THE MOST ORGANIZED MAN IN AMERICA! To sign up for the 5 Day De-Stress Your Mess Challenge: https://andrewmellen.pages.ontraport.... Get his book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1583333894?... Andrew Mellen is a keynote speaker, coach, productivity and organizational expert, and the #1 best-selling author of Unstuff Your Life! and The Most Organized Man in America's Guide to Moving. Andrew has helped over 500,000 people and businesses worldwide to remove physical and time clutter so they regain time for the things that matter. He likes to say, “Give me 2 hours once and I'll give you an hour back every day for the rest of your life" A sought-after authority on productivity and organizing, Andrew's addressed audiences from TEDx, YPO, EO, and Dwell on Design to The Great British Business Show, Seattle Interactive, ICF Converge, and BlogHer. Corporate clients include the NY Mets baseball franchise, American Express, NetApp, Genentech, Goldman Sachs, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Nationwide Insurance, Time, Inc., and the US Depts. of Education and Homeland Security. The media has dubbed Andrew “The Most Organized Man in America.” He has written for and/or appeared everywhere from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Fast Company to CBS Sunday Morning, HGTV and NPR. He hosts the New & Noteworthy podcast, Declutter Your Life On iTunes. He leads workshops and speaks internationally while maintaining a private practice coaching clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies, trade associations and non-profits to CEOs, HNW individuals, award-winning filmmakers and authors, as well as overwhelmed entrepreneurs and solopreneurs everywhere. Andrew is a member of the Experts Collective and serves on the faculty of the New York Open Center in New York City. He speaks frequently on the intersection of spirituality and organization at Omega Institute, San Francisco Zen Center, Tassajara, All Saints Church, JCC Manhattan and the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, among others. Previously, Andrew was an award-winning playwright, actor, producer and director and the former Artistic Director of Alice B. Theater (Seattle), DC Arts Center (Washington, DC) and Shuttle Theater Company (New York). https://www.andrewmellen.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- TIME CODE: 00:00 Guest introduction and bio 0:10:28 Slide show presentation 0:33:48 Chef AJ and viewer Q & A 1:12:15 Final thoughts and show wrap

For episode 172 of the Metta Hour, we bring you a special memorial episode in honor of bell hooks.This episode features Sharon in conversation with bell and was originally released in May of 2017 as part of the Real Love Podcast Series. We're re-releasing it now to honor bell's legacy and teaching after her recent passing in December of 2021. Bell hooks is the pen name of Gloria Jean Watkins - a cultural critic, feminist theorist, and world-acclaimed author. She has been named a leading public intellectual by The Atlantic Monthly, as well as one of Utne Reader's 100 Visionaries Who Could Change Your Life. This conversation was recorded live at the JCC Manhattan in 2017 and moderated by Melvin McLeod, the Editor-in-Chief of Lion's Roar magazine.Learn more about bell's work at bellhooksinstitute.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After taking her career into her own hands, Arts Journalist Ruthie Fierberg shares how you can too. Thank you for taking the time to listen to our chat with Ruthie Fierberg! If you are listening to this on Apple Podcast, we'd love it if you could share your love in a review! About Ruthie Fierberg: Ruthie Fierberg is a savvy, intuitive, and creative freelance journalist. Based in New York City, Ruthie is the creator and host of the podcast Why We Theater on the Broadway Podcast Network. She has written for such national publications as Playbill, Parents, American Baby, Parents Latina, Good Housekeeping, and Backstage. An in-demand moderator, Ruthie is the regular host for Second Stage Theater Company's new artist talk series 2STREAM and has led talkbacks and panels for the 92nd Street Y, the JCC Manhattan, Disney Theatrical Productions, and BroadwayCon 2016-2021. Most recently, she served as the Executive Editor of Features and Branded Content at Playbill, creating innovative and engaging content through in-depth written pieces, multimedia and video features, live broadcasts, and as executive producer of digital concert specials. Resources from this episode: www.ruthiefierberg.com www.instagram.com/ruthiefierceberg Her Medium Article: ruthiefierberg.medium.com --- Come say hi to us! Facebook: @PageToStagePodcast @BroadwayPodcastNetwork Instagram: @PageToStagePodcast @TheMaryDina @BrianSedita @BroadwayPodcastNetwork Twitter: @TheMaryDina @BwayPodNetwork Youtube: @PageToStagePodcast @BroadwayPodcastNetwork #PageToStagePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this wide ranging conversation, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny talks with Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez, an engaging Jewish educator, dynamic programmer, and passionate community builder. Rabba Melissa works to ensure that our Jewish communal organizations are more intentional - more intentionally Jewish, more intentionally diverse, more intentionally equitable. Rabba Melissa currently serves as the Manager of the Jewish Camp Initiative at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the Clergy Advisory Chair for MACoM (Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah). She was also amongst the first cohort of women in the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta’s ACT: Agents of Change Training fellowship and is now a trustee of the fund. (Rabba Melissa is also involved in a number of other local, regional, and national projects.) Rabba Melissa received semikha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshivat Maharat in 2018 and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois in 2006. She has also learned intensively at Nishmat and Pardes in Jerusalem and worked for JEWISHcolorado, JCC Manhattan, Hillel International, and Global Day of Jewish Learning.

On June 16 Marcy and I zoomed down to Manhattan to participate in a dialogue about positive psychology and social justice, one of the central themes of the B-Change podcast. Our conversation highlights the very timely need to connect positive practices — such as focusing on strengths, practicing meditation, expressing gratitude — with systemic social change.JCC Manhattan, through its online lunch and learn program, co-sponsored by the Wholebeing Institute, devoted a full week to discussions on this topic. We hope the energy remains strong to continue to connect positive psychology and social justice into the future and to take action as allies to communities of color.In this episode, Marcy and I are interviewed by Caroline Kohles, Senior Director of Health & Wellness Programming at JCC. We would also like to express our gratitude to Phoebe Atkinson, who worked behind the scenes to make this episode possible.We spoke with Caroline about: How social justice leaders can use the tools of positive psychology to be more effective and resilient during difficult times. How the leadership of social justice organizations can better reflects social justice values. What is the role of a white leader in a time of black and brown-led activism?

Join us for 'The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia' launch party next Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC Manhattan! There will be wine from our friends at Unorthodox Wines, and you'll be able to buy the book two weeks before its official publication date! Can't make it? Preorder the book and you could win a Zabar's gift basket! To enter, forward a copy of your receipt or confirmation to unorthodox@tabletmag.com. Our Jewish guest this week is Israeli writer Etgar Keret, winner of the Sapir Prize, one of Israel's most prestigious literary awards. His new story collection, newly published in English, is called Fly Already, and he joins Stephanie and Liel to discuss his characteristically quirky short stories, the influence of of the Holocaust on his work, and the starkly different reception he—and his work—receives in Israel vs. the United States. Our Gentile of the Week is Henry G. Brinton, senior pastor at Fairfax Presbytarian Church in Fairfax, VA and a contributor to the Huffington Post. He and Stephanie talk about their shared connection with two religion professors at Duke University, Brinton's career-long focus on building interfaith community, and his new novel, City of Peace. Let us know what you think of the show! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook group. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. This episode is sponsored by KOL Foods, delivering great tasting, healthy, sustainable, and ethically raised kosher meat. Get a 10 percent discount on your next order using the code UNORTHODOX at kolfoods.com. This episode is also brought to you by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set when you sign up at Harrys.com/Unorthodox.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 88 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon joins Frank Ostaseski at an event that was recorded live at the JCC Manhattan in September of 2018 in celebration of Joan Halifax’s new book release, “Standing at the Edge.”Due to travel complications, Joan was unable to join this event until the end of the evening, creating the unique experience of Sharon and Frank discussing Joan’s teaching at length, as well as many of the themes of her new book, like the different paths of the warrior, the role of courage on the spiritual path (and daily life), empathy and compassion, integrity and self-respect and the dedicated, lifelong work of working with dying that both Joan and Frank have spearheaded.

Genna Singer grew up going to summer camp. She started early in her single digits and only missed one year. She loves summer camp!! In September of 2002 she joined the wonderful staff at the Marlene Meyerson JCC as Director of After School Programs, while maintaining an active role in the summer camps programs as well. In 2006 she became the Director of Camps and continues to help them develop and grow new, exciting programs! My daughter had a wonderful time here this summer and I was so happy Genna was able to join us today, to talk and educate us about the importance of Summer Camps. Enjoy!   In this episode Peter and Genna discuss: :45-  Intro and welcome Genna! 1:25-  You spent most of your summers as a kid at sleep away camp. What was your favorite summer camp? Camp Timbertops 2:11-  What is it about camp that you love so much? 3:02-  On nurturing play & freedom from routines and a kids' school-day grind. 4:50-  What have you seen in terms of kids who come in, who might have some soft of neural ‘atypical-ness' in them; whether it's ADD, ADHD, Autism Spectrum- what happens when they go to camp? 6:38-  Have you seen situations where physical activity has radically changed a kid? 8:56-  How do you get kids excited to leave their comfort zones and try bold, new things? 12:40-  Peter's first experience with summer camp. Are there two types of reactions you typically get from kids in the first few days? 16:03-  Genna, how can folks reach out to you if they wanna follow-up, or talk to you?  http://campsettoga.org  646-505-4430 or at Marlene Meyerson JCC  16:29- Thank you Genna!! And thank YOU for leaving us your reviews and for subscribing! 16:59-  Faster Than Normal Podcast info & credits As always, leave us a comment below, PLEASE drop us a review on iTunes and of course, subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already! The more reviews we get, the more people we can reach. Help us to show the world that ADHD is a gift, not a curse! Know of anyone you think should be on the FTN podcast? Shoot us a note – We'd love to hear!

"Hi, are you Jewish?" It's a question you may have been asked in any number of towns or cities by a smiling bearded man wearing a yarmulke. It's one of the trademarks of Chabad, the Hasidic movement that dispatches its young men around town to help Jewish strangers perform a mitzvah—Jewish women are offered Shabbat candles, and Jewish men are encouraged to put on tefillin. We've always been fascinated with this practice, with some of us finding it charming and others, frankly, terrifying. So we did the only thing we could do: We went to Manhattan's crowded Union Square during lunchtime, accompanied by our very own Chabad sherpas, to see what it was like to talk to absolute strangers about religion. While we're asking questions: Is it OK to say "JAP"? That's what we'll be discussing at our live show Wednesday, June 18, at the JCC Manhattan. Jill Kargman of Odd Mom Out will join us to screen a short film we made about the persistence of the Jewish American Princess stereotype. Broadway legend Tovah Feldshuh and Jill Kargman of Odd Mom Out will join us to screen a short film we made about the persistence of the Jewish American Princess stereotype. There will be a lively discussion, audience questions, and much more. Get your tickets here. Our donation drive is live! We have fun prizes for all levels of giving, including a special Camp Unorthodox T-shirt, an Unorthodox enamel pin, an 'Unorthodox Approved' laptop sticker, and more. And this year are hosts are upping the stakes with a contest: When you give, include a note with the name of your favorite host. The host who gets the least love will have to face a very creative and amusing penalty on air. Visit tabletmag.com/donate to be part of the fun. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. If you like us, please consider leaving a review in iTunes. 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. Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. This episode is sponsored by Harry’s. New customers get 5 dollars off a shave set from Harry’s when you sign up at harrys.com/unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of July 4th, we're celebrating the diversity of American Jewish life—which, as we've learned, goes well beyond eating bagels on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Up first, we get a crash course in the history of Jews in the South from Stuart Rockoff, who created the Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities, a rich online resource from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Next, Sammy Potter tells us about driving an hour to synagogue from his home in Yarmouth, ME, and why he wants to return to Maine after college. Yemile Bucay then describes her Mexican Syrian family's move from Mexico City to San Antonio, TX, and how she ended up raising her family in Great Neck, NY. Rabbi Tirzah Firestone follows to tell us about the Jewish Renewal movement in Boulder, CO. Finally, from Tulsa, OK, a vibrant Jewish community in the American heartland, we speak with Rabbi Marc Fitzerman and his children, Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Nina Fitzerman-Blue, about the unique landscape of Jewish life on the Arkansas River. Plus we hear from a couple listeners! Our donation drive is live! We have fun prizes for all levels of giving, including a special Camp Unorthodox T-shirt, an Unorthodox enamel pin, an 'Unorthodox Approved' laptop sticker, and more. And this year are hosts are upping the stakes with a contest: When you give, include a note with the name of your favorite host. The host who gets the least love will have to face a very creative and amusing penalty on air. Visit tabletmag.com/donate to be part of the fun. Is it OK to say ‘JAP’? That’s the subject of our next live show, June 18 at the JCC Manhattan. Jill Kargman of Odd Mom Out and Broadway legend Tovah Feldshuh will join us to screen a short film we made about the persistence of the Jewish American Princess stereotype. We’ll follow with a lively discussion, audience questions, and much more. Get your tickets now! We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. If you like us, please consider leaving a review in iTunes. 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. Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, we have three special guests. Jonathan Ornstein is the executive director of the JCC Krakow, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. With more than 10,000 visitors a month, the JCC is at the center of a Jewish revival in Poland, that Ornstein, a New York native, is witnessing—and cultivativating—firsthand. We also talk with Gabi Birkner and Rebecca Soffer of Modern Loss, a website that aims to make conversations about grief less fraught and awkward. Their book, Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief, Beginners Welcome, was published this year. They share their personal stories of loss and explain how Jewish rituals surrounding loss can sometimes fall short. Our donation drive is live! We have fun prizes for all levels of giving, including a special Camp Unorthodox T-shirt, an Unorthodox enamel pin, an 'Unorthodox Approved' laptop sticker, and more. And this year are hosts are upping the stakes with a contest: When you give, include a note with the name of your favorite host. The host who gets the least love will have to face a very creative and amusing penalty on air. Visit tabletmag.com/donate to be part of the fun. Is it OK to say ‘JAP’? That’s the subject of our next live show, July 18 at the JCC Manhattan. Jill Kargman of Odd Mom Out will join us to screen a short film we made about the persistence of the Jewish American Princess stereotype. We’ll follow with a lively discussion with guests including Judith Rosenbaum of the Jewish Women’s Archive and Bat Sheva Marcus of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, audience questions, and much more. Get your tickets here. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. If you like us, please consider leaving a review in iTunes. 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. Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, we’re all about food and futbol. Our Jewish guest is writer and food historian Michael Twitty, whose book The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South, won two James Beard Awards this year. He describes being told that a book by a black, Jewish, gay man would never succeed (and how it felt to prove them wrong!), explains how most of the foods we eat today originated in Africa, and tells us why Jewish food is more than just gefilte fish. Our Gentile of the Week is Simon Doonan, creative ambassador-at-large for Barneys New York, whose latest book, Soccer Style: The Magic and Madness, is out in time for World Cup madness. He returns to the show (last time is here) to dish on life with his Jewish husband Jonathan Adler, tell us what to look out for in this summer's World Cup, and explain why, despite being British, he calls it soccer, not football. Finally, fan favorite Molly Yeh calls in to tell us about her new Food Network show, Girl Meets Farm, which premieres June 24. (Here she is telling the Food Network about her "favorite podcast of all time" and making us blush.) Our next live show is July 18 at the JCC Manhattan, and it’s an episode devoted to the question, “Is it OK to say ‘JAP’”? Jill Kargman of Odd Mom Out joins us to screen a short film we made about the persistence of the Jewish American Princess stereotype. We’ll follow with a lively discussion with guests including Judith Rosenbaum of the Jewish Women’s Archive and Bat Sheva Marcus of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, audience questions, and much more. Get your tickets here. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. If you like us, please consider leaving a review in iTunes. 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. Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. This episode is sponsored by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set when you sign up at harrys.com/unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, we talk to Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, the new scholar in residence for trans and queer Jewish studies at CBST, the world's largest LGBTQ synagogue. He's the first Orthodox rabbi at the New York City synagogue, and he explains how Judaism, even at its most observant, can make room for transgender adherents—and how Jews could learn a lot from the trans community.  We're also joined by Gentile of the week Matthew Polly, whose latest book is Bruce Lee: A Life. He tells us about Lee's continued influence in not just martial arts but Hollywood as well, describes his own two-year study of kung fu at the Shaolin Temple in China, and shares a surprising discovery he made while researching the book: Bruce Lee is one-eighth Jewish! Mark sits down with our Jewish guest, Arnold Gorlick, owner of Madison Art Cinemas, one of the country's last great arthouses. He tells Mark about growing up in Brooklyn as the son of an appetizing store owner before moving to Connecticut and devoting himself to indie movies. And in honor of Father's Day, we're airing Liel's moving story about fatherhood, and his own father, which he shared at a Moth storytelling event. Our next live show is July 18 at the JCC Manhattan, and it’s an episode devoted to the question “Is it OK to say ‘JAP’?” Jill Kargman of Odd Mom Out joins us to screen our short film about the persistence of the Jewish American Princess stereotype. We’ll follow with a lively discussion with guests including Judith Rosenbaum of the Jewish Women’s Archive and Bat Sheva Marcus of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, audience questions, and much more. Get your tickets here. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. If you like us, please consider leaving a review in iTunes. 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. Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our first book club episode, we talk to Israeli-born writer Ruby Namdar about his ambitious second book, The Ruined House, which won Israel's most prestigious literary award and was recently translated into English. The book is set in New York City, where he's lived for the past 18 years, and follows a charming and successful professor named Andrew P. Cohen as he descends into a very peculiar kind of madness. Ruby tells us why he made his protagonist such a specific male archetype, and explains the difference between American and Israeli literary culture (he didn't discover Philip Roth until he moved to the U.S.). He also answers questions from listeners who read the book along with us, such as, "Why does the main character live near Columbia if he teaches downtown at NYU?" Plus, New York Times writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner joins us to talk about her essay about what reading Philip Roth in an observant household taught her about being an American Jew. New York listeners, come see Stephanie moderate the Jewish Book Council's Unpacking the Book event at the Jewish Museum on June 14 at 7 p.m. Info here. Our next full live show is July 18 at the JCC Manhattan, and it's an episode we're calling: "Is it OK to say ‘JAP’?”. Jill Kargman of Odd Mom Out joins us to screen a new short film about the persistence of the Jewish American Princess stereotype. We'll follow with a lively discussion with guests including Judith Rosenbaum of the Jewish Women's Archive and Bat Sheva Marcus from the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (who appear in the film) and more. There will be loads of audience participation as well! Get your tickets here. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. If you like us, please consider leaving a review in iTunes. 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. Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. This episode is sponsored by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set when you sign up at harrys.com/unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christine has spent more than two decades focusing on non-toxic healthy home products. After Christine survived cancer (and her husband was diagnosed, and two friends passed away from it...), she looked into removing from her environment the many harmful chemicals that are in everyday products and may have effected her diagnosis. Often times even the government has not approved the use of these chemicals, and yet no laws specify that they cannot be used....so here they are, working their way into our detergents, sprays, beauty products, and more.Her new book, Detox Your Home, comes out this April (Rowman & Littlefield). It explores and explains the labels that inform our purchasing decisions and the regulations that govern what consumer goods are available in our shops and supermarkets. Cancer affects 1 in 2 persons, and nearly everyone has an autoimmune-related disease or allergy. We live in a world where the incidence of illness grows as fast as the GDP. Industrialization has created a world that puts products before human and environmental health. Exercise and eating right is not enough. In this rapidly growing world, our resources are depleting along with our health and the public sees and feels this daily. Health and Wellness speaker, advocate and Good Home Company Founder, Christine Dimmick, takes a deep dive into the toxins found in our very own homes, and how you can limit your exposure and take control of your own health. Detox Your Home addresses all of these issues – from clothing to food to the cleaning products used every day in homes just like yours. Dimmick unveils what manufacturers won’t, so you can avoid exposing yourself and your family to the hidden toxins eating away at America’s health and wellness. Detox Your Home is the essential go-to book for how to live a life of wellness, and will show you how to improve – in every part of your life.

Be part of our next Ask Unorthodox episode, airing during Passover. Send us your burning questions about Jewish ritual, culture, or traditions by March 9. Email them to Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave us a message at 914-570-4869. Our first guest is Israeli food writer and tv personality Gil Hovav, whose new memoir, Candies from Heaven, is about growing up in Jerusalem in a close-knit family (and not just any family: Hovav's great grandfather is Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who revived the modern Hebrew language). Our second guest is Alan Robert Ginsberg, author of The Salome Ensemble: Rose Pastor Stokes, Anzia Yezierska, Sonya Levien, and Jetta Goudal, about the four Jewish women behind the novel and subsequent 1925 film Salome of the Tenements. Our next live show is Wednesday, March 21 at the JCC Manhattan. Tickets here.  Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours here: bit.ly/Unorthoshirt. Want more Unorthodox in your life? 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. This episode is sponsored by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set when you sign up at Harrys.com/Unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're getting our grogger on for Purim. Returning to the show is film critic Jordan Hoffman, who preps us for the Oscars this weekend and offers his picks for the big winners. We're also joined by former FBI counterintelligence agent Asha Rangappa, now a CNN analyst an senior lecturer at Yale, who tells us how being an FBI agent is not what it looks like on TV. Be part of our next Ask Unorthodox episode, airing during Passover. Send us your burning questions about the holiday, or really anything—Jewish traditions, baby names, etiquette—by March 9. Email them to Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave us a message at 914-570-4869. Our next live show is Wednesday, March 21 at the JCC Manhattan. Tickets here.  We've got swag! Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours here. Want more Unorthodox in your life? 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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Jewish guest is Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal, whose new Netflix series 'Somebody Feed Phil' chronicles his eating adventures around the word. He tells about the episode filmed in Tel Aviv—with cameos from chefs Michael Solomonov and Uri Buri—and why he thinks food is such a unifying force. Our gentile of the week is June Thomas, managing producer of Slate podcasts and one of the hosts of the Double X Gabfest. She explains why podcast hosts like talking to other podcast hosts, and presents the panel with a great question: Who’s the best Jewish character in U.S. television history? Mark Oppenheimer will be speaking at the Greenwich Reform Synagogue Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.  More info here. Our next live show is Wednesday, March 21 at the JCC Manhattan. Tickets here.  Want more Unorthodox in your life? 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. We've got swag! Show your love for Unorthodox with our new T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies. Get yours here. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us or leave a message at our new listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. This episode is sponsored by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set when you sign up at harrys.com/unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're bringing you a special treat in our feed, a taste of our sister podcast, Israel Story.  First, we talk to the creator of Israel Story, and then we share one of our favorite episodes, King of the Hill. From the top of Tell El-Ful, an abandoned hilltop in East Jerusalem, you can see all the way from Amman to Tel Aviv, from Jerusalem to Ramallah. And you can also travel back and forth in time, moving between the biblical King Saul and the bearded King Hussein. Along the way, we'll hear tales of brutalized concubines, murderous tribesmen, biblical archeology, royal families and devastating wars. We're pretty sure that once you're done, you'll want to subscribe to their show as well.  Buy an Unorthodox shirt! Click here and use the coupon code UnorthodoxLaunch2018. Our next live show is Wednesday, March 21 at the JCC Manhattan. Buy tickets here. Want more Unorthodox in your life? 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. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we talk to writer Molly Lambert, who shares the story of her grandmother Margaret Bergmann Lambert , a German-Jewish high jumper barred from the 1936 Olympics. We're also joined by Annette Ezekiel Kogan and Jeremy Brown of Golem, the klezmer-rock band behind our theme music. They perform a few favorites for us, including 7:40, a song based on the "Hava Nagilah of Russia." But wait, there's more! We visited the Harlem Hebrew Language Academy Charter School, a diverse dual-language elementary school in New York City, to see if Liel could keep up with the students b'ivrit. Buy an Unorthodox shirt! Click here and use the coupon code UnorthodoxLaunch2018. Our next live show is Wednesday, March 21 at the JCC Manhattan. Buy tickets here. Want more Unorthodox in your life? 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. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded live at at the Limmud Festival, an international celebration of Jewish learning and culture, in Birmingham, U.K. over Christmas. Mark hosted the show with writer and challah maven Sarah Klegman. Our guests are Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell, a vocalist, composer, and arranger specializing in Yiddish art and folk song, and Gabby Edlin, the founder of Bloody Good Period, which provides sanitary supplies to asylum seekers, refugees & those who can't afford them. Tablet is conducting a reader survey, and we'd love to hear from Unorthodox listeners (even if you don't read Tablet and only listen to Unorthodox). Plus, you'll be entered to win a $250 Russ & Daughters gift card! Take the survey here. Upcoming events: Stephanie will be moderating a discussion between Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler about their relationship and how Judaism figures in it on Thursday, February 15th at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City. It's free—RSVP here. Our next live show is Wednesday, March 21 at the JCC Manhattan. Buy tickets here. Want more Unorthodox in your life? 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. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us or leave a message at our new listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. This episode is sponsored by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set when you sign up at Harrys.com/Unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this week is Tova Mirvis, whose memoir, The Book of Separation, tells the story of her decision to leave Modern Orthodox Judaism, a world she recreated vividly for readers in the novels Visible City, The Outside World, and The Ladies Auxiliary. Our next live show is Wednesday, March 21 at the JCC Manhattan. Tickets here. Want more Unorthodox in your life? Join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes! We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at our new listener line: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. Sign up for our newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have two upcoming events! A live recording at JCC Manhattan on 1/24 (tickets here), and a intimate, off-the-record schmooze with the hosts at Beloved in Brooklyn on 1/30 (tickets here). Plus, we're looking for a new producer—maybe that person is... you? This week, Mark sits down with Rabbi Joseph Hample of the Tree of Life Congregation in Morgantown, West Virginia. We're also joined by musicians David Chevan and Warren Byrd of the Afro-Semitic Experience, who tell us about fusing Jewish and African American liturgical traditions. Want more Unorthodox in your life? Sign up for our newsletter, and join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes! We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message on our hotline: 914-570-4869. We may share your note on the air. This episode is brought to you by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set when you sign up at Harrys.com/Unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're coming to you live from Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City! Our next live show will take place on January 24 at JCC Manhattan, with Father James Martin and comedian Judy Gold. Get your tickets here! Our Jewish guest is food writer Mark Bittman, who just released the tenth anniversary edition of How To Cook Everything Vegetarian. He talked to us about the link between agriculture and global warming, and why Americans need to eat more real food. (But despite that, he still enjoys the occasional trip to McDonald's.) Our gentile of the week is Kristen Meinzer, co-host of the podcast By the Book. On each episode, Meinzer and her co-host Jolenta Greenberg live by the rules of a different self-help book—their selections include The Secret, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and French Women Don't Get Fat. She explains why women, historically neglected in conversations about health and wellness, are drawn to self-help books, why The Secret is bogus, and tells us what her self-help book would espouse. A Christmas obsessive, her question for the hosts is whether Jewish parents warn their children not to tell their gentile classmates that Santa isn't real. Want more Unorthodox in your life? Join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes! We love hearing from our listeners. Please send your feedback to unorthodox@tabletmag.com—we may read your comments on the air. This episode of Unorthodox is brought to you by PJ Library, the program that sends FREE Jewish books to more than 200,000 children around the world. Sign up at pjlibrary.org/unorthodox and they’ll send you a new book each month. This week’s episode is sponsored by HelloFresh. For $30 off your first week of deliveries, visit hellofresh.com and enter UNORTHODOX30 when you subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After taking two class at the JCC Manhattan, and no shoes of my on I️ decided to move on.

This week, we're live from JCC Manhattan! Our Jewish guest is writer A.J. Jacobs—our first-ever guest back in 2015—whose latest book is It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World's Family Tree. He tells us about his unlikely entry into the world of genealogy, the famous—and infamous—relatives he discovered, and, in a 'Maury'-style twist, reveals which hosts are related to him. Our gentile of the week is actor Kobi Libii, who played Cantor Duvid on Season 3 of 'Transparent' and currently appears on Comedy Central's 'The Opposition With Jordan Klepper'. He tells us about meeting with rabbis and other Jewish leaders to prepare for the 'Transparent' role, which required him to speak Hebrew, pivoting to political satire, and what he does to unwind from the constant news cycle he now covers. Join our new Facebook group! And sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes photos, and more! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com—we may read your note on air. Follow us on Twitter: @tabletmag , @markopp1, @liel, and @stuffism. Unorthodox is sponsored by Hello Fresh, the leading meal-delivery kit service. Visit hellofresh.com and use promo code UNORTHODOX for $30 off your first week. Unorthodox is also sponsored by ModernTribe.com, a new kind of Jewish gift shop. Use the code UNORTHODOX to save 10% on your order through 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode description: This week, we’re coming at you live from JCC Manhattan, with some very special guests and other fun surprises. But first: If you're a fan of Unorthodox—and if you're reading this, you must be!—please consider making a donation to our fundraising drive so we can keep producing the podcast you love for another 99 episodes. We've put together a whole range of fun gifts to sweeten the deal, from tote bags to studio visits to a cocktail party with Mark, Liel, and Stephanie. Our Jew of the week is Harry Enten, senior political writer and analyst for FiveThirtyEight and a regular on the site’s Politics Podcast. He tells us about the Catskills resort his grandparents owned—where Neil Sedaka met Enten’s aunt, whom he later married—plus why he loves Twitter, where he has nearly 95,000 followers, and what dating was like as a poll analyst after the election. Our Gentile of the Week is Haroon Moghul, author of How to Be a Muslim: An American Story and a fellow in Jewish-Muslim Relations at the Shalom Hartman Institute. He tells us the dumbest things he’s been asked while promoting his book, plus how a 2015 trip to Israel with Muslim and Jewish leaders changed the course of his career, and what he wants the rest of us to know about American Muslims. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes photos, and more! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com—we may read your note on air. Follow us on Twitter: @tabletmag, @markopp1, @liel, and @stuffism. Today's podcast is sponsored by Jewish Lives, biographies that illuminate the Jewish experience. Visit JewishLives.org to get 25% off all books and curated collections with the code JLBOOKS. Music: "Mikveh Bath" by Golem "Ruthless" by the Statler Brothers "Harry Enten is Looking for a Girlfriend" by Jonathan Mann "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Neil Sedaka "Mounsell Forts/Accent on the 'A'" by Roger Plexico, prod. Squish Turner, ft. Haroon Mogul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First things first: Don't forget to get tickets for our live show Tuesday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. at JCC Manhattan! This week, we find out Mark isn't the only Oppenheimer who sneaks into movies without paying. And we've got two Jewish guests joining us: First, our favorite film critic Jordan Hoffman returns to tell us all about the summer's best movies, including the new film War For the Planet of the Apes, which he explains is actually a story about Jews. Then we talk to Stacy Berman about her journey from running fitness boot camps in Central Park to apprenticing as a shaman and incorporating natural medicine into her training program, The System by Stacy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes photos, and more! Email us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com—we may read your note on air. Follow us on Twitter: @tabletmag, @markopp1, @liel, and @stuffism. Today's episode is sponsored by Jewish Lives, biographies that illuminate the Jewish experience. Visit JewishLives.org to get 25% off all books and curated collections with the code JLBOOKS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1991, REM’s Michael Stipe famously sang, “That’s me in the spotlight, losing my religion, trying to keep up with you, and I don’t know if I can do it.” Just over a quarter-century later, we set out to explore what happens when religious couples no longer see eye to eye. Do you follow your heart? Do you tell your partner? And can the package stay intact, despite the tectonic shifts? The original music in this episode was composed and performed by Ruth Danon, Nili Fink, and Noam Sadan, who also covered songs by Vashti Bunyan and Ruth Dolores Weiss. This episode was mixed by Sela Waisblum, and recorded at Andrew Yeomanson’s City of Progress Studios. It was produced thanks to the generous support of the JCC Manhattan and the Natan Fund. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine.

This week’s episode was recorded live at JCC Manhattan. Our first Jewish guest is Canadian transplant and longtime "This American Life" contributor Jonathan Goldstein, who now hosts the podcast Heavyweight. He tells us about mining his personal life for stories to tell on his show and gives us a definitive (if very Canadian) answer on Montreal bagels vs. New York bagels. Our Gentile of the Week is Catholic New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, who tells us about being a conservative voice writing for a largely liberal audience, why so many voters on the Christian right supported Trump despite mounting evidence of his moral failings, and why conservatives love fantasy novels like Lord of the Rings. Our second Jewish guest is Jen Spyra, comedian and writer on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. She tells us about her Late Show audition, the challenges of writing jokes during a Trump administration, and when she first realized she was funny. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes and more. Email us with comments, questions and kvetches at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com—we'll share our favorite notes on air.  This episode is dedicated to the memory of J.J. the dog. Special thanks to our live band, the Jewbadourians: Jim Knable, Sunny Knable, and Claudia Mogel. Music Credits:  “Unorthodox Theme Song” by Golem “Swing Gitane” by The Underscore Orkestra  “Jonathan Goldstein” by The Jewbadourians “If Your Dad Doesn’t Have A Beard, You’ve Got Two Mums” by The Beards “Ross Douthat” by The Jewbadourians “Bad Religion” by Frank Ocean “Jen Spyra” by The Jewbadourians “LA Jews” by The Jewbadourians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sharon sits down with Ali Smith, Andy Gonzalez and Atman Smith of the Holistic Life Foundation at the JCC Manhattan to talk about their work bringing mindfulness and yoga to inner city youth in their hometown of Baltimore, MD.   The Holistic Life Foundation has been serving Baltimore’s underserved communities since 2001 with high quality programming focusing on yoga, holistic health, environmental advocacy and education, sustainability, oneness, and interconnectedness. In this episode of The Metta Hour, Sharon talks with the HLF about how they began this inspiring work, and it’s expansion in their community after 15 years.     Show Notes: 00:55 – Sharon jokes about feeling like her life is kind of like “mercury in retrograde” at the moment. She welcomes her audience and introduces her guests Ali Smith, Andy Gonzalez and Atman Smith, founders of the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF). 3:50 – Ali tells about their struggles growing up in the streets of Baltimore. The Smith brothers were raised vegan with yogas and mindfulness. This created a unique dichotomy that the two worked to keep secret from those who would shun them for it. Their practice faded into their teenage years, but was reignited in college where they meet co-founder Andres Gonzalez. After college the three spent their time reading on spiritual practice, meditating, and working on personal growth. 14:53 – Atman shares the story of HLF and their first group of “problem children”. How introducing those kids to the same practices they learned had a dramatic effect. The project grew beyond expectation. Growing from 25 to over 125 kids in one school the program has continued to expand in scope reaching over 5000 students in 15 schools. 19:30 – Beyond reaching out to inner city youth, HLF works with all underserved communities in Baltimore. HLF goes to drug rehab, mental health facilities, and elderly homes to bring them mindfulness practices to help deal with their situation. 21:00 – In schools HLF developed an alternative suspension program called the “Mindful Moment”.  A room where kids are sent to calm down and reflect on their actions. They practice breath-work, stretch, and are given time to meditate and reflect. They come out of the room calm and ready to work. 28:00 – Sharon asks the brothers about the trauma that they are helping others overcome. The topic of undiagnosed PTSD in their community is discussed. How they learned to address the trauma affecting their students. Their own experiences on the streets and witnessing the hardship of others. 37:30 – How does love figure into changing things in such harsh circumstances? Atman and Ali return home in the heart of the Baltimore riots and lead their neighbors in meditation and rally them through the clean up effort. Reminding everyone that spreading the love and compassion can make the difference. 49:30 – Sharon turns the floor over to her audience who ask about HLF’s relationship with local churches, spreading HLF throughout the country, maintaining a personal practice, and more 1:17:00 – Atman leads a two minute guided meditation. This breathing meditation is a favorite of his kids because it gives them enough space to to relax, but enough guidance to keep their minds from wandering.