Tablet Studios

Latest Episodes:

Threading the Needle: Ep. 350 Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, pshhhhhhhhhh.

Our gentiles of the week are Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis, the hosts of the Jesuitical podcast. We each assign them something to give up for Lent and also prepare Rootless Cosmopolitans for them (the recipe for which can be found on our newsletter).

We’re also bringing you the second installment of Across the JEW.S.A., our series highlighting different Jewish communities across America. Stephanie Butnick travels to Seattle, Washington, to discover the city’s surprising Sephardic history and learn about the challenges facing of the future of Sephardic Seattle. Across the JEW.S.A. is created with support from the Jewish Federations of North America.

We love to hear from you! Send us emails and voice memos at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail at our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Remember to tell us who you are and where you’re calling from.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram. Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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New Wave: Ep. 349 Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, do Jews celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Our Jew of the Week is returning guest David Sax, who joins us to talk about his newest book, The Future Is Analog: How to Create a More Human World.

Our Gentile of the Week is writer and surfer (and surf writer) William Finnegan, who talks to us about his memoir, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, and his experiences reporting on war and poverty around the world.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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Us People: Ep. 348 Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, Belgium is still the worst.

Our Jew of the Week is the novelist Gabrielle Zevin. She joins us to talk about her newest novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, plus how video games can be vehicles for teaching morality and how she approaches writing about Holocaust survivors.

Plus, the hosts discuss the new Netflix disaster that is You People, with insight from our managing producer and Hollywood correspondent, Courtney Hazlett.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Sponsors:

Study and practice Jewish sacred chanting with Sacred Chant: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love, the new four-week program from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Sign up by February 10th at JewishSpirituality.org.

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Reading Together: Ep. 347 Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, we’re eating macaro(o)ns.

Our Jew of the Week is writer Bill Deresiewicz, who returns to the show to talk about his latest book, The End of Solitude, which laments how we’ve forgotten how to be alone in the digital age.

Our Gentile of the Week is audiobook narrator and author Julia Whelan, who tells us about her new book, Thank You for Listening, and what it’s like to be the voice behind so many of today’s bestsellers.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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

Memories, Revisited: Ep. 346 Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, stories of survival and Jewish pride in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

First, host Stephanie Butnick shares the lesson her Holocaust survivor grandparents taught her about taking every opportunity to celebrate life, starting with her over-the-top baby party.

California restaurateur Victor Ivry shares the story of honoring his mother, Auschwitz survivor and “witness to history” Liselotte Ivry, by getting a tattoo of her concentration camp number on his arm.

Abigail Pogrebin shares a preview of the latest installation of The Minyan, featuring her conversation with 10 Holocaust survivors. You can read the full version at tabletmag.com/minyan.

Host Mark Oppenheimer offers his take on how to reframe our response to antisemitism. First graders at Central Synagogue in New York City share their favorite blessings in an excerpt from our kids game show podcast, Hebrew School.

Jewelry designer Rachie Shnay tells us about her Mazel Collection, a line of Star of David bling that Jewish celebrities like Gal Gadot, Debra Messing, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Selma Blair have been wearing loudly and proudly.

And finally, Tablet Studios’ general manager Tanya Singer introduces us to her relatives Eva Bender and Samuel Marder, who share their moving story of survival and strength.

We love to hear from you. Send us emails and voice memos at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail at our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Remember to tell us who you are and where you’re calling from.

Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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

Moving Mountains: Ep. 345 Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, who deserves a spot on the Jewish Mount Rushmore?

Our first guest is author Rina Raphael, who joins us to talk about her book, The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care.

Then we’re joined by "Weird Al" Yankovic’s drummer of more than 40 years, Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz, who talks with Liel about bringing brilliant parody music to life for more than 40 years.

Plus, our hosts answer a Gentile of the Week question from Tabitha Soren, who was our guest a few episodes back.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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

Hitting the Road: Ep. 344 Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, we’re starting our journey Across the JEW.S.A.

But first, viral Yiddish singing sensation Mendel Goldman stops by to treat us to his musical stylings.

Then, we bring you the first installment of our new series, Across the JEW.S.A. In the inaugural segment, Liel travels to the first state of Delaware to see the unique way that Wilmington is building Jewish community. Across the JEW.S.A. is created with support from the Jewish Federations of North America.

Finally, our Gentile of the Week is walker and writer Jonathon Stalls, who tells us about walking across America and his book WALK: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles per Hour.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Sponsors:

Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management: Earn your master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Innovation while you work. Learn more at zschool.huc.edu.

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An Unorthodox Christmas Spectacular Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, we’re wishing you a Christmas Sameach.

We have two gentiles this week—a Christmas miracle! First, CBS Sunday Morning contributor Faith Salie returns to the show to tell us about how her interfaith family navigates the holidays. We’re also sharing our interview with gospel legend Donald Lawrence, recorded live in Chicago at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly. Then we hear from Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern about why he doesn’t let his kids watch That Very Special Christmas Episode. Plus, the story of a Jewish mall santa.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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

Bright Lights: Ep. 342 Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox, we’re celebrating Hanukkah with eight stories that bring light to the Jewish world.

We talk with 102-year-old former Nuremberg war crimes prosecutor Ben Ferencz, sing with rabbi and musician Josh Warshawsky, and tell stories with Peninnah Schram. We gab with former Real Housewife and new Jew Leah McSweeney and visit Muhlenberg College, a Lutheran liberal arts school that has become an unexpected haven for Jewish students. We stop by the butcher, meet one of the very few female Jewish Torah scribes, and learn the story behind this year’s official USPS Hanukkah stamp.

We love to hear from you! Send us your New Year’s Resolutions at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail at our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Remember to tell us who you are and where you’re calling from.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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

Work It: Ep. 341 Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

This week on Unorthodox: do Jews have Sweet Sixteen parties?

Our Jewish guest this week is the writer Isabel Kaplan. She joins Stephanie to talk about her new novel, NSFW, the subtle ways that sexism crops up in everyday life and work, and more.

Our Gentile of the Week is photographer Tabitha Soren. She chats with Mark about her approach to her work as an artist and remembers her on-air days at MTV News.

Merch alert! Check out our new Unorthodox tees, mugs, and hoodies at tabletstudios.com.

We’re back on the road! Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.

Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

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

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