Alright, nerds. Pack it in— podcasts are over. They had a good run, but now they’re gone the way of professional wrestling, comic books, and the entire Internet and they’re too mainstream to be fun anymore. Why? Because ABC has released the trailer for its new TV show, Alex, Inc. about Alex Blumberg, the founder of Gimlet Media.

Well, there’s one thing that seems to be keeping podcast diehards safe— if you watched the trailer, you would have little to know idea what a podcast is. Instead, you will experience 3 minutes of a pleasant Zach Braff vehicle (he’s also producing and directing) in which the former Scrubs star keeps taking generic risks, and not playing by other people’s vague rules, and trying to create something unspecified-yet-great despite some sorts of obstacles. (For the record, Blumberg quit his job at This American Life to create Gimlet Media and find success with the likes of StartUp, even though this trailer seems to operate on the premise that trying to earn a living doing radio is itself folly.)

Seriously, this commercial could be about pursuing a career in any creative medium and barely change a word:

“What’s the first show about?” An eccentric investor yet to be convinced asks on the stairs of his private jet.

“A guy like me!” responds Braff/Blumberg, with his wife and children. “With a family like them. He could succeed, he could fail. I promise you— people are going to love to watch him try.”

“I’m in!” Announces the investor, now convinced.

Well, if it doesn’t turn out to be the most sophisticated of stuff, it’s neat at least to see a Member of the Tribe play another person of Jewish descent on television. And maybe now you’ll have an easier time explaining to your aunt what a podcast actually is.

Alex, Inc. doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but you can watch the trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=148&v=j91FK6K-8Dg

Image from YouTube.

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This past Sunday in a rented storefront in Crown Heights, Vaybertaytsh, a podcast which producer Sandy Fox bills as “the first—as far as we know— Yiddish speaking, feminist radio program” celebrated the release of its second season.

Before it was a podcast, “Vaybertaytsh” – literally “translations for women” in Yiddish—was a term once used for commentaries on Torah written by Hebrew-literate Ashkenazi men for their Yiddish-speaking women wives (and other women) who were unlikely to learn the “Loshnkoydesh” (“holy tongue”) themselves. “Vaybertaytsh” also came at times to refer to the language of Yiddish itself, one of many names the “jargon” (another slang term for Yiddish) went by.

This podcast is a project of reclamation of the word.  Women themselves become the teachers, “flipping the concept of ‘vaybertaytsh’ on its head,” says Fox, “explaining and commenting on our own terms.” Interviews in the first season included a midwife serving the Hasidic community, a female cantor  for the renewal movement in Germany, and several international attendees of the Women’s March last January.

These interviews and conversations take place entirely in Yiddish, and the podcast draws guests mainly from the international community of Yiddishists, a group which speaks Yiddish in order to preserve the language. The Yiddishist movement began at the turn of the 20th century as activists and scholars sought to “legitimize” what was at the time seen as a “low” tongue, spoken by unsophisticated people—and women. “Those scholars were primarily men whose mission was to de-feminize Yiddish, to distance the language from its association with women as a ‘mameloshn,’ [or ‘mom’s tongue’],” Fox told me.

Sandy Fox, who also goes by the Yiddish name Sosye, describes Vaybertaytsh both as a continuation and a refutation of that philosophy. Just as these men sought to produce mainstream literature and journalism in Yiddish, Fox creates episodes of Vaybertaytsh available for download on any podcast app.

But unlike this earlier wave of Yiddishists, Fox does not shy from association with women or the home. The pilot opens with a tribute to the Riot Grrrl music movement , and another episode in the first season is devoted to a conversation between women who have lost their mothers on their memories of those women.

Nor does Fox insist on a rigid grammatical purity, as the first wave of many turn-of-the-century Yiddishists did. “I don’t really believe there is such a thing as ‘authentic’ Yiddish,” she says, “and it can be uncomfortable to speak perfect clinical Yiddish.” Vaybertaytsh’s opening episode contains a kind of non-apology for any grammatical “mistakes” the podcast may make: “Let’s simply feel free to speak” says Fox in the first episode (in of course, Yiddish). Creating something new is “too important to wait for a perfect Yiddish.”

As a Yiddish learner who speaks with less than perfect grammar, this stance excites me. More than once I have lost my train of thought while speaking due to interruptions correcting my grammar. While such interruptions are kindly meant and an important part of the language-learning process, they can make communication a little exhausting. “Often it’s been men serving as the gatekeepers,” Fox notes.  That gate-keeping can turn people away from actually speaking the language, something the relatively small community of Yiddishists arguably cannot afford.

At the second season’s release party, Fox welcomed non-Yiddish-fluent guests to “Yiddishland” before continuing entirely in Yiddish, while translations in English appeared onscreen behind her. “Maybe it seems weird, considering the fact that we all speak English. But such is the way of the Yiddishists,” the screen read, “Welcome to our world.”

The default language of the night was Yiddish, with a “learner’s couch” equipped with a dictionary. Party attendees schmoozed over the food, the drinks,  and the choice of women’s social justice groups to which to donate the nights proceeds (the winner was Days for Girls), all in Yiddish of varying fluency. Emboldened by the podcast’s premise, I took my time forming clunky sentences for concepts that I might have communicated much faster in English. By the time the event ended, I was only rarely asking my conversational partners to repeat themselves.

One man asked me near the evening’s end how I had first encountered Vaybertaytsh. I told him I’d heard of it online, I’d been unsure if my language comprehension would be strong enough to follow along, but I eventually checked it out and was using it to train my ear. “And here I am!” I finished exuberantly. My conversational partner nodded. “Okay. But I didn’t mean the podcast—I meant the language.”

Rachel Wetter is an educator and history nerd living in New York who also goes by Rokhl.

Images via Facebook.

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More! Weird! Podcasts!

There have only been five episodes of the show so far, so it’s not too late to get in on the ground floor of The Orbiting Human Circus (Of the Air). The show is part of the Night Vale Presents network, of which the titular podcast has also included Jewishness before (Remember when Cecil Gershwin-Palmer learned an old prayer in “Torah school”: “Where everyone just shouts, “De-fense! De-fense!” while clapping in rhythm?”).

Part of The Orbiting Human Circus’s appeal is that it’s rather difficult to describe, but it’s best summarized as the ongoing adventures of behind-the-scenes of the world’s most famous (fictional) radio program, broadcast from the Eiffel Tower, centered on the exploits of the Tower’s janitor, a put-upon young man named Julian. The podcast is also filled with segments from the titular show-within-the-show, which is usually quirky music or some form of experimental storytelling.

Julian is portrayed by show creator Julian Koster, who is best known for his involvement with Neutral Milk Hotel— that’s right, the band most known for their album that features Anne Frank as its central figure.

If there’s anything Jews like, it’s finding a Jewish connection to secular culture (take this article, for example). And, so, in the second episode of Circus, the show within the show references an ongoing series on the “formative influence of Judaism on rock and roll.” And who better than to demonstrate? Mandy Patinkin as 1920s cantor Moishe Lebowitz. Yes, this podcast got Mandy Patinkin to sing in Yiddish a song in the style of cantorial greats that sounds vaguely like “Surrender” by Cheap Trick. As previously stated, the show is rivetingly weird.

Another episode features the Alicia Svigals Klezmer Ensemble (Svigals is a big name in the scene). Plus, there are other little references, like bit characters “Brooklyn bagel bakers,” who speak in thick Yiddish accents (voiced by one Khayim Wolff, according to the show’s website). And the holiday episode featured Jewish author Larry “Ratso” Sloman as the Jewish protagonist of a Christmas story.

What’s also arguably Jewish about the podcast is its setting— while it avoids giving itself a specific date (and its world is obviously more fantastical than our own), there’s something European, cosmopolitan, and nostalgic about it. It’s like a dieselpunk France populated by the most interesting and colorful of characters. It’s diverse beyond Jewishness (one Roma character has made a brief appearance), and, so far, no mention of war or grand-tragedy. Listening to The Orbiting Human Circus is settling into a rich Old World that was never able to be, and Jews are fully a part of it.

And if that sounds like a reach, then settle for major klezmer artists and/or Mandy Patinkin singing in Yiddish. Surely that’s Jewish enough for you.

Image from The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air).

The post ‘The Orbiting Human Circus’ Is a Low-Key Jewish Podcast appeared first on Jewcy.

The world’s greatest podcaster is Jewish!

No, not Ira Glass; that’s obviously old news. This is the premier fictional radio host: Cecil Gerswhin-Palmer from Welcome to Night Vale.

Welcome to Night Vale is one of the most popular podcasts out today, with devoted audiences all over the world and in online communities reminiscent of fans of cult TV shows. Descriptions of the program usually try to rely on vague pop cultural comparisons, from Stephen King to Garrison Keillor, because there’s actually nothing like it.

What Night Vale is, simply is this: A fictional local radio news broadcast, in a small, town in the American southwest, where horrors, conspiracies, and unholy rites are a natural part of a pleasant, close-knit community.

Take, for instance, when a glowing cloud rained animal carcasses on the town, controlled the minds of its residences, and then, ultimately enrolled its child in the local public school and joined the PTA. The tone is humor, mixed with horror, with surprisingly a lot of heart, and at its heart is Cecil Gershwin-Palmer (portrayed by Cecil Baldwin).

In many episodes, Cecil is the only speaker, and his personal life is as important to the story as, say, the standings of the local Little League team (their coach is a ghost). The show has also received accolades for its remarkable diversity, as well as its hesitancy to describe characters as having a definitive appearance or race, Cecil especially.

Night Vale is also one of very few podcasts that has successfully become franchise; for example, its first companion novel debuted in October, and there are more books on the way. The show also tours with its cast internationally, reading scripts in front of a live audience with new content that is eventually sold online as premium supplements to the otherwise free program.

That’s where Cecil’s Jewishness comes in. Night Vale is currently between legs of its latest tour, “Ghost Stories.”

According to attendees of “Ghost Stories,” the most spoiler-free description possible of the reveal is that the show includes Cecil attending the unveiling of an immediate family member.

To confirm the news, Night Vale co-creator Joseph Fink took to Twitter:

For close Jewish listeners of Night Vale, this statement canonizes hints dropped in the series before. In one particularly creepy episode, Cecil finds a cassette tape he recorded when he was younger, in which he describes his mother has avoiding him and covering all the mirrors of their home. As the episode progresses, it becomes unclear whether or not Cecil actually died (and came back in some way to be our protagonist; Night Vale has its own horror logic). In light of the news of Cecil’s identity, this was probably no coincidence that his mother was performing another Jewish mourning ritual.

Going forward in Night Vale, how will this affect the series? The town mostly worships via bloodstones and Christmas is forbidden, but there is at least one mosque.

The world of Night Vale is wonderfully diverse, so it’s a really great moment of representation that Jewish denizens are officially included, to say nothing of the show’s star. It’s a unique, creative way to include Jewishness in media, vague though it might be for now.

In the meantime, we can only imagine what Shabbat dinners would be like in Cecil’s home.

Image Credits: Facebook, and art by David Shear.

The post The Protagonist from ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ Is Jewish! appeared first on Jewcy.

We’ve finally reached one of the most important parts of the Bible: the part where God shows Moses his butt, and God’s butt breaks Moses’s face. For real. Sure, sure, there’s other stuff about forgiveness and laws and two possible versions of the Ten Commandments, but who cares about that when Shulem Deen, author of “All Who God Not Return,” is reading about the glory of God’s butt?

That’s right, no one.

Tune in now. There’s no other reasonable thing to do.

David Tuchman translated the Tanakh as a comedy and called it OMGWTFBIBLE. Each month on his podcast, he calls up a different guest to read as many chapters of OMGWTFBIBLE as they can while they both make fun of it.

Jewcy is the proud (internet) co-host of OMGWTFBIBLE. Read more about the project here, and listen to previous episodes here.

David will be reading the next live show in New York at Beauty Bar with on June 22!

(Image: The Internet, Source of All Memes)

The post OMGWTFBIBLE: In Which We See the Backside of God. Literally. appeared first on Jewcy.

Have you ever read the Bible? OK, but have you ever read the Bible on weed? In episode 31.1, Shulem Deen stops by OMGWTFBIBLE to talk about his new memoir, “All Who Go Do Not Return,” and also to talk about a controversial translation of the Bible that seems to include cannabis as part of the priestly anointing oil. Who knew?

Also in this episode: The whole Golden Calf thing happens and there’s very probably an orgy. Join the fun and listen now!

David Tuchman translated the Tanakh as a comedy and called it OMGWTFBIBLE. Each month on his podcast, he calls up a different guest to read as many chapters of OMGWTFBIBLE as they can while they both make fun of it.

Jewcy is the proud (internet) co-host of OMGWTFBIBLE. Read more about the project here, and listen to previous episodes here.

David will be reading the next live show in New York at Beauty Bar with on June 22!

(Image: Shutterstock)

The post OMGWTFBIBLE: Have You Ever Read the Bible on Weed? appeared first on Jewcy.

Sure, God created the world, drowned almost everyone in a massive flood, killed a bunch of Egyptians, and has all sort of laws he wants people to care about, but did you know he also designs clothing? It’s true! And that’s what guest Catie Lazarus spends the majority of Episode 30.1 of OMGWTFBIBLE reading!

The hilarious host of “Employee of the Month” joined OMGWTFBIBLE host David Tuchman to read about some divine fashion choices that have been out of style for a few thousand seasons. What does she think of holy vests? Can she pull off a Godly breastplate? Find out here:

David Tuchman translated the Tanakh as a comedy and called it OMGWTFBIBLE. Each month on his podcast, he calls up a different guest to read as many chapters of OMGWTFBIBLE as they can while they both make fun of it.

Jewcy is the proud (internet) co-host of OMGWTFBIBLE. Read more about the project here, and listen to previous episodes here.

Check back here tomorrow for the next installment of OMGWTFBIBLE. David will be reading the next live show in New York at Beauty Bar with Shulem Deen, author of All Who Go Do Not Return, on April 27!

(Image: The Holy of Holies; illustration from the 1890 Holman Bible)

The post OMGWTFBIBLE: In Which God Goes All Project Runway on the Israelites appeared first on Jewcy.

When we last left our heroes, David Tuchman and Mark Leuchter were in Raven Lounge in Philadelphia, reading about all the stuff God wanted in his desert tent. That’s right, they were halfway through “Terumah,” the seventh portion of Exodus, and growing weary of all of God’s very specific and confusing instructions.

Can they make it through? Can they finish episode 29.2, complete God’s directions, and find something remotely meaningful to talk about in all this? Find out on the next episode of OMGWTFBIBLE, available right here, right now!

David Tuchman translated the Tanakh as a comedy and called it OMGWTFBIBLE. Each month on his podcast, he calls up a different guest to read as many chapters of OMGWTFBIBLE as they can while they both make fun of it.

Jewcy is the proud (internet) co-host of OMGWTFBIBLE. Read more about the project here, and listen to previous episodes here.

Check back here in a week for the next installment of OMGWTFBIBLE. David will be reading the next live show in New York at Beauty Bar with Catie Lazarus on March 23!

The post OMGWTFBIBLE: In Which God Reveals a Penchant For Interior Decorating appeared first on Jewcy.

OMGWTFBIBLE with David Tuchman has hit Philadelphia! On February 25, David was joined by Temple professor Mark Leuchter at Raven Lounge in Philly to read “Terumah,” the seventh portion in Exodus—next to a stripper pole. Among other things, they discussed Professor Leuchter’s love of guitars, his approach to the Bible, and why in the world God spent so much time on building directions.

That’s right, building directions. In episode 29.1, with all those pesky laws out of the way, God spends a great deal of time describing some stuff he wants made. Is it interesting? Are there any questions that can be asked about this? Why is it in the Bible in the first place? Listen and find out. Maybe.

David Tuchman translated the Tanakh as a comedy and called it OMGWTFBIBLE. Each month on his podcast, he calls up a different guest to read as many chapters of OMGWTFBIBLE as they can while they both make fun of it.

Jewcy is the proud (internet) co-host of OMGWTFBIBLE. Read more about the project here, and listen to previous episodes here.

Check back here in a week for the next installment of OMGWTFBIBLE. David will be reading the next live show with in New York at Beauty Bar with Catie Lazarus on March 23!

(Image: Model of the tabernacle, as seen in Timna Park, Israel)

The post OMGWTFBIBLE: In Which God Spends a Great Deal of Time Describing Some Stuff He Wants Made appeared first on Jewcy.

Rules, rules, rules! Everyone’s always saying that the Bible is full of “rules” we have to “follow” because “God” said so or “something.” If you’ve been listening to OMGWTFBIBLE, David Tuchman’s brand-new translation of the Hebrew Bible, you might be wondering where those rules are hidden with all the explosions and wacky sex stuff going on.

Well, it’s time for rules, starting with part six of Exodus, “Mishpatim,” in episode 28.1 Sha James is the guest, and the two discuss just how much these rules can be applied to life. Does the Bible have anything to say about vaccines? Maybe! Listen and find out.

David Tuchman translated the Tanakh as a comedy and called it OMGWTFBIBLE. Each month on his podcast, he calls up a different guest to read as many chapters of OMGWTFBIBLE as they can while they both make fun of it.

Jewcy is the proud (internet) co-host of OMGWTFBIBLE. Read more about the project here, and listen to previous episodes here.

Check back here in a few days for the next installment of OMGWTFBIBLE. David will be reading the next live show with in New York at Beauty Bar on March 23!

(Image: Shutterstock)

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