The Kibitz Podcast

Episodes

1. 31

   Kasher vs Kasher - Passover Episode

   Two brothers, a rabbi and a comedian, try to figure out how to do Judaism during a pandemic. See if you can figure out who’s who.

   Apr 7, 2020

   27m
2. 30

   The Best of Nana

   A tight, 15-minute set of jokes from Dan’s nana, who passed away this week at the spry age of 97.

   Mar 23, 2018

   17m
3. 29

   Death

   Is there something peculiar to Judaism that makes us think about death differently? With no proscription for a definitive heaven or afterlife, how does that affect how we live our lives and think about death? Are Jewish rituals an effective way of dealing with grief? Are there better ways to…

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   Jan 10, 2018

   54m
4. 28

   A Catskills Kibitz w/ Moshe Kasher, Michael Showalter & The Living Sisters

   "A Catskills Kibitz,” our first ever live Kibitz event, was held at the “World Famous” Kibitz Room at Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles on the second night of Hanukkah and featured standup from Moshe Kasher, a conversation with Michael Showalter and a performance by the Living Sisters. We also set a...

   Dec 19, 2017

   1h 01m
5. 27

   The False Lens of History

   How has our understanding of history been curated by the choices of photographers, journalists and historians? This episode features curator at the International Center for Photography in New York Maya Benton talking about the photos of Roman Vichniac, and Yiddish scholar Eddy Portnoy discussing...

   Dec 12, 2017

   1h 05m
6. 26

   The Secret History of Jews and Drugs

   Was Moses tripping when he saw the burning bush? Are psychedelics the key to unlocking the mysteries behind Jewish texts? And did you hear the one about the rabbi who did LSD with Timothy Leary? Featuring Rick Doblin founder and Executive Director of MAPS—the Multidisciplinary Association for...

   Dec 5, 2017

   45m
7. 25

   Refugees - with Mark Hetfield from HIAS

   We continue our discussion of immigration and refugees with Mark Hetfield, the CEO of HIAS: the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Back in 1882, HIAS was formed to assist Jews fleeing pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe. Today, HIAS is leading the charge against the Trump administration’s attempt to...

   Nov 28, 2017

   19m
8. 24

   Immigration & Refugees

   When Donald Trump issued his first executive order to curb immigration from majority Muslim countries, it seemed to strike a chord of eerie and disturbing familiarity with Jews everywhere. To put this in perspective, we’ll hear a story about Jewish immigrants fleeing Germany in 1939 trying to…

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   Nov 21, 2017

   33m
9. 23

   Can $50,000 Buy a Jewish Community?

   Why did a Jewish philanthropist put up a million dollars of his own money to get Jews to move to Alabama? And ten years into his experiment, does he consider it a success? And as synagogue membership declines across the US, how do we define a Jewish community? The Kibitz speaks with Larry…

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   Nov 14, 2017

   24m
10. 22

    Mishpucha, with AJ Jacobs

    Author AJ Jacobs explains how we’re all mishpucha, and we discuss his new book, It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree.

    Nov 7, 2017

    34m
11. 21

    The Catskills—A Brief History

    What did Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers and Wilt Chamberlain have in common? Why did Jews on vacation need so much entertainment? How did the Catskills become the epicenter of Jewish middle-class vacationing and why did it collapse almost as quickly as it began? Who's putting baby in the corner—and why?...

    Oct 31, 2017

    32m
12. 20

    Introducing The Kibitz

    Your hilarious and insightful guide to Jewish ideas and culture. Join journalist Dan Crane and comedian Jessica Chaffin (Ronna & Beverly) as they explore activism, Jewish atheism, anti-semitism, love, sex, comedy, death and more with guests like David Wain, David Baddiel, Rabbi Sharon Brous, the...

    Oct 30, 2017

    1m
13. 19

    Atheism II, with Amichai Lau-Lavie

    Can Jews be atheists and still be Jews? Hosts Dan Crane and Jessica Chaffin host the second episode on this question, featuring a conversation with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie of New York City’s Lab/Shul.

    Oct 24, 2017

    19m
14. 18

    Jewish Atheism

    Can Jews be atheists and still be Jews? Hosts Dan Crane and Jessica Chaffin explore the question of Jewish atheism with Rabbi Susan Goldberg of LA's Wilshire Boulevard Temple, president of American Atheists David Silverman, British comedian David Baddiel, and founder and president emeritus of the...

    Oct 17, 2017

    44m
15. 17

    Season 2 Preview

    Season 2 Preview: Reboot’s Jewish-ish podcast is back for season two with actress and comedian Jessica Chaffin (Ronna, of comedy duo “Ronna & Beverly”) joining as co-host with Dan Crane. Named “one of the Top 10 Jewish Podcasts,” by Moment magazine, THE KIBITZ is about asking interesting...

    Sep 27, 2017

    8m
16. 16

    Major League Dreidel, The Spinagogue, and Dreidels on the Brain

    Host Dan Crane interviews Eric Pavony, the “Knishioner" of Major League Dreidel and creator of the Spinagogue (not to mention Brewskee-Ball, a competitive Skee-Ball league for adults). And author/storyteller Joel Ben Izzy reads an excerpt from his recent Chanukah book, "Dreidels on the Brain.”

    Dec 15, 2016

    38m
17. 15

    Sinatra, Israel, and a Bag Full of Cash

    Host Dan Crane tells the story of two strangers in the night, a bag full of cash, and a ship full of weapons bound for the fledgling state of Israel, in this special episode dedicated to Frank Sinatra’s jewish activism. Guests: Anthony Summers, David Lehman, Shalom Goldman, Paul Karolyi, and Tony...

    Nov 22, 2016

    30m
18. 14

    Activism

    In this election special episode of The Kibitz, comedian Moshe Kasher and his brother David Kasher debate the past, present and potential future of Jewish activism with host Dan Crane.

    Nov 8, 2016

    20m
19. 13

    Reflection

    The high holidays are upon us, so this episode of The Kibitz is all about reflection and 10Q—a project powered by Reboot. Guests include the Kasher brothers and Nicola Behrman (co- founder of 10Q), as well as Jenn Maer, Raleigh Harrell, and Libby Lenkinski, who all speak about their experience...

    Sep 30, 2016

    42m
20. 12

    Education

    It’s back-to-school time, so host Dan Crane talks to Joel Stein (Time magazine), Tiffany Shlain (Character Day), Ari Kelman (Stanford) and the Kasher brothers (a rabbi, and a comedian) about Jewish education — from Hebrew school to how to be a mensch.

    Sep 14, 2016

    1h 08m
21. 11

    Antisemitism

    From the alt-right to the hard-left, this episode of The Kibitz discusses a new wave of antisemitism that's spreading throughout the US and Europe. With guests including NY Times editor Jonathan Weisman, creative director Richard Brim, Whose Line is it Anyway creator Dan Patterson and others…

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    Aug 17, 2016

    1h 12m
22. 10

    Comedy

    Guests David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Stella, Children’s Hospital) and Dan Patterson (Whose Line is it Anyway, Mock the Week) were both deeply influenced by similar experiences - find out what on The Kibitz! This episode also features Andrea Rosen (Episodes), Kasher vs Kasher, and a...

    Jul 19, 2016

    54m
23. 9

    Nosh (part 3)

    Our 9th episode of The Kibitz, titled ANIMALS, features an exclusive tour inside Teva Foods, one of the few remaining kosher slaughterhouses in the LA area. We’ll discover how the kosher slaughter process takes place and examine whether kosher is a more or less humane method of processing beef…

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    Jun 22, 2016

    35m
24. 8

    Revelation

    Talkin’ bout a revelation! A mini Kibitz episode covering Shavuot—the least known, most important Jewish holiday. Featuring comedian Moshe Kasher and Rabbi David Kasher with host Dan Crane.

    Jun 7, 2016

    18m
25. 7

    Nosh (part 2)

    What's The Deli, yo?

    May 26, 2016

    36m
26. 6

    Nosh (pt 1)

    In episode 6 of The Kibitz, host Dan Crane gets his nosh on by talking kosher laws with David and Moshe Kasher and interviewing the director and a producer of City of Gold. City of Gold consulting producer Lara Rabinovitch tells us about her bat mitzvah in a Kid Walks into a Bar, and nana waxes...

    May 11, 2016

    35m
27. 5

    Exodus

    In episode 5 of The Kibitz, we learn about the Jewish origins of superheroes from Jonathan Lethem and Damon Lindelof, and talk about the genesis of the Haggadah and the Passover seder. Plus jokes!

    Apr 19, 2016

    52m
28. 4

    Unplug

    Despite the obvious irony in a podcast about unplugging, Episode 4 of The Kibitz is all about our need to collectively unplug from technology. Join host Dan Crane on a journey celebrating the Shabbat tradition and the National Day of Unplugging.

    Mar 2, 2016

    42m
29. 3

    Love

    Episode three of The Kibitz asks, what is love, anyway? Howard Jones didn’t know back in 1983, and Jews have pondered the same question as far back as Jacob and Rachel. Join host Dan Crane on a journey into the heart of what makes our hearts aflutter.

    Feb 11, 2016

    48m
30. 2

    Transition

    The second episode of The Kibitz podcast focuses on transitions, religious and gender fluidity and what being a Jew means at B-Mitzvah age and now. Join host Dan Crane as he takes us on a journey honoring transitioning to the start of 2016.

    Jan 19, 2016

    55m
31. 1

    Light

    The launch of The Kibitz podcast begins with all things related to Light, Hanukkah and oil. Join host Dan Crane as he takes us on a journey to discover what Hanukkah means in the 21st century.

    Dec 3, 2015

    48m