Unorthodox (podcast) explained

Unorthodox
Genre:Religion and spirituality podcast
Language:English
Num Episodes:418
Provider:Tablet
Related Shows:Rootless

Unorthodox is a podcast that discusses news, culture, and politics related to Judaism.[1] It was produced by Tablet from 2015 to 2024.

Background

The podcast was started in 2015 when Oppenheimer pitched the idea to Tablet Magazine[2] [3]

The podcast is recorded in front of a live audience in New York City. The podcast received a grant from the Jim Joseph Foundation.[4] On November 5, 2018, the podcast recorded a live episode at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood, Ohio as part of the Cleveland Jewish Book Festival. The live show featured a guest appearance from David Gilbert, the CEO and president of Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Oppenheimer did an interview with New Voices.[5]

In 2020, Unorthodox marked its 250th episode.[2]

On June 27, 2024, the podcast went on hiatus.[6] On October 2, 2024, Leibovitz announced that Unorthodox was ending, and would be replaced as Tablet's main podcast by Rootless.[7]

Hosts

The podcast was hosted by:

Additional Personalities

Josh Kross, producer [10]

Former Host

One of the original hosts was Mark Oppenheimer: Oppenheimer is a writer and the director of the Yale Journalism Initiative.[2] Oppenheimer earned his Ph.D.and B.A. from Yale.[14] He has been a news reporter, magazine writer, and essayist and has written six books, including Wisenheimer (about his years as a high school debater) and Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood.[14] Oppenheimer's final episode as host of the podcast was on April 27, 2023. [15]

Format

The hosts talk about Jewish culture, politics, and news with weekly guests. The show is generally light hearted, but does cover difficult topics like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. The show also covers controversial topics such as Jewish girls getting rhinoplasty. The show provides a content warning for swearing and has regular "Jew of the week" and "Gentile of the week" segments. Guests on the show have included CEOs David Gilbert and Terry Stewart. One episode featured historian Alan Robert Ginsburg and Israeli cooking personality Gil Hovav, while another featured Jesuit priest James Martin and comedian Judy Gold.[16]

Segments

Jews of the Week

Gentiles of the Week

Episodes

Annual Special Episodes

Hal Karp was featured as a guest on the show for the 2018 annual apology episode on Yom Kippur. In the episode Karp told the story of how he mended his relationship with his brother and expressed regret for not repairing relationships with others he had hurt. After sharing the episode on Facebook his ex-wife, Irene Sibaja, reconnected with him and they were remarried on December 6, 2018, at the Emanu-El Temple in Dallas Texas. The three hosts read four of the seven blessings recited at the wedding.[26]

Live events

The podcast did a live show at the Slifka Center for Jewish Life on October 13, 2015.[27] The podcast did a live show at Jewish Community Center of San Francisco on September 23, 2019.[28] The show did a live episode in Pittsburgh.[29] The podcast did a live show in Detroit.[30] The podcast did a live show in Phoenix at the Sun Jewish Community Center on December 9, 2019.[31]

Reception

The podcast was named one of the 50 best podcasts of the year in 2016 by The Guardian.[32] The show was included on Moment Magazine's list of the "Top Ten Jewish Podcasts".[33] The show was included on Washington Jewish Week's list of "7 Jewish podcasts you should add to your rotation".[34] Jetzt called Unorthodox "the world's best-known Jewish podcast".[35]

It is listened to in 11 countries with more than six million downloads; a fan Facebook page includes more than 6,000 members.[17]

Adaptations

The hosts of the show published a book entitled The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar’s and Everything in Between and went on a book tour together.[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blas. Howard. November 19, 2020. An 'Unorthodox' American Jewish Podcast Marks 250 Episodes. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201201160725/https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/an-unorthodox-american-jewish-podcast-marks-250-episodes-649669. December 1, 2020. December 16, 2021. The Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post Group. en-US.
  2. Web site: An 'Unorthodox' American Jewish podcast marks 250 episodes. November 19, 2020 . December 16, 2021. December 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211216182133/https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/an-unorthodox-american-jewish-podcast-marks-250-episodes-649669. live.
  3. Web site: Cooper. Rand Richards. February 14, 2020. In Our Midst: 'The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia' Mixes the Serious and the Lighthearted. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218071112/https://www.courant.com/hartford-magazine/hc-hm-in-our-midst-mark-oppenheimer-20200223-20200214-l5ay6hvmxfboxc6dkagvc6wxzi-story.html. February 18, 2020. December 16, 2021. Hartford Courant. Tribune Publishing.
  4. Web site: Frydberg. Tracy. April 30, 2018. The Podcast: An Accidental Pulpit for a New Jewish Conversation. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501235150/https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-podcast-an-accidental-pulpit-for-a-new-jewish-conversation/. May 1, 2018. July 18, 2021. The Times of Israel. en-IL.
  5. Web site: Ben-Moche. Erin. June 20, 2018. Q&A: Unorthodox Podcast Host Mark Oppenheimer on Jewish Media, Millennials, and Authenticity. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180620225628/https://newvoices.org/2018/06/20/qa-unorthodox-podcast-host-mark-oppenheimer-on-jewish-media-millennials-and-authenticity/. June 20, 2018. December 16, 2021. New Voices. Jewish Student Press Service. en-US.
  6. Web site: Vacation with A.J. Jacobs. June 27, 2024. October 6, 2024. Tablet.
  7. Web site: Introducing Rootless with Liel Leibovitz. October 2, 2024. October 6, 2024. Tablet.
  8. News: Stephanie Butnick, Benjamin Cohen. The New York Times. September 10, 2017. May 3, 2022. April 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220414210610/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/10/fashion/weddings/stephanie-butnick-benjamin-cohen.html. live.
  9. Web site: Koehn. Amanda. November 7, 2018. Jewish Podcast Taps Into Cleveland Pride. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108012123/https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/jewish-podcast-taps-into-cleveland-pride/article_926684e4-e2b7-11e8-982c-4fdbf48358a4.html. November 8, 2018. July 18, 2021. Cleveland Jewish News. Cleveland Jewish Publication. en-US.
  10. Web site: Unorthodox podcast hosts declare the American Israelite as the best newspaper. November 28, 2019 . May 3, 2022. May 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503191410/https://www.americanisraelite.com/news/local_news/article_8d0d8fb6-1064-11ea-8dca-4bcc6aa5e44c.html. live.
  11. Web site: Liel Leibovitz | Sapir Journal. May 3, 2022. May 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503191436/https://sapirjournal.org/authors/liel-leibovitz/. live.
  12. Web site: The Conversion Episode, 2023 . Tablet Magazine . May 19, 2023.
  13. Web site: Lobell . Kylie Ora . June 22, 2023 . Joshua Malina to Replace Co-host Mark Oppenheimer on"Unorthodox" Podcast . November 30, 2023 . Jewish Journal . en-US.
  14. Web site: Mark Oppenheimer | English. April 14, 2022. January 23, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220123044746/https://english.yale.edu/people/full-part-time-lecturers-creative-writers/mark-oppenheimer. live.
  15. Web site: The Final Fribble . Tablet Magazine . May 19, 2023.
  16. Web site: Monicken. Hannah. April 25, 2018. Seven Jewish Podcasts for Your Rotation. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210718000603/https://www.jewishexponent.com/2018/04/25/seven-jewish-podcasts-for-your-rotation/. July 18, 2021. July 18, 2021. Jewish Exponent. Jewish Publishing Group. en-US.
  17. Web site: Unorthodox podcast to record live in Tidewater | Jewish News. May 3, 2022. May 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503191409/http://www.jewishnewsva.org/unorthodox-podcast-to-record-live-in-tidewater/. live.
  18. Web site: Religiously Non-Conforming: An Orthodox Rabbi Leads a Movement for Trans Inclusivity . December 5, 2018 . May 3, 2022 . December 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201224204457/https://www.thebody.com/article/religiously-non-conforming-an-orthodox-rabbi-leads . live .
  19. Web site: There's more to Shavuot than cheesecake - the Jewish Chronicle. https://web.archive.org/web/20220414214817/https://www.thejc.com/comment/columnists/there-s-more-to-shavuot-than-cheesecake-1.464380 . April 14, 2022.
  20. Web site: President Rehfeld on Tablet Magazine's Podcasts. May 3, 2022. May 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503191410/https://pr.huc.edu/email/2020/02/rehfeld-podcast/. live.
  21. Web site: American podcast UnOrthodox holds live show at Beth Tzedec. November 30, 2016. May 3, 2022. May 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503191412/https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-unorthodox-comes-beth-tzedec/. live.
  22. Web site: Jewish podcast taps into Cleveland pride. November 7, 2018 . July 18, 2021. July 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210718003553/https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/jewish-podcast-taps-into-cleveland-pride/article_926684e4-e2b7-11e8-982c-4fdbf48358a4.html. live.
  23. Web site: Former NBA star Paul Westphal discusses his connection to Israel. February 21, 2020. May 3, 2022. January 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111050034/https://jewishinsider.com/2020/02/nba-star-paul-westphal-discusses-his-connection-to-israel/. live.
  24. Web site: Sister Julia gets real on Jewish Podcast - FSPA News. May 3, 2022. April 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413044029/https://www.fspa.org/news/sister-julia-gets-real-on-jewish-podcast. live.
  25. Web site: We're Family — Unorthodox Podcast — Tablet Magazine. May 3, 2022. May 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503191413/https://christ4you.org/were-family-unorthodox-podcast-tablet-magazine/. live.
  26. News: Wall. Alix. January 8, 2021. The Road to This Wedding Was Paved With Theft, Lies, Tears, Other Marriages — and Forgiveness. en-US. The New York Times. July 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210108132900/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/08/fashion/weddings/the-road-to-this-wedding-was-paved-with-theft-lies-tears-other-marriages-and-forgiveness.html. January 8, 2021. 0362-4331.
  27. Web site: Branch. Mark Alden. October 14, 2015. Podcasting in person. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151218045748/https://yalealumnimagazine.com/blog_posts/2234-podcasting-in-person. December 18, 2015. December 16, 2021. Yale Alumni Magazine. Yale University. en-US.
  28. News: Pine. Dan. September 16, 2019. N.Y. Times' Bari Weiss takes on anti-Semitism in first book. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190918040227/https://www.jweekly.com/2019/09/16/n-y-times-bari-weiss-takes-on-anti-semitism-in-first-book/. September 18, 2019. December 16, 2021. J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Jewish Community Publications. en-US.
  29. Web site: Culgan. Rossilynne. December 3, 2018. The Iranian Political Asylum Seeker Who Raised $1m for Tree of Life Finally Visited Pittsburgh. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200916203723/https://archive.theincline.com/2018/12/03/the-iranian-political-asylum-seeker-who-raised-1m-for-tree-of-life-finally-visited-pittsburgh/. September 16, 2020. December 16, 2021. The Incline. WhereBy.Us. en-US.
  30. Web site: Chessler. Suzanne. October 24, 2019. Detroit Jewish Book Fair at the JCC. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191029005508/https://thejewishnews.com/2019/10/24/detroit-jewish-book-fair-at-the-jcc/. October 29, 2019. December 16, 2021. The Jewish News. Jewish Renaissance Media. en-US.
  31. Web site: Writer. Ellen O’Brien Staff. From Abraham to Zabar's: 'Unorthodox' podcast hosts, authors of 'Newish Jewish Encyclopedia,' come to Phoenix. December 16, 2021. www.jewishaz.com. November 27, 2019 . en. December 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211216183636/https://www.jewishaz.com/community/from-abraham-to-zabar-s-unorthodox-podcast-hosts-authors-of-newish-jewish-encyclopedia-come-to/article_68347066-1130-11ea-9908-5737c4be4166.html. live.
  32. News: Heritage. Stuart. Verdier. Hannah. Dean. Will. Harper. Leah. Phipps. Jason. Slaney. Rowan. Mumford. Gwilym. Locker. Melissa. McConnell. Freddy. December 21, 2016. The 50 best podcasts of 2016. en-GB. The Guardian. July 19, 2021. 0261-3077. August 22, 2017. https://archive.today/20170822180428/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/dec/21/the-50-best-podcasts-of-2016. live.
  33. Web site: Isaacs. Anna. September 13, 2016. Top Ten Jewish Podcasts: Reader Edition. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214164233/https://momentmag.com/top-ten-jewish-podcasts-reader-edition/. December 14, 2021. December 14, 2021. Moment. en-US.
  34. Web site: Johnson. Hannah. April 20, 2018. 7 Jewish podcasts you should add to your rotation. December 16, 2021. Washington Jewish Week. en-US. July 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725152738/https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/7-jewish-podcasts-you-should-add-to-your-rotation/. live.
  35. Web site: November 9, 2020. Das Lernen über Antisemitismus sollte nie aufhören. Learning about anti-Semitism should never stop. live. December 16, 2021. jetzt.de. de. By the way, the world's best-known Jewish podcast is "Unorthodox". Here, the three hosts Mark Oppenheimer, Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz talk about news from the Jewish community. Also interesting for non-Jewish people.. December 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211216183637/https://www.jetzt.de/politik/empfehlungen-lernen-ueber-antisemitismus.
  36. Web site: McKinless. Ashley. Davis. Zac. November 22, 2019. Everything You've Wanted to Know About Judaism—but Were Too Afraid to Ask. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191211144913/https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/11/22/everything-youve-wanted-know-about-judaism-were-too-afraid-ask. December 11, 2019. July 18, 2021. America Magazine. America Press. en-US.

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