Anything But Traditional

Tamar Ben Tzvi
Anything But Traditional

Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, and family dynamics are no exception. In the Orthodox Jewish community, there's a common perception of what a traditional family should look like. But the truth is, families are as diverse as life itself, and it's time to create a more open and accepting space within our community. If your family doesn't fit the mold, you're not alone. Our mission is to initiate a conversation about Jewish families, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding for all. We want to inspire young families to rethink and reimagine what a thriving Orthodox Jewish family can be, even when facing adversity. Join us as we explore the myriad paths that families have taken, both by choice and circumstance, to reach their unique destinations. This is an original podcast by Tales Of.

  1. NOV 25

    Grief, Giggles, and Growth: Joan Weiner Levin

    In this powerful episode, marketing expert, comedian, and mother of two, Joan Wiener, takes us on a deeply personal journey through her life. She shares her experiences of growing up in a conservative Jewish home on Long Island, facing the profound loss of her mother at just six years old, grappling with her religious identity, losing her roommate in a bus bombing, navigating a broken engagement, and battling infertility. Joan’s wit and resilience shine through it all, demonstrating how humor can be a source of strength even in the darkest moments. If you’d like to continue the conversation with Joan, you can connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, or her website. 00:00 - Meet Joan Wiener Levin 01:37 Joan's Childhood and Family Background 02:53 - The Loss of Joan's Mother 10:09 - Joan's Path to Becoming a Comedian 16:02 - Joan's Religious Journey 24:07 - Finding Love and Marriage 27:48 - A Traumatic Experience in Israel 29:18 - Graduate School and the Pull to Israel 31:17 - Navigating Personal Tragedy and Relationships 36:31 - Life in San Francisco During the Dot-Com Boom 39:09 - Challenges and Joys of Parenthood 42:48 - The Journey of Aliyah 48:00 - Struggles with Judaism and Personal Beliefs *For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. ** Please note that from November 11th until December 31st, Anything But Traditional is having a sale on podcast ads - $25 for a 30-second ad. Be in touch if interested! Thank you for listening!

    56 min
  2. NOV 18

    Closed Doors, Open Paths: Elia Weixelbaum (My Stepdad)

    From surviving the horrors of 9/11 to the heartbreak of losing a spouse at a young age, Elia Weixelbaum’s journey has been quite the definition of anything but traditional. Hear as we dive deep into his experiences as a single father, the challenges and triumphs of blending two families, and the profound role his faith has played throughout his life. Now living in Rechovot, Israel, with his wife (my mom) — he is living his dream life. Listen to this story and be inspired by Elia's faith, resilience, determination, and positive attitude. It's truly an episode not to be missed! 00:00 - Meet Elia Weixelbaum 01:28 - Elia's Early Life and Family Dynamics 06:54 - Education and Career Beginnings 13:27 - Life in Greenwich Village and First Wife 21:18 - Family Life, Moving to East Brunswick, Career Switch 30:45 - 9/11 Experience and Aftermath 47:36 - Stephanie's Passing and Its Aftermath 58:48 - The Challenges of Single Parenthood 01:02:04 - Dating and Blending Families 01:12:41 - Facing More Losses and Life Challenges 01:17:02 - Making Aliyah and Starting Anew 01:24:17 - Reflections on Life's Journey and Future Expectations *For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. ** Please note that from November 11th until December 31st, Anything But Traditional is having a sale on podcast ads - $25 for a 30-second ad. Be in touch if interested! Thank you for listening!

    1h 33m
  3. JUL 29

    Adversity, Advocacy, and Administration: Dr. David Leitner

    Dr, David Leitner, better known as Dr. D., is a strategy and leadership consultant and a university lecturer. He specializes in using strategy to create team alignment and engaged followership. He is married and has three amazing kids. He is a disabled IDF veteran who suffers from CRPS. And is the only IPSC wheelchair competitor in Israel. In this episode of Anything But Traditional, Dr. David Leitner reflects on his upbringing as the son of a conservative rabbi, his life-changing experience in Israel, and his severe injury during military service that led to his struggle with CRPS. Dr. D discusses making aliyah on his own, building Bar Ilan into a more accessible university, and building a family and career despite chronic pain. Thank you for listening! 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Growing Up as a Rabbi's Kid 05:06 Journey to Israel and Religious Transformation 08:39 College Life and Struggles with Identity 16:16 Military Service and Injury 26:48 Living with CRPS 31:26 Adapting to a New Reality 41:44 Expanding Accessibility Efforts 42:47 Handing Over the Role and Creating a Board 43:43 Pursuing a PhD and Major Life Events 46:00 Challenges and Triumphs in the Army 51:11 Building A Family 01:01:26 Daily Life and Assistance 01:10:12 Leadership and Followership 01:14:57 Final Thoughts and Advice **For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. Thank you for listening!

    1h 28m
  4. JUL 15

    The Unspoken Struggles Of Motherhood: Chari Pere

    Chari Pere, creator of Miscarried: An Unspoken Cartoonmentary, worked as a creative director and illustrator/storyboard artist on projects for Red Bull, Jockey, Disney, Comedy Central, and Bud Light. She has created content for The Washington Post's The Lily and Mad Magazine and has collaborated with NYT bestselling author Gretchen Rubin and actress Mayim Bialik. Chari launched the "Unspoken" Cartoon series as part of the 2024 Jewish Writers' Initiative Digital Storytellers Lab Fellowship. Breaking Stigmas through Cartoons: An Interview with Shari Pair In this episode of Anything But Traditional, Chari shares her journey from childhood aspirations to her experiences working with major brands like Red Bull and Disney, and her profound personal journey through miscarriage and postpartum depression. The conversation delves into her efforts to break the silence around very important, yet often untalked about topics, through her comics and animated shorts, and is a powerful testament to using art to foster empathy and support others facing similar challenges. Website: https://www.charipere.com/ Miscarried: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI7kEAYkUJI Michael's Miscarriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-9Nc66L2k&t=2s Subscribe to the "Unspoken" YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnspokenCartoonmentary Instagram/Facebook: @charipereart **For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. Thank you for listening! 00:00 Introduction 01:29 Chari's Journey into Cartooning 02:32 The Impact of Miscarriage on Chari's Work 03:48 Creating Comics for Social Change 08:58 Chari's Background and Early Influences 16:24 Navigating Career and Motherhood 20:16 Challenges and Resilience in Chari's Career 27:26 Struggles and Miscarriages 31:48 Postpartum Depression and Health Challenges 34:19 Balancing Career and Family 38:31 Finding Support and Breaking Stigmas 49:50 Final Thoughts and Reflections

    55 min
  5. JUL 8

    Finding Judaism, Finding Self: Kylie Lobell

    Kylie Ora Lobell is the president of KOL Digital Marketing, a marketing, PR, and ghostwriting firm for Jewish organizations, authors, and business owners. She is also an award-winning writer who has been published in the Jewish Journal of LA, Washington Post, LA Times, New York Magazine, Aish, Chabad, and Tablet. You can follow her on X, LinkedIn, or Instagram. In this episode, Kylie shares her extraordinary journey from a secular Christian upbringing to converting to Orthodox Judaism. She discusses her tumultuous childhood, questioning faith, and eventual embrace of Jewish practices after experiencing the warmth of the Jewish community. Kylie delves into her struggles with depression, postpartum depression, the challenges she faced in her conversion process, and how Judaism is misrepresented in the media. This episode is packed with inspiring anecdotes, offering a deep dive into the complexities and rewards of Kylie's faith and personal growth. **For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. Thank you for listening! 00:00 Introducing Kylie Ora Lobel 01:55 Kylie's Childhood and Family Background 03:42 Questioning Faith and Early Doubts 14:52 Meeting Daniel and Exploring Judaism 17:29 Discovering Chabad and Connecting with Faith 21:41 Conversion Journey and Challenges 33:28 Challenges and Reflections on Jewish Practices 46:51 Postpartum Depression and Community Support 01:01:09 Final Thoughts and Inspirational Messages

    1h 4m
5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, and family dynamics are no exception. In the Orthodox Jewish community, there's a common perception of what a traditional family should look like. But the truth is, families are as diverse as life itself, and it's time to create a more open and accepting space within our community. If your family doesn't fit the mold, you're not alone. Our mission is to initiate a conversation about Jewish families, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding for all. We want to inspire young families to rethink and reimagine what a thriving Orthodox Jewish family can be, even when facing adversity. Join us as we explore the myriad paths that families have taken, both by choice and circumstance, to reach their unique destinations. This is an original podcast by Tales Of.

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada