Call Your Mother Kveller

On February 14, 2018, like any other day, Fred Guttenberg's two children left the house to go to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. But after a former student attacked the school with a semi-automatic weapon, 17 people did not come home that day, including Fred's daughter, Jaime. Jordana and Shannon speak to Fred about his grief, his close relationship with President-elect Joe Biden, and how he channeled his pain into action to combat gun violence in America.

Music:
"Voicemail" by Khronos Beats
"Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)

In recent years, entrepreneur, activist, author, and Jewish mom of two Jenna Arnold criss-crossed the U.S., having conversations with countless groups of white women about their identities and their roles in our country. The result is her book, Raising Our Hands: How White Women Can Stop Avoiding Hard Conversations, Start Accepting Responsibility, and Find Our Place on the New Frontlines. Jordana and Shannon have a wide-ranging conversation with Jenna about what it means to be white and Jewish women in America. The trio discuss why talking about race can be difficult, how to learn from our mistakes, and how to start those much-needed "hard conversations with Uncle Bob on Thanksgiving."
 
Music:
"Voicemail" by Khronos Beats
"Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)

On a “totally chill” late-fall day, Jordana and Shannon chat with multi-hyphenate author, photojournalist, and producer Deborah Copaken, who’s a columnist at The Atlantic and a writer for Netflix’s Emily in Paris. The mom of three was also once an avid biker — she’d bike 20 miles on the regular, without breaking a sweat. But then she got Covid-19 in March, and things haven’t been the same since. Deborah — whose memoir, Lady Parts, is coming out next year — chats with our hosts about living with long-haul Covid-19, detailing her struggle with breathing problems, heart-rate spikes, exhaustion, hope, and more.
 
Music:
"Voicemail" by Khronos Beats
"Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)

Fertility struggles impact so many families in myriad ways — though often the burden and the blame fall on women. Dana Sussman's story flips the narrative, when she and her husband discover that her husband is not producing any sperm. Several uncomfortable and emotional surgeries later — plus countless doctors visits, egg retrievals, and more — the couple are now parents of two children. With remarkable candor, Dana shares her unique journey with Jordana and Shannon, and they also discuss the ways in which access to fertility treatments may be limited in the coming year, due to possible changes to healthcare access.
 
Music: 
"Voicemail" by Khronos Beats
"Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)

Remember the measles outbreak in 2018 to 2019? Misinformation and distrust for the government were significant factors that contributed to the dangerous spread of the highly contagious disease within many ultra-Orthodox communities in New York. In December 2019 our hosts Jordana and Shannon spoke with Blima Marcus, a nurse practitioner and professor who helped curtail the spread in her community through education and compassion. In this week’s Call Your Mother Rewind, at a time in which Covid-19 infections are high within some ultra-Orthodox communities, we revisit our conversation with Blima, unpacking how misinformation and the perception of antisemitism remain relevant today.
 
Music:
"Voicemail" by Khronos Beats
"Sultry Glance" by Perfect Solution Music
"Study Session No Melody" by MellowSTU
"Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)

We all need some good distraction right now. So this week, Jordana and Shannon chat with Lior Zaltzman — Kveller's associate editor and our in-house TV expert — about the best Jewish and Israeli TV to watch right now. From "Shtisel" to "Tehran," they discuss the recent shows that have brought them joy, and explore how Israel has gone from "Startup Nation" to TV Nation.
 
Music:
"Voicemail" by Khronos Beats
"Best I Can" by Jasmine Jordan (ft. Habit Blcx)