476 episodes

Unorthodox is the universe’s leading Jewish podcast, hosted by Stephanie Butnick, Liel Leibovitz, and Joshua Malina. Each week we bring you News of the Jews, interesting guests—one Jewish and one gentile—and so much more.

Unorthodox Tablet Studios

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.7 • 1.4K Ratings

Unorthodox is the universe’s leading Jewish podcast, hosted by Stephanie Butnick, Liel Leibovitz, and Joshua Malina. Each week we bring you News of the Jews, interesting guests—one Jewish and one gentile—and so much more.

    Summer Breaks

    Summer Breaks

    This week on the show, we’re catching a wave. 

    Producers Courtney Hazlett and Elie Bleier head to Tel Aviv to learn about the history of Israeli surfing from surfer Arthur Rashkovan. 

    Accompanying Tablet’s just-published reflections from Jewish college students about a semester like no other, producer Josh Kross heads to the University of Chicago to catch up with one of the essay writers. 

    You’ll also hear from Stephanie and Liel about the Torah class they led in a local correctional institute, organized by the Aleph Institute.  

    Learn more about becoming a Tablet member at tabletm.ag/uomember. Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive

    Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. 

    Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

    SPONSORS:

    Brandeis University offers an online master’s certificate in Jewish Professional Leadership, training creative and compassionate Jewish leaders on a flexible schedule. Learn more at brandeis.edu/hornstein.

    Emanu-El Downtown’s Religious School Lab opens this fall in Manhattan for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade, offering a welcoming community, pick-up from local schools, and one-to-one virtual Hebrew instruction. Visit EmanuelDowntown.org for more.

    Koren Jerusalem, the largest religious Zionist publisher in the world, has published roughly 1,500 titles in Hebrew and English over the last sixty years. You can pre-order the English translation of the bestselling book One Day In October, documenting the stories of the heroes of October 7, at korenpub.com.

    • 59 min
    Eitan Bernath, Shai Held, and Rivky Itzkowitz Are Here to Eat, Pray, Love

    Eitan Bernath, Shai Held, and Rivky Itzkowitz Are Here to Eat, Pray, Love

    This week on the show, we’re Eden Golan’s biggest fans. 

    TikTok phenom and cookbook author Eitan Bernath tells us about the Jewish foods featured in his new series, “Eitan Explores: Mexico City.” 

    Rabbi Shai Held of the Hadar Institute and the Answers WithHeld podcast delves into his new book, Judaism Is About Love. 

    And Orthodox clothing designer Rivky Itzkowitz shows off Impact Fashion, her size-inclusive fashion brand offering modest clothing for all.  

    The Israeli Eurovision winners heard in today’s episode are: “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, “Hallelujah” performed by Milk and Honey, “Diva” by Dana International, and “Toy” by Netta Barzilai. 



    Remember Shavit Romero, the gentile IDF soldier whose story we brought you a few weeks ago? He was just released from the hospital and now his real battle is beginning. If you’d like to support him as he recovers, you can chip in here:
    https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/shavit

    Learn more about becoming a Tablet Member at tabletm.ag/uomember. 

    Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive

    Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. 

    Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

    SPONSORS:

    Brandeis University offers an online master’s certificate in Jewish Professional Leadership, training creative and compassionate Jewish leaders on a flexible schedule. Learn more at brandeis.edu/hornstein.

    Emanu-El Downtown’s Religious School Lab opens this fall in Manhattan for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade, offering a welcoming community, pick-up from local schools, and one-to-one virtual Hebrew instruction. Visit EmanuelDowntown.org for more.

    On May 21 at 7pm, The 14th Street Y in New York City is hosting a conversation with cast members from the Tony-nominated play Prayer for the French Republic. Cast members including Tony nominee Betsy Aidem will talk about the play’s themes of Jewish identity, French culture, and Zionism in times of rising antisemitism. Visit 14streety.org to learn more and get tickets to Broadway at 14Y. 

    • 1 hr 49 min
    Conversations with Noa Tishby, Emmanuel Acho and Michael Rapaport

    Conversations with Noa Tishby, Emmanuel Acho and Michael Rapaport

    This week on the show, we’re opening a dialogue. 

    Jewish actor Noa Tishby and Gentile sports commentator Emmanuel Acho share what they learned from each other while co-writing their new book, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew. 

    Actor Michael Rapaport and Dr. Aliza Erber talk about their involvement in the Sharing Memories project, an effort by Israeli aid organization Latet and Meta in Israel that’s bringing Holocaust survivors’ stories to social media for Yom HaShoah. 

    And we speak with Barnard College senior Noa Fay about speaking out as a Zionist during weeks of disruption from anti-Israel protests. 

    Learn more about becoming a Tablet Member at tabletm.ag/uomember.

    Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. 

    Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

    SPONSORS:

    The BGU MBA International Program is a one-year English-language MBA led by industry experts in Israel’s innovation hub. Designed for global success, the program includes entrepreneurship masterclasses, networking opportunities, and hands-on startup idea development, all within a vibrant campus. Learn more here. 

    Brandeis University offers an online master’s certificate in Jewish Professional Leadership, training creative and compassionate Jewish leaders on a flexible schedule. Learn more at brandeis.edu/hornstein.

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Unorthodox Presents: Fire Dance

    Unorthodox Presents: Fire Dance

    This week on the show, we’re diving into the newest must-watch Israeli television series, thanks to our friends at ChaiFlicks, the Jewish streaming service.

    Israeli filmmaker Rama Burshtein-Shai discusses her new drama, Fire Dance, a tale of passion, fulfillment, and faith set in an ultra-Orthodox community near the Sea of Galilee. 

    Unorthodox listeners get 50% off new ChaiFlicks subscriptions and a seven-day free trial with code FIREPOD at checkout. Visit ChaiFlicks.com to get started.

    We’re excited to share a special opportunity for Unorthodox listeners to join Tablet. As Tablet members, you’ll get exclusive access to Tablet events, a chance to hear your name in an on-air mazel tov, and more! Learn more at tabletm.ag/uomember. 

    Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. 

    Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

    SPONSORS:

    Fire Dance, a tale of passion, fulfillment, and faith, is now streaming exclusively on ChaiFlicks, the Jewish streaming service. Starring Yehuda Levi and Noa Koler, the series paints a picture of an ultra-Orthodox community at the foot of the Sea of Galilee. Unorthodox listeners get 50% off new subscriptions and a 7-day free trial with code FIREPOD at checkout. Visit ChaiFlicks.com to get started.

    • 17 min
    Poison Ivy

    Poison Ivy

    This week on the show, we’re reporting from Columbia University, where in recent days anti-Israel protesters have set up an encampment and occupied an administrative building. You can read Tablet’s long-running coverage of the escalating situation on American college campuses here, and Liel’s 2019 article “Get Out” here.

    Liel and Tablet editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse speak with New York City Mayor Eric Adams about the protests, the NYPD response, and more.
    Stephanie heads to Columbia to see what’s happening on campus and talk to students.
    Plus, we’re sharing a recent Tablet conversation, moderated by Liel, between professors Shai Davidai of Columbia and Ron Hassner of Berkeley about their efforts to combat antisemitism on their campuses. 

    Learn more about becoming a Tablet Member at tabletm.ag/uomember. 

    Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. 

    Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

    • 2 hr 4 min
    The Minyan

    The Minyan

    This week on Unorthodox, we’re highlighting the latest installment of The Minyan, Tablet’s roundtable series on American Jewish life, hosted by Abigail Pogrebin. Tablet’s Executive Editor Wayne Hoffman discusses the newest offering, which features a conversation with Jews from the former Soviet Union. Their stories of endurance and emigration resonate always, but especially during Passover.

    You can read this and previous installments of The Minyan at tabletmag.com/minyan. And don’t miss the Tablet member Zoom on May 9 discussing the issues raised by participants. Find out more at tabletmag.com/sovietjews. 

    We’re excited to share a special opportunity for Unorthodox listeners to join Tablet. As Tablet members, you’ll get exclusive access to Tablet events, a chance to hear your name in an on-air mazel tov, and more! Learn more at tabletm.ag/uomember. 

    Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. 

    Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

    • 20 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
1.4K Ratings

1.4K Ratings

La Manifesta ,

A high point of my week

UPDATE: I was sorry when Mark Oppenheimer stopped co-hosting, but absolutely delighted when Joshua Malina took his place. Besides admiring Josh as an actor, his podcast The West Wing Weekly was as good as a podcast is ever going to be. And if you look up "mensch" in the dictionary, there's his picture.

I wish I could give Unorthodox more than five stars. It's one of podcasts I most look forward to each week. I'm not Jewish (either ethnically or religiously)—not religious in any way—but I enjoy and learn from each episode. Hosts Liel, Mark and Stephanie and producer Josh are individually and collectively fascinating and lively personalities, and genuinely good human beings. I've had the pleasure of meeting them at live Unorthodox events, and whenever they're appearing near me, I'll be there. Unorthodox is one of those podcasts you'll end up telling your friends about time and again. Give it a listen.

Ani Yehudi ,

The one and only Josh.

Not gonna lie, I went down Josh’s entire IMDB list and as I was never a fan of West Wing (cut me some slack, I was a teenager) I could not find a single role of his I can remember. That just means I know him solely for his part on the show. Keep it up and I hope you enjoy reading this. Jerome.
PS Leil, next time you’re in DC, I hope to have more moonshine for you.

izzyisascam ,

An old friend

While living in a small southern town and studying for conversion, Unorthodox played a huge role in filling in the cultural gaps that I so longed to understand. Not a Thursday goes by without me absorbing the latest episode. Thanks to ya’ll for adding so much joy to my Jewish life.

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