Amusing Jews

An interview show celebrating Jewish contributors and contributions to American popular culture co-hosted by Jonathan Friedmann and Joey Angel-Field.

It’s Alive! Halloween Special – with novelist Julian David Stone

Julian David Stone is an author, photographer, and filmmaker whose novel It’s Alive! recounts the frantic days leading up to the filming of Universal’s 1931 classic, Frankenstein. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Julian’s websitehttps://www.juliandavidstone.com/Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

10-27
27:16

Ep. 122: Illustrating They Might Be Giants – with artist Kelilah Miller

Kelilah Miller is an artist and rabbi whose linocut design is featured on a new shirt from They Might Be Giants. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Kelilah’s SoundCloudhttps://soundcloud.com/kelilah-miller Kelilah’s Redbubble shophttps://www.redbubble.com/people/RabbiVole/shop?utm_source=rb-native-app&utm_campaign=share-artist&utm_medium=android Kelilah’s Tumblrhttps://www.tumblr.com/rabbivolesolo?source=share Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

10-20
25:41

Ep. 121: Movie Memories – with film historian Steve Vertlieb

Steve Vertlieb is an award-winning writer, film historian, critic, archivist, and poet who’s been writing about motion pictures and symphonic film music since 1969. Many of his articles can be found online at the long-running science fiction fanzine File 770. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren File 770https://file770.com/?s=vertlieb&submit=Search The Man Who “Saved” Movies – trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob6-t0MKXRY Steve Reviews E.T. (1982)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzfACZLxra0 "People Are Talking" Halloween Special (early 1980s)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCMCkUBZ-bY Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

10-13
30:07

Ep. 120: Will Eisner: A Comics Biography – with Stephen Weiner and Dan Mazur

Stephen Weiner has been writing about graphic novels since 1992 and spearheaded the movement to bring graphic novels into public libraries. Dan Mazur is a screenwriter, cartoonist, and co-founder of MICE: The Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo and the Boston Comics Roundtable. Their new book is Will Eisner: A Comics Biography, published by NBM Graphic Novels. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Will Eisner: A Comics Biographyhttps://nbmpub.com/products/will-eisner Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

10-06
32:08

Ep. 119: The Bible is a Joke* – with podcaster Gil Kidron

*Finding humor in the Bible with Gil Kidron, a writer, editor, and host of A Podcast of Biblical Proportions. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren A Podcast of Biblical Proportionshttps://podcastofbiblicalproportions.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

09-29
38:14

Ep. 118: Building a Cartoon Empire – with animation producer Michael Hirsh

Michael Hirsh is a trailblazing producer of children’s programming and former head of Nelvana, Cookie Jar, and Wow! Unlimited Media. His shows include Inspector Gadget, The Care Bears Movie, Babar, The Berenstain Bears, Little Bear, Rolie Polie Olie, Franklin, The Magic School Bus, Beetlejuice, Eek! The Cat, Max & Ruby, and many more. His book is Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Animation Nationhttps://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/animation-nation/ Michael’s IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0386650/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

09-22
28:13

Ep. 117: Marx Brothers Forever! – with writer and performer Noah Diamond

Noah Diamond is a co-host of The Marx Brothers Council Podcast, an author, performer, and cartoonist whose books include 400 Years in Manhattan; Love Marches On: A Saga of Broadway; and Gimme a Thrill: The Story of I’ll Say She Is, the Lost Marx Brothers Musical, and How It Was Found. His newest project is the limited series podcast, Pintele. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Noah’s websitehttps://www.noahdiamond.com/ The Marx Brothers Council Podcasthttps://www.marxbrotherscouncilpodcast.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

09-15
26:13

Ep. 116: 30 Years of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist – with pop culture historian Mathew Klickstein

Mathew Klickstein is an author and pop culture historian whose books have covered such topics as Nickelodeon, The Simpsons, The San Diego Comic-Con, and Lloyd Kaufman, president and co-founder of Troma Entertainment. His recent article, “SQUIGGLEVISION! 30 Years of Kvetching from the Couch of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,” is available at Paste.Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann and Joey Angel-FieldProducer-engineer: Mike Tomren SQUIGGLEVISION! 30 Years of Kvetching from the Couchhttps://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/dr-katz/squigglevision-30-years-of-kvetching-from-the-couch-of-dr-katz-professional-therapist Mathew’s websitehttps://www.mathewklickstein.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

09-08
24:05

Ep. 115: Outlaw Rock & Roll Photography – with photographer Julian David Stone

Julian David Stone is an author, photographer, and filmmaker whose photography is collected in the coffee table book, No Cameras Allowed: My Career as an Outlaw Rock & Roll Photographer. He also has two novels: The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl; and It’s Alive! Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Julian’s websitehttps://www.juliandavidstone.com/ No Cameras Allowedhttps://www.juliandavidstone.com/home-1 Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

09-01
20:11

Ep. 114: Desegregating Glen Echo: A Black-Jewish Alliance – with documentarian Ilana Trachtman

Ilana Trachtman is an Emmy award-winning documentary director and producer whose latest film is Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Roundhttps://www.aintnoback.com/ Ilana’s IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm1196719/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

08-25
22:09

Ep.113: Maria Lani: The Woman with Fifty Faces – with Jonathan Lackman and Zachary J. Pinson

Jonathan Lackman is an author and art historian and Zachary J. Pinson is an artist and illustrator. Their new book, The Woman with Fifty Faces: Maria Lani & the Greatest Art Heist that Never Was, is published by Fantagraphics. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann and Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren The Woman with Fifty Faceshttps://www.fantagraphics.com/products/the-woman-with-fifty-faces Maria Lani websitehttps://marialani.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

08-18
28:41

Ep 112: Dr. Wertham’s Crusade Against Comics – with author Harold Schechter

Harold Schechter is a true crime author and professor emeritus at Queens College whose latest graphic biography is “Dr. Werthless,” illustrated and co-written by Eric Powell. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren “Dr Worthless”https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3012-934/Dr-Werthless-HC Harold’s websitehttps://haroldschechter.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

08-11
31:13

Ep. 111: Are the Ferengi Space Jews? – with author Miriam Eve Mora

Miriam Eve Mora is managing director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute at the University of Michigan and author of Carrying a Big Schtick: Jewish Acculturation and Masculinity in the Twentieth Century. Her chapter, “The Jewish Case for Fereginar,” is published in the book Jews in Popular Science Fiction: Marginalized in the Mainstream, edited by Valerie Estelle Frankel. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Jews in Popular Science Fictionhttps://www.bloomsbury.com/us/jews-in-popular-science-fiction-9781666901467/ Carrying a Big Schtickhttps://wsupress.wayne.edu/9780814349625/ Raoul Wallenberg Institutehttps://lsa.umich.edu/wallenberg Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

08-04
36:41

Ep. 110: Talkin' Jewish – with podcaster Jonathan Rosen

Jonathan Rosen is co-host of Pop Culture Retro and host of The Jewish Lens. He’s also the author and editor of several books, including Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies and Coming of Age: 13 B’nai Mitzvah Stories. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Jonathan’s websitehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5E05jPfVs Pop Culture Retrohttps://www.youtube.com/@PopCultureRetro The Jewish Lenshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheJewishLens Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

07-28
20:37

Movie Review: Superman or Super-BLAND? – with comic book scholar Roy Schwartz

Roy Schwartz is a comic book historian, former CNN regular contributor, board member of the American Jewish Historical Society, and author of Is Superman Circumcised? The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Is Superman Circumcised?https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/is-superman-circumcised/ Roy’s websitehttps://www.royschwartz.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

07-21
31:36

Ep. 109: Jews & Westerns – with author Jonathan L. Friedmann

Jonathan L. Friedmann is the president of the Western States Jewish History Association; vice president, academic dean, and director of programs at Ezzree Institute; admissions director and associate professor at the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism; and director of the Jewish Museum of the American West. His latest book is Chai Noon: Jews and the Cinematic Wild West.  Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Chai Noonhttps://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/C/Chai-Noon Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

07-14
38:19

Ep. 108: Jews & Comic Books – with DC Comics legend Paul Levitz

Paul Levitz is a comic book writer, editor, and executive best known for his decades-long association with DC Comics, which began as a freelancer in the early 1970s and included a tenure as the company’s president and publisher from 2002 to 2009. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Paul’s websitehttps://paullevitz.com/ Paul’s Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Levitz Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

07-07
23:17

Ep. 107: Eminent Jews – with author David Denby

David Denby is a New Yorker staff writer and New York Times bestselling author whose latest book is Eminent Jews: Bernstein, Brooks, Friedan, Mailer. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Eminent Jewshttps://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250193407/eminentjews/ David’s websitehttps://denby-david.com/ David’s New Yorker columnshttps://www.newyorker.com/contributors/david-denby Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

06-30
40:28

Ep. 106: Who was Jack Ruby? – with biographer Danny Fingeroth

Danny Fingeroth is a biographer, cultural historian, and former writer and editor at Marvel Comics whose latest book is Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald’s Assassin. He also authored A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee; Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero; and Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Danny Fingeroth Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren The Many Faces of Jack Rubyhttps://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/jack-ruby-products-9781641609128.php Danny’s websitehttps://dannyfingeroth.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Cool Shul Cultural Communityhttps://www.coolshul.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

06-23
40:01

Ep. 105: From Soaps to Historical Fiction – with novelist Alina Adams

Alina Adams is a New York Times bestselling author whose latest historical novel, Go On Pretending, explores three generations of Jewish women battling the tides of history from segregated 1950s America to the fall of the USSR to the rise of revolutionary Rojava. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Alina’s websitehttps://alinaadams.com/ Go On Pretendinghttps://www.historythroughfiction.com/go-on-pretendingAlina’s Substackhttps://alinaa.substack.com/Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

06-16
29:06

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