Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome Sarah Hurwitz. A senior speechwriter for President Obama, and head speechwriter for the First Lady, Sarah critiques Moses as a communicator in this week’s Torah portion, Chukat.

After the Supreme Court's ruling, Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome three esteemed rabbis to take a look at some Jewish text in an effort to contemplate the court's decision, and frame a Jewish response.

This week the Rabbi and Joshua speak to an unforgettably unique guest, author Michael Twitty as this weekend is "NYC Pride". Michael is an African-American Jew, who identifies with the LGBTQ community, and has an upcoming book titled: "Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew".

As World Refugee Day is on Monday June 20th, Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome on a pair of important voices from Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which is the oldest refugee organization in the world. Mark Hetfield is the CEO & President of HIAS and Melanie Nezer is its Senior VP, Global Public Affairs.

The rabbi and Joshua get back to basics, taking a look at this week’s Torah portion, Nasso, and exploring Judaism’s perspectives on asceticism, charity, and humility.

Rabbi Shira and Joshua shine a spotlight on the surprisingly esoteric Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which is coming up in early June. A tradition of the holiday is to stay up all night studying Torah and in that spirit, we welcome on Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbi David Schuck.

Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome the CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, Sheila Katz. Together, they discuss Jewish thought on reproductive rights, when life begins, and what can be done in response to the Supreme Court's intention to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

In this episode, Rabbi Shira and Joshua discuss the ins and outs of Judaism's tattoo taboo. Is it verboten? Where on the sliding scale of sin does it fall? And the biggie: will a tattoo get you barred from a Jewish cemetery?

The Rabbi and Joshua welcome editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss his fascinating sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his compound in Kyiv. Goldberg explains the similarities that Zelensky shares with many American Jews and why it is so noteworthy that Ukraine's President is Jewish at this particular time.

Rabbi Shira and Joshua welcome Israeli and Palestinian guests to the podcast to engage in an inclusive and nuanced conversation around Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut.

As Passover has arrived, we welcome to the Chutzpod! Seder Table a very different Jewish background and perspective from Shira & Joshua. Rabbi Sandra Lawson is one of the world’s first African American, queer, female rabbis. She works with Reconstructing Judaism to help it realize its deeply held aspiration of becoming an anti-racist organization and movement.

As Passover has arrived, we welcome to the Chutzpod! Seder Table a very different Jewish background and perspective from Shira & Joshua. Rabbi Sandra Lawson is one of the world’s first African American, queer, female rabbis. She works with Reconstructing Judaism to help it realize its deeply held aspiration of becoming an anti-racist organization and movement.

Our hosts discuss the upcoming festival of Passover, and the symbols and goals of a meaningful seder. Plus, Rabbi Shira chats with The Sporkful's Dan Pashman about Passovers past, and a spiritual connection to eating.

…because on all other episodes we talk about what we want to talk about, but in THIS episode we talk about what you want to talk about! And never mind four, we answer SIX listener questions. Get your hosts’ takes on therapy, Luther, volunteerism, and more!

Fins, and scales, and split hooves…. oh my! The Rabbi and Josh get back to the text, as they look at the Torah portion Shmini, which includes the laws of keeping kosher, and they ponder how to sanctify the act of eating.

As Purim begins at sunset on Wednesday, “Chutzpod!” follows suit. This is a unique episode as you will hear a live Zoom taping where Joshua & Shira were joined by a legion of the “Chutzsquad”. Multiple guests came by as we do our best to fulfill all of the Purim Mitzvot (Commandments). Coming your way are Megillah Readings, the “Jewish or Antisemitic” game show, virtual costume changes, drinking games, Larry David stories, raising money to feed the less fortunate, and so much more all in under an hour.

In March of 1922 in New York City, twelve year-old Judith Kaplan had the first ever Bat Mitzvah and we are here to celebrate this momentous occasion. Rabbi Shira tells Joshua about her own Bat Mitzvah and explains the reasoning for why this rite of passage occurs when it does. Our interview this episode is with Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Hermann, who works at SAJ, where Judith made history 100 years ago. We also sprinkle in other touching first-hand Bat Mitzvah stories for you to enjoy.

As tragedies continue in Ukraine, Joshua & Rabbi Shira dedicate this episode to the 200K+ Jewish people who live there and are in harms way. The episode begins by letting people know the ways they can help and what Jewish relief organizations are lending their support. Then we are joined by Oksana Galkevich, born in Ukraine and as of the past few years living in Israel, who has assisted the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) with many operations in Ukraine and the Former Soviet Union.

What is the purpose of a community? Rabbi Shira and Joshua look at this very simple yet complex question in this episode that aligns with the Torah portion “Vayakhel”. They are then joined by the esteemed author Wajahat Ali for his unique viewpoint on the subject.

Our hosts welcome the Queen of TikTok Talmud to the show, and they discuss the Golden Calf, feeling lost without a leader, and the rabbi under your bed.