A Jew and A Gentile walk into a Bar . . . Mitzvah » Podcast

In episode 148, the intrepid trio, now podcasting from two countries, welcomes Mason Mennenga (he/him/his) an aspiring theologian, accomplished podcaster, YouTuber, and the Internet’s youth pastor. He received his Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in 2020 and a Master of Arts in Theology at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in 2022. He enjoys conversation over a drink, being a music snob, stand-up comedy, and long walks in the valley of the shadow of death, which is why he didn't mind stopping by our podcast for a chat. He is the host of two podcasts, A People's Theology and The BlackSheep Podcast. We talk about the evangelical-to-exvangelical-to-podcaster pipeline. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 22:14 mark.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the intrepid trio brings you episode 147 discusses three articles associated with mental health. First, the national mental health crisis plaguing colleges is stretching disability support offices, where more students are registering psychological disorders to receive classroom accommodations. Second, Staring at an image of yourself on Zoom has serious consequences for mental health – especially for women. Third, psychologists are starting to talk publicly about their own mental illnesses – and patients can benefit. The trio also does a mental health check-in with one another. To skip our opening mishigas, start listening at the 16:38 mark. Know that you will miss some great non-context hashtags and cigar banter.

Episode 146 finds the intrepid trio welcoming Shannon Gonyou, a practicing attorney, author, and convert to Judaism. She shares about her faith journey featured in her upcoming book, Since Siani: A Convert’s Path to Judaism. (Be a mensch and click the link and preorder the book.)

A bit more on Shannon… Raised in a heavily Catholic suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Shannon grew up focusing on two things: how to do enough good deeds to get into heaven and how to stay pure enough to escape hell. In college, she followed many of her peers into an Evangelical church known for guitars, drums, religious-based shame, and the idea that without Jesus she was nothing. But when she encountered Judaism on that same campus, a spark ignited within her and refused to be put out. Judaism felt obvious, familiar. After a falling out with her biological mother and two miscarriages, she found the courage to send the most important email of her life: she asked the local Jews by Choice program to accept her as a student. Honest and unflinching, Shannon’s story of coming home to Judaism encourages everyone–Christian, atheist, Jewish, and anything in between–to search relentlessly for the place where they belong.

To skip our opening mishigas start at the 17:43 mark.

Need we say more?!? Oh, apparently, we do. We couldn’t wait for Episode 150, so J. Dana Trent joins the podcast to discuss her latest book, Vermillion: A Memoir of Regret, Redemption, and Repair in Fly-over Country, based on her exceptional podcast, Breaking Good. Her podcast is powerful. (Also, check out her other podcast, Array of Faith.) And the rumor is the book is published by a random penguin! We strongly suggest that in the meantime you read all books by J. Dana Trent. To skip our opening mishigas, start at the 7:48 mark, though you’ll miss some high-quality JDT banter.

Luke (Cool Hand, not the Apostle): “Dyin’? Boy, he can have this little life any time he wants to. Do you hear that? Are ya hearin’ it? Come on. You’re welcome to it, ol’ timer. Let me know you’re up there. Come on. Love me, hate me, kill me, anything. Just let me know it. I’m just standin’ in the rain talkin’ to myself.”

In our late(st) episode (144 if you’re counting), we revisit the book of Job as we did not have the Ampersand of Reason last time we discussed this book. We explore themes in the book of Job and how they speak to our experiences with God and grief. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 15:03 mark. Know that you will miss our discussion of hand pies.

In our late(st) episode The Jew and the Ampersand of Reason are joined by special guest Genjin Becvar for a lively discussion of all things Asian TV. Oh, we also get into Mishna Avodah Zarah 3b in which learn that G-d spends one-third of the day studying Torah, one-third judging the entire world, and one-third playing with Leviathan. Only G-d would have a pet Krakken. Who’s a good Krakken, you’re a good Krakken…fetch boy. Sorry, Charles wrote the first bit of this, and even though the Gentile is not in this episode he inserted himself anyway. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 13:20 mark, but you’ll miss the Ampersand of Reason talking about crabs and Korean television.

Episode 142 “Of Cigars and Kabbalah” finds 2/3rds of us, sorry this is an Ampersand-free episode, in conversation with our friend Felix Assouline. Turns out, he knows about more than just cigars! Felix and The Jew share some of their favorite concepts, stories, and beliefs from Kabbalah and other Jewish mystic traditions while the Gentile tries to keep up. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 13:05 mark. And be sure to visit Felix Assouline’s website and order some great cigars.

In episode 141, the intrepid trio are joined by Jack Zaientz (a.k.a. Adne Sadeh, Jewish Monster Hunter) to talk all things Jewish magic, monsters and mayhem. We even talk about Jewish exorcism, which is really more like psychotherapy for dybbuks. Check out Jack’s blog and add him to your Twitter feed. To skip our opening mishigas, start listening at the 13:08 mark. If you skip ahead you miss out on a recap of the Jew and the Ampersand at the Renaissance Fair. (So many double entendres.) So, be a mensch and give this episode a listen.

A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under heaven, and this is the season for a new episode. While wisdom is superior to folly, you should listen to episode 140 anyway as we start with the futility of the first two books then turn, turn, turn that existential dread into the only worthwhile thing there is: to enjoy ourselves and do what is goodin our lifetime. Or at least in this episode. Be a mensch and give it a listen.

In the episode we find our intrepid Trio at the Wild Goose Festivaldiscussing the fine line between religious ecstasy and mental illness. The Jew, The Gentile, and The Ampersand of Reason read through Psalms as they use King David as a template for discussing mental health in a religious context.