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

Episode 138: The Word as Nomad with Phil Wyman

In Episode 138, The Jew, The Gentile, and The Ampersand of Reason join The Welsh Troubadour, Phil “Freaking” Wyman (we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy), in wandering and wondering what it means to perceive the the Word as Nomad. How does the Word “move”? How do we “move” with The Word? What happens if the Word becomes static and “domesticated”? Phil proposes these and other “moving” questions on the eve of his moving to Wales. Check out Phil’s Patreon Site and his YouTube Channel. And be a mensch and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. While you’re at it, visit his website and check out his podcast “Wild Theology.” To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 19:20 mark. You’ll still get to hear Phil’s original song, “Corona Virus Boogie.” However, by skipping ahead you’ll miss no-context-hastags like “onelongash” or “thehandwashappy.” You also will miss our discussion of Muppet tofu, our naming the official cigar of the podcast, and what Phil “Freaking” Wyman is the patron saint of…

Episode 137: Talking Cigars with Felix Assouline

to, surprisingly, our first cigar creator and blender, Felix Assouline. Felix shares about his cigar creation process through interesting stories. We feel that even if you are not a cigar aficionado you’ll enjoy this episode and, if you’re not careful, you may learn something. And give Felix Assouline some love by visiting his site maybe you purchase a box or two. Also be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Felix first started out in the cigar business in 1997 on the retail side. His first store in Dania Beach, Florida sold all the premium brands and launched him into 3 additional stores in South Florida over a 6 year span. During that time he also ran a successful wholesale cigar business. Felix’s passion for a great smoking cigar drove him to try every cigar he possible could and as he did, he developed an intricate knowledge of cigar construction and how different leaves affected the flavor of the cigar.

With that insight, Felix opened his own factory in Danli, Honduras in 2004 and began making his own cigars. Felix introduced 2 successful brands, one of which being the original EGO, which received a 90 rating in Smoke Magazine in the September 2006 issue.

In 2007, Felix decided to sell everything and focus all his attention on his greatest love, his family. After enjoying incredible family moments for 6 years, he decided it was time to get back into the cigar business. This time, Felix wanted to focus all his efforts on fulfilling a dream of creating his own blends to achieve one goal: create the best premium cigars on the market…

Episode 136: Gay with God

Episode 136 of a Jew & a Gentile Walk into a Bar…Mitzvah the Podcast welcomes Midge Noble. Midge describes herself as a professional hummingbird; using all of her gifts for the highest and best needs of the clients she serves. Midge received her Master’s degree in Counselor Education at Appalachian State University and became licensed in the state of NC as an LPC.  She has worked professionally in the school setting, mental health and later at a private practice. Currently, she has her own business; Empowering Awakened Hearts, LLC. She specializes in healing hurts from painful life events and guiding her clients to live their best authentic life. Midge has written and self published two children’s books, helped build a church in India and is trained in ThetaHealing & Animal Communication. Midge shares about her journey to accepting her authentic self. Her story is one of those “I’m not crying you are” stories. It is as powerful as it is personal. And she is launching a Podcast!

Midge on Midge: “Growing up in the South…the Bible Belt…had its challenges once I owned the fact that I AM gay. It took me so many years to own my sexual orientation because of the messages I grew up with from my church and society. It has been a long and sometimes painful journey. How did I get through it? That is what this community/ podcast is all about….GAY with GOD! is a safe place to tell your faith journey story and hear that… “You are Okay and beloved by God; even if you are GAY!”

To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 14 minute mark.

EPISODE 135: ABBY NORMAN AND THE POWER OF LAMENT

Episode 135 of a Jew & a Gentile Walk into a Bar…Mitzvah finds the intrepid trio welcoming back to the podcast Rev. Abby Norman. You might ask, Abby who? (If you didn’t get the previous movie reference then you need to watch Young Frankenstein. Seriously.) Abby Norman is a writer, blogger, speaker, and licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church. Her writing has been featured in Huffington Post, SheLoves Magazine, and The Mudroom. Abby lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her college sweetheart, two daughters, and a very bad dog. She comes to share about her new book “You Can Talk to God Like That: The Surprising Power of Lament to Save Your Faith.” To skip our opening mishigas begin listening at the 33:10 mark.

Praise is the only path to God–at least this is what many of us have been taught. But the notion that we have to be positive all the time, putting on a happy face through anger, frustration, and pain, hinders our ability not only to heal ourselves and society, but to have an authentic relationship with the Divine.

We long to connect with God over the very real sorrow in our lives and in the world around us, but so many of us were never shown how. This lack of knowing how to lament–an ancient practice of expressing anger and pain to God–damages us personally and spiritually.

Pastor Abby Norman is here to tell us that we can talk to God like that. In her fresh, tell-it-like-it-is voice, she unpacks the power of lament, providing us with the tools and the grace-filled permission to heal the problems we have been ignoring for too long. She shows us how to express our laments to God and to each other when things are definitely not okay. And through this process we will discover a richer connection with God–who has wanted nothing more than our whole selves from the start.

Episode 134: Women and Mental Health

Episode 134 of a Jew & a Gentile Walk into a Bar...Mitzvah, the Podcast, welcomes back Jory Micah as she joins the gang to talk about women and mental health. What follows is a bold, courageous, and honest conversation between Jory and our very own Ampersand of Reason, Rev. Helena. (And if you have time, and if you're listening to us you likely do, check out Jory's first visit to the podcast in Episode 121.) Jory is a Christian Writer, Theologian, Preacher, Intersectional Feminist & Lover of Humanity. She speaks for progressive faith and politics. Jory is working on her forthcoming book “Breaking the Glass Steeple.” Find her on social media (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) and check out her site. If you'd like to skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 19:15 mark. However, you'll miss hearing about the Ampersand's latest edition to her menagerie, hermit crabs.

Episode 133: Talking Jewish Racism with Tema Smith

Episode 133 of a Jew & a Gentile Walk into a Bar…Mitzvah the Podcast features advocate, author, and trainer Tema Smith who joins the The Jew, The Gentile, and the Ampersand of Reason to discuss racism within Judaism (yes, Jews can be racists too), Jacques Derrida, and The Dead Parrot Sketch. Tema is dedicated to building a meaningful and inclusive Jewish community through research, training, writing and relational engagement work. She is currently the Director of Professional Development at 18Doors (formerly InterfaithFamily), and a contributing columnist at The Forward. Check out her site and visit her on social media. To skip our opening mishigas skip to the 23:53 mark. However, you’ll miss bits about a sex store in Climax, NC and the no-context-hashtag of the episode “parrot hole” if you do.

Episode 132: Complementarianism is Heresy

Episode 132 finds your favorite podcasters joined by the one and only, J Dana Trent. The group talk about JDT’s letter to Beth Moore that was published in Religion Dispatches. JDT challenges Moore’s departure from the Southern Baptist Convention and her ending her relationship with Lifeway Publishing. JDT is herself a Southern Baptist clergy person, author, and educator. In her letter, JDT calls out Beth Moore for her apology for promoting complementarianism as reeking of complementarianism. What’s complementarianism? Complementarianism is the erroneous belief that men and women have different complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, and religious leadership. Not surprisingly, men have the headship roles while women have support roles. If you want to skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 22:50 mark. However, you’ll miss some great 4/20 humor. We also recommend that you check out JDT’s article in Christian Century entitled “Drop.”

Episode 131: You can be a Pretty, Pretty Princess

Episode 131 of a Jew & a Gentile walk into a Bar…Mitzvah the Podcast finds the usual suspects joined by friends and fellow podcasters, the Twisted Sisterds. Nicole and Becky join us to discuss can one be a pretty, pretty princess and a feminist. And if you’re not listening to the Twisted Sisterds or following them on Facebook or Twitter, it is time you started. Who knows maybe they’ll let you join the Twisted Tavern gang. Also be a mensch and check out their patreon site. If you want to skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 11:39 mark.

Episode 130: A Jew & a Gentile & a Buddhist

A Jew and a Gentile AND a Buddhist…in this economy? Episode 130 of a Jew & a Gentile Walk into a Bar…Mitzvah the Podcast the gang welcomes guest Genjin Becvar. Genjin is a novice priest in the White Plum lineage of the Sōtō Zen tradition. He is a graduate of the Upaya Zen chaplaincy training program. Genjin is a member of the faculty in the community engaged ministry program at Breadloaf Mountain Zen community. He also studied spirituality at St. Paul’s University, Chinese language at the Harbin institute of technology and social work. He currently lives in Aylmer Quebec outside of Ottawa, where he lives with his partner and three sons. He works primarily with Ottawa’s homeless population in outreach and harm reduction programs. He also the resident priest of a small Zendo and sangha (community), in Aylmer. All that to say, he’s a mensch. The gang talk about Genjin’s homeless outreach, mental health, mindfulness, life, death, and Grok. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 28:05 mark.

EPISODE 129: TALKING PURIM WITH DR. RABBI RUTH ABUSCH-MAGDER

Episode 129! Be Joyous, It’s Adar. In this joyous episode we put on our masks and discuss all things Purim with very special guest, Dr. Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder, Education Director and a Rabbi-in-Residence at Be’chol Lashon. Topics broached include Mordechai’s sexploitation of Esther, Esther using what ever power allowed he to defeat Haman, how cute The Ampersand of Reason was as a 4-year old Queen Esther, and how The Gentile is now haunted by visions of The Jew in drag. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 7:25 mark. However, you’ll miss this episode’s no-context-hashtag “self geeking.”