Unorthodox (podcast)

The podcast was started in 2015 when Oppenheimer pitched the idea to Tablet Magazine The podcast is recorded in front of a live audience in New York City. The podcast received a grant from the Jim Joseph Foundation. On November 5, 2018, the podcast recorded a live episode at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood, Ohio as part of the Cleveland Jewish Book Festival. The live show featured a guest appearance from David Gilbert, the CEO and president of Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. In 2020, Unorthodox marked its 250th episode. On October 2, 2024, Leibovitz announced that Unorthodox was ending, and would be replaced as Tablet's main podcast by Rootless. ==Hosts==

The podcast was hosted by: • Stephanie Butnick: Butnick serves as deputy editor of Tablet • Liel Leibovitz, the senior writer for Tablet Israeli-born Leibovitz, is a senior writer for Tablet, journalist, media critic and video-games expert. and has written books including Stan Lee: A Life in Comics. • Joshua Malina: Malina was announced as a new co-host replacing Mark Oppenheimer on May 18, 2023. Additional Personalities Josh Kross, producer He has been a news reporter, magazine writer, and essayist and has written six books, including Wisenheimer (about his years as a high school debater) and Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood. == Format ==

The hosts talk about Jewish culture, politics, and news with weekly guests. The show is generally light hearted, but does cover difficult topics like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Segments • Introduction: Weekly personal anecdotes from the hosts • News of the Jews • Jew of the Week (JOTW): Interview with Jewish individual • Gentile of the Week (GOTW): Interview with non-Jewish individual • Mailbox • Mazel Tovs: Congratulations and shout-outs to notable Jews and fans of the show Jews of the Week • Actress and Neuroscientist Mayim Bialik • Colorado Governor Jared Polis • Senator Joe Lieberman • Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D., President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion • David Bezmozgis, writer for the popular Canadian sci-fi TV show Orphan Black • David Gilbert, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland Gentiles of the Week • Great British Baking Show contestant Jürgen Krauss • Julie Nesrallah, the opera singer and host of CBC Radio 2's Tempo classical music program • Father Thomas Soroka, Eastern Orthodox priest from St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Pittsburgh • Terry Stewart, former CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland == Episodes ==

Annual Special Episodes • Apology episode coinciding with the High Holy Days == Live events ==

The podcast was in residency for several years at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. The podcast also did a live show at the Slifka Center for Jewish Life on October 13, 2015. The podcast did a live show at Jewish Community Center of San Francisco on September 23, 2019. The show did a live episode in Pittsburgh. The podcast did a live show in Detroit. The podcast did a live show in Phoenix at the Sun Jewish Community Center on December 9, 2019. == Reception ==

The podcast was named one of the 50 best podcasts of the year in 2016 by The Guardian. The show was included on ''Moment Magazine's list of the "Top Ten Jewish Podcasts". The show was included on Washington Jewish Week's list of "7 Jewish podcasts you should add to your rotation". Jetzt'' called Unorthodox "the world's best-known Jewish podcast". It is listened to in 11 countries with more than six million downloads; a fan Facebook page includes more than 6,000 members. == Adaptations ==

The hosts of the show published a book entitled ''The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar's and Everything in Between'' and went on a book tour together. == References ==