Episodes 73
Avg. Duration 21m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.7 (104)
Since Aug 2019
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
45%
Hosting
feeds.simplecast.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

The Jewish Lives Podcast is a monthly show that explores the lives of influential Jewish figures. Hosted by Alessandra Wollner, each episode includes an interview with an acclaimed Jewish Lives author. Jewish Lives is a prizewinning series of biography published by Yale University Press and the Leon D. Black Foundation. Join us as we explore the Jewish experience together.

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Recent Episodes

EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD

May 11, 2026 22m

Edmond de Rothschild (1845–1934) was born into one of the wealthiest families in history, but his legacy lies beyond aristocratic privilege. Join us with award-winning historian James McAuley, author…

STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Mar 31, 2026 17m

Stephen Sondheim (1930–2021) was a towering figure in American musical theater. Join us with Daniel Okrent, author of the new biography Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn’t Easy, as we explore the…

MORDECAI M. KAPLAN

Mar 09, 2026 20m

Rabbi, writer, teacher, and thinker, Mordecai M. Kaplan (1881–1983) was one of the leading Jewish personalities of twentieth-century America. Founder of the Reconstructionist movement, he was a…

WALTER BENJAMIN

Feb 10, 2026 23m

Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) is widely considered one of the most creative cultural critics of the twentieth century.Join us with Harvard University scholar Peter E. Gordon, author of the new…

LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN

Nov 20, 2025 24m

According to the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951), philosophy is a “battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language.” This audacious idea changed the way many of…

PHILIP ROTH

Oct 10, 2025 26m

Philip Roth (1933–2018) is one of the most celebrated American writers of the 20th century.Join us with Steven J. Zipperstein, author of the groundbreaking biography Philip Roth: Stung by Life, as we…

CAROLE KING

Sep 15, 2025 24m

Carole King’s extraordinary career has defined American popular music for more than half a century.Join us with journalist Jane Eisner, author of the new biography Carole King: She Made the Earth…

FRANZ BOAS

May 27, 2025 17m

Franz Boas (1858–1942) is widely acknowledged for his pioneering work in the field of cultural anthropology.Join us with Noga Arikha, author of the new biography Franz Boas: In Praise of Open Minds,…

ABRAHAM

Mar 21, 2025 18m

Join us with Anthony Julius, author of the new biography Abraham: The First Jew, as we explore the origins of a fundamental struggle within Judaism between skepticism and faith, critique and…

LOUIS B. MAYER AND IRVING THALBERG

Feb 24, 2025 19m

Louis B. Mayer (1884–1957) and Irving Thalberg (1899–1936) were unlikely partners in one of the most significant collaborations in movie history.Join us with film critic Kenneth Turan, author of the…

ANNE FRANK

Jan 23, 2025 28m

In this episode, acclaimed author Ruth Franklin explores the transformation of Anne Frank (1929–1945) from ordinary teenager to icon, shedding new light on the young woman whose diary of her years in…

MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL

Dec 23, 2024 22m

Menasseh ben Israel (1604–1657) was among the most accomplished and cosmopolitan rabbis of his time, and a pivotal intellectual figure in early modern Jewish history.Join us with Professor Steven…

JACOB

Nov 21, 2024 18m

A powerful hero of the Bible, Jacob is also one of its most complex figures.Join us with Israel Prize winner Professor Yair Zakovitch, author of Jacob: Unexpected Patriarch, as we explore the many…

MENACHEM MENDEL SCHNEERSON

Oct 22, 2024 23m

Episode 59: MENACHEM MENDEL SCHNEERSONMenachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994) was the seventh and last rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, one of the world’s best-known Hasidic groups.Join us with…

AYN RAND

Aug 07, 2024 22m

Ayn Rand (1905–1982) was one of America’s most provocative writers of the 20th century. Her best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged have influenced three generations of Americans.Join…

MOSES MENDELSSOHN

Jul 02, 2024 20m

The “German Socrates,” Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) was the most influential Jewish thinker of the 18th and 19th centuries. A Berlin celebrity and a major figure in the Enlightenment, Mendelssohn…

LÉON BLUM

Jun 04, 2024 21m

Léon Blum (1872–1950), France’s prime minister three times, socialist activist, and courageous opponent of the pro-Nazi Vichy regime, profoundly altered French society.Join us with one of France’s…

HEROD THE GREAT

May 02, 2024 22m

Herod the Great (73–4 BCE) was a phenomenally energetic ruler who took advantage of the chaos of the Roman revolution to establish himself as a major figure in a changing Roman world and transform…

A PASSSOVER SPECIAL: BECOMING ELIJAH

Apr 17, 2024 44m

Get ready for Passover with Jewish Lives. Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue and Professor Daniel Matt, author of Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation, explore the life and legacy…

HENRIETTA SZOLD

Mar 25, 2024 23m

Henrietta Szold (1860–1945) is renowned as the founder of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, which quickly became one of the most successful of all Zionist groups.Join us with…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Jewish Lives Podcast have?

The Jewish Lives Podcast has published 73 episodes since August 2019, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is The Jewish Lives Podcast still active?

The Jewish Lives Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 21m.

How do I contact The Jewish Lives Podcast for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for The Jewish Lives Podcast, including email and social media links.

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