The Bagel Report
The Bagel Report is a pop-culture entertainment podcast featuring award-winning culture and entertainment writers Esther D. Kustanowitz and Erin Ben-Moche. Each episode, these entertainment junkies discuss all things Jewish in the arts & entertainment world while exploring how Jewish identity is portrayed on the big and small screen. Follow us on social @estherk and @ebenmoche and on Twitter and Facebook @TheBagelReport .
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Comedian Rob Kutner on Ant-Man Memoir and God's Gang
04/19/2024
Comedian Rob Kutner on Ant-Man Memoir and God's Gang
This week, the Bagels are joined in the virtual studio by Emmy-winning comedian Rob Kutner. He shares his experiences writing on Conan and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as well as how he ghostwrote Marvel's meta-novel, Look Out for the Little Guy. Kutner also updates Erin and Esther on his latest project, God's Gang, a multicultural kid's series about superheroes, unity and peace. Check out these links:
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Our Enthusiasm has Been Curbed
04/12/2024
Our Enthusiasm has Been Curbed
What a week: Curb Your Enthusiasm ended, Alex Edelman's Just For Us dropped on Max, and We Were The Lucky Ones, Dinner with the Parents, and tons of other shows are keeping TV Jewy. This week Esther and Erin tackle the big questions: who's worse, Larry David or the Seinfeld Four? Why do LD's friends tolerate him? And why wasn't there more of a tribute to Richard Lewis? And to top it all off, Passover's coming...and we've got playlists and parodies and haggadahs, oh my! Check out these Links! Passover Playlist from Mike Boberg of And his Purim Raymond Simonson's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend audio haggadah episode that explains the More Passover pop culture from Esther:
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Bagels & Brous: Mending Broken Hearts w/ Rabbi Sharon Brous
03/15/2024
Bagels & Brous: Mending Broken Hearts w/ Rabbi Sharon Brous
This week, the Bagels were joined by Rabbi Sharon Brous, the founder of IKAR in Los Angeles. Esther and Erin asked questions about Brous' new book, "The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World." The bagels and Brous touched on the value of community in the darkest of times while also finding moments of joy. The Bagels also recapped the Oscars and Rabbi Brous joined in on a pop-culture speed round. You can find The Amen Effect at a bookstore --virtual or in-person-- near you. Check out these links:
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Dune Discourse and Oscar Prep
03/08/2024
Dune Discourse and Oscar Prep
This week Erin shares her journey to the 96th Academy Awards and tries to explain all 2 hours and 46 minutes of Dune: Part 2 to Esther. Later, Esther and Erin remember comedian Richard Lewis who passed away last week at the age of 76. Esther recalls his recent Curb Your Enthusiasm cameos and other famous roles as well as his impact on comedy. Check out these links: Follow Erin's Oscar coverage )
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Hollywood's Current Zone of Interest: The Holocaust
02/26/2024
Hollywood's Current Zone of Interest: The Holocaust
Perhaps in honor of January's Holocaust Remembrance Day, or perhaps in anticipation of March's Oscars and May's Yom Hashoah — it's never the wrong time to #NeverForget. This week the Bagels talk about the influx of Holocaust-themed movies and TV shows like The New Look, A Small Light, Transatlantic and the upcoming One Life, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and We Were the Lucky Ones. Erin saw The Zone of Interest during an L.A. flood warning and Esther took a virtual tour of Auschwitz. The two discuss what the trend in Holocaust content means and how it affects antisemitism and Jewish representation. Plus, Schindler's List is 30; a delayed news brief about the Shabbat on Broadway event that seemed to come out of nowhere; and Susie and Jeff have a Curb Your Enthusiasm podcast. Check out these links:
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Carbing Our Enthusiasm
02/04/2024
Carbing Our Enthusiasm
Get it? Cause we're bagels...Grab a cup of spite and a dry scone because this week the bagels are talking about the final season of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm. This episode has everything: guest stars, fan contributions, the Holocaust and Elmo. Let us know what you think of the 12th season of the series, which is now available on HBO and MAX. Check out these links!
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More in 2024!
01/11/2024
More in 2024!
It's a new year and that means the return of Erin's favorite joke annually told by Esther. This week, the Bagels talk about the upcoming awards season, and learn more about Maestro "Lenny" as well as how musical conducting is a lens through which to view leadership. Erin and Esther issue a Shabbat dinner invitation to Alanis Morissette, who discovered her Jewish roots, and talk about Ava DuVernay's upcoming film, Origin. Plus, Jessica Seinfeld's Instagram posts about her trip to Israel with her famous husband; and celebrating The Amen Effect, the eagerly-awaited book by IKAR Founder Rabbi Sharon Brous. The kvelling is substantial. Check out these links!
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Round and Round: Goodbye 2023
12/22/2023
Round and Round: Goodbye 2023
Hallmark finally got Hanukkah right and gifted us with “Round and Round,” a charming, delightful movie that imagines the Festival of Lights as a time loop. In addition to this great watch at year’s end, the Bagels have a list of other time loop episodes for you to check out and some movies — old and new — to end 2023 with. May 2024 bring us peace, health, and lots of new content to talk about. Happy New Year! Check out these links:
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Maestro and Menorahs
12/08/2023
Maestro and Menorahs
Esther shares insights from her screening of Maestro, pulling on the Jewish identity threads in the film (and yes, addressing the nose). The bagels also discuss Sarah Silverman's role in the film and her evolving, honest opinions about Jewish representation. Erin recommends Adam Sandler's Leo and looks forward to a new Jake Johnson comedy as well as a new Hanukkah movie featuring a time loop. Plus, revisiting our expectations about Jewish celebrities using their platforms to speak out about current events and Jewish issues, and running through the IMDB profile of Norman Lear, z"l. May the light of this season shine brightly, especially for those who are living in darkness. Wishing all our listeners a hopeful and illumination-centered Hanukkah. Check out these Links:
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Not Just for Us — For Everyone
11/17/2023
Not Just for Us — For Everyone
This week, Erin and Esther celebrate another year of the Bagel Report which has been talking about all things Jewish and pop culture since October 2019! They also recap the mitzvah of Alex Edelman's unabashed Jewish representation and give a shoutout to the new Meg Ryan and David Duchovny movie (but never actually name the movie, which is: What Happens Later.) Esther gets a little serious, talking about opportunities to raise awareness for the hostages from the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. Erin also seeks out Hallmark Christmas movies to ice her brain and offers a prayer for a rom-com. Check out these links: Alex Edelman
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Alison Peck is SO Invited to Our Podcast
10/27/2023
Alison Peck is SO Invited to Our Podcast
With things still crazy and tragic in Israel and Gaza, we continue to hold the hostages in our minds and our hearts. At the same time, the Bagels allow some space for joy and chat with screenwriter Alison Peck, writer of the Netflix movie "You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah" (produced by Adam Sandler and starring at least three additional Sandler family members, and based on the 2005 book by Fiona Rosenbloom). We talk about our connections to Israel and to Jewish life, brainstorm ideas for Peck-Kustanowitz-BenMoche collabs and try to get Alison a brand partnership with Converse. Check out these links! Moving Traditions webinar with Alison Peck:
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Praying for Peace
10/12/2023
Praying for Peace
This is not a normal episode. Erin and Esther process an impossible week while reacting to celebrity prayers for peace.
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Bagels for Break Fast
09/30/2023
Bagels for Break Fast
With the help of IKAR, their spiritual community, Erin and Esther have atoned! Now the Bagels are breaking down their Yom Kippur experience and celebrating the end of the WGA strike. And apparently, Hallmark Christmas Movie season begins in September, so Erin shares some news about the Hanukkah movie coming to town. Esther also talks about Hed Lamarr's hidden gifts through the PBS documentary Bombshell.
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We're Gonna Party Like it's 5784
09/13/2023
We're Gonna Party Like it's 5784
If we had but one Rosh Hashanah wish...the Bagels would create and "bam-copyright" Hanukkah and Elul advent calendars. The Bagels prepare for the High Holy Days by manifesting wishes for 5784 and recommending movies and shows with themes that match Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Erin makes the case for Netflix's #1 show Suits as a great High Holy Days rewatch, and Esther invents a college course about faith, science and pop culture that no one asked her to develop. Plus, both of your hosts make pop culture resolutions: each to overcome resistance to shows that the other thinks are TV musts. Sending our wishes to you all for a shana tova - a happy new Jewish year! SNL's Steve Martin Holiday wish: Suits Opening Theme:
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You Are SO Invited to This Podcast Episode
09/06/2023
You Are SO Invited to This Podcast Episode
Finally, a movie with "bat mitzvah" in the title! What a time to be alive. :) The Adam Sandler-produced film, written by Alison Pick and directed by Sammi Cohen hit Netflix on August 25th and we've been talking about it ever since! Join Erin and Esther for a deep dive: Did you always get called by your Hebrew name in Hebrew school? What were your bat mitzvah themes? And who is Bagel Face? Get the download on Shabbat cookies, name cakes, and adolescent drama. Plus Erin’s reveal — she's encountering matzah ball ignorant people — and Esther spins a Sephardi backstory for Mateo.
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Going for the 'Golda' with Oscar-winning director Guy Nattiv
08/25/2023
Going for the 'Golda' with Oscar-winning director Guy Nattiv
'Golda' is now in theaters, with a tour de force performance by Helen Mirren as the Israeli Prime Minister, and wonderful supporting performances. We'll talk more about the film's content in future episodes, but in this special short-and-sweet episode, Erin and Esther interviewed the film's director, Guy Nattiv, who provided his insights on the woman the film presents to audiences, some of them, for the first time. To better understand our interview, we've gathered some information below that may be helpful, including more about the people he mentions during the interview. Enjoy - and feel free to email us with any questions: . More about Golda Meir and her impact: He says that Golda didn't believe Marwan “the Angel” - a spy who worked for both Egypt and the Mossad and that when Arab leaders wanted to speak with her she thought they were crying wolf — Nattiv used the term “wolf, wolf” - an Israeli idiom for crying wolf: Ze'ev, ze'ev. He refers to Meron Medzini, Meir's former press secretary and one of her biographers: you can watch one of his lectures about Meir here: Lou Kedar, Meir's longtime assistant, did an interview for the AP after Meir died — read the author's reflection on that interview here: Golda's impact on Ukraine and President Zelenskyy
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One Time, at Theater Camp...
08/18/2023
One Time, at Theater Camp...
Erin and Esther went to see Theater Camp together and spoiler alert, everything is adorable, especially Molly Gordon and Ben Platt. This week was all about unpacking the film’s cinematic influences while reminiscing about our own camp/theater camp experiences at Camp Tamarack and Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. Even though the bagels attended camp at different times and places, their life lessons were similar. Lessons include how any musical number can be translated into Hebrew, and that there are no small roles, only small child actors. Have a favorite camp movie? We do, but advise you not to google “popular camp movies” or you might find yourself in the middle of WW2. As the WGA strike continues well past 100 days, we give a shout-out to Hannah Einbinder’s Jewish activist presence, good Mandy Patinkin vibes and Marnina Schon’s Jewy comments on protesting. Later, Jewish erasure in Oppenheimer takes on a new angle, and, as two unrelated movies come out the same day, we have to ask ourselves: is You Are So Not Invited to Golda’s Bat Mitzvah the new Barbenheimer?
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Barbenheimer Broadway Bagels
08/04/2023
Barbenheimer Broadway Bagels
Hi Broadway!! (Hi Broadway!) Welcome to Season 3 of The Bagel Report! Our episode recorded after the Tonys — recorded in June, but new to you! — gets a new Barbenheimer intro to an episode about Jewy Broadway, with an exploration of Alex Edelman's "Just for Us," which Esther saw in New York. Erin breaks down the importance of "Parade," plus mentions for "Leopoldstadt" and "Rent," and Erin asks Esther to define "TV Gone Jewy." Shabbat pajamas, what?? (Visit and use the code JWEEKLY!) SHOW NOTES/LINKS: (for Shabbat pajamas, Barbie-inspired challah cover and more!) Just For Us - get Golda film - You are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah! - Visit us on socials! IG: @TBRthepod, @estherkustanowitz @ebenmoche X? Is that really what we're calling it? Oh fine: @TheBagelReport, @EstherK @ebenmoche
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Roasting Anti-Semitism, Getting 'Elemental,' Celebrating Dads
06/19/2023
Roasting Anti-Semitism, Getting 'Elemental,' Celebrating Dads
Erin and Esther take to the studio: Esther discovers what it means to do a comedy roast for a concept, and Erin recommends a film about an ember and a wave who fall in love, and may represent different immigrant stories. And the Bagels talk about their dads, sharing essential characteris and musing over casting ideas
Connect with us on socials!
Twitter: @estherk, @ebenmoche and @TheBagelReport
Instagram: @estherkustanowitz, @ebenmoche and @tbrthepod
Email /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550260
Connect with us on socials!
Twitter: @estherk, @ebenmoche and @TheBagelReport
Instagram: @estherkustanowitz, @ebenmoche and @tbrthepod
Email /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550260
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What Maisel Wore and More, with fashion historian Vi from SnappyDragonStudios
06/12/2023
What Maisel Wore and More, with fashion historian Vi from SnappyDragonStudios
Breaking down the Renaissance Faire, cosplay and the Gilded Age with fashion historian Vi (pronounced "vee"), from the SnappyDragonStudios channel on YouTube. We talk about Jewish 1880s fashion and Vi's recreation of her great-great-grandmother's dress, as well as "The Clothes on our Backs," the YouTube series she produced with guidance from the Jewish Writers Initiative Digital Storytelling Lab.
Plus — you knew they had to — the Bagels take one more tour through The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, bu /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550263
Plus — you knew they had to — the Bagels take one more tour through The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, bu /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550263
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Thank You and Goodnight, Mrs. Maisel
06/05/2023
Thank You and Goodnight, Mrs. Maisel
As Mrs. Maisel takes her final bow, the Bagels review the finale episode and the series as a whole: its highlights and misses, unanswered questions, and a robust number of listener comments and questions. Go watch the season 5 finale, and then join us for the conversation.
Connect with us on socials!
Twitter: @estherk, @ebenmoche and @TheBagelReport
Instagram: @estherkustanowitz, @ebenmoche and @tbrthepod
Email us at: [email protected]
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Connect with us on socials!
Twitter: @estherk, @ebenmoche and @TheBagelReport
Instagram: @estherkustanowitz, @ebenmoche and @tbrthepod
Email us at: [email protected]
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'Mrs. Maisel’s' Austin Basis on Playing Head Writer in the Final Season (with Basis and Michael Horwitz)
05/29/2023
'Mrs. Maisel’s' Austin Basis on Playing Head Writer in the Final Season (with Basis and Michael Horwitz)
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's" fictional Gordon Ford Show, like non-fictional late-night comedy shows, has a head writer: Alvin, played by Austin Basis, who joined the Bagels for a rousing conversation about the end of the show, Jewish comedy influences and which cars on Coney Island's Wonder Wheel are the best.
Also in the virtual studio, filmmaker Michael Horwitz, writer/director of the short film "Kanashimi" (produced by Todd Felderstein) which features Austin in a leading role. Come for the Ma /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550269
Also in the virtual studio, filmmaker Michael Horwitz, writer/director of the short film "Kanashimi" (produced by Todd Felderstein) which features Austin in a leading role. Come for the Ma /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550269
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'Jewish Matchmaking' and Jewish Geography with Comedian Pamela Schuller
05/22/2023
'Jewish Matchmaking' and Jewish Geography with Comedian Pamela Schuller
Jewish Matchmaking? On Netflix? Who could have predicted this a year ago? Now that The Bagels have finished bingeing the series, they got a chance to speak with the utterly delightful comedian Pamela Schuller about her standup, dating with Tourette's and disability inclusion.
A long-ago meeting with the show's matchmaker, Aleeza Ben Shalom, built trust and laid the groundwork for Pamela's appearance on the series (she's four-foot-six and went on a date with Stuart) — and the rest is (very recen /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550275
A long-ago meeting with the show's matchmaker, Aleeza Ben Shalom, built trust and laid the groundwork for Pamela's appearance on the series (she's four-foot-six and went on a date with Stuart) — and the rest is (very recen /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550275
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What Pop Culture Moms and Jewish Matchmakers Mean to Us
05/15/2023
What Pop Culture Moms and Jewish Matchmakers Mean to Us
Are you there, listeners? It’s us, the Bagels…and this week we’re sharing initial reactions to the Netflix show Jewish Matchmaking and its stars, as well as our feelings about seeing Judy Blume's beloved classic story "Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret" on the big screen.
And Mothers’ Day gives us a chance to reflect on the things we appreciate about and have inherited from our mothers, as well as taking a spin through some of our favorite moms of pop culture.
Connec /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550278
And Mothers’ Day gives us a chance to reflect on the things we appreciate about and have inherited from our mothers, as well as taking a spin through some of our favorite moms of pop culture.
Connec /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550278
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'Onioning' Identity with the Asian-Jewish LUNAR Collective (with Jenni Rudolph and Maryam Chishti)
05/08/2023
'Onioning' Identity with the Asian-Jewish LUNAR Collective (with Jenni Rudolph and Maryam Chishti)
This week, the Bagels welcome Jenni Rudolph and Maryam Chishti, co-executive directors of The LUNAR Collective to the virtual studio to talk about Asian Jewish identity. How do they feel about Asian representation in movies like Everything Everywhere and Turning Red?
Jenni and Maryam share personal stories and tease a possible LUNAR Jewish-Asian Book Club. The Bagels and the LUNAR team peel back layers of identity to find meaning and explore the idea of inclusion and belonging. What kind of bagel /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550284
Jenni and Maryam share personal stories and tease a possible LUNAR Jewish-Asian Book Club. The Bagels and the LUNAR team peel back layers of identity to find meaning and explore the idea of inclusion and belonging. What kind of bagel /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550284
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The Mandalorian Report (with Rabbi Howard Tilman and David Wilensky)
05/01/2023
The Mandalorian Report (with Rabbi Howard Tilman and David Wilensky)
Esther and Erin finally dive into The Mandalorian's Jewish themes with the help of two guests who love Jewish identity, Star Wars and popular culture: J. Editor David A.M. Wilensky and Rabbi Howard Tilman.
What is a Mandalorian and does it matter? Why is this show resonating with Jewish viewers? And is a homeland a place or state of mind? Even if you're like Erin, who is new to the fandom, there is something for everyone in this episode, like MCU Easter Eggs, Fiddler on the Roof nods and Harry Po /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550287
What is a Mandalorian and does it matter? Why is this show resonating with Jewish viewers? And is a homeland a place or state of mind? Even if you're like Erin, who is new to the fandom, there is something for everyone in this episode, like MCU Easter Eggs, Fiddler on the Roof nods and Harry Po /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550287
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Midge Maisel Strikes Back
04/24/2023
Midge Maisel Strikes Back
Esther and Erin are twirling their way into the first few episodes of the final season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." We go back so that Midge can "go forward" — and also literally go forward in time, jumping from the 60s to the 80s, and getting a clearer picture of what it was like to be a child in the Maisel household.
Plus, kvelling for Judaism consultant Todd Shotz and his work on that super-Jewy episode of Grey's Anatomy, and getting excited about Zach Braff talking about kosher plates.
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Plus, kvelling for Judaism consultant Todd Shotz and his work on that super-Jewy episode of Grey's Anatomy, and getting excited about Zach Braff talking about kosher plates.
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The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Haggadah
04/03/2023
The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Haggadah
After years of analyzing Rachel Bloom's musical series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Erin and Esther felt equipped to create a Passover Haggadah filled with songs from the show. It comes with rules, of course.
Erin and Esther carefully considered how the pre-existing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend songbook, its titles, lyrics and themes, might be applied to the Passover seder and story. So with that, we hope you enjoy, laugh and sing a little with the kosher-for-passover Bagels as they journey through West Covina (e /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550296
Erin and Esther carefully considered how the pre-existing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend songbook, its titles, lyrics and themes, might be applied to the Passover seder and story. So with that, we hope you enjoy, laugh and sing a little with the kosher-for-passover Bagels as they journey through West Covina (e /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550296
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Extrapolated Haggadah B-A.I.-gels
03/27/2023
Extrapolated Haggadah B-A.I.-gels
This episode is in memory of Orli Chaim Wildman Halpern, who died March 17 after a long fight against cancer. She was a self-described bold (and bald) feminist and Swiftie, who loved her dog and Lizzo. May her memory be a blessing and an inspiration.
Is AI taking over the world?! Unclear, but it is attempting to take over Passover...Esther and Erin explore the latest AI-generated Haggadah supplements and evaluate their potential impact on this year's Seders. Then a topic change...to climate chang /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550299
Is AI taking over the world?! Unclear, but it is attempting to take over Passover...Esther and Erin explore the latest AI-generated Haggadah supplements and evaluate their potential impact on this year's Seders. Then a topic change...to climate chang /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550299
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Everything Bagels Everywhere All At The Oscars
03/17/2023
Everything Bagels Everywhere All At The Oscars
The Oscars were this last weekend, and Erin and Esther obviously have thoughts. From Jamie Lee Curtis' win to Erin not caring so much that Steven Spielberg lost, they cover the Jewy and not so Jewy moments.
The Bagels also pay tribute to the late Chaim Topol, and look ahead to the Jewishness of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" and Daveed Diggs' role as a rabbi facing climate change in a new AppleTV+ show. Don't forget to thank the Academy on your way to The Bagel Report's afterparty.
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The Bagels also pay tribute to the late Chaim Topol, and look ahead to the Jewishness of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" and Daveed Diggs' role as a rabbi facing climate change in a new AppleTV+ show. Don't forget to thank the Academy on your way to The Bagel Report's afterparty.
C /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550305