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 .

Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain is Real...ly Great 11/22/2024

Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain is Real...ly Great This week, Esther and Erin break down Jesse Eisenberg's new Jewy film, A Real Pain, and what makes his and Kieran Culkin's performances so captivating. They also dive into the high-stakes thriller September 5th, a gripping retelling of the Munich Olympics Israeli hostage crisis and what it brings up in a post-Oct. 7th world. The bagels even talk about the new Paramount+ documentary about an Israeli-Palestinian boy band that came to LA to start a music career on Oct. 6th, 2023. Check out these links: NPR's Retrospective on the September 5th As1One /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/34029654

Down the Witches Road: Our 5th Bagelversary 11/01/2024

Down the Witches Road: Our 5th Bagelversary Erin and Esther are celebrating the fifth anniversary of this little ol' podcast! After some reflections on all we've lived through since October 2019 (!!), the Bagels move down the Jewish interpretive road, examining "Agatha All Along" — its bar mitzvah episode and other moments and images that remind us of Jewy things. Looking ahead to November, the Bagels discuss A Real Pain, the movie written and directed by and starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Erin bubbles with enthusiasm about the release of Wicked and talks about the film's long production road. So if you care to find us, look to the Western Sky, or join us on the Bagels' Road. If you're reading this, you're with us already. And we're so grateful for that! Check out these links: Agatha's Jewy Plotline via A Real Pain Wicked /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/33725967

Protopian Bagels w/ Alysia Reiner, Shaina Feinberg and Reboot Studios' Noam Dromi 10/09/2024

Protopian Bagels w/ Alysia Reiner, Shaina Feinberg and Reboot Studios' Noam Dromi As the Bagels reflect on the Jewish New Year and the anniversary of the Oct. 7th terror attacks in Israel, they are also uplifted thanks to a conversation about Reboot Studios' latest project, "We Should Eat." Written and directed by Shaina Feinberg and developed by Alysia Reiner, the short tells the story of a Jewish family with a Filipino father and Jewish mother. The duo tells Esther and Erin about the film's diverse Jewish experiences and nuanced character dynamics while addressing existential dread and intergenerational trauma. Check out these links: Shaina Feinberg's | NYT Reboot's The Anne Frank Gift Shop Learn more about Reboot /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/33387042

These Bagels Want This Rabbinical Rom-Com 09/27/2024

These Bagels Want This Rabbinical Rom-Com Nobody Wants This? More like somebody wants this! Rabbinic representation gets the Hollywood treatment in the new Netflix romantic comedy series "Nobody Wants This," about atheist podcaster Kristen Bell falling for rabbi Adam Brody. The show's trailer and title set up negative expectations, but how did the series portray Jewish life and ritual? Is the show engaging enough for a second season? And what could a show like this do for Jews in interfaith relationships? Join the bagels for a long-ranging and in-depth conversation about this 10-episode series. If you've already binged it or have just started streaming, send us your thoughts at . Check out these links: Nobody Wants This Chrismukkah from the OC Adam Brody in /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/33229332

Tears, Love, L'Chaim 09/06/2024

Tears, Love, L'Chaim This week the Bagels discuss the importance of balancing joy and tragedy. They remember the six Israeli hostages killed by Hamas while kvelling over the very Jewish wedding of Ben Platt and Noah Galvin. They also review the trailer for the upcoming Netflix series "Nobody Wants This," featuring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody; shout out Ilana Glazer's friend-flick, "Babes," and rave over Adam Sandler's newest Netflix special, "Love You." /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/32938892

Navigating Millennial Jewish Stars w/ Jonathan Branfman 08/16/2024

Navigating Millennial Jewish Stars w/ Jonathan Branfman The Bagels are glad to have found Jonathan Branfman, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford and author of the book, Millennial Jewish Stars: Navigating Racial Antisemitism, Masculinity and White Supremacy, to discuss how on-screen portrayals of Jewish people or situations have changed over the decades. Jon tells us about "Goyface" and how it relates to "Jewface" and racial minstrelsy. Plus, shoutouts to Andi Mack, Lil’ Dicky, Uncut Gems, Broad City, Logan Lerman, Zac Efron, Adam Brody and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This episode will fulfill your Judaic studies academic requirements and involve you in a long-ranging discussion about Jewish masculinity in popular culture AT THE SAME TIME! Follow Jonathan Branfman on Instagram @JonBranfman Check out these links! Thinking about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Zac Efron on Esther's review of Israeli vampire series Friends of the Pod /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/32602457

Yiddishisms in Pop Culture with Professor Rebecca Margolis, 06/21/2024

Yiddishisms in Pop Culture with Professor Rebecca Margolis, This week, the bagels chat with Rebecca Margolis, author of and She and the Bagels do a deep dive into the Yiddish language and how it finds its way into TV and film. Later, she answers Erin and Esther's questions about Dybbuks and why they continue to show up in supernatural spaces. /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/31833987

Bagels, Broadway, Platt and Pride 06/07/2024

Bagels, Broadway, Platt and Pride Only the Bagels know how to connect the Muppets, Broadway and SpermWorld. This episode's journey explores the history of the Muppets, the guest stars at Ben Platt's new Broadway show and the return of one of Esther's faves, Hacks. Esther and Erin also anticipate upcoming camp movies, are moved by Jerry Seinfeld's emotions, and talk documentaries, from SpermWorld to The Jinx. We also create our ultimate Jewish Pride Pop-Culture Playlist. Check Out These Links: Jim Henson Hacks Season 3 on and the that inspired the doc. and The Jinx /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/31625557

Everybagel's in L.A. 05/27/2024

Everybagel's in L.A. Erin and Esther are back together, sharing their TV-must-watches as well as what they're looking forward to, Jewy pop culture-wise. Erin talks Netflix is a Joke Fest and especially John Mulaney's limited talk show format, "Everybody's in L.A." Esther downloads her time in Israel and tunes out for Erin's Bridgerton review. Digressions include puns, GenZ phrases, Kveller articles, pop tarts, graduation speakers and more. Check Out These Links: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/31473777

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/30896523

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/30793533

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/30384118

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 ) /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/30285163

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/30102493

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! /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/29792103

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! /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/29438298

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/29197193

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/28985808

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 /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/28684698

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/28439444

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. /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/28295810

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. /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/28183766

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: /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/28017624

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. /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27954189

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 /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27846780

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? /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27793500

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 /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27654573

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

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Twitter: @estherk, @ebenmoche and @TheBagelReport

Instagram: @estherkustanowitz, @ebenmoche and @tbrthepod

Email /episode/index/show/thebagelreport/id/27550260

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

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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