Amusing Jews

40 Episodes
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By: Atheists United Studios

An interview show celebrating Jewish contributors and contributions to American popular culture co-hosted by Jonathan Friedmann and Joey Angel-Field.

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Ep. 171: The Only Living Pickpocket in New York – with writer/director Noah Segan
Ep. 171: The Only Living Pickpocket in New York – with writer/director Noah Segan episode artwork
#209
Today at 2:00 PM

Noah Segan is an actor and filmmaker whose latest movie is The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, which he wrote and directed.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Only Living Pickpocket in New York – trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXA7BmrBBxs
 
Noah’s IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0781913/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
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Adat Chaver...


Ep. 170: The Last of the Ellis Island Jews – with author Joel Dinerstein
Ep. 170: The Last of the Ellis Island Jews – with author Joel Dinerstein episode artwork
#170
11/02/2026

Joel Dinerstein is a professor of English and Sizeler Professor of Jewish Studies at Tulane University, a jazz scholar, cultural historian, and author of The Last of the Ellis Island Jews: A Brooklyn Memoir.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Last of the Ellis Island Jews
https://sunypress.edu/Books/T/The-Last-of-the-Ellis-Island-Jews
 
Joel’s website
https://www.joeldinerstein.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
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Adat...


Ep: 169: Screenwriting in the 1970s – with writer Michael Elias
Ep: 169: Screenwriting in the 1970s – with writer Michael Elias episode artwork
#188
10/26/2026

Michael Elias is a screenwriter-turned-novelist whose screen credits include The Jerk, The Frisco Kid, and Head of the Class. His latest novel is Bender’s L.A.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Bender’s L.A.
https://stickingplacebooks.com/books/benders-la
 
Michael’s website
https://www.michaeleliaswriter.co/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticj...


Ep. 168: Allan Sherman: Comedy Music Genius – with biographer Mark Cohen
Ep. 168: Allan Sherman: Comedy Music Genius – with biographer Mark Cohen episode artwork
#168
10/19/2026

Mark Cohen is an author and journalist whose books include Overweight Sensation: The Life and Comedy of Allan Sherman.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-Engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Overweight Sensation
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/O/bo43634385.html
 
Mark’s website
https://www.markcohenbooks.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish...


Ep. 167: Heavy Metal Jews – with metalhead Josh Kleinberg
Ep. 167: Heavy Metal Jews – with metalhead Josh Kleinberg episode artwork
#167
10/12/2026

Josh Kleinberg is a heavy metal afficionado whose article, “Spreading the Disease: Heavy Metal Jews and the Secular Sacred,” was published in the Spring 2026 issue of Humanistic Judaism Magazine.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Humanistic Judaism Magazine
https://shj.org/meaning-learning/humanistic-judaism-magazine/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West...


Ep. 166: If Violins Could Talk – with ethnographer-novelist Yale Strom
Ep. 166: If Violins Could Talk – with ethnographer-novelist Yale Strom episode artwork
#166
10/05/2026

Yale Strom is one of the world’s leading ethnographer-artists of klezmer and Romani music, history, and culture. His latest novel is The Autobiography of The Offenbacher.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Autobiography of The Offenbacher
https://olympiapublishersusa.com/books/the-autobiography-of-the-offenbacher
 
Yale’s website
https://www.yalestrom.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.h...


Ep. 165: Queer Culture Memoir – with author Ari Ashkenazi
Ep. 165: Queer Culture Memoir – with author Ari Ashkenazi episode artwork
#165
09/28/2026

Ari Ashkenazi is a retired professor of anthropology of art and arts education whose latest memoir is Retracing My Steps: A Queer Memoir.
 
Retracing My Steps
https://www.amazon.com/Retracing-My-Steps-Queer-Memoir/dp/B0HG87VNXY/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmawest.org/
 
Atheists United S...


Ep. 164: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me – with author Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor
Ep. 164: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me – with author Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor episode artwork
#164
09/21/2026

Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor is a professor of history at Smith College and author of the new book, Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Something We Said
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Something-We-Said/Elizabeth-Stordeur-Pryor/9781982154509
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American...


Ep. 163: The Real Philip Roth – with author Jacques Berlinerblau
Ep. 163: The Real Philip Roth – with author Jacques Berlinerblau episode artwork
#163
09/14/2026

Jacques Berlinerblau is the Rabbi Harold White Professor of Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University and author of The Philip Roth We Don’t Know: Sex, Race, and Autobiography.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Philip Roth We Don’t Know
https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5393/
 
Jacques’ website
https://www.jberlinerblau.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles


Ep. 162: Bernie Krigstein, EC Comics & “Master Race” – with graphic novelist Joe D’Esposito
Ep. 162: Bernie Krigstein, EC Comics & “Master Race” – with graphic novelist Joe D’Esposito episode artwork
#162
09/07/2026

Joe D’Esposito is a comic book artist and painter whose latest graphic novel, The Outsider, is published by Fantagraphics.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Outsider
https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/the-outsider
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmawest.org/
 
Atheists Uni...


Ep. 161: Immigration, Growing Pains, and the American Playground – with novelist Michael Isaac Shokrian
Ep. 161: Immigration, Growing Pains, and the American Playground – with novelist Michael Isaac Shokrian episode artwork
#159
08/31/2026

Michael Isaac Shokrian is publisher of the Thieving Magpie literary quarterly and author of the new novel, American Playground.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-Engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Michael’s website
https://www.mishokrian.com/
 
the Thieving Magpie
https://thievingmagpie.org/about/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
ht...


Ep. 160: Jewish Art for Our Times – with fine artist Yona Verwer
Ep. 160: Jewish Art for Our Times – with fine artist Yona Verwer episode artwork
#160
08/24/2026

Yona Verwer is a Dutch-born multidisciplinary visual artist based in New York City and founder of the Jewish Art Salon, a global network of contemporary Jewish visual artists and scholars.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Yona’s website
https://www.yonaverwer.com/
 
Jewish Art Salon
https://jewishartsalon.org/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanis...


Ep. 159: The Art of the Pickle – with fine artist Hannah Eve Rothbard
Ep. 159: The Art of the Pickle – with fine artist Hannah Eve Rothbard episode artwork
#159
08/17/2026

Hannah Eve Rothbard is a multimedia artist, curator, and writer based in New York City.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Hannah’s website
https://www.hannaheverothbard.com/
 
81 Leonard Gallery
https://81leonardgallery.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmawest.org/
 
...


Ep. 158: Ascendants: Technology, Corporate Power, & Humanity’s Future – with sci-fi author Don Schechter
Ep. 158: Ascendants: Technology, Corporate Power, & Humanity’s Future – with sci-fi author Don Schechter episode artwork
#158
08/10/2026

Ascendants: Technology, Corporate Power, & Humanity’s Future – with sci-fi author Don Schechter  
 
Don Schechter is an author, filmmaker, and film & media studies professor at Tufts University. His debut sci-fi novel is Ascendants.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Ascendants
https://ascendantsbook.com/

No Win Scenario – podcast
https://nowinscenariopodcast.com/
 
Don’s website
https://donschechter.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
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Adat Chaveri...


Ep: 157: Justice Girl & The Birth of Television – with novelist Julian David Stone
Ep: 157: Justice Girl & The Birth of Television – with novelist Julian David Stone episode artwork
08/03/2026

Julian David Stone is an author, photographer, and filmmaker whose novels include The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Julian’s website
https://www.juliandavidstone.com/
 
Justice Girl
https://www.juliandavidstone.com/home-1-1
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
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Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museu...


Ep. 156: The Best of All Possible Planets – with sci-fi author Alex Shvartsman
Ep. 156: The Best of All Possible Planets – with sci-fi author Alex Shvartsman episode artwork
#156
07/27/2026

Alex Shvartsman is a prolific science-fiction author whose latest novel is The Best of All Possible Planets.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Best of All Possible Planets
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ufopublishing/the-best-of-all-possible-planets
 
The Best of All Possible Planets – audiobook preview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK9d3hCI0_4
 
Alex’s website
https://alexshvartsman.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jew...


Ep. 155: Can We Laugh at That? – with author Jacques Berlinerblau
Ep. 155: Can We Laugh at That? – with author Jacques Berlinerblau episode artwork
#155
07/20/2026

Jacques Berlinerblau is the Rabbi Harold White Professor of Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University and author of the new book, Can We Laugh at That? Comedy in a Conflicted Age.
 
Can We Laugh at That?
https://www.ucpress.edu/books/can-we-laugh-at-that/hardcover
 
Jacques website
https://www.jberlinerblau.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the A...


San Diego Comic-Con Origins – with Mathew Klickstein and Gus Krueger
San Diego Comic-Con Origins – with Mathew Klickstein and Gus Krueger episode artwork
07/13/2026

Mathew Klickstein is a pop culture historian and author of See You At San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture. Gus Krueger is an art director and designer for the theme park industry and the son of Comic-Con co-founder Ken Krueger.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
San Diego Comic-Con Oral History Panel
https://sdccblog.com/events-default/san-diego-comic-con-oral-history-panel/
 
See You At San Diego
https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/see-you-at-san-diego-an-oral-history-of-comic-con-fandom-and-the-triumph-of-geek-culture

Comic-Con Begins (podcast)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comi...


Ep. 154: Punk Rock Jews – with author Steven Lee Beeber
Ep. 154: Punk Rock Jews – with author Steven Lee Beeber episode artwork
07/06/2026

Steven Lee Beeber is a freelance journalist and author of The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB’s: A Secret History of Jewish Punk.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB
https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/the-heebie-jeebies-at-cbgb-s-products-9781556527616.php
 
Steven’s website
http://www.jewpunk.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum...


Jewish Soldiers in the American Civil War – with researcher Adrienne DeArmas
Jewish Soldiers in the American Civil War – with researcher Adrienne DeArmas episode artwork
07/02/2026

Adrienne DeArmas is director of the Shapell Roster of Jewish Service in the American Civil War at the Shapell Manuscript Foundation, an independent educational organization dedicated to the research, collection, and exhibition of original manuscripts and historical documents.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Shapell Manuscript Foundation
https://www.shapell.org/
 
The Jewish American Military Historical Society
https://jewishmilitary.org/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Ad...


Happy Birthday Mel Brooks! – with biographer Patrick McGilligan
Happy Birthday Mel Brooks! – with biographer Patrick McGilligan episode artwork
06/29/2026

Patrick McGilligan is a biographer and film historian whose books include, Funny Man: Mel Brooks.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Funny Man: Mel Brooks
harpercollins.com/products/funny-man-patrick-mcgilligan
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmawest.org
 
Atheists United Studios
https://www.atheis...


Ep: 153: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford – with filmmakers Gaylen Ross and Carol King
Ep: 153: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford – with filmmakers Gaylen Ross and Carol King episode artwork
#153
06/22/2026

Director Gaylen Ross and producer Carol King have a new documentary, Sapiro v. Ford: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Sapiro v. Ford
https://sapirovford.com/
 
GR Films
https://www.grfilmsinc.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https...


Ep. 152: Black-Jewish Jazz – with jazz pianist Joe Alterman
Ep. 152: Black-Jewish Jazz – with jazz pianist Joe Alterman episode artwork
#152
06/15/2026

Joe Alterman is an Altana-based jazz pianist and executive director of the Neranenah Concert and Culture Series.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Joe’s website
https://www.joealtermanmusic.com/
 
Joe’s Bandcamp
https://joealterman.bandcamp.com/
 
Joe’s Substack
https://joealterman.substack.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 


Ep. 151: The End-of-Life Option – with novelist Eric Beck Rubin
Ep. 151: The End-of-Life Option – with novelist Eric Beck Rubin episode artwork
#151
06/08/2026

Eric Beck Rubin is an author and academic whose new novel is Ten Clear Days.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Ten Clear Days
https://www.turtlepointpress.com/books/ten-clear-days/
 
Eric’s website
https://www.ericbeckrubin.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www...


Ep. 150: Houdini’s Library – with author Barb Rosenstock
Ep. 150: Houdini’s Library – with author Barb Rosenstock episode artwork
#150
06/01/2026

Barb Rosenstock is a picture book author whose latest book is Houdini’s Library.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Houdini’s Library
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/712436/houdinis-library-by-barb-rosenstock-illustrated-by-mar-delmar/
 
Barb’s website
https://barbrosenstock.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmaw.org/
 ...


Ep. 149: The Jewish American Military Historical Society – with founding president Samuel P. Yudin
Ep. 149: The Jewish American Military Historical Society – with founding president Samuel P. Yudin episode artwork
#149
05/25/2026

Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Samuel P. Yudin recently retired from the California Army National Guard and is president of the Jewish American Military Historical Society.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Jewish American Military Historical Society
https://jewishmilitary.org/
 
Samuel P. Yudin Award
https://alephmilitary.org/2025-csm-samuel-p-yudin-awards-presented-to-outstanding-recipients/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisti...


Ep. 148: Making Comics – with underground cartoonist Kim Deitch
Ep. 148: Making Comics – with underground cartoonist Kim Deitch episode artwork
#148
05/18/2026

Kim Deitch is a prolific cartoonist who’s been making comics since the underground movement of the 1960s. His latest book is How I Make Comics, published by Fantagraphics.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer Mike Tomren
 
How I make Comics
https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/how-i-make-comics
 
Kim’s Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Deitch
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Ju...


Ep. 147: Respecting Rodney Dangerfield – with biographer Michael Seth Starr
Ep. 147: Respecting Rodney Dangerfield – with biographer Michael Seth Starr episode artwork
#147
05/11/2026

Michael Seth Starr is a prolific biographer whose books include Nothin’ Comes Easy: The Life of Rodney Dangerfield.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Michael’s website
https://www.michaelsethstarr.com/
 
Nothin’ Comes Easy
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/770877/nothin-comes-easy-by-michael-seth-starr/9780806543239/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
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Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
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Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West


Ep. 146: Queen of Cosmos Comix – with artist Barbara “Willy” Mendes
Ep. 146: Queen of Cosmos Comix – with artist Barbara “Willy” Mendes episode artwork
#146
05/04/2026

Barbara “Willy” Mendes is a fine artist and underground comix pioneer whose new anthology, Queen of Cosmos Comix Trilogy, is published by Fantagraphics.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Queen of Cosmos Comix Trilogy
https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/queen-of-cosmos-comix-trilogy
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
Barbara’s website
http://www.barbaramendes.org/
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Cool Shul...


Ep. 145: Jewish Toy Entrepreneurs – with author Michael Kimmel
Ep. 145: Jewish Toy Entrepreneurs – with author Michael Kimmel episode artwork
#145
04/27/2026

Michael Kimmel is a SUNY distinguished professor emeritus of sociology and gender studies at Stony Brook University, whose latest book is Playmakers: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Playmakers
https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324105282
 
Michael’s website
https://www.michaelkimmel.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
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Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
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Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www...


Ep. 144: Growing Weed in the Garden – with author Johanna Silver
Ep. 144: Growing Weed in the Garden – with author Johanna Silver episode artwork
#144
04/20/2026

Johanna Silver is a garden writer and author of the book, Growing Weed in the Garden: A No-Fuss, Seed-to-Stash Guide to Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Growing Weed in the Garden
https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/growing-weed-in-the-garden_9781419742767/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
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Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
http...


Ep. 143: Climate Change Comics – with cartoonist Peter Kuper
Ep. 143: Climate Change Comics – with cartoonist Peter Kuper episode artwork
#143
04/13/2026

Peter Kuper is a prolific cartoonist whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Nation, Charlie Hebdo, and MAD magazine. He’s the author of numerous books, including the graphic novels Kafkaesque and Insectopolis: A Natural History. His latest book, Wish We Weren’t Here: Postcards from the Apocalypse, is published by Fantagraphics.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Wish We Weren’t Here
https://www.fantagraphics.com/collections/peter-kuper/products/wish-we-werent-here
 
Insectopolis
https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324035718
 
Kafkaesque
https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393635621
 
Peter’s webs...


Ep. 142: Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom – with biographer Michael Seth Starr
Ep. 142: Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom – with biographer Michael Seth Starr episode artwork
#142
04/06/2026

Michael Seth Starr is a prolific biographer whose books include Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Michael’s website
https://www.michaelsethstarr.com/
 
Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom
https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9780806541747/don-rickles/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American Wes...


Sid Caesar Passover Special – with actress Rena Strober
Sid Caesar Passover Special – with actress Rena Strober episode artwork
03/30/2026

Rena Strober is a Broadway, television, film, and voice actor who’s currently working on a memoir, Singing for Sid and Other Wow Moments.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Joey Angel-Field
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmaw.org/
 
Atheists United Studios
https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-stud


Ep. 141: Jews, Music, and the American South – with Mark Rubin, Jew of Oklahoma
Ep. 141: Jews, Music, and the American South – with Mark Rubin, Jew of Oklahoma episode artwork
#141
03/23/2026

We’re thrilled to chat with Mark Rubin, Jew of Oklahoma, a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter whose latest album is Dispatches: Songs from a World Gone Mad.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Mark’s website
https://www.jewofoklahoma.com/
 
Mark’s Bandcamp
https://jewofoklahoma.bandcamp.com/
 
Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
https://msje.org/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Con...


Ep. 140: Carl Laemmle vs. the Nazis – with documentarian Deborah F. Blum
Ep. 140: Carl Laemmle vs. the Nazis – with documentarian Deborah F. Blum episode artwork
#140
03/16/2026

Deborah F. Blum is an artist, educator, and documentary filmmaker whose latest film is Laemmle’s List.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Laemmle’s List
https://www.laemmleslist.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmaw.org/
 
Atheists United Studios
https://www.at...


Oscars Special: Supremely Jewish Marty Supreme – with pop culture historian Mathew Klickstein
Oscars Special: Supremely Jewish Marty Supreme – with pop culture historian Mathew Klickstein episode artwork
03/12/2026

Mathew Klickstein is an author and pop culture historian whose books have covered such topics as Nickelodeon, The Simpsons, The San Diego Comic-Con, and Lloyd Kaufman, president and co-founder of Troma Entertainment.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Mathew's website
https://www.mathewklickstein.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the Ameri...


Ep. 139: Going Mad for MAD Magazine – with documentarian Alan Bernstein
Ep. 139: Going Mad for MAD Magazine – with documentarian Alan Bernstein episode artwork
#139
03/09/2026

Alan Bernstein is a filmmaker whose latest documentary is When We Went MAD!
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
When We Went MAD!
https://tubitv.com/movies/100047417/when-we-went-mad
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Museum of the American West
https://www.jmaw.org/
 
Atheists United Studios
https://www.atheistsun...


Ep. 138: Hyping the Legends: Pekar, Spiegelman, and more – with PR specialist Jeff Newelt
Ep. 138: Hyping the Legends: Pekar, Spiegelman, and more – with PR specialist Jeff Newelt episode artwork
#138
03/02/2026


 
Jeff Newelt is a veteran PR and social media macher who has worked with Harvey Pekar, Art Spiegelman, Al Jaffee, the Zappa family, and many more.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
Jeff’s LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahfurry/
 
Jeff on Harvey Pekar
https://forward.com/culture/books/139783/harvey-pekar-our-mensch-in-cleveland/
 
Jeff & Al Jaffee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0I-5GXhr0k
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast


Ep. 137: The Genius Bat – with neurobiologist Yossi Yovel
Ep. 137: The Genius Bat – with neurobiologist Yossi Yovel episode artwork
#137
02/23/2026

Yossi Yovel is an ecologist, neurobiologist, and author of The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal.
 
Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field
 
Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren
 
The Genius Bat
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250378446/thegeniusbat/
 
The BAT LAB for Neuro-Ecology
https://www.yovelbatlab.com/
 
Amusing Jews Merch Store
https://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/
 
Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews
 
Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles
https://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/
 
Jewish Mus...