October 07, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 117 - A New Quest

The best “Star Trek movie” of 1999 is coming back around to teach us a good lesson about Simchat Torah. Never give up. Never surrender. And know that the words stay the same, but it's you that changes.

Also, Barak is starting a new quest of his own. Learn more about his upcoming adventure by visiting www.thetreasuredrealm.com. But, what does it mean for the podcast? Listen to find out!

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September 23, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 116 - Hi-Torah-Deedo, Neighorino

In this episode, Ethan has us take a look back at Homer’s good-hearted next-door neighbor, Ned Flanders, and the surprising change he experienced under our very eyes. Okily dokily, we know he’s super friendly and over nice, but did you know that he wasn’t always so… Flanders-y? We’ve seen other characters face this over-dramatization of their personalities, but have we experienced it in Judaism? Well, gosh-diddly-darn-it. Put on your best green sweater and join us, won’t you neighborino?

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September 09, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 115 - Spiderman: Brand Jew Day

Barak seems to have a lot of issues with the newest Spider-Man movie. Maybe he shouldn’t have spent so much time thinking about it by himself. We’re social creatures and shouldn’t be isolated. It’s not good to be alone and who we are is shaped by the people around us. Ohh… I see, just like Spider-Man, right? He was alone, too. Jews don’t think people should be isolated and alone. Will Spider-Man learn his lesson? Or was this movie just a stepping stone for a different franchise?

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August 26, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 114 - Project Hail Neighbor

In this episode, RDY helps us travel across the stars as we discuss Project Hail Mary (mostly the movie, but a little of the book as well). We explore the unexpected relationship at the heart of the story between Ryan Gosling’s astronaut, Grace, and his surprise neighbor, Rocky. What begins with two strangers who can’t even communicate, turns into a story of curiosity, trust, and figuring out just how far you’re willing to go for someone else. It’s a story of doing something nice for someone else, and learning that a good neighbor is someone who is willing to watch you sleep. Amaze. Amaze. Amaze.

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August 12, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 113 - As Jew Wish …With Special Guest Joel Swedlove

If you’re not feeling well, you should curl up to this nice podcast (in my day, they were called books)! We adventure into the topic of gemilut chasadim, which are acts of loving kindness. Whether you visit the sick to read them a story or fetch a pitcher for them, these acts can really show someone that you love them. And when you find that love, twue wuv, that’s something worth fighting for! So, if you ask us to do an act of kindness for you? Of course. As you wish.

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July 29, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 112 - But That's How We've Always Played ...With Guest Host Lexi Kohanski

Judaism's history and laws have been passed down through the generations. In the earliest days, this was passed down by word of mouth until it was written down. How do we know which rules and laws we should follow or change? Should we? Our guest host, Lexi Kohanski, joins us as we realize that it's exactly that kind of thinking that gets us things like Monopoly's "free parking jackpot" of the more recent "usage dice" in Dungeons & Dragons. Did we make these rules up? And if we did, is that really so bad?

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https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-112-but-thats-how-weve-always-played

Lexi Kohanski - lexi@thetorahstudio.org
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kohanski/worlds-to-come

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July 15, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 111 - Feeling TORn

Ethan was saddened by news that was shared recently that hit close to home for him and it got us thinking about how we react when things that we love change. When temples change homes, when programs alter and they are not what we remember, when we fear our childhood memories won’t be shared by the next generation. And, yeah of course, we talk about some nerdy stuff too. Nerd stuff changes all the time, and that’s also a bummer.

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July 1, 2026

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 110 - Again and Again and Amen

In this episode, RDY guides us on the topic of liturgy. These are the familiar prayers and words that guide our worship services and we talk about why we return to them again and again. You know the lines, you know what comes next, and yet, you keep coming back. Because sometimes, the words, the songs, and the emotional moments are worth experiencing again and again. Repeat?

Share this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-110-again-and-again-and-amen

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