Religion & Spirituality

The Jewish Lives Podcast

by Jewish Lives

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Latest episodes

ROBERT OPPENHEIMER

October 13, 2026 · 26 min

Join us with David Rieff, author of the new biography Robert Oppenheimer: The Sphinx Without a Secret, as we explore the inner life, contradictions, and enduring mystery of the man who helped usher in the atomic age.
EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD

May 11, 2026 · 22 min

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 of the new biography Edmond de…
STEPHEN SONDHEIM

March 31, 2026 · 18 min

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 ways Sondheim’s music and lyrics express the inner…
MORDECAI M. KAPLAN

March 9, 2026 · 21 min

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 maverick who reshaped religious faith and…
WALTER BENJAMIN

February 10, 2026 · 23 min

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 biography Walter Benjamin: The Pearl Diver, as…

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LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN

November 20, 2025 · 24 min

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 its practitioners saw their subject. Join…
PHILIP ROTH

October 10, 2025 · 27 min

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 explore Roth’s remarkable life and the…
CAROLE KING

September 15, 2025 · 25 min

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 Move, as we explore King’s lasting…
FRANZ BOAS

May 27, 2025 · 18 min

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, as we explore how urgently relevant…
ABRAHAM

March 21, 2025 · 18 min

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 affirmation, thinking for oneself and thinking…
LOUIS B. MAYER AND IRVING THALBERG

February 24, 2025 · 19 min

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 new biography Louis B. Mayer and Irving…
ANNE FRANK

January 23, 2025 · 29 min

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 hiding is the most widely read work of…

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About the show

The Jewish Lives Podcast explores the lives of remarkable Jewish figures from antiquity to the present. Hosted by Alessandra Wollner, each episode features a conversation with an acclaimed Jewish Lives author, illuminating the life and enduring legacy of the subject of their biography. 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.