The new film, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,’ a sequel to the ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ is a thing that exists. But should it? Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky have feelings. Is there something strange in the neighborhood? Are we ‘ready to believe’? Or is it just a matter of “If there’s a steady paycheck in it, I’ll believe anything […]

This week, Brad and Steven return from their various travels and find that the Passover Seder season is upon us. They talk about Germany, lunch in Athens, the Yankees and Knicks, and they wonder if the Amen Corner will reach the magical 33 episodes of the season. Can they do it? Tune in to find […]

The new AppleTV+ series ‘Manhunt’, adapted from James L. Swanson’s eponymous book, follows the 12 day search for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth. As the hunt for Booth unfolds, it exposes a deeper conspiracy — one aimed at restoring white men to political dominance, despite the South losing the war. In this episode, Rabbis […]

This week, Brad and Steven follow up on their discussion of the Trump bible and talk about religious groups like Mormons and Chabad. They also talk about how Jews are becoming less welcome on college campuses and what happens when Jews are removed (or remove themselves) from public forums. Put on some headphones and have […]

Brad and Steven are back this week after a brief hiatus with another episode of your favorite podcast. The guys catch up on some of the things they missed, like the passing of Joe Lieberman and Louis Gossett, Jr and Trump’s decision to start selling bibles. They also talk about Covid, hand washing, and staying […]

The 96th Academy Awards are behind us, and Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky are here to talk about the Torah of this year’s nominees. In this special episode, we discuss Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things, The Zone of Interest, and more! Who won, who lost, who was snubbed, who stirred controversy, and who got the coveted “PopTorah Bump”? […]

This week, Brad and Steven conjure up the memory of Steven’s late father, Michael Cook, to talk about how to avoid being screwed over. They’re back to talking about junk fees on auto rentals, the advantages of having lawyers and doctors in the family, and finally about a situation with Con Edison that can only be solved […]

Jon Stewart’s back, baby! The influential Jewish comic who made ‘The Daily Show’ a cultural juggernaut before leaving in 2015 has returned, for a limited time, to his old seat. Does he have what it takes to make the show, and basic cable, relevant again? Is he the political savior we’ve been waiting for, who […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about the State of the Union address, junk fees, disgraced former politicians, President Buden’s age (as if we needed more people talking about this), and wonder about pronouns. Have a listen while you enjoy the extra hour of daylight! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of […]

This week, Brad and Steven are back, talking about the soon to be released Alex Van Halen autobiography, the departure of Mitch McConnell, Steven’s turn to the right, what should and should not go into scones, and just for good measure, a little about their beloved Yankees. Have a listen and enjoy! You can listen […]

HBO’s long-running comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring legendary comedian and ‘Seinfeld’ co-creator Larry David as a slightly fictionalized version of himself, is coming to an end with its 12th and final season. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky take a look back at the hilarious highs and cringe-worthy lows of Larry’s many exploits, and discuss the […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about their daughters and college (spoiler alert: it involves ED and happy endings), IVF and Alabama, South Carolina, the hypocrisy of Trump supporters (we know, shocking!), and yet more about pizza. Have a listen! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google […]

In this week’s better late than never episode, Brad and Steven are going all in on pizza again, this time, while reminiscing about the long winter days in between football and baseball season of their childhoods. They also talk about Trump’s gold sneakers, the lame NBA All Star Game (and all star games in general), and Matisyahu. […]

The new Netflix film ‘Good Grief,’ written, directed, and produced by star Daniel Levy, explores how we pick up the pieces in the wake of tragic loss, especially when we discover things about our loved ones after their death that complicate their legacy and our memories of them. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky discuss what emerges […]

Much of this week’s episode is devoted to a discussion about National Pizza Day. Brad and Steven talk about the merits of New York-area pizza and the outsized importance it has on people who grew up in the area. They also talk about make-you-own-pizza and how to define what makes something “pizza.” All in all, […]

Alexander Payne’s newest film, ‘The Holdovers,’ stars Paul Giamatti as a prickly, demanding teacher at an elite northeastern boarding school who gets stuck supervising the one student left on campus during winter break. Set as the 60’s become the 70s, what ensues is emotional, funny, and ultimately uplifting — a coming-of-age story for student and […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about how they’re well on their way to being crotchety old men, and the elderly life that they envision for themselves doesn’t seem so far-fetched. They also talk about the recent judgement against the former resident of the White House and about the corrupt Supreme Court. Have a listen […]

This week, Brad and Steven talk about the right-wing grift that they’re going to run, the lack of discussion around Trump’s cognitive decline, the ongoing war in Gaza, and flight delays. Happy listening! You can listen to The Amen Corner in lots of ways. On iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite RSS aggregator.

The new musical ‘Wonka,’ a prequel of sorts to the beloved Roald Dahl novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and the classic Gene Wilder film based on it, is a celebration of imagination, lovingkindness, and, of course, chocolate. Grab your golden tickets and go on a tour of the factory — watch out for that […]

This week, Brad and Steven discuss college — the cost, the value, the job prospects, and the purpose. Unsurprisingly, they compare the process today to how it was back in the “old days,” when they were going through it themselves. They also touch on the Israel-Palestine conflict and how it was supposed to be over […]

This week’s episode is coming to you a bit later in the week than usual, but we’re trying to keep to our New Year’s resolution and doing the podcast as often as possible. We talk about flight delays, perception versus reality and what’s more important in today’s political climate, and of all things, Tulsa. Happy Listening! […]

It’s been an interesting and somewhat challenging year for superhero movies, with the once seemingly invincible Marvel Studios showing signs of wear and tear. For example, the studio’s latest tentpole team-up film (and one of its best in years), ’The Marvels,’ is now widely regarded as its first-ever commercial flop, and the actor Jonathan Majors, […]

It’s the final episode of 2023 and this week Brad and Steven are talking about the year ahead and the one that just passed. For better or worse, the guys’ New Year’s resolution is to continue to do the Amen Corner, hopefully more regularly. At any rate, have a listen and here’s to a better 2024! […]

This week, Brad and Steven are back after a brief hiatus. Their moods, however, continue to be “meh” in the extreme as they still try to make sense of what’s happening all around us. Adding injury to insult, both of them had to deal with emergency rooms over the past few days, but each had a completely […]