We’re going to be taking a little bit of a break from the show. We’ll be back soon with something that we think you are going to LOVE! Meanwhile Karen and the Your Jewish Life team wish you a beautiful and meaningful Chag Sameach. Smashing Life, my Jewish community https://smashinglife.club/ Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST” https://jewishjoyjournal.com/

Karen sits down with bestselling cookbook author Jake Cohen for a chat about his new cookbook, I Could Nosh (coming out September 12!); his journey from being told Jewish food was too niche to hitting the New York Times bestseller list; bringing back grandma hospitality; and why we all need challah monkey bread in our lives. LINKS: Jake’s new book, I Could Nosh https://www.harpercollins.com/products/i-could-nosh-jake-cohen?variant=40997057527842 Jake on...

Karen sits down with her 8-year-old daughter Zara for a chat about what it’s like to be a young Jewish Londoner in 2023. They talk about how Zara balances her strong Jewish identity with life in a diverse community, what she loves about journaling, her favorite Shabbat tradition, and why her beloved late grandma was a true octo-superwoman.  LINKS: Shop the Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST” https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ Smashing Life, our Jewish...

Karen sits down with Sara Gibbs, the author and comedy writer behind upcoming Jewish rom com Eight Bright Lights, for a chat about autistic Jewish life, being diagnosed with autism as an adult, standing up to antisemitism, and so much more. We were so lucky to have Sara on staff at Smashing The Glass, our Jewish wedding platform, in the brand’s early days - and it’s wonderful to see how her writing career has blossomed since then! You’ll find out: - What it was like for Sara being diagnosed...

Karen sits down with author Corie Adjmi for a fascinating look at the Syrian Jewish community. Corie’s new novel, The Marriage Box, draws on her own experiences moving from a Reform upbringing in New Orleans to a traditional Orthodox Syrian life in Brooklyn as a teenager - and along the way, it shines a spotlight on a close-knit Jewish community that can seem mysterious to outsiders. Corie shares how she got started writing in her 30s after a career in education, why family is at the heart of...

Karen sits down with Emily Scheinfeld, a beloved member of the Smashing Life community, to chat about her own Jewish life. Emily is an absolute ray of sunshine who’s contributed so much to the vibrant, accepting group that is Smashing Life, and it’s such an honor to have her come on here and talk about everything from figuring out how to take charge of your own Judaism as an adult to saying no to Jewish guilt to starting L’dor V’dor Judaica, a nonprofit focused on rehoming unloved Judaica,...

Karen sits down with Ben M. Freeman for an important conversation about what it’s like being LGBTQ+ and Jewish. As a minority within a minority, LGBTQ+ Jews negotiate intersecting identities every day - and the Jewish community doesn’t often give their struggles and triumphs the attention they deserve. Ben talks about how his gay identity spurred him on to start the Jewish pride revolution, how to make our communities more welcoming and safe for LGBTQ+ Jews, and why it’s so important that...

Karen sits down with Cathy Heller, a business coach and podcaster who specializes in helping women create wealth and next level happiness, for an inspirational discussion all about making the Jewish life of your dreams a reality. Cathy opens up about her own spiritual journey from secular to observant, and how she found the courage to live her own spiritual truth someplace in between. You’ll find out: - How Judaism has shaped Cathy’s entrepreneurial journey  - What it was like going on the...

Karen sits down with Matthew Bussy, the Program Director of Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media Festival. Karen first met Matthew when he invited her to be a guest speaker at the 2023 Jewish New Media Festival in Philly - she’ll be speaking on Sunday, May 21, along with KoshaDillz, the team behind Unorthodox the podcast, and more - and they instantly connected over their shared commitment to spreading Jewish pride and joy. They chat about celebrating Jewish storytelling, why Jewish pride is...

Karen sits down with Modi, the comedian known for his lighthearted takes on the ups and downs of Jewish life in the 21st century, and he’s got so much insight to share about everything from why the Jews are the ‘choosing people’ rather than the chosen people, to how to double down on Jewish joy in a time of rising antisemitism. You’ll find out: - What Modi’s learned from performing in Jewish communities all over the world - The difference between American and British Jews - What Moshiach...

Karen’s thinking about what she wants to break free from as she prepares for Passover 2023. She also shares stories of some of her most memorable seder nights over the years - from childhood celebrations with family in Israel to the ultra-meaningful last seder she spent with her beloved mother, who opened up about her own story of freedom fleeing from Iraq to Israel due to persecution for being Jewish. As always, she’s here to help you figure out how to do your Passover, your way this...

Karen sits down with Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a top board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Beverly Hills and mother of three who’s also carved out a niche as one of Israel’s staunchest defenders on social media. She talks about how she finds time to do it all, dealing with the backlash she’s faced since stepping up her Israel activism, why she feels religion is key to raising children in the 21st century, and so much more.  You’ll find out: - How Sheila and her family escaped...

Few people have done as much to expose the rising fashionability of antisemitism in the progressive world as comedian, author, screenwriter, and television presenter-turned-activist, David Baddiel.    In this important episode, Karen sits down with David to unpack why antisemitism isn’t considered to be as unacceptable as other forms of discrimination (even among those who are vocal in their support of other minorities), and what we can do about it.   Along the way, they cover why...

Karen sits down with Smashing Life member Emily Cohen for an honest chat about contemporary Jewish life - from dealing with antisemitism in the workplace to what it’s like to be a single Jewish woman in 2023.   They cover everything from how Emily started wearing a Star of David in response to an antisemitic boss, to what it’s like engaging in Jewish life as a single thirty-something woman, to what exactly it is that makes the Smashing Life community so empowering. You’ll find out:   -...

Karen sits down with author and activist Ben M. Freeman for an emotional discussion about Jewish grief and mourning. Karen and Ben both lost a beloved parent too soon - Ben’s father in 2017, and Karen’s mother in 2021 - and in the aftermath, each felt incredibly lucky to be Jewish and to have a millennia-old framework to lean on for getting through life’s hardest moments.    They talk about their experiences of Jewish mourning traditions like shiva and yahrzeit, give advice for talking to...

If you’re currently planning a wedding, this episode is for you! As the founder of Smashing The Glass, the world’s largest Jewish wedding platform, Karen shares her dos and don’ts for planning a one-of-a-kind wedding that’s totally authentic to who the two of you are as a couple, gleaned from her ten years of experience working with Jewish couples all over the world.    LINKS:   Smashing The Glass https://www.smashingtheglass.com    Brides Club https://brides.smashingtheglass.com    ...

Karen sits down with Sam and Emily from Team YJL to talk all things Shabbat! They talk about what Shabbat’s all about, how Judaism’s weekly day of rest looks like for each of them, and why they find it meaningful - and, most importantly, share plenty of tips for easy, accessible ways to bring Shabbat into your life, your way.    You’ll find out:   - What Shabbat is all about, and why it’s so important  - Why Shabbat is for you, wherever you are in your life - Some traditional - and not...

Karen shares her secret for how to find joy during difficult times. Her secret sounds simple - it’s all about gratitude - but putting that into action can be easier said than done. In this episode, Karen shares some practical takeaways for practicing gratitude and savoring moments of joy, however small, even at those times when you feel least thankful for what’s going on in your life. She also delves into some of her other favorite strategies, from giving to others to making a joy list, and...

Karen sits down with Yoav Davis, the founder of Jews of NY, where he shines a light on the beautiful diversity of Jewish life in the Big Apple. Yoav’s commitment to Jewish joy and positivity is so refreshing, and his conversation with Karen about owning your Jewishness, uniting the Jewish world, and the importance of finding your own path in Judaism is sure to inspire. You’ll find out:   - How Yoav’s platform balances showcasing the beauty of Judaism with calling out antisemitism  -...

Karen sits down with a very special guest: her 9-year-old daughter, Sacha! Sacha is a proud Jewish girl who loves challah, cheder (that’s Hebrew school to you Americans), and sharing about Jewish traditions with the diverse group of friends she's made at her non-Jewish school. Sacha spills about her love for Israel, how she balances her Jewish identity with her cosmopolitan life in London, and why Ruth Bader Ginsburg is her inspiration. LINKS:   How to Raise Proud Jewish Children ...

Karen chats with illustrator, textile designer, and writer Micaela Ezra, founder of contemporary Judaica collection AHYIN, about growing your spirituality, overcoming Jewish impostor syndrome, and what it really means to build a Jewish home - and how to do it, whatever stage of life you’re at. Micaela is an incredible role model when it comes to Jewish spirituality, and the way she constantly strives to find her own meaning in Judaism - for herself, and now for her family too - is guaranteed...

Karen sits down with Lauren Hamburger, the UK director of PJ Library, an organization that sends free Jewish children's books to families across the world each month - all in the name of helping families learn about Judaism in a gentle way, sparking Jewish conversation in the home, and, ultimately, inspiring connection to the broader Jewish community (in whatever way feels right for each family). They chat about making Judaism accessible, building Jewish community, and raising proud Jewish...

As Karen looks ahead to the new year, she’s taken some time to think about how she’s going to live her best Jewish life in 2023. To focus her reflections, she’s come up with a list of 10 journaling prompts that helped her drill down to her one-word intention for the new year. Whether you’d like to learn a little more about Karen’s experience over the past year as she’s worked through her grief following her beloved mother’s death, moved into a new home, and launched the Jewish Joy Journal -...

Karen sits down with Erin and Maggie, two beloved members of the Smashing Life community, to chat about their respective Jewish conversion stories. They give honest accounts of the ups and downs of  conversion, share their tips for those considering converting or already in the process, and delve into how the Smashing Life community (especially the Convert Club, a private space for those who have converted or are currently converting) has helped them grow and connect Jewishly. This episode is...