Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

Best Protect Yosef Lest You Wreck Yosef

This week the boys are back with some practical advice. Jews have been engaging in protective ritual since as long as we had things to protect. From hamsa to Mezuzah our

Don't Go Chasing Water Demons

Jack and John are back in the water horse saddle again! Riding those Sheydim across the sunset and into the river! That's right this week we discuss WATER DEMONS! We

Omens and Portents of Future Past

This week we talk about Omens! Hilariously this episode was supposed to go up before Hannukah but John has been through the ringer. ALSO hilariously Jack talks about how

I Wish the Goblin King Would Come and Take this Menorah!

This week we discuss CHANNUKAH! That's right, the reason for the season is latkes, dreidels, candles, and of course goblins! But what are goblins in the Jewish trad

Talking about Talking Animals

This week Jack and John try to take it a bit easy and then argue about animals! Listen as we describe a terrible frog, a clever ass, and of course how fables modern and a

We Don't Need No Man, and Neither Does Lillith

This week we talk about the sexiest figure in Jewish mythology. The queen of demons, a woman who looked the archetypal man in the eyes and said. "No, I will not be subser

The Curses We Yell

This week Jack and John throw curses around like it's nobody's business! Listen to Jack read off traditional Yiddish curses. Did you know we tried to curse Hitl

The Giant Wars and Warring Giants

John and Jack delve into one of their favorite topics, THE GIANT WARS. This is an insane topic as it's rife throughout both the Tanakh and the Talmud. There is ample

Debonair Dybbukim

This week John and Jack meet up in person in sunny oppressive Austin, Texas to discuss which ghosts have the most in this episode of Dybbuk-Centric episode of Wayward Chi

Chassidic Magic

An amazing special episode, we bring on a descendent of the Rebbe to discuss his storied and near-mythic family history, Story of Rabbi Menachem Tzvi of England (Rabbi w

The Gnashing of Our Gnoshers

There are few things that bring a group of Jews together faster than and better than food. This episode Jack and John dive into the culinary traditions of Judaism is more

Sticks and Stones can Break a Sheyd's Bones

John and Jack talk about speaking quietly and carrying a big stick, while speaking very loudly. This episode is all about canes, staffs, and staves, magic and meaningful

Messianic Manics: Cataclysmic and Prolific

Jack and John discuss messianic myths of Judaism as well as various messianic figures that have existed through our history. ProphetsJoseph Della Reina StoryOvergrowth b

Pesach Myths and Drunken Jewish Santa

Happy Passover everyone! This week we cover myths and folklore surrounding the seder plate and legends of the Exodus from kaiju to angels! a few extra links:  Roman Pro

Five Finger Clay Punch - Golems

We're doing it, okay. You can stop yelling at us. We are finally covering the legend of the Golem on Wayward Children. All this really means is that Jack and John ar

They Put a Spell on You

This week John and Jack discuss witches, but with the added super cool bonus of a full-fledged interview with New York-based cultural critic, playwright, and teacher of E

Wayward Unicorns

Did you know there were Jewish unicorns? Like several different types and styles of Jewish unicorns? And they aren't Jewish just because they like Challah and klezme

Let's Talk About the Future That We See

In case you didn't guess from the convoluted title, this week we are talking about divination practices. (You really should have seen that coming.) What is it about

Biblically Not-So-Accurate Angels

As much as we love when you stick a bunch of googly eyes to a kitten and say it's a biblically accurate cat (and we do love that), biblically accurate angels aren&ap

Jewish (Magical) Protective Services

This week John and Jack teach you how to protect yourself from the evils that infuse the world! From magical charms to keep demons away, burning incense, to actions you c