The Bagel Report

Esther D. Kustanowitz and Erin Ben-Moche
The Bagel Report

The Bagel Report is a pop-culture entertainment podcast featuring award-winning culture and entertainment writers Esther D. Kustanowitz and Erin Ben-Moche. Each episode, these entertainment junkies discuss all things Jewish in the arts & entertainment world while exploring how Jewish identity is portrayed on the big and small screen. Follow us on social @estherk and @ebenmoche and on Twitter and Facebook @TheBagelReport .

  1. APR 4

    Breaking Down the Prince of Egypt with Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug

    This week, Erin and Esther sit down with Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, a consultant for DreamWorks' iconic animated film The Prince of Egypt. With its star-studded cast, stunning visuals, and unforgettable soundtrack, The Prince of Egypt was a landmark in animated storytelling, and now Tzivia takes us behind the scenes of the epic retelling of the Exodus story, sharing her role in shaping the film’s extensive outreach to faith communities.   This episode is dedicated to the memory of Fumi Kitahara. Check out these links: Fumi Kitahara in Deadline VAL Trailer--- You can watch the documentary on Amazon Prime Video Val Kilmer feature in the New York Times

    47 min

  2. FEB 21

    Fires, Films, and Fifty Years of SNL

    Esther and Erin reunite to discuss new jobs, the devastating wildfires, and the upcoming awards season. They also review films like indie comedy Bad Shabbos, Marvel sequel Captain America: Brave New World, and Oscar-nominated Holocaust epic The Brutalist. Later, the Bagels celebrate 50 years of Saturday Night Live and discuss the sentimental value it brings to many generations. Check out these links! Donate to Fire Relief: https://fireaidla.org Donate to Jewish LA relief efforts: jewishla.org/wildfire-crisis-relief/ Holocaust Museum LA Bad Shabbos Trailer SNL 40 "That's When You Break!" SNL 50 Adam Sandler Song

    1h 12m

  3. 12/24/2024

    Hanukkah Parodies, Golden Globe Noms and the Media at Munich

    This week, Esther and Erin are celebrating Hanukkah...and all the award show nominations trickling in. They congratulate "A Real Pain" and the Netflix rom-com favorite "Nobody Wants This" and later break down "September 5," the historical drama about the Munich Olympics massacre and the ABC Sports team that covered the events.     Check out these links: Six13's Wicked Hanukkah The Maccabeats Hanukkah

    57 min

  4. 12/15/2024

    Pies for Prevention and Breast Cancer Representation w/ Sharsheret

    This week, Esther and Erin speak with Jessica Jablon from Sharsheret, an organization supporting Jewish women and families affected by breast and ovarian cancer. They discuss Sharsheret's services, including mental health support, genetic counseling, and the successful "Pies for Prevention" program, which has raised over $115,000 this year. The conversation also highlights breast cancer storylines in TV and film and the importance of early detection and personalized medical care. Learn more about Sharsheret at sharsheret.org

    36 min

  5. 12/07/2024

    ElphaBagels: Breaking Down "Wicked: Part 1"

    This week, Esther and Erin defy gravity and geek out over the movie musical, "Wicked." They analyze the complex relationships between Elphaba and Glinda and themes of outsiderhood and privilege. They do a deep dive into the clever Easter eggs, including potential connections to "Frozen," the Wizard’s portrayal by Jeff Goldblum, and the connections to Jewish identity and social justice. Plus, they delve into the symbolism of the characters, including a link to the Passover Seder.

    1h 19m

  6. 11/22/2024

    Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain is Real...ly Great

    This week, Esther and Erin break down Jesse Eisenberg's new Jewy film, A Real Pain, and what makes his and Kieran Culkin's performances so captivating. They also dive into the high-stakes thriller September 5th, a gripping retelling of the Munich Olympics Israeli hostage crisis and what it brings up in a post-Oct. 7th world. The bagels even talk about the new Paramount+ documentary about an Israeli-Palestinian boy band that came to LA to start a music career on Oct. 6th, 2023.  Check out these links: NPR's Retrospective on the Munich Olympics  September 5th Trailer As1One Music Video

    1 hr

  7. 11/01/2024

    Down the Witches Road: Our 5th Bagelversary

    Erin and Esther are celebrating the fifth anniversary of this little ol' podcast! After some reflections on all we've lived through since October 2019 (!!),  the Bagels move down the Jewish interpretive road, examining "Agatha All Along" — its bar mitzvah episode and other moments and images that remind us of Jewy things. Looking ahead to November, the Bagels discuss A Real Pain, the movie written and directed by and starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Erin bubbles with enthusiasm about the release of Wicked and talks about the film's long production road. So if you care to find us, look to the Western Sky, or join us on the Bagels' Road. If you're reading this, you're with us already. And we're so grateful for that!   Check out these links:   Agatha's Jewy Plotline via Variety  A Real Pain Trailer  Wicked Trailer Stephen Schwartz Is Still ‘Defying Gravity’

    58 min

  8. 10/09/2024

    Protopian Bagels w/ Alysia Reiner, Shaina Feinberg and Reboot Studios' Noam Dromi

    As the Bagels reflect on the Jewish New Year and the anniversary of the Oct. 7th terror attacks in Israel, they are also uplifted thanks to a conversation about Reboot Studios' latest project, "We Should Eat." Written and directed by Shaina Feinberg and developed by Alysia Reiner, the short tells the story of a Jewish family with a Filipino father and Jewish mother. The duo tells Esther and Erin about the film's diverse Jewish experiences and nuanced character dynamics while addressing existential dread and intergenerational trauma. Check out these links: Shaina Feinberg's A Brief History of Hating My Face | NYT Reboot's The Anne Frank Gift Shop Sneak Peak Learn more about Reboot here.

    53 min
See All (100)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The Bagel Report is a pop-culture entertainment podcast featuring award-winning culture and entertainment writers Esther D. Kustanowitz and Erin Ben-Moche. Each episode, these entertainment junkies discuss all things Jewish in the arts & entertainment world while exploring how Jewish identity is portrayed on the big and small screen. Follow us on social @estherk and @ebenmoche and on Twitter and Facebook @TheBagelReport .

Information

  • Creator
    Esther D. Kustanowitz and Erin Ben-Moche
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Bagel Report

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