July 16, 2025

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 85 - Worse Than Leprosy

This week, we look at what may possibly be the least favorite torah portion: parsha metzorah. It’s tedious, it’s a bit gross, and spoiler alert - it’s not even about leprosy! We clean up our act and take a look at why the portion has such a bad rap. What other Jewish texts are disliked? Can we discover why this bad writing has survived so long into today’s world? We all know stories that we don’t like, but we’d honestly just rather forget they exist. At least, meesuh thinks so.

00:00:42 The Torah portion with the worst reputation

00:02:24 Inspired by a stretch of “meh” movies

00:09:28 It’s not even leprosy

00:11:55 Other least favorite Jewish texts

00:14:40 Let’s just get rid of the bad stories

00:17:03 Dealing with bad stories

00:21:41 Our favorite worst movies

Share this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-85-worse-than-leprosy

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July 2, 2025

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 84 - Pixar’s Paradigm Shift

In this episode, we explore the theory that suggests that all Pixar films exist within a single shared universe. Or perhaps they don’t and they’re just individually made entertaining movies. Or maybe the director once knew someone named Andy and liked the way he treated his toys. We’ll discuss how literal or interpretive we believe the Pixar universe to be and we dig into some other pop culture conspiracy theories. We’ll learn that Pixar may not just be about talking toys, but about a mystical cycle of life, technology, and evolution… Oh wait, my power is low... let me just quickly grab some new Buy N Large batteries…

00:00:38 The Pixar Theory

00:02:52 P.A.R.D.E.S.

00:06:34 Our interpretation of Jewish texts

00:10:02 Explaining the Pixar Theory

00:16:44 Pixar gets the Pardes treatment

00:24:51 Other pop-culture conspiracy theories

00:31:03 An original romantic conspiracy theory

00:32:50 Favorite Pixar Movies

00:35:46 Pixar Purist

Share this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-84-pixars-paradigm-shift

Connect with us online, purchase swag, support us with a donation, and more at www.torahsmash.com.

June 18, 2025

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 83 - Monsters and Angels

Remember the story in the Tanakh about flaming serpents? What about the one about unicorns?

This week, the mystical co-hosts of Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell help us summon the wild, weird, and fantastical creatures hiding in the pages of Torah. We explore the line between monsters and angels. Honestly, we didn’t know we could fit this many Jewish creatures into one episode. We also learn if Falcor has Jewish origins.

00:04:58 Numbers 21:6-8 Flaming, Flying Snakes

00:09:52 D&D converted me a Judaism

00:10:56 Finding mystical and mythological creatures in Jewish lore

00:14:27 The seraph - flaming snakes or flying angels?

00:19:12 Unicorns

00:23:24 Monster angels, cherub angels, and messenger angels

00:33:21 Too many monsters, too little time

00:39:07 Favorite monster or creature from the Torah

Share this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-83-monsters-and-angels

Connect with us online, purchase swag, support us with a donation, and more at www.torahsmash.com.

Listen to John and Jack on their podcast - Wayward Children:Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

https://waywardchildren.buzzsprout.com/

Collectible Jewish Monsters and Magic Cards - https://madnessheart.press/product/collectable-jewish-monsters-and-magic-cards/?v=0b3b97fa6688

Treif Magic - https://madnessheart.press/product/treif-magic/?v=0b3b97fa6688

Dybbuk in the Doorway - https://www.amazon.com/Dybbuk-Doorway-John-Baltisberger/dp/B0F7XVKBRQ