GOLDA Interviews: Fran Fabriczki, Author of 'Porcupines'

Good Hair, Good Books with Zibby Owens

GOLDA [https://www.goldaguide.com/] founder Stephanie Butnick [https://www.stephaniebutnick.com/] and her co-hosts—journalist Gabby Deutch [https://jewishinsider.com/authors/gabby-deutch/], novelist Esther Chehebar [https://amzn.to/42RJZSJ], and Rabbi Diana Fersko [https://rabbidianafersko.com/]—untangle our Jewish relationship with our hair: from the flat-ironing to the chemical straightening and the embrace of natural curls. “Totally Booked [https://zibbymedia.com/pages/podcasts]” podcaster and publisher Zibby Owens [https://www.zibbyowens.com/] joins the GOLDA Girls to share her summer reading picks and help answer a listener question.    Zibby’s Summer Reading Picks:  Forty Love, by Jane Costello https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258518 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258518]  The End of My Life Is Killing Me: The Unexpected Joys of a Cancer Slacker, by Annabelle Gurwitch https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258621 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258621]  Enormous Wings, by Laurie Frankel https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258692 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258692]  The Lost Mozart, by David K. Israel https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258845 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258845]  With Friends Like You, by Amy Chozick https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258983 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61258983]  The Half Life, by Rachel Beanland https://go.shopmy.us/p-61259683 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61259683]  Breathing Under Water, by Jacqueline Friedland https://go.shopmy.us/p-61259804 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61259804]  (Zibby’s new book, Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot, will be out in September. You can preorder it here [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61262870].) GOLDA Girls’ Summer Reading Picks: Stephanie: Like Wafers and Honey, by Leah Eskin https://go.shopmy.us/p-61259961 [http://go.shopmy.us/p-61259961]  Esther’s pick: Long Island Girls, by Gabrielle Korn https://go.shopmy.us/p-61260781 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61260781]  Gabby: I Feel Bad About My Neck, by Nora Ephron https://go.shopmy.us/p-61260758 [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61260758]  Diana: The Book of Psalms (Check out the Jewish Publication Society’s 2002 translation [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61260283] or scholar Robert Alter’s 2009 translation with commentary [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61260091])  Jewish Book Council’s Pick: The World Between [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61261527], by Zeeva Bukai (Kate Schmier, Director of Publishing Relations, Jewish Book Council) Recommended by Esther: T Shirt Shoppe https://shoptshirtshoppe.com/ [https://shoptshirtshoppe.com/] This week’s Good for the Jews picks:  Stephanie: 90210 star Ian Ziering’s daughter’s bat mitzvah [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61261994]. Gabby: The giant green pickle [https://go.shopmy.us/p-61264435] announcing the arrival of the U.K’s first Jewish culture month. Esther: Tsion Cafe [https://www.tsioncafe.com/] in Harlem, run by chef Beejhy Barhany [https://www.goldaguide.com/p/ethiopian-jewish-food-gursha-cookbook-beejhy-barhany]. Diana: New York City’s Israel Day Parade [https://israeldayon5th.com/] this weekend. Sponsors: GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55725075], a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Use code NuGolda at checkout for 15% off your subscription. Visit NuReads.org [http://nureads.org/] to get started today. This episode is also sponsored by:  * The Mindich Fellowship for Jewish Fiction, part of Miami Book Fair’s Emerging Writer Fellowship. If your novel or fiction project centers Jewish life, culture, or themes, this is an incredible year-long opportunity to develop that work in community. Apply by May 31, 2026 at miamibookfair.com/program/emerging-fellows/ [https://miamibookfair.com/program/emerging-fellows/]. * Joyva [https://amzn.to/4cXSDn4], a fourth generation family business that crafts tahini, halvah and confections in Brooklyn, NY. Get your deliciousness today [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55727364]. GOLDA is a Jewish lifestyle destination built around one idea: making Jewish life bright, beautiful, and full of meaning. Subscribe to our newsletter at www.goldaguide.com [https://www.goldaguide.com/] and follow GOLDA on Instagram at @goldaguide [https://www.instagram.com/goldaguide/]. GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media [https://www.goldaguide.com/]. Our executive producer is Ariel Shapiro. We’re edited by POLDHU [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55854400].  You can listen to GOLDA Girls on: * Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983] * Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq] * Pocket Casts https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21 [https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21] Leave us a review and we’ll send you a GOLDA sticker! Email a screenshot of your recoew to hi@goldaguide.com [hi@goldaguide.com].  Stay GOLDA.

Cheesecake, Congress, and Joan Rivers with Julie Klausner

GOLDA [https://www.goldaguide.com/] founder Stephanie Butnick [https://www.stephaniebutnick.com/] and her co-hosts—journalist Gabby Deutch [https://jewishinsider.com/authors/gabby-deutch/], novelist Esther Chehebar [https://amzn.to/42RJZSJ], and Rabbi Diana Fersko [https://rabbidianafersko.com/]—discuss how Shavuot became all about cheesecake and explore the Jewish implications of the race to replace longtime New York Congressman Jerry Nadler. Special guest Julie Klausner [https://www.instagram.com/julieklausner/?hl=en] joins the show to answer a listener question in Ask GOLDA.  This week’s Good for the Jews picks:  Stephanie: Zabars and JCC Manhattan’s Literie candle [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59905732] collab. Gabby: The musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59905827]. Diana: Mabel’s Labels [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59904982] for camp packing.  Esther: Costco kosher cheesecake [https://go.shopmy.us/p-59905149] and Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi [https://www.thejc.com/news/world/the-strokes-jewish-guitarist-takes-break-after-singers-comments-on-privilege-of-american-zionists-tqx9iky9]. Upcoming GOLDA Events: Tuesday, May 26 — New York City: GOLDA Mahjong Night is back on the Upper East Side for mahjong mavens, newcomers, and everyone in between! Sign up here [https://luma.com/iwdlt610?utm_campaign=golda-events&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=www.goldaguide.com]. Wednesday, May 27 — New York City: Join GOLDA for the kickoff event in our series at The Harmonie Club. Stephanie Butnick will be talking to three contemporary Jewish writer Rachel Kadish (The Weight of Ink [https://elink856.goldaguide.com/ss/c/u001.IWlpM7M6neOhCnT3_55KjHqGK0hdg0AtW9pBx7t0wMYJ8lvraTol_tbyS993XuOr5U0CxBiIjE_lE5MImtfT1vJR5Jvs6doWb9fU1qIxyVRdoozB7EfNX37b2NytvGzvdyJE-NS_f6u4YLko5cZI1zM4ez0Fc_xcnKGiw2PC9e-28fEYWyI9c5CBZ3NZGMpAlv0YoLMWMDrx7BPQSGuStg/4qn/XsFBjghwR1SYM08W6W6crw/h11/h001.UEzZZ02jF4u5MRsL3vXzhjpQSXQuZ4zpFTcodrGcvtg?utm_campaign=golda-events&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=www.goldaguide.com]), Menachem Kaiser, (Plunder [https://elink856.goldaguide.com/ss/c/u001.IWlpM7M6neOhCnT3_55KjKxz6YKkuehDBIoU6WgWgsGlARrM6b3_Q3OdpBAUPrwqhNZd9AvqWDjYdi3HtiB6BPX30RcvYPlGVDNdCGOA4ZcUW9BPHjRa87vnDVHTTsT1Zq8vfc9TwYraM-IluREAXBrc1XYErLUR5LRyFtjSKqodGGQ1ULhg2v8zEeuiaEasf_a4vc38KFNWmzQxejGb6A/4qn/XsFBjghwR1SYM08W6W6crw/h12/h001.Oyp3bgZPSiCivVfOtjcUIVxw1C19xyTg11sSlMm_XKA?utm_campaign=golda-events&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=www.goldaguide.com]), and GOLDA Girls co-host Esther Chehebar (Sisters of Fortune [https://elink856.goldaguide.com/ss/c/u001.IWlpM7M6neOhCnT3_55KjBGHbYGP_amHk4WqTG7rCWmajZtYL6Uc8uus7Hi4QEWDW3vhtg9LQXTeaeV6_cNFUuBhcaJYvPPVATSPOtL52EimyuApJqd5T_ll-sQRdyQwCeOQvxWCgHr-TKYIyWR0uMX0HMX1xDCEB-rTiAPY-TDOgCYmbBO1HGkCSVh9p5WL9R-EfEGPSirzp1W14sEIYA/4qn/XsFBjghwR1SYM08W6W6crw/h13/h001.st7_XCqH39CLrzuV39GgbdhCsU9fgcwlt6PPd9he7DA?utm_campaign=golda-events&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=www.goldaguide.com])—about their work and the rich tradition of Jewish storytelling. Sign up here [https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLM3G6EZ152MH/checkout/VDRSHNEA5A5XE5FZASYNYABQ?utm_campaign=golda-events&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=www.goldaguide.com]. Check out all of our events here [https://www.goldaguide.com/p/events]. Want to bring GOLDA Girls to your community? Email us at hi@goldaguide.com [hi@goldaguide.com]. Sponsors: GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55725075], a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Use code NuGolda at checkout for 15% off your subscription. Visit NuReads.org [http://nureads.org/] to get started today. This episode is also sponsored by:  * The Mindich Fellowship for Jewish Fiction, part of Miami Book Fair’s Emerging Writer Fellowship. If your novel or fiction project centers Jewish life, culture, or themes, this is an incredible year-long opportunity to develop that work in community. Apply by May 31, 2026 at miamibookfair.com/program/emerging-fellows/ [https://miamibookfair.com/program/emerging-fellows/]. * Joyva [https://amzn.to/4cXSDn4], a fourth generation family business that crafts tahini, halvah and confections in Brooklyn, NY. Get your deliciousness today [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55727364]. GOLDA is a Jewish lifestyle destination built around one idea: making Jewish life bright, beautiful, and full of meaning. Subscribe to our newsletter at www.goldaguide.com [https://www.goldaguide.com/] and follow GOLDA on Instagram at @goldaguide [https://www.instagram.com/goldaguide/]. GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media [https://www.goldaguide.com/]. Our executive producer is Ariel Shapiro. We’re edited by POLDHU [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55854400].  You can listen to GOLDA Girls on: * Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983] * Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq] * Pocket Casts https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21 [https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21] Leave us a review and we’ll send you a GOLDA sticker! Email a screenshot of your review to hi@goldaguide.com [hi@goldaguide.com].  Stay GOLDA.

Who Speaks for Us?

This week, GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick and her co-hosts, journalist Gabby Deutch, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and novelist Esther Chehebar discuss what Jewish leadership looks like today. Reflecting on the death of Abe Foxman [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/obituaries/abraham-foxman-dead.html] and the fractured moment in Jewish life, the GOLDA Girls spotlight people who have stepped up to offer meaningful, clear-eyed leadership in different ways. They include:  Sarah Hurwitz, speechwriter and author of As a Jew [https://mijal.substack.com/] and Here All Along [https://mijal.substack.com/]. (Gabby pick) Mijal Bitton, spiritual leader and writer of the Committed [https://mijal.substack.com/] Substack. (Esther pick) Rachel Goldberg Polin, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and the author of When We See You Again [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/obituaries/abraham-foxman-dead.html]. (Diana pick) Avital Chizik-Goldschmidt, writer [http://www.avitalchizhik.com/] and cofounder/rebbetzin of The Altneu [https://thealtneu.org/]. (SB pick)  GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55725075], a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Use code NuGolda at checkout for 15% off your subscription. Visit NuReads.org [http://nureads.org/] to get started today. This episode is also sponsored by:  * The Mindich Fellowship for Jewish Fiction, part of Miami Book Fair’s Emerging Writer Fellowship. If your novel or fiction project centers Jewish life, culture, or themes, this is an incredible year-long opportunity to develop that work in community. Apply by May 31, 2026 at miamibookfair.com/program/emerging-fellows/ [https://miamibookfair.com/program/emerging-fellows/]. * Joyva [https://amzn.to/4cXSDn4], a fourth generation family business that crafts tahini, halvah and confections in Brooklyn, NY. Get your today [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55727364]. GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media [https://www.goldaguide.com/]. Our executive producer is Ariel Shapiro. Editing by POLDHU [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55854400].  Subscribe to GOLDA’s newsletter at www.goldaguide.com [https://www.goldaguide.com/] and follow GOLDA on Instagram at @goldaguide [https://www.instagram.com/goldaguide/]. You can listen to GOLDA Girls on: * Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983] * Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq] * Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1ee25ff2-b2af-401f-bbf4-1e7ab58b8177/golda-girls [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1ee25ff2-b2af-401f-bbf4-1e7ab58b8177/golda-girls] Please consider leaving us a rating or review!  Stay GOLDA.

GOLDA Interviews: Fran Fabriczki, Author of 'Porcupines'

On this special episode of GOLDA Girls, Stephanie Butnick talks to author Fran Fabriczki about her novel Porcupines [https://amzn.to/4djAArQ], which is the latest selection from Nu Reads [https://go.shopmy.us/p-57167558], the Jewish book subscription series (and our show’s sponsor!). The novel tells the story of Sonia, a Jewish immigrant from Budapest, and her 5-year-old daughter Mila, a Los Angeles native looking to piece together her mom’s mysterious past.  GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55725075], a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Use code NuGolda at checkout for 15% off. Visit NuReads.org [http://nureads.org/] to get started today. GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media [https://www.goldaguide.com/]. Our executive producer is Ariel Shapiro. Edited by POLDHU [https://www.poldhu.co/].  Subscribe to GOLDA’s newsletter at www.goldaguide.com [https://www.goldaguide.com/] and follow GOLDA on Instagram at @goldaguide [https://www.instagram.com/goldaguide/]. You can listen to GOLDA Girls on: * Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983] * Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq] * Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1ee25ff2-b2af-401f-bbf4-1e7ab58b8177/golda-girls [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1ee25ff2-b2af-401f-bbf4-1e7ab58b8177/golda-girls]

Jewish Mother's Day with Jill Kargman

Stephanie Butnick, founder of GOLDA [https://www.goldaguide.com/] and former host of the hit podcast Unorthodox, brings together an all-star group of Jewish women to discuss culture, identity, and the everyday moments shaping our modern Jewish lives.  This week, Stephanie and her co-hosts, journalist Gabby Deutch, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and novelist Esther Chehebar, discuss Jewish Mother’s Day, bageling [https://jel.jewish-languages.org/words/36], and more. Influenced [https://www.menemshafilms.com/influenced] writer and star Jill Kargman joins the show to tackle an “Ask GOLDA” listener question about banning phones at bat mitzvahs.  GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55725075], a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Use code NuGolda at checkout for 15% off. Visit NuReads.org [http://nureads.org/] to get started today. This episode is also sponsored by Joyva [https://amzn.to/4cXSDn4], a fourth generation family business that crafts tahini, halvah and confections in Brooklyn, NY. Get your Joyva deliciousness today [https://go.shopmy.us/p-55727364]. GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media [https://www.goldaguide.com/]. Our executive producer is Ariel Shapiro. Edited by POLDHU [https://www.poldhu.co/].  Subscribe to GOLDA’s newsletter at www.goldaguide.com [https://www.goldaguide.com/] and follow GOLDA on Instagram at @goldaguide [https://www.instagram.com/goldaguide/]. You can listen to GOLDA Girls on: * Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983] * Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq] * Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1ee25ff2-b2af-401f-bbf4-1e7ab58b8177/golda-girls [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1ee25ff2-b2af-401f-bbf4-1e7ab58b8177/golda-girls] Please consider leaving us a rating or review.  Stay GOLDA!