This week I talk to Emmy Award-winning TV Writer and novelist Matt Goldman. We talk about the fifth book in the Nils Shapiro crime series, Dark Humor, how he transitioned from comedy writing to novels, and what lies ahead in a busy 2026, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast.


Book launch event: Dec. 2, 2025 at Comma, a bookshop

Sponsored this week: Downlite Bedding. Use Coupon Code JF20 for 20% off at downlitebedding.com.

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to urologist and comedian Jesse Jacobs. We talk about how he got started in both medicine and comedy, getting reps to get better at both jobs, and how he juggles comedy, medicine and family, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Instagram: @jessejacobscomedy

Hosting at Laugh Camp Comedy Club
11/26/25 Maggie Farris Headlining 
https://camp-bar.net/shows/336270

Sponsored this week by Minneapolis Jewish Federation


The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to Rachel Ganani, an attorney who currently serves as the Chief of Staff at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. We talk about what she does in her role, how she got interested in public interest law very early in her career, and BBYO – which is getting ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary in Minnesota on Nov. 22, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Sponsored by: MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to Rav Michaela Brown, the Jewish chaplain at Carleton College and St. Olaf College, both in Northfield, Minnesota. We talk about what brought her to work on college campuses, what led her to rabbinic school, and the story behind the title of Rav, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Sponsor: Smith Jewish Academy

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to Jack Shink. We talk how Jack overcame significant health challenges to start his own business, where his interest in working with technology came from, and how Jack’s Expert Technology has links to generations past, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

website: https://jetcorp2025.wixsite.com/jacks-expert-technol

Sponsored by: MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to Johanna Hyman, attorney, Jewfolk board member and a candidate for the Hopkins School Board. We talk about why she’s running for office, what she sees as the biggest issues the district faces, and how her Jewish background drives her service, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Website: https://www.hymanforhopkins.org/

Article we discussed: https://www.startribune.com/politics-splits-some-minnesota-school-board-races-this-fall/601467136

sponsor: Breiner Law Firm (https://www.legalmama.com/)

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to Aaron Black, a candidate for the Golden Valley City Council. We talk about what led him to run for office, the work he’s done on the city’s Human Services Commission, and how his Judaism drives his service, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Learn more: https://voteaaronblack.com/

Early voting in Golden Valley: https://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/224/Voting-Elections

Sponsored this week by Minneapolis Jewish Federation (https://Jewishminneapolis.org)

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to Molly Rosenblatt, Jewfolk’s new journalist and audience engagement editor. We talk about Molly’s start in journalism, traveling the country covering local news, and how Oct. 7 helped her connect more with the Twin Cities Jewish community, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk with Susie Kaufman, who is running for a seat on the St. Louis Park School Board. We talk about why she’s running for office, her advocacy work with Moms Demand Action, and quickly finding a Jewish community when she moved to Minnesota a decade ago, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast.

Susie's campaign website: https://www.susieforslp.com/

Article referenced on open enrollment data: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-school-open-enrollment/601444999

Sponsor this week: MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger


The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

this week we have a special episode with Lawrence Badzin, a Minneapolis native who made Aliyah to Israel in 2002 but is helping bring the exhibit Through Their Eyes: the story of Kfar Aza, to his hometown. We talk about how he got connected with the kibbutz in southern Israel, the importance of bringing Oct. 7 survivors to Minnesota for the opening of the exhibit, and growing his family’s business in Israel, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast.

Exhibit: https://tteexhibit.com/
Speaker event: https://www.besyn.org/event/voices-of-kfar-azza/ 

This week's sponsor: Minneapolis Jewish Federation: https://jewishminneapolis.org

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week I talk to Eric Mandel, an attorney and candidate for the Hopkins School Board. We talk about what inspired Eric to run for office, what challenges he sees the district facing, and how his upbringing informs his politics and his Judaism, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Eric's campaign site: https://ericmandel4hopkins.com/

Sponsored by: Kickernick Gallery

This week I talk to Stephanie Iskhakov. We talk about her work at Chabad on Campus at the University of Minnesota, how the organization helped forge her Jewish identity as a first-generation American, and a very interesting road not taken in her career, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

This week I talk to Actor Ryan London Levin. We talk about his role in the upcoming presentation of Treasure Island at Children’s Theatre Company, the Jewish mob, and trying to break through as a playwright, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Treasure Island at Children's Theatre Company: https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/treasure-island/

'American Golem: The Kid Cann Story' at History Theatre's Raw Stages: New Works  Festival: https://www.historytheatre.com/raw-stages-new-works-festival-2

Sponsored by: Minneapolis Jewish Federation Global Experiences (https://jewishminneapolis.org/mjf-get-involved/mjf-global-experiences/)

This week, I talk to Miles Lerner, a city council candidate in St. Louis Park's Ward 3. We talk about what inspired him to get into the race, what he’s learned about city politics through his business, and his family’s deep ties in the community, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

Sponsored by: TC Jewfolk/PJ Library Shabbat In The Park

Contact Miles: miles@shukrentals.com

This week we talk to award-winning children’s book author Marissa Bader. We talk about her new children’s book ‘Saturdays with Gramps,’ the role her family plays in her books, and how she pivoted from journalist and blogger to author on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. 

https://tcjewfolk.com/2025/05/08/another-devastating-step-in-the-year-of-firsts/
https://tcjewfolk.com/2024/10/02/mn-mammalehs-stories-from-the-tribe-podcast-marissa-bader/
https://tcjewfolk.com/2022/09/01/new-childrens-book-shows-how-twins-have-their-own-identities/
https://tcjewfolk.com/2024/08/16/life-is-for-the-living/
https://tcjewfolk.com/2016/01/13/transitioning-mother/

https://marissabader.com/

This week we talk Alyssa Golob, the executive director of Helping Paws. We talk about her organization was touched by tragic assassination of a beloved Minnesota politician, how she’s transitioned to secular non-profit work, and joy of riling up dogs, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast.

Website: helpingpaws.org

Sponsor: Minneapolis Jewish Federation Global Experiences

This week I talk with educator Sami Saltzman Savin. We talk about her work at the Jewish non-profit Sacred Spaces, finding opportunities that combine her various passions, and the family ties to the St. Paul Jewish community, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast.

Sponsor: TC Jewfolk and PJ Library Shabbat in the Park

This week we talk with author, artist and laugh-enthusiast Sarah Routman. We talk about her book “Discover the Power of Laughter,” which she co-authored with her twin sister Rachael Siegelman, what laughter yoga is, and channeling her creative energy, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast.


www.LaughHealthy.com 
www.ThroughSarahsEyes.com - look for the paint pouring page: https://www.throughsarahseyes.com/paint-pouring-photographs
www.DiscoverThePowerOfLaughter.com

People can connect with Sarah via any of the websites or via email at either Sarah@LaughHealthy.com or SRoutman7@gmail.com


Sponsor: MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger (https://mazon.org)

This week I talk with Rabbi John Carrier. We talk his journey from to both Judaism and the rabbinate, why he tends to enjoy being an educator vs. on the pulpit, and if the book he wrote in 2018 still holds up, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast.

Sponsor: TC Jewfolk's Stories from the Tribe storytelling show.

Stuff we discussed: 
Rabbi Benay Lappe's ELI Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBWIEAR_GQY

Rabbi Carrier's podcast/YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/rabbijohncarrier

Rabbi Carrier's book: https://www.amazon.com/Promised-Life-Overcome-Time-Tested-Tradition-ebook/dp/B07B6BG9QM