Common Faith

SiriusXM

A rabbi and a journalist walk into… not a bar, not a synagogue, but a SiriusXM podcast studio. Each week, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Senior Rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue, and Jon Frankel, formerly of Real Sports, will banter, question, and explore the big issues of our day through the lens of Jewish tradition and lived experience. The program is designed to be fun, thoughtful, and engaging—where faith matters, and conversation runs deep.

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22 episodes
weekly
Avg 52 min
English

Episodes 22

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#50
Thursday · 48 min
Is College Football a Religion? Paul Finebaum on Faith, Football & the South
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum joins Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel to discuss growing up Jewish in Memphis, his Southern Jewish identity, and balancing faith, family, and a life spent covering college football. Plus, Finebaum weighs in on the almost religious devotion of college football fans, the changing landscape of the sport, Michigan, the SEC vs. Big Ten—and what happens when loyalty collides with our values.
#49
August 20 · 51 min
Back to School Special: Jewish Life on Campus - The Hillel Story
As students head back to college, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with three veteran campus rabbis—Rabbi Jessica Kirschner of Stanford, Rabbi Rachel Isaacs of Colby College, and Rabbi Ari Israel of the University of Maryland—to talk about what Jewish life on campus really looks like today. From antisemitism and the aftermath of October 7 to Shabbat dinners, unexpected conversations, Jewish resilience, and even Tashlich in space, they explore why the essential work of Hillel remai
#48
August 13 · 51 min
Legacy on the Line: Wealth, Values, and What We Pass On
What do we really pass from one generation to the next? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel welcome wealth advisor and author Andrea Baumann Lustig for a conversation about money, family, philanthropy and the values hidden inside our financial choices. Drawing on her new book, Legacy on the Line, Lustig argues that true legacy is about far more than inheritance: it is about the wisdom, responsibility and resilience we “shape forward” for those who come after us.
#47
August 6 · 52 min
Shift: Ethan Kross on Managing Emotions in a Complex World
We all experience anxiety, anger, grief, jealousy, and joy—but what if the goal isn't to eliminate difficult emotions, but to learn how to work with them? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with bestselling author and University of Michigan psychologist Ethan Kross to explore the science of emotional regulation, the wisdom of Jewish tradition, and practical tools for navigating life's emotional highs and lows.
#46
July 30 · 53 min
Hollywood R.I.P.? David Mikics on Movies, Culture, and Jewish Identity
Hollywood was built in large part by Jewish immigrants, but how much of that legacy remains today? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the Jewish roots of the movie industry, the evolving role of Jewish identity in American culture, and whether Hollywood is losing its creative soul. Joined by author and cultural critic David Mikics, they discuss everything from Louis B. Mayer and Casablanca to Spielberg, Kubrick, and the challenges facing Jewish voices in entertainment today.
#45
July 23 · 50 min
The Wanderers: Uncovering Hidden Histories of Jewish Survival
What happens when two Jewish women meet in Los Angeles and discover their families came from the same Polish town - and survived the Holocaust through a little-known journey across the Soviet Union? Authors Daniela Gerson and Talia Inlander join Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel to discuss The Wanderers, their remarkable story of exile, survival, family history, and unexpected love. Together they explore memory, refugee experiences, and the hidden histories that continue to shape Jewish life
#44
July 16 · 51 min
The Digital Dilemma: Judaism's Opportunities and Risks in an Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we learn, communicate, and build community—but what does Jewish tradition have to say about it? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the promise and peril of technology with Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone of Chabad.org and Daniel Kelley of the ADL. From using AI to spread Torah and strengthen Jewish connection to confronting online hate and antisemitism, this conversation examines how Jewish values can guide us through the digital age.
#43
July 9 · 51 min
Maccabi USA: Uniting Jewish Athletes Worldwide
What happens when athletic competition becomes a vehicle for Jewish identity, global connection, and love of Israel? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with Maccabi USA CEO Marshall Einhorn and longtime participant Dr. Danny Cosgrove to explore the Maccabiah Games—the world's largest Jewish sporting event. From elite competition to lifelong friendships, they discuss how sports unite Jewish athletes across generations, countries, and backgrounds.
#42
July 2 · 51 min
America at 250: The Jewish Contribution to America's Independence
As America marks its 250th anniversary, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the deep connections between the American experiment and the Jewish experience. They reflect on the promises of freedom, citizenship, and opportunity that have shaped Jewish life in the United States before welcoming Dan Tadmor, CEO of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Together, they uncover little-known stories of Jewish involvement in the Revolutionary War and discuss how museums help p
#41
June 25 · 52 min
Knowledge Is Power: Understanding Breast Health and Genetic Testing with Dr. Elisa Port
Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of women every year, yet conversations about screening, prevention, and genetic testing remain difficult for many families. Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with renowned breast surgeon Dr. Elisa Port to discuss what everyone should know about breast health, the role of BRCA genetic testing, and why early detection saves lives. Drawing from her new book The Breast Advice, Dr. Port shares patient stories, medical insights, and practical gu
#40
June 18 · 52 min
A Culinary Celebration of Jewish Culture with The Great Nosh & Joan Nathan
Food is far more than nourishment—it is memory, identity, culture, and connection. In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore how Jewish food serves as a living archive of history and tradition. Through conversations with Jewish Food Society founder Naama Shefi and renowned food writer Joan Nathan, they examine how recipes carry family stories across generations, how shared meals build community, and why food remains one of the most powerful gateways into Jewi
#39
June 11 · 52 min
The World Cup and the American Exception: Soccer, Identity, and Belonging
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives in North America, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore why soccer captivates billions around the globe but remains culturally distinct in America. With authors Franklin Foer and Andrei Markovits, they examine globalization, identity, Jewish belonging, and what the world's most popular sport reveals about who we are.
#38
June 4 · 52 min
Hidden in Plain Sight: Susan Orlean and the Art of Storytelling
What if the most meaningful stories are the ones we almost overlook? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore why the smallest stories often matter most. Then they welcome bestselling author and longtime New Yorker writer Susan Orlean for a conversation about storytelling, curiosity, memory, Jewish identity, and the extraordinary hidden inside everyday life.
#37
May 28 · 53 min
Inside the Haredi Community: Education, Identity, and Israel’s Future
Can Israel preserve religious tradition while building a more shared and sustainable future? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with Rabbi Menachem Bombach, a Haredi educator and social entrepreneur working to bridge one of the deepest divides in Israeli society: the relationship between the ultra-Orthodox community and the modern State of Israel.
#36
May 21 · 52 min
Exploring Shavuot: Reimagining Jewish Education with David Bryfman
In a world of infinite choice and growing uncertainty, what does it mean to teach the next generation not just how to be Jewish—but why? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel welcome leading Jewish educator David Bryfman for a wide-ranging conversation about Shavuot, Jewish identity, Israel education, and the urgent challenges of raising Jewish children in a post-October 7th world.
#35
May 14 · 52 min
Beyond Borders: Water, Power & Peace in the Middle East with Gidon Bromberg
In a region defined by conflict, can water, energy, and the environment become the foundation for peace? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with EcoPeace Middle East co-founder Gidon Bromberg to explore how environmental cooperation across Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories may offer a new path toward peace—even in the midst of war.
#34
May 7 · 52 min
The Battle Beyond the Battlefield: Israel, Narrative & Power with Benjamin Anthony
This episode of Common Faith explores the intersection of war, public perception, and identity through a wide-ranging conversation with Benjamin Anthony, CEO of The MirYam Institute. Together, they examine how conflict in the Middle East extends beyond the battlefield into media, academia, and global discourse. The conversation raises urgent questions about security, narrative, and the future of Jewish life in Israel and the diaspora.
#33
April 30 · 53 min
The Devil Wears Prada 2 with David Frankel & B.J. Novak
The episode opens with a lively and personal conversation about family, media, and creative paths. The hosts reflect on the cultural staying power of The Devil Wears Prada—why it resonated across generations, and whether its portrayal of workplace dynamics still holds up today. Then David Frankel and B.J. Novak join the conversation to discuss The Devil Wears Prada 2—why now, what’s changed, and how the story reflects a new era in media and leadership.
#32
April 23 · 51 min
From Questions to Convictions: Judea Pearl on Zionophobia and Coexistence
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the power of questioning—then sit down with AI pioneer Dr. Judea Pearl to discuss antisemitism, Zionism, and why “coexistence” has become a controversial idea. A bold and thought-provoking conversation about truth, identity, and moral clarity.
#31
April 16 · 52 min
Siach Shalom: Talking Internal Peace for Israel’s Independence
As Israel moves from Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut, the nation holds grief and celebration side by side. But beneath that unity lies deep internal division. In this episode, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore whether a fractured society can still talk to itself—featuring Dr. Alick Isaacs, Rabba Tamar Elad-Appelbaum, and Keren Sokoloff of Siach Shalom, who are bringing Israelis across ideological and religious lines into honest, often uncomfortable, but transformative conversation.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes