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The Rest is Commentary with Shep Rosenman

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The Rest is Commentary is a podcast that explores connections through music, ancient wisdom, and conversations. Shep Rosenman is writing a song cycle inspired by the Psalms/Tehillim. In each episode, Shep offers one of his songs to a friend and they discuss whatever comes up, from the mundane to the sublime, the philosophical to the sophomoric, from dark and narrow places to wide open spaces of joy.

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22 episodes
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Avg 54 min
English

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#60
Wednesday · 52 min
060: With a Little Help from My Friends: A Conversation with Lee Rosenbaum
Asking for help is human. Figuring out how to show up for one another is the harder part. Shep Rosenman sits down with Lee Rosenbaum for a candid, wide-ranging exchange about holding multiple identities, including being Black and Jewish, and what happens when the promise of solidarity collides with the realities of polarization and antisemitism. Drawing on personal family stories, civil-rights roots, and legal and cultural perspectives, they ask what empathy demands of us, especially when it’s hardest to offer. Along the way, they find room for humor, joy, and the sacred possibilities of everyday work. Woven through the conversation is “Need Some Help,” the song that started it all, which was itself inspired by Psalm 121, and a question that connects prayer to action: How do we move from asking for help to becoming a source of it?
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#59
September 2 · 51 min
059: Faith After Fire: A Conversation with Allison Lee
What do we save when we may never come home? Shep Rosenman sits down with Allison Lee to explore how a deeply personal song he wrote with Liz Hanellin in the shadow of the January 2025 Palisades fires, became an urgent warning about extremism. They discuss the choices that shaped the song. Their conversation moves through evacuation, memory, and inheritance: Torah scrolls, prayer books, wedding contracts, family photographs, and the irreplaceable things we reach for when time runs out. Together, Shep and Allison examine Psalm 83 as both prophecy and warning, the seductive appeal of certainty and binaries, and the challenge of transforming personal pain into art that serves others. Ultimately, they ask how communities can survive fear without sacrificing nuance, empathy, or moral imagination. A powerful conversation about fire, faith, identity, and choosing to build rather than destroy.
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#58
August 18 · 58 min
058: Sacred String Theory: A Conversation with Jim Wright
Composer and touch-guitar innovator Jim Wright joins Shep Rosenman for a wide-ranging conversation inspired by “Come Out and Play,” Shep’s song drawn from Psalm 34. Jim follows the song's invitation into questions of creativity, character, faith, and the surprising places meaning can emerge. Jim started exploring touch-guitar in 1978, developing tunings and techniques that allow him to tap electric bass and guitar parts simultaneously—an approach that has made him a distinctive voice among devotees of the instrument. His work spans popular music, alternative rock, and jazz, and can be found at on Bandcamp and Youtube.com. In this episode of The Rest Is Commentary, Shep and Jim discuss the origins of the podcast; what it means to become the best person you can be; whether we can “educate” God; and why disagreement matters most when it is pursued with the right intentions. Along the way, they explore animism, perception and reality, happy accidents, musical discovery, and much more. Start by listening to “Come Out and Play”—then come along for a conversation that moves from a psalm into the strange, searching, and playful work of being human.
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#57
July 31 · 1 hr
057: Going to Hope: A Conversation with Rabbi Leon Wiener-Dow
Rabbi Leon Wiener-Dow, CEO and Director of Beit Midrash for Kolot, and host Shep Rosenman explore “All You Children,” a song inspired by Psalm 65, in a conversation about hope as a daily practice, the healing power of being truly heard and seen, and the challenge of holding on to redemption when war makes the present feel so harsh. They reflect on love, empathy, halacha as lived experience, and the ongoing work of building a better future in the middle of conflict. Psalm 65 frames Gd as the One who hears prayer and answers with hope, which makes it a strong anchor for the episode’s themes.
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#56
July 17 · 55 min
056: The Harmony of Hevrusa: A Conversation with Rabba Yaffa Epstein
If you’ve ever wanted to hear Torah, music, and prayer collide in a way that feels deeply human and unexpectedly moving, this conversation is for you. In this episode, Rabba Yaffa Epstein and host Shep Rosenman unpack the rich layers of the song Morning Prayer #1 through the lens of Jewish thought. Together, they wrestle with gratitude, darkness, intention, and the power of showing up authentically—even when life feels heavy. What emerges is a powerful reminder that some of the most meaningful prayer begins before the words - in the choice to wake up, look inward, and reach for wonder. Thoughtful, soul-stirring, and full of insight from one of today’s finest Jewish educators, this is an episode that will stay with you long after it ends. Whether you’re a longtime listener or discovering the podcast for the first time, you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for how sacred meaning can live inside music, routine, and the courage to begin again.
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#55
July 9 · 52 min
055: Mistakes, Grace, Boundaries: A Conversation with Rabbi Hannah Jensen
Unlock a fresh perspective on mistakes, forgiveness, and genuine connection in this conversation with Rabbi Hannah Jensen, inspired by Host Shep Rosenman’s song “Worth Decanting” (from Psalm 25). Shep Rabbi Jensen challenge common views of failure—whether in faith, relationships, or inner life—and show how embracing our flaws can deepen growth and connection. They explore how our fixation on errors limiting compassion and trust, and offer practical tools for navigating conflict: giving the benefit of the doubt, respecting boundaries, and practicing vulnerability without oversharing. Rabbi Jensen reflects candidly on keeping relationships authentic amid digital exposure and social polarization, reframing regret beyond sin and opening space for grace. This episode is for anyone weighed down by judgment or struggling to reconcile mistakes with identity; it offers a compassionate, action-oriented approach to vulnerability so that imperfection becomes a path to stronger, more resilient relationships.
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#54
June 24 · 1 hr 3 min
054: Jazz, Mystery, and the Search for God: A Conversation with Amy Guterson
In this intimate and wide-ranging conversation, Shep sits with playwright and educator Amy Guterson to explore “Stay,” a song inspired by Psalm 31, and the mysterious places where jazz, mysticism, and creativity meet. Amy shares the path that led her to Hasidus and Kabbalah, her founding of Tzohar Seminary, and the way improvisation and art can open us to spiritual connection. Together, they wrestle with what it means to embrace the unknown, hold paradox, and find trust and gratitude even after trauma. It’s a moving conversation about music, faith, and becoming a vessel for light.
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#53
June 18 · 1 hr
053: Kvell Like a Champion: A Conversation with 10 x Xterra Champion Barbara Edelston Peterson
Ready to discover how celebrating others can transform your life, your community, and even your performance under pressure? In this electrifying episode of The Rest is Commentary, host Shep Rosenman sits down with Barbara Edelston-Peterson—sports psychologist, acclaimed author, 10-time Xterra world champion, and founder of the Whole Champion Foundation—for a deeply inspiring conversation about the ancient Jewish practice of kvelling, the power of authentic passion, and how community shapes a life of meaning. Barbara shares the story of her extraordinary athletic journey, a life-changing injury that forced her to refocus on purpose and service, and her groundbreaking book, Kvell, released about a year ago—a guide to celebrating others as a catalyst for connection, resilience, and positive action in schools, teams, and communities worldwide. Barbara and Shep dive into the inspiration behind Shep's song *“Black and White Photo”* (born from Psalm 78) and reveals how authenticity, passion, and kvelling can help anyone become a “whole champion” in their own life. Whether you’re an athlete, educator, parent, coach, or simply someone seeking deeper connection and purpose, this episode will leave you motivated to start kvelling today—and to build the kind of resilient, joyful community that lifts everyone up. **Tune in now** and join a conversation that proves celebrating others isn’t just nice—it’s transformative.
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#52
June 10 · 46 min
052: If Gd Sleeps, Humans Act: A Conversation with Stephen Hopkins
What if a warlike psalm could become a song of empathetic resistance? Director Stephen Hopkins and host Shep Rosenman discuss "Time to Act" inspired by Psalm 76 and how the song flips aggression into care, using David Bowie–style electro-punk energy to confront injustice while honoring the people caught in it. The anchor idea—“Is God Asleep?”—turns divine wrath into human responsibility. Expect bold talking: how religion is weaponized vs. how cross-spiritual ethics can heal; why the real test of a government is whether it allows protest; and why the world seems to regress in misogyny, racism, and homophobia even as science explodes forward. We discuss Pope Francis’s underreported embrace of LGBTQ+ people, striking data about U.S. gun violence, and reveal that harsh biblical commands may just be parables—not literal orders. New listeners: this is your hook. Old listeners: you’ll love the fresh angle. The bottom line: question dogma. A culture’s morality is measured by how it reacts when questioned.
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#51
May 19 · 43 min
051: Architecture of the Heart: A Conversation with Naomi Langer Voss
Uncover how love, faith, and community collide in this deep, honest conversation with Naomi Langer Voss and Shep Rosenman. Through Psalm 6 and the song it inspired Shep to write, “Have Mercy, Loretta,” they explore doubt, devotion, and whether our relationship with God is personal—or built through community and action. From the rhythms of Jewish prayer to practices like keeping kosher, they reframe spirituality as something lived daily: a mix of ritual, responsibility, and connection. Naomi also shares her work building creative, purpose-driven communities through ARC Scholars and her architecture studio. This episode invites you to rethink faith, love, and what it means to show up for each other-and even for Gd.
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#50
May 12 · 58 min
050: Groove, Gd, and Letting Go: A Conversation with Guitarist Jon Madof
Episode 50 of The Rest is Commentary isn’t just a milestone—it’s a deep dive into what really makes music come alive. Jazz guitarist and composer Jon Madof joins us for a conversation that goes far beyond chops and technique, exploring the tension between control and surrender, and how that very struggle can unlock your truest creative voice. Through stories from his path in avant-garde jazz and Jewish musical expression, Jon opens up about the spiritual undercurrent of his work—where discipline meets intuition, and where something greater than the self begins to guide the music. This isn’t just about how to play—it’s about how to listen, how to feel, and how to get out of your own way. We also explore the deeper forces behind creativity: groove as a vehicle for truth, emotion as the engine of connection, and even angels as a metaphor for those flashes of inspiration that cut through doubt and resistance. If you’ve ever wrestled with perfectionism, ego, or the inner critic, this conversation will hit home in a real way. We talk about Jon's new album, "Turn of Events" out August 14, 2026 on Tzadik. Plus, you’ll get a first listen to “Angels Do My Bidding,” a powerful preview from my upcoming EP, which is rooted in the story of King David and resonant with the emotional weight of October 7th. The music is part of a larger journey—one that invites you to create, live, and feel with deeper intention.
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#49
May 5 · 52 min
049: Laughing Among Ruins: A Conversation with Raymond Simonson
Raymond Simonson, founding CEO of JW3 in London, joins us for a powerful conversation about what happens when music, protest, and community collide. At the heart of this episode is Fire Drill Fridays, a song born out of Limmud North America's eFestival during COVID—written collaboratively and shaped by the real stories of participants navigating isolation, uncertainty, and hope. From that starting point, the conversation opens into something much bigger: how collective creativity becomes a form of resistance. We explore the emotional force of protest imagery—starting with Jane Fonda’s arrest to other symbolic acts—and how these moments echo ancient texts like Psalm 102, reframing activism as both deeply personal and profoundly communal. We reflect on the role of Jewish tradition, community-building, and even humor in sustaining people through crisis. This episode is about resilience in real time: singing together in uncertainty, finding meaning in collective struggle, and refusing to accept that any challenge is “too big.” If you care about activism, creative expression, or the future of community in a fractured world, this conversation will shift how you see your role—and remind you why hope is something we build together.
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#48
April 17 · 49 min
048: Learning to Dance Without You: A Conversation with Rosie Wolkind in Memory of Ivan Wolkind
Grief isn’t just about what we’ve lost—it’s about how we choose to live after loss. In this episode, Shep Rosenman sits down with Rosie Wolkind to explore how loss can reshape a life with deeper meaning, empathy, and even joy. Through the lens of her father Ivan’s legacy—his kindness, wisdom, and community—Rosie shares how grief and gratitude can coexist, from everyday moments to life’s biggest milestones. This is a conversation inspired by the song, Here I Am, which itself was inspired by Psalm 30, about carrying love forward: building new traditions, honoring memory through action, and learning how sorrow can soften us instead of harden us. If you’ve ever wondered how to live more fully in the face of loss, this episode will stay with you.
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#47
April 7 · 43 min
047: Algorithms and Anti-Semitism: A Conversation with Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor and Eli Ovits
When a songwriter sits with an ancient psalm, what happens when those words collide with the wild, unseen machinery of the internet? In this episode of The Rest is Commentary, host Shep Rosenman brings together Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder of CyberWell, and Eli Ovitz to talk about “Windstorms,” a song drawn from Psalm 64, and what it reveals about the power of language in the digital age. Tal-Or traces her path from the world of law to building CyberWell, the first live, open database of online antisemitism, using data, AI, and trust-and-safety partnerships to push social platforms toward real accountability. She and Eli walk us through how algorithms, engagement incentives, and policy enforcement decisions can turn a single post into a storm—amplifying hate, distorting public debate, and spilling over into real-world harm. From protests in Iran and the shadow of the IRGC to the long arc of movements across the Middle East, the conversation widens into a story about democracy, extremism, and how our digital public square is being shaped in real time. Along the way, our guests ask what it would take—for platforms, policymakers, and ordinary users—to build a healthier information ecosystem, rooted in better digital literacy, smarter regulation, and public support. If you want to go deeper or get involved, you can learn more about CyberWell’s work at cyberwell.org.
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S1 · E46
March 25 · 49 min
046: Perfectly Imperfect: A Conversation with Timmy Riordan
What happens when a song breaks open — and something sacred spills out? In this deeply moving episode, Host Shep Rosenman sits down with singer-songwriter Timmy Riordan for a conversation that is as honest as it is inspiring. Together they explore the beautiful, messy, and profoundly human journey of creating music — from the spark of an idea to the courage it takes to share something truly personal with the world. Timmy opens up about his creative process, the challenge of living with imperfection, and the spiritual dimension of songwriting that connects ancient wisdom to the songs we write today. At the heart of the conversation is Little Bit O' Gold — a song rooted in the imagery of Psalm 80 — and the remarkable journey from sacred text to finished song. They explore how the Psalmist's cry for restoration and renewal becomes something utterly fresh and alive and how that ancient longing still echoes in our lives today. We also get to hear Timmy play one of his original songs. Along the way, they dive into the Japanese art of Kintsugi — the idea that broken things repaired with gold are more beautiful for having been broken — as a powerful metaphor for what it means to be an artist and a human. Whether you're a songwriter, a music lover, or simply someone who has ever struggled to create something meaningful, this episode will leave you inspired to embrace your own imperfections — and find that little bit of gold hiding inside them. This episode is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Timmy's mom, Mary Beth "Smidge" (Superman)Riordan — may her memory be a blessing and an inspiration to all who hear it.
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#45
March 19 · 1 hr 1 min
045: Songs, Psalms, and the Sacred Art of Return: A Conversation with Rabbi Aaron Lerner
What happens when ancient Torah meets modern melody with mindfulness as the bridge between them? In this episode, host Shep Rosenman sits down with Rabbi Aaron Lerner for a wide‑ranging, deeply human conversation at the crossroads of music, Jewish spirituality, and communal leadership. Anchored by Shep’s song “Magnets, Elevators, Ghosts," inspired by Psalm 97, the discussion opens a window into how sacred texts still spark creativity—and how songwriting can become a form of prayer. Together, Shep and Rabbi Lerner explore moments of divine inspiration, the vulnerability required to create honestly, and what it means to remain open—spiritually, emotionally, and communally—within Jewish life. They reflect on mindfulness as a core Jewish value, the power of blessings to awaken presence, and how art invites possibility where certainty falls short. The conversation also widens to leadership and responsibility: philanthropy through the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, navigating tension and empathy in communal roles, and showing up for the Jewish people in challenging times. Personal stories, spiritual insights, and creative process intertwine—revealing how tradition and modernity don’t compete, but collaborate. They also discuss the important influence of some of Aaron's teachers at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Whether you’re a seeker, a songwriter, a community builder, or simply curious, this episode is an invitation—to listen more closely, to stay open, and to hear the divine resonance hidden in everyday life. 🎶✨
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#44
March 10 · 1 hr 1 min
044: The Arena of Action: A Conversation with Shoshana Bloom
In this episode, Shep Rosenman and Shoshana Bloom dive into the making and meaning of “It’s About What You Do,” a song inspired by Psalm 82. Their conversation opens into a wider reflection on what it means to show up — as leaders, creators, and members of a community. They explore the metaphor of the arena — a place of confrontation, courage, and shared discovery — and talk through the tensions between performing and supporting, perfection and presence. Through personal stories and honest insight, Shep and Shoshana unpack how ownership, empathy, and imperfect action shape the ways we lift one another and build collective life. A rich and candid dialogue about stepping forward, enabling others, and finding purpose in the messy beauty of doing the work.
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#43
March 2 · 1 hr
043: Like, Totally Divine: A Special Purim Conversation with Noelle and Maya
Get ready for a Purim party like no other! 🎭✨ In this Purim special, host Shep Rosenman shares his original song “Let’s Talk About Faith” and joins Maya and Noelle for a lively conversation that’s equal parts joy, curiosity, and spiritual wrestling. Together, they celebrate Purim’s spirit of courage and reversal while honoring the resilience of the women of Iran. Mixing serious theology with playful moments (yes, including a Valley Girl version of God), the trio dives into questions of faith, doubt, free will, and the afterlife, drawing on the Rambam’s (Maimonides's) 13 Principles of Faith, Torah teachings, and modern reflections on community and purpose. It’s an episode that turns uncertainty into opportunity—and reminds us that humor and holiness often share the same space. Whether you’re here to add some sparkle to your Purim celebration or to find inspiration in life’s big questions, this episode promises laughter, insight, and a reminder that choosing goodness is the most sacred act of all. Tune in, pour yourself a l’chaim, and let’s talk about faith.
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#42
February 24 · 1 hr
042: Mandala and Melody: A Conversation with Emily Cheng
Artist and scholar Emily Cheng joins host Shep Rosenman for a luminous conversation at the crossroads of art, music, and sacred text. From two of Emily's monumental 18‑foot paintings charting the meeting of Western and Eastern spiritual traditions to Shep's song “Unwrapping Heaven,” inspired by Psalm 104, Emily invites us into a world where brushstrokes, breath, and prayer intertwine. Together, they explore the idea of the center — from mandalas to melody — and the tension between the grand and the granular, the cosmic and the intimate. Along the way, they reflect on translating scripture into art, the practice of service through creativity, and how grounding rituals — even a single mindful breath — can shape both spiritual and artistic life. Plus: insights into Emily’s community development work with IIRR, the deep relationship between Taoist and Jewish teachings, and the process of editing a work until it finally feels alive. This is an episode you won't want to miss!
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#41
February 10 · 49 min
041: Guilt & Groove: A Conversation with Jim Ehrich
When podcast host, Shep Rosenman, turned to Psalm 38, its haunting honesty became the heartbeat of his song “Don’t Turn Away From Me.” In this conversation, Jim Ehrich joins Shep to unpack how guilt, vulnerability, and longing for connection can become pathways toward "teshuvah"—repentance and renewal—through music. As the two explore the intersection of sacred text and songwriting, Jim opens up about his journey as a leukemia survivor, the transformative moment of facing illness while expecting his daughter, and how that experience reshaped his understanding of faith beyond religious boundaries. Together, they reflect on the healing power of creativity and how music can turn pain into purpose.
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