Tattoos and Torah

In this episode of Tattoos & Torah our host, Rabbi Iggy, will explore the fascinating world of Marla Aaron, a visionary jewelry designer who is redefining the concept of jewelry with her eponymous collection. Launched in 2013, Marla's collection showcases her passion for bridges, hardware, and jewelry, captivating individuals worldwide. Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey of Ma...

Dr. Kien Vuu, widely known as Doctor V, is an accomplished assistant professor of Health Sciences at UCLA, esteemed speaker, renowned media expert, and the founder of Vuu MD Performance and Longevity. He is also the bestselling author of "Thrive State: Your Blueprint for Optimal Health, Longevity, and Peak Performance." With over 14 years of medical practice under his belt, Dr. V combine...

Katie Silcox : Key to a Balanced and Vibrant Life Give a warm welcome to our friend Katie Silcox, M.A. is the New York Times Best-Selling author of the book Healthy Happy Sexy – Ayurveda Wisdom for Modern Women and the founder of The Shakti School, a premier online certification school for women-centered holistic wellness. Her business focuses on the convergence of ancient holistic medicine, moder...

Your body is an instrument, and this week on Tattoos and Torah with Rabbi Iggy we meet with Bryant Wood. Bryant Wood is a Master Breathwork Instructor, Healer, and co-founder of Modern Nirvana. Previously featured on Women’s Health, PeopleTV, Forbes, Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Spotify, United Nations, Discovery Inc., and Daily Yoga App. In this episode we explore breath, sound, and movement to open you...

In this episode of Tattoos & Torah, Rabbi Iggy talks to global ultra-endurance athlete and the founder of the 5.8 Global Adventure Series, Charlie Engle. Charlie shares his story of extreme resilience – which includes running across the Sahara Desert – and how suffering can lead to extraordinary growth. Charlie offers tangible steps toward recovery so you too can practice more mindfulness and...

Season 4 / Episode 1 Susy Markoe Schieffelin : Life-Changing Sound; Spiritual Recovery This episode of Tattoos and Torah with Rabbi Iggy features such a kind heart, Susy Markoe Schieffelin aka The Copper Vessel. Susy is an LA-based Sound Healer, a Reiki Master, a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, a sobriety coach, and the founder of The Sounder Healer’s Academy. Rabbi Iggy explores the conversation around s...

While summer can be a period of rest and joy, it can also signal that life changes are coming.  How do we make the most of transitional periods? How can we feel comfortable letting go? In the final episode of this season of Tattoos & Torah, Rabbi Iggy addresses these questions - and shares approaches in Jewish tradition to embracing and making meaning at the end of something. Listen to th...

What do you say to yourself when you want to quit?  How do you flip that script? This week, Rabbi Iggy sits down with Eddie Arrazola, a boxing coach who created the acclaimed anti-bullying and self-confidence building youth program, “The Wolf Pack”. Together, they discuss the value of grit and determination - and how to always move forward, even in the moments where you could get stuck. Liste...

In this episode, Rabbi Iggy discusses the healing power of embracing tensions as queer people: in our spirits, in our bodies, and in taking and making space. Rabbi Iggy examines the constant mediation of space we partake in, by being loud and proud, but ensuring we create space for others.  He covers a range of topics that touch these themes, from the spiritual principle of tzimtzum (the redu...

How can tattoos help us heal when reclaiming an identity we were taught to hide? In this week’s episode, Rabbi Iggy and graduate research assistant, Lilah Doris, discuss the cultural and historical importance of tattoos and body augmentation as a practice that is not just skin deep.  Together, they explore the role of tattoos in their own lives; as liberating tools for queer bodies and identi...

What is the soul? How (and why) should you nourish it? This week, Rabbi Iggy takes us through theories of the soul in an episode that draws from the wisdom of the ancient philosophes, to the Talmud, to a socialite-turned-nun. In this episode, Rabbi Iggy invites us to build our own relationship to our soul - and reveals how we can nurture it like we do our bodies.

What can you do as a parent when your child is struggling with addiction? This week’s guest, Richard Capriola sits down with Rabbi Iggy to discuss addiction in youth and adolescents.  As a mental health and addiction counselor for over two decades, Richard's recent book, “The Addicted Child”, offers a roadmap on adolescent substance abuse for parents.  Their conversation digs into the ne...

How do we find nourishment in rest? This week, Rabbi Iggy discusses different types of rest: spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical, and asks us to take an honest account of what rest looks like for us.  For some, it may look like going on a hike, or going to the gym, but for others, it may be reading a book or laying on the couch. Listen to this episode to learn how to change your relati...

The Talmud says that beautiful things expand a person’s heart. But what makes something beautiful? In this week’s episode, Rabbi Iggy talks about beauty and why it matters.  While some philosophers think beauty is objective and universal, Rabbi Iggy argues that we have the power to make the world around us beautiful; and in doing so we exercise our sovereignty over and connection to the world...

What are some of the root causes of anxiety and stress, and how can we address them? This week, Rabbi Iggy talks with Dr. Laxmi Naik, a board-certified emergency medicine physician. After practicing acute care medicine at the busiest trauma centers in New York, she pursued holistic medicine for her own healing journey.  Together, they discuss the many approaches one can take to find integrate...

Shadow work is a Jungian idea that is an essential part of the work we must do to create more peace and equanimity in ourselves and our lives. Creativity, joy, authenticity and recovery are enhanced when we commit to exploring our actions, motivations and values. In this episode, Rabbi Iggy explores different approaches to shadow work and explains his spiritual interpretation of it. If you ever wo...

How can you practice mindfulness when meditation is not for you? This week Rabbi Iggy sits down with Certified Mindfulness Coach and Mindful Living author Melissa Maxx.  Melissa's book “Mindfulness for People Who Suck at Being Mindful” was the #1 New Kindle release in five categories.  In this episode, she shares the tips, techniques, and practices she learned after suffering from an emo...

We count so many things in life: money, possessions, real estate, other material things. We also count sobriety and recovery time. But, how do you count the immaterial things that matter? In this episode, Rabbi Iggy discusses the mitzvah of counting the Omer. This thousand year-old tradition reminds us to improve, change, grow and focus on our individual selves. By counting the 49 days of the Omer...

How can we find our own liberation this coming spring? By trying to understand what in our own lives serve as our "mitzrayim", our obstacles.   In this episode, Rabbi Iggy gives us the tools to identify these obstacles within ourselves. By looking inward, at the people close to us, and at the world around us, we can then decide what we will engage with and what we will disengage fro...

This week, Rabbi Iggy is joined by Rabbi Michael Perice, the Senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Cinnaminson, New Jersey who made waves in 2021 when he opened up about his opiate addiction recovery journey.  They discuss the defining moments of life, how we recognize and honor them, and the expansive impact they can have. Together, these two spiritual leaders open up about ripple effects of their...

What does it mean to live t’shuvah? This is the question that drives T’Shuvah Center’s unique approach to integrated, personalized recovery. In this episode, Rabbi Iggy digs into the concept of t’shuvah and how powerfully it can transform your wellbeing. By engaging in this daily act of living in truth, repair, and strength, we can become empowered to understand the roots of our behaviors and unlo...

As we enter spring, the season of renewal, how can we plant seeds in the areas of our lives where we’d like to foster more growth? This week, Rabbi Iggy explores what it takes to build habits. In recovery, there is a basic concept of the first 90 days, a phase where old habits are challenged and new behaviors take their place. Rabbi Iggy discusses the ways we hold ourselves back from growth, and r...

Why are contradictions so present in Judaism, and how can they inform our recovery? This week, Rabbi Iggy ruminates on the many tensions written into Jewish text. With so many conflicting expectations, we are constantly asked to live in the grey areas; to mediate the in-between. For many of us in recovery, learning to embrace dualities is essential. If you’re interested in building harmony between...

How can the medical field better address patients with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness? That’s the central focus of Dr. Jonathan Avery’s work, the Director of Addiction Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.  This week, Dr. Avery joins Rabbi Iggy to discuss the challenges many patie...

How can we move beyond labels to find unity? In order to move beyond labels, we must first understand our own identities. Rabbi Iggy asks us to develop an awareness of ourselves by understanding the difference between what we need and what we want.  Knowing that we all share this human condition can push us to connect with those around us and find unity in times of crisis. How does this relat...