Campfires and Color Wars

Fireworks on the 4th of July are a staple of summer camp. HuffPost Senior Editor Alana Horowitz Satlin joins to tell one hell of a tale about fireworks gone wrong from her days at Camp Pocono Ridge. Plus we debate the merits of having a birthday at camp, the sports version of camp goggles, and much much more! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Micah and guest Michelle Weltman recount their experiences from attending GUCI's 60th reunion weekend, and how easily you slide right back into your camp ways when back on the campgrounds. Plus a stunner of a first-kiss story, embarrassing coming-of-age issues, and much much more! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Elaine Gibson grew up at summer camp at Camp Blue Ridge in the 1950s, and her kids (including previous guest Seth Davis) and grandkids continue to go to the same camps to this day. We talk about the similarities and differences of camps then and now, plus much much more. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

You may know Josh Brener from his hilarious roles on shows like Silicon Valley and Maron, but before all that he was a camper at Echo Hill Ranch Camp in Medina, Texas, famous for being owned by the family of songwriter/comedian/occasional politician Kinky Friedman. Josh shares his stories of his summers at Echo Hill, including his impressive archery skills, and much much more. Don't waste a minute...

Annette Richmond loves camp. Not only was she on the Disney show Bug Juice about camp back in the day, but this summer she is starting her own body positive summer camp called Fat Camp. We talk about her experience as a TV star, how camp helps you find comfort in your own skin, and how Micah is more jealous of Annette than any previous guest on the show. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

It's our Completely Arbitrary Celebratory 50th Anniversary Episode! Featuring listener (and former cohost) stories for each of our questions in the Title Still Pending Campfires and Color Wars Questionnaire! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Comedian and entertainer Robin Gelfenbien was just your average Jewish girl growing up, with one interesting exception - she spent her summers at church camp! Robin shares stories of her time learning different prayers, singing songs, and more! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

It's time for another Camp Movie Night, as Micah is joined by Jare Akchin and Kari O'Hara to break down the movie "Indian Summer". Does it hold up after all these years? Do the camp references stick? Can anyone figure out what people actually wear at camp? Don't waste a minute, take a listen and find out!

Filmmaker Mike Stasko joins to share his experiences growing up at Camp Kitchikewana in Ontario, Canada, much of which serves as the inspiration for the movie he is making, "Boys vs. Girls". We discuss the effects of older sisters on your dating life, what happens when you go a whole summer without showering, and much much more! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Rebekah Page-Gourley spent the entirety of her adolescence at summer camp. Her husband, Jason Gourley, did not. What's it like to be in a relationship where one of you had such a life-changing experience, and the other...has to listen to stories about it all the time? We find out in the latest episode. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Imagine you went to camp every year with your best friends - then imagine your parents wouldn't let you go for your last year as a camper. The horror! Comedian Dava Krause doesn't have to imagine it, it actually happened to her. She joins to tell her tale of woe, plus musicals gone awry, hot dogs for canteen, and much much more. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Ellie Krupnick spent many a summer at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, and based on her time there co-authored a great piece for HuffPo singling out the 24 Reasons Dating At Camp Is Better Than In The Real World. We dive into some of those reasons, plus explain why napping with your boo during an off period is one of the great treats in life. And much much more! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Jonathan Goldman stops by to give a full account of the story told on the last episode, of the time he nearly got kicked out of camp for eating half a cheeseburger (and some corndog nuggets) on the big summer trip to the water park. So much drama! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Molly Tolsky is the editor of Alma, a Jewish pop culture site for millennial women, but before that she was just your average shy girl at summer camp. Join us as we discuss mean girls at camp, the scandal that almost sent campers home from a water park, and much more. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Our Valentine's Day tradition continues with another wonderful story of camp romance, as Elliot and Alyssa Bear join to share their journey from strangers meeting in a car the first day of summer at Camp Thunderbird to getting married there just a few years later. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Blake Wexler is a hilarious comedian, and his new album "12 Years of Voicemails from Todd Glass to Blake Wexler" explores his relationship with fellow comedian Todd Glass, who in many ways served as a camp-counselor-like role in Blake's life. We talk about our favorite counselors, the scariest things that ever happened to us at camp, finding camp in every day life, plus much much more! Don't waste...

Few things are more infectious at camp than singing. Longtime songleaders Dan Nichols and Flip Frisch join to discuss what makes a great song session, their favorite silly songs, plus some incredible stories of the things we do for love. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Sara and Sam Richardson met each other at camp, and had so much fun they decided to travel around the country visiting various camps and making a documentary film about it (From Camp To Camp). They join to talk about the differences and similarities between Christian and Jewish camps, what it's like to be in a Christian metal band, and tell an incredible tale of pool-related shenanigans. Don't was...

Rebecca Caplan got her start as a comedy writer putting together dramatic plays at Camp Timber Tops, where she also penned the world-renowned Forrest Gumpstein for Lip Sync Night. Join us as we discuss the difficulties of being a counselor, the importance (or lack thereof) of keeping a clean bunk, and hear her tale of romance torn apart due to government interference. Don't waste a minute, take a...

Camp Newman is home to so many fond memories for people who went there, which makes it all the more devastating that it was burned to the ground after the wildfires in California this year. Daniel Kaufman and Jare Akchin join to talk about what made Newman so great and how the community is rebuilding the camp, plus we talk about what we're thankful for from camp, embarrassing first kisses, plus an...

Lisa Loeb is an iconic musician and performer, and a huge proponent of summer camps! She joins Micah and guest co-host Michelle "Krebs" Levy to talk about overcoming shyness, singing from sunrise to sundown, and we discuss our favorite weird camp songs. Don't waste a minute!

If adversity builds character, Paul Shirley (author of the new memoir "Stories I Tell On Dates") built a lot in a short period of time during his summers at science and scout camp. The former NBA player joins to talk about homesickness, the similarities between summer camp and basketball camp, and shares a Canadian version of ultimate frisbee that doesn't sound very Canadian. Don't waste a minute!

Mandy Berman, author of the summer camp coming-of-age novel Perennials, joins Sara and Micah to discuss that magical time of transition into adolescence, and how camp provided a safe place to develop who you were, physically and emotionally. Plus we learn the meaning of Rock Time, and why it's always important to take everything out of your shorts before your mom does the wash. Take a listen!

Benji Orlansky and Herschel Bleefeld join Sara and Micah to discuss the movie Camp Nowhere from 1994 and its portrayal of a summer camp by and for the kids. Is it any good? Does it remind us of the camps we grew up at? What's the deal with their clothes? Take a listen and find out!

College basketball reporter and long-time veteran of Camp Equinunk Seth Davis joins the podcast to share why his camp has the best color war, the thrill of competing in the Upper Senior Basketball Game, and how dancing in a kilt turned out to be a transformative experience for him. Don't miss it!