Detours & Destinations

In this episode of Detours and Destinations , Rabbi David Ingber sits down with David Draiman, lead singer of the multi-platinum metal band Disturbed , for a conversation about identity, resilience, faith, and the costs of speaking one's mind. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish world and once headed toward the rabbinate, Draiman reflects on a life shaped by religious tradition, intellectual curiosity, p...

The Bronfman Center for Jewish Life at the 92NY hosts Rachel Goldberg-Polin in conversation with Rabbi David Ingber. Discussing her new book, When We See You Again , a memoir of her experiences detailing her son Hersh's captivity and death in Gaza. This unforgettable conversation explores love, grief, and the continued search for meaning in the face of unimaginable loss. We are releasing this conv...

In this episode of Detours and Destinations , Rabbi David Ingber sits down with activist, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and “factivist” Claudia Romo Edelman for a conversation about identity, purpose, and the power of using stories to create social change. Born and raised in Mexico City, Claudia traces the experiences that shaped her worldview — from witnessing the devastation of the 1985 earthquake...

In this episode, we sit down with poet Maya Tevet Dayan for a conversation about wandering, belonging, and the search for home. The conversation moves through formative detours, including her mother’s death, a family life lived across continents, and October 7 as a turning point experienced while teaching in the United States. Tevet Dayan speaks about encounters with Jewish communities after Octob...

In this episode, we sit down with Broadway actor and singer Julie Benko for a conversation about patience, timing, and the long road from the wings to center stage. Together with Rabbi David Ingber, Benko traces her journey from a childhood steeped in music and Jewish theater to years of training at NYU Tisch and working largely as an understudy in major productions. She reflects on the extraordin...

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning sociologist, humanitarian leader, and author Dr. Georgette Bennett. In dialogue with Rabbi David Ingber, Bennett reflects on her detour-filled life as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, born into a bombed-out Hungarian apartment—a beginning that shaped her perspective on the world. She traces her winding path from a career in criminology and commun...

In this episode of Detours and Destinations, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with writer, political advisor, and podcaster Dan Senor to explore a life shaped by the intersection of identity, power, and ideas. Senor reflects on his path — from growing up in the shadow of Holocaust memory, to his time on the ground in Iraq during a defining moment in U.S. foreign policy, to becoming a bestselling autho...

In this episode, we sit down with three-time Emmy Award–winning journalist Dana Arschin for a conversation about legacy, responsibility, and the moment when reporting becomes personal. In dialogue with Rabbi David Ingber, Arschin traces her path from a childhood on Long Island to a distinguished career in broadcast journalism at News 12 and FOX 5 News, where her on-air reporting and documentary wo...

In this episode, we sit down with Emmy-nominated writer and showrunner Debora Cahn, creator of Netflix’s hit series The Diplomat , for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, power, and the human drama behind global politics. Together with Rabbi David Ingber, Cahn traces her path from training as an actress at Harvard to shaping some of television’s most influential political dramas, inclu...

In this episode, we sit down with psychotherapist, queer activist, and interfaith minister Chani Getter for a conversation about identity, courage, and the sacred work of becoming. In dialogue with Rabbi David Ingber, Getter reflects on growing up in an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community, entering an arranged marriage at eighteen, and the moment a hidden television, Ellen DeGeneres, and a dictionary...

In this episode, we sit down with entrepreneur and bakery founder Helene Godin. Together with Rabbi David Ingber, Godin reflects on her professional journey – from a successful career as a corporate lawyer in media and technology, including senior roles at NBC and Audible, to an unexpected midlife reinvention as the founder of By the Way Bakery. She shares the moment she walked away from certainty...

In this episode, we sit down with acclaimed journalist, Peabody Award–winning host, and founder of On Being , Krista Tippett, for a live conversation at the 92NY. Together with Rabbi David Ingber, Tippett reflects on her spiritual and intellectual journey – from growing up in a religious family in Oklahoma, through her work as a journalist in Cold War–era Germany, to becoming the creator and host...

In this episode, we sit down with author, lawyer, and former Israeli ambassador to the UK Daniel Taub to explore the ideas at the heart of his book Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement . Taub reflects on how Jewish tradition transformed argument into a disciplined, creative, and even sacred practice – one that values listening as much as conviction. Moving betw...

In this episode, we sit down with writer, musician, and activist Ani Zonneveld for a conversation about faith, freedom, and the courage to reclaim tradition. Together with Rabbi David Ingber, Zonneveld traces her journey from a global childhood as the daughter of a Malaysian diplomat – growing up in Germany, Egypt, and India – to a two-decade career in the international music industry, where she n...

In this episode, we sit down with poet, author, and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo for a live conversation at the 92NY, exploring the inner journey that has shaped his life and work. Drawing on his latest book, The Fifth Season, as well as beloved earlier works, Nepo reflects on a path marked by illness, healing, and a gradual turning from outward ambition toward deeper presence and artistry. Through...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Oded Adomi Leshem —Senior Research Associate and Director of the International Hub for Hope Research at Hebrew University. Oded’s journey shifts from covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a documentary filmmaker and cameraman to deep-dive into the human psyche, as he explores one of the most powerful forces in our lives: hope. He shares insights from his r...

In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Heineman , the Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning filmmaker behind Cartel Land, City of Ghosts, The First Wave, American Symphony, and more. Originally on track to become a history teacher, a post-college RV trip turned impromptu film project launched him into a career documenting the world’s most urgent and harrowing stories. From the emergence of ISIS in Syri...

In this episode, we sit down with Dominique Lévy—renowned gallerist, collector, and force in the international art world. A self-described “Pure Diaspora Product,” Dominique reflects on a childhood shaped by the exile of her Egyptian father and Belgian mother, and the lifelong need to establish a sense of stability and belonging. From dreaming of the circus to founding world-class galleries, her j...

In this episode, we sit down with Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses, the “first Syrian-Jewish woman rabbi”, a title which carries some complexities. Raised in Brooklyn in a traditional community, Dianne’s journey has been marked by persistence, self-determination, and a willingness to go off the predetermined path. She reflects on her childhood, her early moments of spiritual revelation, and the struggle...

In this episode, we sit down with Jody Gottfried Arnhold —visionary dance educator, founder of the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) at 92NY, and a passionate advocate for arts in public life. From her early love of dance to decades spent teaching in New York City public schools, Jody’s journey has been guided by a deep belief in the transformative power of movement. She reflects on her path from d...

In this special live episode recorded at the 92nd Street Y , we sit down with Jay Michaelson —writer, rabbi, journalist, scholar, meditation teacher, and LGBTQ activist. Jay shares how his life has been shaped by the interplay of seemingly opposing identities and disciplines. From work in the Jewish and LGBTQ communities to teaching about law and psychedelics, Jay reflects on walking the line betw...

In this episode, we sit down with Rabbi Mira Rivera, the first Filipina-American rabbi ordained by The Jewish Theological Seminary. A lifelong seeker, Rabbi Rivera’s journey weaves together movement, spirituality, and activism. From growing up in the Philippines to experiencing a spiritual awakening in India, and dancing in Martha Graham Dance Company, her path led her to explore her faith in many...

In this episode, we sit down with journalist, author, and podcast host Abigail Pogrebin. From growing up in a media-savvy household with feminist trailblazer Letty Cottin-Pogrebin to navigating life as an identical twin, Abigail’s path has been shaped by the interplay of shared identity and the pursuit of individuality. A former producer at 60 Minutes , Abigail went on to become a prolific writer...

In this episode, we sit down with Rabbi Shira Stutman , interim rabbi at Aspen Jewish Congregation, founding rabbi of the Sixth & I congregation in Washington, DC, and co-host of the podcast Chutzpod . Shira reflects on her path to becoming a spiritual leader, and how unexpected detours—from personal loss to leaving a thriving congregation—became opportunities for evolution and transformation. Shi...

In this episode, we sit down with futurist and social innovator Ari Wallach. As the founder of Longpath and author of Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs, Ari challenges us to think beyond short-termism and into a future shaped by collective responsibility and empathy. His work blends strategic foresight with moral imagination, offering a bold vision for how we might navigate t...