Shows
Detours & DestinationsRabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson – From either/or to both/andIn 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 between structure and liberation, tradition and transformation. We talk religion, justice, mysticism, and meaning—and what it takes to hold complexity in today’s fractured world. Learn more about Jay’s work : https://w...2025-06-031h 02
The State Of BeliefThe Rule of Law and the Chaos of MAGA: Jay MichaelsonThis week, Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush for a deep dive into the state of U.S. politics, the role of the rule of law in preserving democracy, and political attacks against institutions of higher education. Together, they explore how faith can play a role in resistance and activism, reflecting on the deep divisions within American society and the responsibility of institutions to defend core values in times of crisis.Jay speaks about the weaponization of accusations of antisemitism – and how these tactics are being used to attack higher education, ul...2025-03-2358 min
10% Happier with Dan HarrisShould You Be Taking Psychedelics? The Benefits, the Risks, and the Science. | Jay MichaelsonFeaturing a meditation teacher, author, professor, and dedicated experimenter with these molecules. Jay Michaelson is a journalist, meditation teacher, rabbi, and professor of religious studies whose work for the last several years has been focused on psychedelics, meditation, and spirituality. Jay is a field scholar at Emory University’s Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality, and a fellow at Harvard Law School’s project on Psychedelic Use, Law, and Spiritual Experience. He is currently a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, teaching courses on psychedelics, law, and religion. In this episode...2025-02-241h 20
Secular Dharma Foundation PodcastJay Michaelson: Lecture and Dialogue SeriesWhat is Realistic Dharma?During this live event we will explore two questions. The session will be 90 minutes. 1. In what ways can contemporary Buddhism and Dharma practice be misleading in the context of modern life? 2. How can we balance aspiration and realism when it comes to making progress in ethics, meditation, mindfulness, and our overall relationship to the world?These monthly events will explore a range of topics that are both rooted in early Buddhist thought and are relevant to the challenges and issues that we face in our current lived expe...2025-02-2455 min
Judaism UnboundEpisode 471: Israel-Palestine Echo Chambers - Jay MichaelsonJay Michaelson, an award-winning journalist, professor, rabbi, and author, joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation exploring centrism and radicalism, misinformation that circulates far and wide on the topic of Israel-Palestine, and how we might strive for a better Jewish collective relationship to this important issue. This episode is the 5th in an ongoing mini-series exploring North American-Jewish discourse about Israel-Palestine.Announcement: New courses are now open for registration, in Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva -- our digital center for Jewish learning and unlearning. Learn more about our classes by heading to www.judaismunbound.com/classes...2025-02-2158 min
LIMINAL NEWS with Daniel PinchbeckJay Michaelson | A Jewish Psychedelic Buddhist Tells All! Would the full deregulation of psychedelics be a good thing? In today’s podcast, author Jay Michaelson and I discuss the rapidly evolving legal and cultural landscape of psychedelics, including their potential fast-tracking under the new Trump/Musk/RFK regime. Will deregulation — long a goal of advocates — make it more difficult to responsibly integrate these powerful substances into society? We also explore broader societal concerns, such as the erosion of democracy, systemic inequality, and the tension between technological advancement and cultural decay. I hope you enjoy it! Michaelson is the author of ten books, including The Se...2025-01-181h 16
Zee Michaelson TravelJay in the Smokies Take 2 ReadyHop aboard the ultimate luxury bus experience with our guest, Jay Lawrence, as we journey from central Florida to the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains. Picture yourself on a Prevost bus with expansive windows capturing the scenic beauty while Jay transports you to Valdosta, Georgia, for a memorable meal and a delightful stop at Ellis Brothers Pecans. Get ready for some friendly chaos and a surprising ice cream mishap before we continue our journey to the comforts of the Drury Inn in Atlanta. It's all about savoring the joy of unexpected travel pleasures and embracing the laughter along the way.2024-11-1927 min
2 Paleys on a PodPolitics and Psychedelics with Jay MichaelsonWe talk to our longtime friend, Jay Michaelson, who wears many hats as a writer, journalist, lawyer, professor and rabbi. He was Michael’s student at Columbia University in the late 80s and Briyah’s Hebrew School teacher in the late 90s. We hope you enjoy this riveting, fast paced conversation about the recent election, the rise of nationalism, and yes, psychedelics. Jay will lead a Jewish meditation retreat December 23-27 at Isabella Freedman in the Berkshires. Check out his Substack, Both/And with Jay Michaelson.2024-11-0952 minZee Michaelson TravelConnecting with History: From Crazy Horse to Pearl HarborCurious about the largest sculpture in the world that's still under construction? Join me as I recount my personal journey to the breathtaking Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We delve into the monument's astounding size and the historical significance of Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota chief. Along the way, we draw fascinating comparisons to the nearby Mount Rushmore, revealing why these two iconic landmarks are both similar and unique in their own right. This episode promises an enriching exploration of Native American heritage and the power of monumental art.Get ready for...2024-08-1325 minZee Michaelson TravelDiscovering America’s Treasures: Route 66 to the Ark EncounterCurious about how to turn your road trips into unforgettable adventures? Join us on this episode of the Zee Michelson Travel Podcast as we explore the delightful and diverse experiences of traveling. This week, Jay Lawrence and I share our personal journeys with learning new languages using the Duolingo app, diving into our attempts at German, Spanish, and Gaelic. We then transition to Jay’s road trip to Champaign, Illinois, where he visited his sister, explored the University of Illinois, and had a memorable meal in Chinatown.Ever wondered about the hidden gems along Route 66 or the ma...2024-06-0431 min
Secular Dharma Foundation PodcastInterview: Jay MichaelsonRabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson works at the intersection of politics, law, and contemplative practice. A journalist, meditation teacher, and professor, Jay is the author of ten books and over three hundred articles.Jay is a contributing writer to New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and other publications, where he most frequently writes about the Supreme Court, religion, LGBTQ issues, and climate change. He has appeared on NPR, CNN, and MSNBC, and in 2013, he wrote the landmark report Redefining Religious Liberty: The Covert Campaign against Civil Rights. Jay has twice won the New York Society of Pro...2024-05-131h 01Zee Michaelson TravelWhat the Heck with Delayed Flights & Lesser Known Wine RegionsZee Michaelson talks about the best times to fly to avoid flight delays …and she looks at some of America’s lesser-known wine regions in the United States.Zee says, "I know a 6a flight can usually get you to your location on time. Also, most of the time, planes allocated to the first flights of the day usually arrive at the airport the night before. "The best part of the podcast is when Zee chats about some wine regions you may or may not know about.Brought to you by…Collage Travel Media N...2024-03-1929 minZee Michaelson TravelAmaWaterways River CruiseDiane Horan from AmaWaterWays gives a great overview of AmaWaterWays.European River Cruises transport you to the best of worlds - fascinating history, art and culture, stunning landscapes, and fine wine and food. Sail the blue Danube, romantic Rhine River, or another storied European river and come away with a new perspective on this incomparable land.And more. Collage Travel Radio sponsors the Zee Michaelson Travel Podcast.2024-02-2726 minZee Michaelson TravelSeven Great National Parks in WinterZee Michaelson looks at our seven National Parks in the middle of winter.National Parks in the winter are spectacular. Yosemite 2024-02-2032 min
The Book I HAD to WriteMystic vs. Mainstream, with Jay MichaelsonIn this episode, I talk with author, professor, journalist, and rabbi Jay Michaelson. After publishing nine other books of nonfiction and poetry, and hundreds of stories for publications like Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and New York magazine, Michaelson has just come out with his first work of fiction, The Secret That's Not a Secret.We discuss the nearly 20-year journey behind the writing of this book, and how the tensions between sexuality and religious beliefs in the lives of its Orthodox Jewish characters reflect some of Jay’s own journey.As an expert on Ka...2024-01-3135 min
EvolveBestselling author Jay Michaelson on his new book of fiction, covering the Israel-Hamas war, campus antisemitism, and moreAfter 20 years of work, Jay Michaelson —scholar, rabbi, lawyer, activist, meditation teacher —has published his first book of fiction, “The Secret That Is Not a Secret: Ten Heretical Tales” (03:30). The linked short stories focus on a range of Jewish characters: Men and women, Orthodox and secular, straight and gay, Israeli and American. Yet each carries a secret desire that could be described as queer, and their stories explore the nature of heresy, queerness, kabbalah, mysticism and the sometimes-thin line between erotic desire and religious yearning. Michaelson would probably have preferred we discussed “The Secret That Is Not a Secret” for the full...2024-01-251h 04Zee Michaelson TravelGlobus Tours with Denise Friand & Iris Tour DirectorZee Michaelson goes remote and meets up with Denise Friand and Iris a Tour Director from Globus.Experience a world beyond your expectations. They discuss award-winning vacations on virtually every continent with local favorites and off-the-beaten-path experiences only Globus can share.Check out the deal when you mention IRIS 2024. 2024-01-2326 min
The Comedy Cellar: Live from the TableAntisemitism on Campus with Rabbi Jay MichaelsonRabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is a journalist, teacher, and rabbi. He is the author of ten books, including The Heresy of Jacob Frank, which won the 2022 National Jewish Book Award for scholarship. He holds a Ph.D. in Jewish Thought from Hebrew University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and nondenominational rabbinic ordination. Jay is a frequent commentator on CNN and a contributor to Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, The Forward, and other publications. Dr. Michaelson worked as an LGBTQ activist for ten years and has been included in the ‘Forward 50’ list of influential American Jews. 2024-01-051h 23
Queerly BelovedGetting in the Mikveh with Jay MichaelsonSend us a textRabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is a writer, journalist, meditation teacher, and professor. He is the author of ten books, most recently The Secret That is Not a Secret, a collection of ten interlocking tales of mysticism, queerness, and magic. Jay’s previous book, The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth, won the 2022 National Jewish Book Award.As a journalist, Jay regularly appears on CNN and in Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, The Forward, and other publications, and won the 2023 New York Society for Professional Journalists Award for Op...2023-12-1651 min