Bad Jew

About Bad Jew

What is a bad jew? What does it take to not be one? Is it anti-Semitic to say? Or is it just a phrase that Jews use to cruelly judge one another? Chaz Volk, a newly observant Jew, shares that the greatest way to embrace your identity is to question everything. And we mean EVERYTHING! Chaz questions the Torah, law, politics, standards, communities and even G-d itself in this confrontational and edgy show. About Chaz: Chaz Volk grew up in Thousand Oaks, California where he began Torah studies until he was Bar Mitzva'ed at Temple Etz Chaim. From a young age, he was very aware of his uniqueness and how he was the token-Jew outside of Jewish settings. In middle school, Chaz experienced his first taste of antisemitism which brought him closer to his identity, despite his adversaries' wishes. Later, he'd attend San Francisco State University, where he'd get deeply involved at SF Hillel as a volunteer and intern. SFSU's social climate and its perspective on Jews and Zionism became clear from an early point. He'd later become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit known today as Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees. In this class action case, Chaz Volk and his representation won. Since then, Chaz has proudly immersed himself in his identity and partaken in communities across southern California. Most recently, Chaz's emotional awakening occurred on an organized trip to Israel. There he adopted new practices that he instilled in his lifestyle to this day. Today, he's a volunteer and frequent of Aish HaTorah's programming and plans to use this show to promote their programs, events, and resources along with valuable Jewish teachings. Want to engage with our online WhatsApp community? Email: BadJewPod@gmail.com Brand partnership: BadJewPod@gmail.com IG: @badjewpod TikTok: @badjewpod

Publisher

Mr. Thrive Media

Category

health & fitness · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

5 Jan 2023

Latest episode

26 Feb 2025

Latest episodes

116 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Feb 2025

   REVENGE - SEASON FINALE (a shiur by Chaz Volk)

   For over two years, I, Chaz Volk, successfully released one episode of Jewish content per week. Each episode averaged 30 minutes, offering Torah insights and glimpses into Jewish diasporic cultures. This endeavor was nothing less than a passion project—one that I balanced alongside my day-to-day work life. My primary goal was to learn. Coming from a conservative/secular Jewish background, my knowledge was limited. It still is, humbly speaking. However, I am proud to say that I have grown tremendously since the show's inception. I write this with a deep sense of care and pride, knowing how far I’ve come from my initial understanding. The show opened doors, connecting me with rabbis, coaches, actors, professionals, musicians, and content creators. I had the unique opportunity to learn from so many incredible voices, exploring the theology of Judaism through its many lenses. The show itself achieved notable success, ranking as the 17th-largest Jewish podcast in the world from 2023 to the present. Occasionally, I even received public recognition for my work. Despite not considering myself a thought leader (seriously, I've only ever been a student), I was able to foster a community. The learning experience was so personally fulfilling that it ultimately inspired me to study Torah full-time at Aish HaTorah, embracing the rich Jewish tradition of yeshiva. While in Israel, I had the honor of recording in-person interviews at a studio in the Old City. Unfortunately, that studio shut down, forcing my show into an unexpected hiatus. But as Hashem would have it (because there’s no such thing as luck—only Hashem), I was invited to speak for Aish’s "Gesher" program. I was granted one-time access to a rabbi’s camera and microphone equipment, seizing the opportunity to publicly share my story. In my speech, I revealed the two other reasons I created this show: To make it clear, once and for all, that there is NO SUCH THING AS A BAD JEW Revenge Why revenge? Tune in to find out. 00:00 Parshas Mishpatim 06:52 Historical Context of Slavery Laws 10:12 Hebrews’ Mindset 13:52 A Shameful Quarrel 16:23 Final Moments 18:34 Variations of Judaism 24:33 The Dream 25:53 Disconnection 30:32 THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD JEW 34:08 Divine Justice 34:40 A Revenge Story About Chaz Volk: Chaz Volk grew up in Thousand Oaks, California, where he began his Torah studies until becoming Bar Mitzvah at Temple Etz Chaim. From a young age, he was keenly aware of his uniqueness and often found himself the token Jew in non-Jewish settings. In middle school, Chaz experienced his first encounter with antisemitism—an experience that, rather than distancing him from his heritage, only strengthened his connection to his Jewish identity. Later, he attended San Francisco State University, where he became deeply involved with SF Hillel as both a volunteer and an intern. From early on, he recognized the university's social climate and its stance on Jews and Zionism. Chaz eventually became the lead plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees—a case that he and his legal representation won. Since then, he has proudly embraced his Jewish identity and actively participated in Jewish communities across Southern California. Most recently, Chaz experienced an emotional awakening during an organized trip to Israel. There, he adopted new Jewish practices that remain an integral part of his life today. Currently, he is a volunteer and frequent participant in Aish HaTorah’s programming. Through this show, he aims to promote Aish’s programs, events, and resources while sharing valuable Jewish teachings. Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

2. 

   12 Feb 2025

   How Does Torah STOP Depression? with Ari Gutman

   Depression is real. It's a problem as old as time. Whether it's from a lack of fulfillment or from loss or even a chronic disorder, people know what you're going through and it's valid! As cliche as it sounds, it's going to be okay. We hope that this episode brings you comfort during these troubling times and helps provide solutions through Jewish wisdom. The Torah offers insights that go beyond the 5 books of Moses to remedy this mental illness. Ari Gutman, a financial guru, content creator, and yeshiva student at Aish Hatorah with Chaz Volk, shares his personal story on how he fought drugs, anxiety, depression, and the whole nine yards. Volk and Gutman commiserate over their struggles and use the Torah as a means to bring light to dark places. 00:00 Introduction 06:15 Grandfather's Wisdom and Resilience 08:50 Alone in the Abyss 12:47 Exploring Jewish Faith Independently 14:43 "Family Closeness Beyond Distance" 17:17 Eden: Garden as Time Perspective 21:33 "Seeing Truth Through Sobriety" 23:34 Navigating AA’s Spiritual Steps 27:49 Abraham's Quest Before Idol-Smashing 30:02 "Life Lessons from Relationships" 35:29 "Intrinsic Jewish Identity Journey" 37:08 God's Comedy: Life Transformed 40:53 Life's Downward Escalator Metaphor 43:38 Embracing Growth Through Consistent Effort 46:08 Beyond Belief: Walking with Hashem 51:56 Gratitude and Life's Cycle 55:02 "Pleasure and Spiritual Connection" 56:41 Connect with Ari Gutman Online About Ari Gutman: Ari Gutman is a business owner, speaker and most importantly a student of life. Prior to his current standing, he battled years worth of what he calls “G-dlessness” before discovering his heartbeat and making abrupt lifestyle changes to bask in peace of mind. Want to fight anti-Semitism for $5? **VOTE for Chaz in the Aish Ha'am Slate** https://vote.aish.com/?source=ChazVolk Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

3. 

   5 Feb 2025

   What Is Tefillin? with Sruly Meyer

   Jews wear these weird boxes on their arms and head. They are placed there for some specific holy reason but to an outsider it's unclear why it has to be worn to pray. These "phylacteries" have an aesthetic that could be misconstrued, but once you know the truth, you won't want to take them off. Sruly Meyer, a kosher chef and return guest to the podcast, offers a comprehensive look into the beauty and holiness of tefillin. Using his very own to personally teach us, Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, takes the opportunity to learn about the specific details of the Tefillin that you might've missed putting it on the first time! 00:00 Introduction 04:15 "Tefillin Stands Revolutionize Outreach" 08:29 "Neglected Ritual Significance" 09:46 A ritual before the Torah. 13:15 Obedience to G-d 17:14 Spiritual community 20:21 "When Will Moshiach Come?" 25:22 Design cases 28:11 Chaz's first tefillin 29:15 Unexpected Tefillin Lesson in store 33:36 The 4-stemmed shine confusion 37:59 Your existence 40:29 Can women wear tefillin? 44:01 Spiritual meets Physical 48:07 Find Tefillin Stands Near You 49:03 The 4-stemmed shine ANSWERED by Chabad.org 52:42 Conclusion About Sruly Meyer: Sruly runs a marketing agency in Hollywood, Florida. He is a home cook and recipe developer who runs a food and travel blog, discussing local food scenes and daily Jewish life. He is a proud Jewish father and business owner. Connect with Sruly Meyer IG and TikTok @srulycooks www.SrulyMeyer.com Want to fight anti-Semitism for $5? **VOTE for Chaz in the Aish Ha'am Slate** https://vote.aish.com/?source=ChazVolk Connect with Bad Jew: BadJew.co https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

85,712

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

36 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

20 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

68

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

77

Contact Bad Jew

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.