Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

About Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

According to Jewish tradition, the world around us is filled with demons, ghosts, giants and angels, and creatures of all types. But Judaism today tends to downplay and rationalize them away, to the point where they’re just forgotten dusty metaphors. But for millenia, Jews have lived with these creatures and have had practical means for coping with them. Join Jack Zaientz a scholar of all things Jewish folklore and mythology and John Baltisberger, the award-winning author of Jewish horror and fantasy as they explore the topics of mythic Judaism and discuss it's survival and use in modern day culture both pop and otherwise.

Publisher

Jack Zaientz & John Baltisberger

Category

fiction · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jul 2023

Latest episode

30 Jun 2025

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Jun 2025

   Best Protect Yosef Lest You Wreck Yosef

   This week the boys are back with some practical advice. Jews have been engaging in protective ritual since as long as we had things to protect. From hamsa to Mezuzah our practices know no limits, and in today's climate you can't be too careful! So gather round and learn how to protect yourself and your home today! Send us a text ----------------------------------------------------- Find Jack on Twitter or his Website Find John on Twitter or his Website or his Patreon GET OUR READING LIST!...

2. 

   16 May 2025

   Don't Go Chasing Water Demons

   Jack and John are back in the water horse saddle again! Riding those Sheydim across the sunset and into the river! That's right this week we discuss WATER DEMONS! Well... not so much water demons as water AND demons. Demons in water? Look, here's the thing... bathrooms are dangerous y'all. Here's a link to the rabbinic essays Jack talks about: https://t.co/CbdARQtbuQ Send us a text ----------------------------------------------------- Find Jack on Twitter or his Website Find John on Twitte...

3. 

   7 Feb 2025

   Omens and Portents of Future Past

   This week we talk about Omens! Hilariously this episode was supposed to go up before Hannukah but John has been through the ringer. ALSO hilariously Jack talks about how its okay that John is not good about hitting posting deadlines. But here's your episode! Do not take this as an Omen that John will miss the next episode deadline! Send us a text ----------------------------------------------------- Find Jack on Twitter or his Website Find John on Twitter or his Website or his Patreon GET...

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

12 ratings

Contact Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

Guest appearances

Books guests

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