The Nice Jewish Fangirls are back, and talking all things Jewish and futures! Michal, Tamar, and SM interview Michael Burstein and Ian Randal Strock, editors of the new Jewish Futures anthology of science fiction. They discuss the inspiration, process, and surprises behind the project — including “Moon Melody,” SM’s contribution to the book!This we…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls return to hold a series of interlocking discussions on meta-narratives! Using the upcoming Pesach holiday as springboard, the Fangirls talk about the nature of stories within stories, the purposes they serve, and the ones that stick with us from year to year.This week’s current obsessions are all about the small screen - Re…

The Bottle Episode (Episode 56)In honor of the holiday of Purim, the Nice Jewish Fangirls converge to discuss a favorite television phenomenon: The bottle episode! What appeals to us about this kind of TV? Is necessity the mother of our favorite episodes? And what does the future hold for these tightly-written TV installments?For this week's curren…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls convene urgently (but not with haste) for the final installment of our Middot Mussar series! The fangirls debate the definition of “zerizut,” discuss how this trait links back to the first in the series, and explore its applications in fandom and fiction. Plus… singing?This week’s obsessions include the novel Spoonbenders b…

What an honor to podcast for you! This week, the Nice Jewish Fangirls discuss the trait of honor (kavod) from fandom to reality. How is honor portrayed in fiction? Is it the same trait that the Middot Mussar refer to? What can we we learn from the nuances between these definitions, and how can we bring honor into our daily lives?This week’s obsessi…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls form a trust circle to discuss the attribute of… well, trust (bitachon)! How does trust play a role in fiction and fandom? What’s the difference between trust and faith? And what lessons can we take into the real world, beyond the stories we love?This week’s obsessions include fantasy enamel pins, Morality for Muggles by Ra…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls come together to talk about hakaras hatov — gratitude — the third of the Middot Mussar! Why is this trait different (and perhaps harder) than all other traits? Is it something we find easily in our favorite stories? How can gratitude help us become better fans, and better people as we engage in culture and entertainment?Thi…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls converge to discuss the second of the Middot Mussar: Nedivut -- generosity. Is being generous a value explored often in modern fiction? Where can we find it, and where can we find it lacking? And what role does generosity play in the real world of fandom and critical culture?This week’s obsessions include the Libby app (and…

In their 50th episode, the Nice Jewish Fangirls converge to discuss "savlanut" (patience), the first of the Middot Mussar. Which characters and storylines most embody this trait? When is it a source of struggle, and why? Is impatience always a negative trait? And what can these stories tell us about our own journeys toward becoming more patient and…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls return to share what they've been up to over the past year -- and of course, talk about all of the books, TV series, movies, weird preoccupations, podcasts, and skills they've become obsessed with! (Spoiler alert: It's a lot of things!) The Fangirls also announce the plan for their next set of episodes, so make sure to let …

BOO! The Nice Jewish Fangirls are joined by horror screenwriter and scary-stuff aficionado Avishai Weinberger to explore the whys and hows and what-fors of horror storytelling. Why do frights and freak-outs appeal to us (well, some of us!)? What's the difference between horror and tragedy? And how should newbies and scardy-cats explore the genre --…

This week, the Nice Jewish Fangirls take an in-depth look at the room where it happens: the sukkah! (That’s totally what you were thinking, right?) Michal, Tamar, and SM use the location-specific holiday of Succot to explore setting in fiction and fandom. Can a place make a story? Does a story make the place? Is any of this actually important? Tune…

Challenge Accepted II: Electric Boogajew (Episode 46)Challenging times call for challenging… challenges! In this week’s episode, the Nice Jewish Fangirls rate and discuss the fandom challenges issued back in episode 42. Tamar talks about Bloodline by Claudia Grey and Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, Michal shares her take on Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite and …

The Nice Jewish Fangirls return (with extreme caution) to celebrate the one and only Tamar Herman and discuss the release of her first book, BTS: Blood, Sweat, and Tears! Learn what Tamar's process is like, how she sat down to tackle this epic accomplishment, and the Jewish Pesach-eggs that she hid inside the finished product! Head over to GoodRead…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls return to fail miserably at their stated mission of NOT talking about the viral sensation that's sweeping the nation. Also: What coping mechanisms are we using to get through this?This week's current obsessions include Kpop group Everglow's fashion, The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner and Shane by Jack Schaefer!…

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The Nice Jewish Fangirls engage their imaginations to discuss that hottest of hot topics (in more ways than one) -- fanfiction! What attracts us to the world of transformative works? What do we love reading, and what totally turns us off? And what can we learn from this fantastic nook of flourishing fandom?This week's Current Obsessions include 'Th…

Hungover from the holidays, the Nice Jewish Fangirls are still talking about forgiveness in November! Michal, SM, and Tamar gather around to discuss how the Jewish concept of forgiveness plays out in fiction, debate examples of our favorite forgiven baddies, and also contemplate the question that plagues us all: When do you read if you don't keep S…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls sat down with Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman, editors of and contributors to "It's a Whole Spiel", a collection of young adult Jewish fiction! Why do we need Jewish YA fiction? How do you capture the spectrum of Jewish realities in one anthology? And ALL THE JEWISH BUCKY BARNES, PLZ!The Fangirls also go over their curr…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls assemble to discuss the movie of all movies, Avengers: Endgame! After a spoiler-free introduction, Michal, Tamar, and SM share their thoughts and answer listener questions on the Big One. Did Endgame stack up to all 22 movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Is Nebula the secret MVP? Does the movie repeat disappointing tro…

It’s almost time for Purim, and this year, the Nice Jewish Fangirls are considering a slightly more serious side of the holiday. Michal and SM are joined by rabbi, author, and certified nerd MaNishtana to break down the issues of cultural appropriation and Blackface that often occur on Purim. Why is it so hurtful? How do fictional stories deal with…

This time around, the Nice Jewish Fangirls take on the topic of love and romance in fiction! The fangirls break down what makes them feel the good feelings (and sometimes, the not-so-good feelings) when it comes to courtship and commitment in everything from Jo Beverly’s romance novels to the “manly” genre fiction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. …

The Nice Jewish Fangirls return, and this time, they’ve got a professional! Dr. Avigail Gordon joins the NJFs to explore and explain depictions of mental health and therapy in popular culture, from Monk and Frasier, to Batman and Daredevil. What works when exploring mental health in fiction? What really doesn’t? And how can artists do right when ex…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls turn to the dark side in order to discuss villainous characters of Tanach! How do Biblical baddies compare to the black hats of popular fiction? Is the snake in Eden basically just Slytherin? And why is Eliyahu like Boba Fett? Tune in to find out! In this episode, Michal, Tamar, and SM also obsess over Netflix's The Dragon …

The Nice Jewish Fangirls are coming at you just in time to ring in 5779! As the holidays draw near, they’re sharing the characters and artists who inspire them to be better, to persevere through hard times, and to dress fabulously. Michal, Tamar, and SM also obsess over the Marvel Rising: Initiation shorts, the Ologies podcast, and the very intelle…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls return to take on the totally-topical subject of the good old USA in fiction! What do they like? What is kind of a problem? Why do fictional dystopias spring so readily from American soil, and how should we think about those stories in today’s political climate? (Yes, it’s a super chilled-out episode.) Michal, Tamar, and SM…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls are back to provide your comprehensive guide to surviving convention season as humans, and observant Jews! Michal, SM, and Tamar con-verse on the highs and lows of the con life, compare tips and tricks to make it easier, and remind you why you must always bring Scotch tape. The Fangirls also obsess over JK Rowling's stance …

Continuing in the fan fiction vein from their last episode, the Fangirls delve into the seemingly ubiquitous yet surprisingly nebulously defined trope of "Mary Sue" characters, digging into its possible sexist underpinnings. They also geek out over the maturity of the CW's Black Lightning, the dramatic coming-of-age novel "Emergency Contact," and t…

?This week, the Nice Jewish Fangirls have a magical (if we don’t say so ourselves!) interview with the author of “Goldstein,” the Harry Potter fanfiction that has the Jewish world on shpilkes! Michal, Tamar, and SM speak to Laazov about her experiences in writing “Goldstein,” the response from readers around the world, and what might be next for Ye…

?The NJFs are back and as obsessive as ever, with multichrome nail polish, Harry Potter purses, and the dark, twisty world of Stieg Larsson's books. And of course, they break down Marvel's latest sensation, Black Panther in a spoilerific conversation. So listen in and find out what they loved, what they loved more, and what they loved most. Spoiler…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls return to face the music on their mutually assigned fandom challenges! Michal shares her forays into the strange realms of Cordelia's Honor and The Great British Bakeoff, Tamar recounts her highs and lows in The Bullpen Gospels and Avatar: The Legend of Korra, and SM breaks down her mixed reviews of The Queen's Thief and He…

The Nice Jewish Fangirls gather round to discuss Star Wars: The Last Jedi, otherwise known as the movie that broke the internet even more than Ajit Pai! Michal, Tamar, and SM run down their likes and dislikes of Episode VIII, pointing out a few Jewish themes, and clearing the air on the most important question of all: How do they feel about porgs? …

The Nice Jewish Fangirls come together for a live stream event to celebrate their 25th episode! This week's current obsessions include ABC's "Forever," gift giving because it's awesome, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi's Kelly Marie Tran. The fangirls also share some great gifting ideas, answer your questions, and more!Thank you for your support throug…

?In the latest episode of Nice Jewish Fangirls, we explored what television or movie franchises we’d like to see remade, such as Firefly, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Charmed, and many, many more. We also raved about Thor: Ragnarok, Kitten Lady, and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.Af Nice Jewish Fangirls

?The Nice Jewish Fangirls remember that that whole Halloween thing happened last week, and convene to discuss the Jewish perspective on scary holidays and fear itself. (Watch out for the Cossaks!) They also get real on what scares them, childhood traumas, why SM isn't scared of anything.This week's current obsessions include Trudi Canavan's Milleni…

As we come down from the holiday highs, the Nice Jewish Fangirls are here to help! After recapping their Jewtastic New York Comic Con debut and challenging each other to new fandom exposure (Avatar! KDramas! Baseball!), the trio give you some of their favorite comfort food, feel-good fandoms to get you past the post-holiday blues. Discussion includ…

?The Nice Jewish Fangirls are back in your feed during the Jewish Days of Awe to tackle the very topical subject of redemption and atonement in fiction! They take on the big ideas of bad guys doing better, analyze the arcs of everyone from Jaime Lannister to Severus Snape, and take a moment to wonder why there aren't more women in this discussion. …

In the super special 20th episode of Nice Jewish Fangirls, the trio preps for the Jewish New Year by discussing some of their favorite series' beginnings. They also talk the dirty backstabbing mess behind the scenes of Major League Baseball, Sunmi's "Gashina," and "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman.Af Nice Jewish Fangirls

The Nice Jewish Fangirls convene again to process recent events in the best way they know how -- through fiction! Tackling far-ranging portrayals of Naziism and Jewish resistance throughout modern storytelling, the Fangirls break down everything from The Producers, to Star Trek, to Harry Potter, and ponder what's next in the fictional fight against…

After a few weeks off, the Nice Jewish Fangirls are back and as obsessive as ever, with a very special guest: fashion designer Leetal Platt, best known for her magical transforming Sailor Moon dress and her incredible Star Wars line for Her Universe. Hear all about her challenges, successes, and fandoms! The NJFs also obsessed over Star Trek: Deep …

?This week, the Nice Jewish Fangirls are joined by Peninah "Penny" Gershman of Harry Potter Prognostications to celebrate a few very special Wizarding anniversaries. Taking a stroll down the magical memory lane, the ladies discuss the origins of their Potter journeys, reminisce about the amazing places it's taken them, and reflect on the impact Har…

In this latest episode, the Nice Jewish Fangirls give you a full and spoilertastic review of the ultimate NJF movie of the year, Wonder Woman! They also discuss dipping a toe into the food blogosphere, the excitements and frustrations of Bookcon, and the surprising violence of Blood Rage Ragnarok.Af Nice Jewish Fangirls

?In this timely graduation-themed episode, the Nice Jewish Fangirls discuss some of their favorite (and least favorite) season and series finales and endings, including Babylon 5, Dollhouse, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Charmed, and Harry Potter. They also fangirl obsessively over Wonder Woman (full review coming soon!), Person of Interest, and…

?This week, the Nice Jewish Fangirls return to tackle the subject of gods in popular fiction! Inspired by a very non-Jewish game mechanic in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wind, the Fangirls break down their thoughts on the polytheism of Percy Jackson, the religious irreverence of American Gods, and the just-a-little-too-real worship of K-Pop “…

In this week's episode, the Nice Jewish Fangirls talk about Ice and Fire Con, MasterChef Junior, Amit & Joni, online friendships, and why we're very, very anxious for 'Wonder Woman' to come out already.Af Nice Jewish Fangirls

In this post-Passover episode of Nice Jewish Fangirls, the trio talked about all of the fandom-oriented goodies they encountered over Pesach along with some of their current obsessions, including Ms. Marvel, Signal, and The Last Jedi.Also discussed:A Face Like Glass by Frances HardingeAmerican GodsAscension Trilogy by Gaelen FoleyCaptain AmericaIns…

In the 11th episode of Nice Jewish Fangirls, the Fangirls talk to Hugo-nominated(!!) Orthodox Jewish editor Navah Wolfe, offer up some book recommendations for Pesach (Passover), and discuss City Field’s Opening Day, ‘Power Rangers’, ‘Space Case’ by Stuart Gibbs, The Sorting Hat Chats, and a lot, lot more. (Riverdale! Star Trek! Books books boooooo…

In episode 10 of Nice Jewish Fangirls, Michal, Tamar, and SM convene to recap our Purim celebrations and usher in the Pesach season. We speak with Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg, author of the hot-off-the-presses Unofficial Hogwarts Haggadah, diving into the links between the magical world and and the Jewish holiday of redemption. We also obsess over the mi…