Author/artist Jesi Bender joined Leah to talk about her novel Child of Light, available from Whiskey Tit press, and Victorian houses in Utica, New York.

Note from Leah: In this episode, I boldly say that there are no Victorian houses in Chicago, because they all burnt down in the Chicago fire. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Follow Jesi Bender online

• https://www.jesibender.com/
• https://www.jesibender.com/child-of-light.html

Show Notes

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned-over_district
• https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fountain-elms-2
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utica,_New_York
• https://oneidacountyhistory.org/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_House_(Georgetown,_New_York)
• https://abandonedonline.net/location/spirit-house/
• https://www.hamilton.edu/offices/lits/special-collections/college-archives
• https://www.uticaod.com/picture-gallery/news/history/2025/01/18/photo-gallery-look-back-at-the-history-of-genesee-street-in-utica/77743355007/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utica_Psychiatric_Center
• https://inmatesofwillard.com/2012/09/08/1880-the-utica-crib/
• Of course there are Victorian Homes in Chicago. I had amnesia.
• https://www.zillow.com/chicago-il/victorian-style_att/
• https://fortunerestoration.com/services/residential-painting/painted-ladies/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal_Beverly_Randolph
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Watchmen/comments/npiyzq/did_the_hbo_show_influence_this_long_overdue/
• https://www.cureddocumentary.com/

Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com

Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.

To kick off the month of Elul and High Holy Day preparations, Leah sat down with Sarah Osborne, founder of A Mitzvah to Eat, to talk about how her organizations supports Jews who are unable to fast on days like Yom Kippur. We also talk about leadership, our mutual friend Evonne, and tongue drums.

Order your A Mitzvah to Eat care package by September 12, 2025 to receive before Yom Kippur.

A Mitzvah to Eat

https://fnd.us/a-mitzvah-to-eat-care-packages

https://www.amitzvahtoeat.org/

https://www.amitzvahtoeat.org/about

https://www.amitzvahtoeat.org/yom-kippur-1

Show Notes

https://findingfavorites.podbean.com/e/evonne-marzouk-writing/

Tongue drum: https://www.balmyworld.com/products/sound-healing?

https://www.mayyimhayyim.org/

https://www.mayyimhayyim.org/ceremonies/

https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-08712-2.html?

https://slate.com/culture/2025/08/long-story-short-netflix-show-pandemic-covid-grief.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33247080/

Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com

Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.

Shai Korman, one of the Friday Night Movie podcast hosts, is on the road with a movie he produced with his sisters. He took a break in between festivals to talk about The Floaters, film festivals and Weird Al.

Follow Shai online

• Shai Korman: https://www.instagram.com/pancake4table/
• Friday Night Movie Podcast: https://fridaynightmoviepod.podbean.com/
• Floaters the Movie: https://floatersmovie.com/

Show Links

• Weird Al tour: https://www.weirdal.com/tour/
• Weird Al Behind the Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36CtQCvc7e8
• Taskmaster Season 19: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRWvNQVqAeWKt7kCUfEMdJi40m7H58CJd
• Tires https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tires_(TV_series)
• Bentonville Film Festival: https://bentonvillefilm.org/
• Floaters IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31145438/
• And Mrs. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6614198/
• Don’t Tell Larry https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16311236/
• Bird in Hand https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36298555/
• Espina https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17016098/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
• Adult Children https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17424166/
• Lemonade Blessing https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32432676/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
• Cotton Candy Bubble Gum https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28305079/
• Magic Hour https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32134256/?
• Sabbath Queen https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32145808/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
• Malka https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32778054/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
• Frankenbabes from Beyond the Grave https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36364856/?

Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com

Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.