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

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

By: Jack Zaientz & John Baltisberger
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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.

© 2025 Wayward Children: Jewish Monsters, Magic, and the Stories We Tell Judaism Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Best Protect Yosef Lest You Wreck Yosef

    Best Protect Yosef Lest You Wreck Yosef
    Jun 30 2025

    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!
    • GET THE WAYWARD CHILDREN SHIRT!
    • Shop Aggadah Try It Books
    • Intro and outro music ‘Skin and Bones’ composed by Yoshie Fruchter and performed by Pitom, on Tzadik records
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Don't Go Chasing Water Demons

    Don't Go Chasing Water Demons
    May 16 2025

    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 Twitter or his Website or his Patreon
    • GET OUR READING LIST!
    • GET THE WAYWARD CHILDREN SHIRT!
    • Shop Aggadah Try It Books
    • Intro and outro music ‘Skin and Bones’ composed by Yoshie Fruchter and performed by Pitom, on Tzadik records
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Omens and Portents of Future Past

    Omens and Portents of Future Past
    Feb 7 2025

    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 OUR READING LIST!
    • GET THE WAYWARD CHILDREN SHIRT!
    • Shop Aggadah Try It Books
    • Intro and outro music ‘Skin and Bones’ composed by Yoshie Fruchter and performed by Pitom, on Tzadik records
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
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