Common Faith

The episode opens with a lively and personal conversation about family, media, and creative paths. The hosts reflect on the cultural staying power of The Devil Wears Prada—why it resonated across generations, and whether its portrayal of workplace dynamics still holds up today. Then David Frankel and B.J. Novak join the conversation to discuss The Devil Wears Prada 2—why now, what’s changed, and how the story reflects a new era in media and leadership.

As Israel moves from Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut, the nation holds grief and celebration side by side. But beneath that unity lies deep internal division. In this episode, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore whether a fractured society can still talk to itself—featuring Dr. Alick Isaacs, Rabba Tamar Elad-Appelbaum, and Keren Sokoloff of Siach Shalom, who are bringing Israelis across ideological and religious lines into honest, often uncomfortable, but transformative conversation.

In this Passover episode, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the tension between caring for our own and caring for the world—blending thoughtful debate with personal stories, Seder nostalgia, and even a few laughs about gefilte fish and marathon Seders. Featuring David Weisberg and Maurice Helfgott of World Jewish Relief, the conversation brings Jewish values to life through real-world impact—from Ukraine to refugee communities worldwide—and asks what our story demands of us today.

What role do books play in shaping Jewish identity, memory, and community? In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with Naomi Firestone-Teeter, CEO of the Jewish Book Council, to explore how Jewish storytelling — from sacred texts to contemporary literature — forms a foundation for Jewish life, meaning, and connection across generations.

Dr. Georgette Bennett joins Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about her new book, Half-Jew–Full Life. The book tells the extraordinary story of Gary “Pips” Phillips — a self-described “voluntary Jew” who survived Nazi Berlin by going underground, was arrested four times, and ultimately built a life in America. But this episode is about more than survival. It’s about identity — chosen and imposed. It’s about moral complexity, resilience without romanticizing trauma, and what it means to be a Jew beyond the shadow of the Holocaust. Bennett, herself a child of Holocaust survivors, reflects on memory, legacy, and the Jewish responsibility toward the stranger in our own divided moment.

Can you be fully committed to Jewish tradition while competing at the highest levels of college athletics? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel speak with Division I quarterback Zevi Eckhaus and Michigan baseball player Elie Kligman about navigating Shabbat, Yom Kippur, locker room culture, and life as openly Jewish athletes. From honoring faith commitments on game day to educating curious teammates about Judaism, both athletes share how they balance ambition with identity — and what it means to represent their community on and off the field.

Jonah Platt joins Common Faith to discuss Jewish identity, advocacy, Hollywood, and what it means to live Jewishly—proudly and publicly—after October 7. The episode then wraps with a light, fun Super Bowl football segment and head-to-head game, with Rabbi Cosgrove’s Nephew, Adam Kupfer.

Kathrin Meyer, current Board Member for The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights (TOLI) and former Secretary General of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, joins Common Faith to discuss Holocaust remembrance, historical truth, and the moral responsibilities memory demands today.

How can we disagree without dehumanizing one another? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Jon Frankel, and diplomat Daniel Taub explore the Jewish tradition of constructive disagreement—and what it can teach us about debate, humility, and living together in a polarized world.

What does Christmas mean beyond the lights, music, and traditions—and what can it teach us about faith, generosity, and shared humanity? In this special holiday episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and journalist Jon Frankel are joined by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan for a rich and deeply human conversation recorded during the Christmas season. Together, they explore the spiritual heart of Christmas, the experience of being a religious minority in a majority culture, and the surprising places where Jewish and Catholic traditions meet. From reflections on joy, reconciliation, and generosity to deeply personal stories of vocation, pastoral care, and interfaith friendship, Cardinal Dolan offers a moving portrait of Christmas as a celebration of light in dark times—one that resonates far beyond any single tradition. Rabbi Cosgrove reflects on the “December dilemma,” while Jon Frankel shares moments of navigating faith, friendship, and belonging across religious lines. Thoughtful, warm, and often humorous, this episode is a reminder that in a divided world, shared values—faith, compassion, forgiveness, and hope—still have the power to bring us together.

In this Hanukkah-themed episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel welcome writer and public intellectual Yossi Klein Halevi for a rich conversation about Jewish identity, the multiple meanings of Hanukkah, and how the holiday resonates differently in America and Israel. From the miracle of the oil to the Maccabees’ fight for sovereignty to modern questions of power, safety, and belonging, they explore how Hanukkah’s stories shape Jewish life today—and how recent events have reignited questions of vulnerability, resilience, and community.

This Thanksgiving, Common Faith welcomes writer, producer, and Netflix host Phil Rosenthal for a feast of laughter, storytelling, and gratitude. Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel talk with the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond about how Jewish humor and family meals shaped his worldview — and why food, faith, and connection matter now more than ever. From sitcom wisdom to matzo-ball soup, this conversation is both heartwarming and hilarious.

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jon Frankel welcome ESPN insider Adam Schefter for a candid conversation about how football has become America’s true religion. Together they explore faith, fandom, and morality on and off the field—from the NFL’s cultural dominance to Schefter’s deeply personal journey and reflections on loss, purpose, and community. The episode closes with a moving story from former Michigan player Jeff Cohen, reminding us that conviction and competition often share the same playbook.