Joanne J-Bird Phillips TALKS The Arts & Journalism | JTWJE Jewish American Heritage Month Special #3

About this episode

Jacob Elyachar interviews Joanne J-Bird Phillips about her life in the arts and journalism during Jewish American Heritage Month.

I am very excited to launch a very special series for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar. May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States. I am honored to welcome my dear friend and mentor, Joanne J-Bird Phillips, to the podcast. I first met J-Bird in New York City through our mutual friend and former guest, Beatrice Kimmel. She and I instantly bonded and became fast friends. I love her zest for life, and it was Beshert (Yiddish for “destiny”) that the stars finally aligned for her to come on the show for our third JAHM special. Born in The Bronx and raised on Long Island, NY, Joanne Phillips grew up in a family of professional drummers and band leaders. Having a natural rhythm since childhood, Joanne's father taught her to play drums with brushes when she was seven, and her first song was "Come Fly with Me" by Frank Sinatra. She grew up listening to Swing, Motown, Bossa Nova, and Rock 'n' Roll, and honed her drum skills on a full orange sparkle drum kit that her family bought for her. At age sixteen, Joanne was asked to join a local garage band of teenage boys who needed someone…

People in this episode

Host: Jacob Elyachar

Guest: Joanne J-Bird Phillips

Topics covered

• Jewish American Heritage Month
• music
• journalism
• arts
• personal stories

Keywords

• Jewish American Heritage Month
• Joanne J-Bird Phillips
• music
• journalism
• arts

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Come Fly with Me, Wipeout, Swing, Motown, Bossa Nova, Rock 'n' Roll

Places: The Bronx, Long Island, NY, Long Beach, NY

More episodes of Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

• Rebecca Roberts & Kurt Szarka TALK ReadyMade Productions & ‘Brother’ | JTWJE EP 430 · June 11, 2026 · 41 min
• Jake's AGT 21 Take - Episode 3 - A Familiar Face Returns for Season 21 · June 10, 2026 · 13 min
• Jake’s Take EXCLUSIVE: The Berlin Wall. A World Divided · June 8, 2026 · 9 min
• Jake's AGT Take - Season 21 Premiere with THREE GOLDEN BUZZERS · June 3, 2026 · 13 min
• Jake’s AGT Take 2026 EP 1 – The 21 Game Changing 'AGT' Auditions · June 1, 2026 · 16 min
• Max Bartos + Jake Kitchin TALK Antisemitism in NYC + Rita Wilson | JTWJE #jewishamericanheritagemonth Special 5 · May 26, 2026 · 41 min