The Rest is Commentary with Shep Rosenman

In this episode, Naomi Langer Voss and Shep Rosenman explore love, loss, and faith through Psalm 6 and “Have Mercy, Loretta.” They unpack prayer, doubt, and how Jewish ritual can transform daily life into acts of connection and meaning. Naomi also shares her work with ARC Scholars (https://arcscholars.org) and her studio (https://naomilangerstudio.com), bridging spirituality with creativity and community.

Raymond Simonson, founding CEO of JW3, joins us to explore how a collaboratively written song, Fire Drill Fridays, became a window into resilience, protest, and creative community during COVID. Through reflections on activism, Psalm 102, and powerful protest imagery, we unpack how music and storytelling help people process crisis while sustaining hope. This episode reveals why even in moments of collapse, collective voice, shared laughter, and small acts of creation can become the foundation for meaningful change.

When a songwriter sits with an ancient psalm, what happens when those words meet the raw, unfiltered power of the internet? In this episode, host Shep Rosenman talks with Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder of CyberWell, and Eli Ovitz about “Windstorms” (inspired by Psalm 64), online antisemitism, and how algorithms and attention can turn a single post into a storm of real-world harm. Together, they trace Tal-Or’s journey from law to building the first open database of antisemitism online, and explore what it will take—from platforms, policymakers, and ordinary users—to build a healthier digital public square.

What happens when ancient Torah meets modern melody, with mindfulness as the bridge between them? Host Shep Rosenman and Rabbi Aaron Lerner explore music, Jewish spirituality, and communal leadership through Shep’s song “Magnets, Elevators, Ghosts,” inspired by Psalm 97—revealing how sacred texts still spark creativity and how songwriting can become a form of prayer. From openness in Jewish life to philanthropy, presence, and responsibility, this conversation shows how tradition and modernity don’t compete—they collaborate.

Get ready for a Purim party like no other! 🎭✨ In this special Purim episode, Shep Rosenman shares his song “Let’s Talk About Faith” and joins Maya and Noelle for a playful, profound dive into faith, doubt, free will, and the afterlife—complete with a Valley Girl version of God. Blending theology, humor, and heart, the trio turns life’s biggest questions into a spirited celebration of meaning, community, and joy.

Jim Ehrich joins host Shep Rosenman to explore how Psalm 38 inspired Shep’s song “Don’t Turn Away From Me,” opening a conversation about guilt, vulnerability, and teshuvah (repentance). Facing leukemia while expecting his daughter, Jim shares how that experience reshaped his faith and deepened his creative purpose. Together, they reflect on how music can transform pain into meaning and renewal.

Host Shep Rosenman talks with Dr. Sarah Bunin Benor about “Into the Wow,” a song inspired by Psalm 118 that transforms ancient text into modern musical and spiritual expression. They explore community, awe beyond traditional God-language, and rituals that bring sacred meaning into everyday life. Through stories of songwriting, recovery, and human connection, this conversation reveals how wonder can emerge anywhere—from melody to movement.

Director Vicente Amorim joins host Shep Rosenman for a heartfelt conversation about “Infinite Light,” the song Shep co-wrote with Liz Hanellin inspired by Psalm 36. Together they explore how creativity lives in the tension between control and surrender — and how love, storytelling, and our inner teenager shape both art and family life. It’s an inspiring, deeply human exchange about vulnerability, joy, and the light that connects it all.

In this episode of The Rest is Commentary, host Shep Rosenman sits down with Jewish educator and storyteller Clive Lawton to explore the song “Weaving a Garment of Light” (“Work of Our Hands”), inspired by Psalm 19, and the balance between cosmic awe and everyday responsibility. They talk about Jewish thought’s embrace of contrasting ideas, the call to social and moral action, and the dangers of rigid, binary thinking in a world shaped by technology and AI. They also delve into Holocaust education, communal duty, hope for the Mashiach (Messiah), and concrete ways Jews can engage locally, globally, and creatively through their work and tradition.

Discover how music, loss, and spirituality intersect in this episode of The Rest is Commentary as Shep Rosenman and Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson unravel the depths of songwriting inspired by Psalm 134. Their heartfelt conversation dives into the emotional power of melodies and the role of family and tradition in shaping our stories. Tune in for a journey through grief, prayer, and the beauty found in diverse beliefs.

Tune in as Shep Rosenman hosts Professor Jeff Proske and Rabbi Julia Knobloch to talk about the song “I Forgot What Happened in Babylon.” Explore the idea of Los Angeles as a new Zion, learn what Babylon means today, and hear moving accounts of love, grief, and renewal. This episode shines a light on resilience, creativity, and the joy found when music and community come together.

What do abandoned pianos, Psalm 39, and the chaos of Hollywood’s writers’ rooms have in common? Emmy-nominated Chuck Tatham joins Shep Rosenman to talk creativity, faith, and those unexpected moments that give life meaning. Tune in for stories, laughs, and real talk about life, music, and belief.

Shep Rosenman talks with singer-songwriter and grief therapist Ingrid Avison about creating “Little Prizes,” a song inspired by Psalm 86 and the final days of Shep’s friend, Kim Simon, to whom the episode is dedicated. They explore how grief can serve as both pain and creative force, touching on co-writing with Liz Hanellin, music as healing practice, and the role of humor, presence, and community in loss.