Stephanie Butnick
Hi there! I'm a host of Unorthodox, the universe's leading Jewish podcast, produced by Tablet Magazine. I'm also Tablet's deputy editor and co-founder of its podcast network, Tablet Studios.
I studied Religion at Duke and got my Master's in Religious Studies from NYU. I've written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, and I live in New York City with my husband, Ben, and our baby, Edith.
Unorthodox podcast
Unorthodox is a fresh, fun take on Jewish news and culture hosted by me and my Tablet colleagues Mark Oppenheimer and Liel Leibovitz. Listen to new episodes every Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
We also record live podcast tapings in communities across the country. Email unorthodox@tabletmag.com for booking information.
Check out all of Tablet's podcasts here.
Matthew Lipsen Photography, courtesy Stroum JCC
Books
The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia:
From Abraham to Zabar's and Everything in Between
Smart, highly entertaining, and just a little bit irreverent, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia covers culture, religion, history, habits, language, and beyond. It's everything you ever wanted to know about Judaism, and Jewishness, and much, much more.
The 100 Most Jewish Foods:
A Highly Debatable List
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Tablet’s list of the most Jewish foods is not about the most popular Jewish foods, or the tastiest, or even the most enduring. The 100 Most Jewish Foods is a list of the most significant foods culturally and historically to the Jewish people, explored deeply with essays, recipes, stories, and context. The entire list is up for debate, which is what makes this book so much fun.
Events and Appearances
April 7, 2022 — Unorthodox live show at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, hosted by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. 7:30 p.m. Eastern; tickets here.
April 11, 2022 (virtual) — I'll be moderating a conversation with authors Lisa Barr (Woman on Fire) and James McAuley (The House of Fragile Things: Jewish Art Collectors and the Fall of France) as part of the Jewish Book Council and the Jewish Museum’s Unpacking the Book series. 7 p.m. Eastern; register here.
May 22. 2022 (virtual) — Unpacking the Book event with authors Gary Shteyngart (Country Friends) and Claire Stanford (Happy For You) 7 p.m. Eastern; register here.