The Rest is Commentary with Shep Rosenman

Asking for help is human. Figuring out how to show up for one another is the harder part.

Shep Rosenman sits down with Lee Rosenbaum for a candid, wide-ranging exchange about holding multiple identities, including being Black and Jewish, and what happens when the promise of solidarity collides with the realities of polarization and antisemitism. Drawing on personal family stories, civil-rights roots, and legal and cultural perspect...

What do we save when we may never come home? Shep Rosenman sits down with Allison Lee to explore how a deeply personal song he wrote with Liz Hanellin in the shadow of the January 2025 Palisades fires, became an urgent warning about extremism.

They discuss the choices that shaped the song. Their conversation moves through evacuation, memory, and inheritance: Torah scrolls, prayer books, wedding contracts, family photographs, and th...

Composer and touch-guitar innovator Jim Wright joins Shep Rosenman for a wide-ranging conversation inspired by “Come Out and Play,” Shep’s song drawn from Psalm 34. Jim follows the song's invitation into questions of creativity, character, faith, and the surprising places meaning can emerge.

Jim started exploring touch-guitar in 1978, developing tunings and techniques that allow him to tap electric bass and guitar...

Rabbi Leon Wiener-Dow, CEO and Director of Beit Midrash for Kolot, and host Shep Rosenman explore “All You Children,” a song inspired by Psalm 65, in a conversation about hope as a daily practice, the healing power of being truly heard and seen, and the challenge of holding on to redemption when war makes the present feel so harsh. They reflect on love, empathy, halacha as lived experience, ...

If you’ve ever wanted to hear Torah, music, and prayer collide in a way that feels deeply human and unexpectedly moving, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, Rabba Yaffa Epstein and host Shep Rosenman unpack the rich layers of the song Morning Prayer #1 through the lens of Jewish thought. Together, they wrestle with gratitude, darkness, intention, and the power of showing up authentically—even when life feels ...

Unlock a fresh perspective on mistakes, forgiveness, and genuine connection in this conversation with Rabbi Hannah Jensen, inspired by Host Shep Rosenman’s song “Worth Decanting” (from Psalm 25).  Shep Rabbi Jensen challenge common views of failure—whether in faith, relationships, or inner life—and show how embracing our flaws can deepen growth and connection.

They explore how our fixation on erro...

In this intimate and wide-ranging conversation, Shep sits with playwright and educator Amy Guterson to explore “Stay,” a song inspired by Psalm 31, and the mysterious places where jazz, mysticism, and creativity meet.

Amy shares the path that led her to Hasidus and Kabbalah, her founding of Tzohar Seminary, and the way improvisation and art can open us to spiritual connection.

Together, they wrestle with what it means t...

Ready to discover how celebrating others can transform your life, your community, and even your performance under pressure? In this electrifying episode of The Rest is Commentary, host Shep Rosenman sits down with Barbara Edelston-Peterson—sports psychologist, acclaimed author, 10-time Xterra world champion, and founder of the Whole Champion Foundation—for a deeply inspiring conversation about the ancient Jewish practic...

What if a warlike psalm could become a song of empathetic resistance? Director Stephen Hopkins and host Shep Rosenman discuss "Time to Act" inspired by Psalm 76 and how the song flips aggression into care, using David Bowie–style electro-punk energy to confront injustice while honoring the people caught in it. The anchor idea—“Is God Asleep?”—turns divine wrath into human responsibility.

Expect bold ta...

Uncover how love, faith, and community collide in this deep, honest conversation with Naomi Langer Voss and Shep Rosenman. Through Psalm 6 and the song it inspired Shep to write, “Have Mercy, Loretta,” they explore doubt, devotion, and whether our relationship with God is personal—or built through community and action. From the rhythms of Jewish prayer to practices like keeping kosher, they reframe spirituality as...

Episode 50 of The Rest is Commentary isn’t just a milestone—it’s a deep dive into what really makes music come alive. Jazz guitarist and composer Jon Madof joins us for a conversation that goes far beyond chops and technique, exploring the tension between control and surrender, and how that very struggle can unlock your truest creative voice.

Through stories from his path in avant-garde jazz and Jewish musical exp...

Raymond Simonson, founding CEO of JW3 in London, joins us for a powerful conversation about what happens when music, protest, and community collide.

At the heart of this episode is Fire Drill Fridays, a song born out of Limmud North America's eFestival during COVID—written collaboratively and shaped by the real stories of participants navigating isolation, uncertainty, and hope. From that starting point, the conversation open...

Grief isn’t just about what we’ve lost—it’s about how we choose to live after loss.

In this episode, Shep Rosenman sits down with Rosie Wolkind to explore how loss can reshape a life with deeper meaning, empathy, and even joy. Through the lens of her father Ivan’s legacy—his kindness, wisdom, and community—Rosie shares how grief and gratitude can coexist, from everyday moments to life&rsquo...

When a songwriter sits with an ancient psalm, what happens when those words collide with the wild, unseen machinery of the internet? In this episode of The Rest is Commentary, host Shep Rosenman brings together Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder of CyberWell, and Eli Ovitz to talk about “Windstorms,” a song drawn from Psalm 64, and what it reveals about the power of language in the digital age.  

Tal-Or traces her pa...

What happens when a song breaks open — and something sacred spills out?

In this deeply moving episode, Host Shep Rosenman sits down with singer-songwriter Timmy Riordan for a conversation that is as honest as it is inspiring. Together they explore the beautiful, messy, and profoundly human journey of creating music — from the spark of an idea to the courage it takes to share something truly personal with the world.

Timm...

What happens when ancient Torah meets modern melody with mindfulness as the bridge between them?

In this episode, host Shep Rosenman sits down with Rabbi Aaron Lerner for a wide‑ranging, deeply human conversation at the crossroads of music, Jewish spirituality, and communal leadership. Anchored by Shep’s song “Magnets, Elevators, Ghosts," inspired by Psalm 97, the discussion opens a window into how sacred texts still sp...

Get ready for a Purim party like no other! 🎭✨ In this Purim special, host Shep Rosenman shares his original song “Let’s Talk About Faith” and joins Maya and Noelle for a lively conversation that’s equal parts joy, curiosity, and spiritual wrestling. Together, they celebrate Purim’s spirit of courage and reversal while honoring the resilience of the women of Iran.

Mixing serious theology with playful m...