Judaism Needs Better Branding! with Sam Morrison
SAVE THE BEARS CAMPAIGN!!! This week on Yenta!, we're joined by comedian, gay icon, and professional priest enthusiast Sam Morrison (!!). I've been trying to get Sam on this podcast for THREE YEARS, and the sexual and spiritual revelations did NOT disappoint.We get into Sam's Jewish upbringing in Sarasota, Florida (Florida boii!) his complicated relationship with tradition, and why Judaism desperately needs a rebrand (think indie rappers, homemade kombucha, and a chill chill vibe). We also discuss his critically acclaimed one-person show Sugar Daddy, finding comedy in grief, and the very important role of meditation in getting through eight shows a week.But obviously, we need to talk about sex. Sam tells us about his THREE priest hookups, including one particularly memorable encounter involving handcuffs, a closeted Baptist priest, and some unexpected religious education. Naturally, this leads to Raye revealing that they've hooked up with THREE rabbis (well, two and a half, depending on how you count), including a lesbian rabbi love story and a two-rabbi threesome. We're basically doing interfaith research at this point.Plus, we get into gay bears, body image, the mysterious disappearance of the belly, why lesbians all have the same names, Sam's long-distance boyfriend, and Gloria's late-in-life gay awakening. We also investigate whether bisexuality needs a rebrand, whether being married is just an extended exercise in confronting your childhood baggage, and why apparently nobody can agree on what to call being attracted to people.Come for the religious sex scandals. Stay for the Jewish gossip, queer identity crises, and the very important question of whether we can get Sam back on the pod after he finally hooks up with a rabbi.Yenta! Sometimes about comedy, sometimes about Judaism, and always about gossip.Chapters00:00 – Welcome to Yenta! feat. Sam Morrison and Gloria Alexander00:54 – We've been trying to get Sam on this podcast for THREE YEARS02:20 – Sam's comedy career, Sugar Daddy, and Edinburgh Fringe07:15 – What does Yenta actually mean?09:00 – Growing up Jewish in Sarasota, Florida12:45 – Sugar Daddy, grief, and finding comedy in heartbreak15:45 – Sam's meditation routine and getting out of your own head19:12 – Gay bears, body image, and the disappearance of the belly25:54 – We need more gay rabbis on this podcast27:45 – Sam's three priest hookups: handcuffs, secrets, and religious education32:26 – Raye's three rabbis (and the lesbian rabbi love story)34:15 – Gay Birthright, Tinder, and an accidental threesome37:40 – Two rabbis, one strap-on, and the lesbian name discourse42:33 – Sam's boyfriend, Asher, and falling in love on a cruise45:33 – Astrology, love bombing, and being a Taurus46:20 – How gay was Raye's wedding?47:30 – Comics Unleashed, marriage, and confronting your baggage49:46 – Gloria's late-in-life gay awakening53:00 – Six years with a man, celibacy, and realizing you're gay54:13 – Bisexuality, pansexuality, and finding a new word for being attracted to vibes58:00 – Thank you, Sam! Go raise!Follow the YentasRaye SchillerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayeschiller/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rayeschillerGloria AlexanderInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriaisfunny/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gloriahonksSam MorrisonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuelhmorrison/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samuelhmorrisonSubscribe to the Yenta! Patreon for bonus gossip, matchmaking, and the stuff too juicy for the main feed: https://www.patreon.com/yentaYenta! is a Heeb Media podcast. Follow @HeebMedia for more subversive Jewish content.