Jacob Staub:        Shalom. I'm Rabbi Jacob Staub. I'm the director of Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations, which is an initiative of Reconstructing Judaism. Evolve features smart, fearless people writing about topics that many are afraid to tackle. Through conversation-sparking essays, webinars, and in-person programs, we're addressing issues that people care about: Judaism in gender, race, justice, antisemitism, why be Jewish, and Israel-Palestine. In a time of division, Evolve is a model for constructive dialogue across disagreement. Learn more about it at Evolve.ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Jacob Staub:        We want to reach people where they are, and expand the conversation even further. So I'm thrilled to announce the launch of a new Evolve podcast. To translate Evolve into an audio format, I'm working with my friend and colleague, Bryan Schwartzman, who is an award-winning journalist and podcast host.

Bryan S.:           Thanks, Jacob. I'm so excited to be working with you. So for those out there in the world who don't know, Rabbi Staub is a leading thinker of the Reconstructionist movement and the wider Jewish world. On this podcast, I'll be interviewing Evolve authors, exploring ideas that go beyond their essays, while probing what prompted them to write in the first place and what's happened since. Some of the first guests we have booked are Rabbi Rachel Weiss and Rabbi Ariana Katz, with whom we'll explore ways to revitalize Jewish community. Right now we're busy recording and editing, and we aim to roll out our first episode by mid-September. Whoa, that's pretty soon. If you subscribed to my show #TrendingJewish, I hope you give Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations a try. And in case you thought you'd only be hearing from me, rest assured, Jacob will be making frequent appearances on the air.

Jacob Staub:        Sometimes I'll be a guest host, at other times I'll explore certain questions in greater depth, but I'll never speak as an all-knowing final authority. I'm a Reconstructionist, and we Reconstructionist Jews believe that Judaism is the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people. Yet how does Judaism continue to evolve? Be part of the conversation. Subscribe to Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations.

Bryan S.:           Coming soon to a podcast app near you.