October 6, 2025 • 18 mins
It is an honor and a privilege to welcome Jane Eisner to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.
In 1980, Jane joined The Philadelphia Inquirer. For 25 years, she held various positions at the outlet, including editorial page editor, syndicated columnist, City Hall bureau chief, and foreign correspondent. From 2006 to 2008, she served as the vice president of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
In 2008, Jane Eisner joined The Forward as editor-in-chief, the first woman to hold the position at America’s foremost national Jewish news organization. The publication dramatically expanded its digital reach, becoming the authoritative source of news, opinion, arts, and culture in the Jewish world. The publication won numerous regional and national awards, and her editorials were repeatedly honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and other media organizations. She is known for her interviews with notable figures, including former U.S. President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After leaving The Forward, she served as the director of academic affairs at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, overseeing the Master of Arts program, and was an adjunct professor at the J School.
Jane is also a contributor to The Washington Post’s Book World and wrote for Columbia Journalism Review, The New York Times, The Atlantic, AARP Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, TIME, The Jewish Chronicle, and other major news outlets. She also leads her expertise as a consultant to newsrooms, synagogues, and nonprofit organizations.
On September 16, 2025, Jane released Carole King: She Made the Earth Move. Her book is the first biography of the iconic singer-songwriter. Drawing on numerous interviews as well as historical and contemporary sources, She Made the Earth Move brings to life King’s professional accomplishments, her personal challenges, and her lasting contributions to the great American songbook.
On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Jane Eisner spoke about her work on The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Forward, interviewing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the lessons she learned about Carole King throughout the process.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
In 1980, Jane joined The Philadelphia Inquirer. For 25 years, she held various positions at the outlet, including editorial page editor, syndicated columnist, City Hall bureau chief, and foreign correspondent. From 2006 to 2008, she served as the vice president of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
In 2008, Jane Eisner joined The Forward as editor-in-chief, the first woman to hold the position at America’s foremost national Jewish news organization. The publication dramatically expanded its digital reach, becoming the authoritative source of news, opinion, arts, and culture in the Jewish world. The publication won numerous regional and national awards, and her editorials were repeatedly honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and other media organizations. She is known for her interviews with notable figures, including former U.S. President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After leaving The Forward, she served as the director of academic affairs at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, overseeing the Master of Arts program, and was an adjunct professor at the J School.
Jane is also a contributor to The Washington Post’s Book World and wrote for Columbia Journalism Review, The New York Times, The Atlantic, AARP Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, TIME, The Jewish Chronicle, and other major news outlets. She also leads her expertise as a consultant to newsrooms, synagogues, and nonprofit organizations.
On September 16, 2025, Jane released Carole King: She Made the Earth Move. Her book is the first biography of the iconic singer-songwriter. Drawing on numerous interviews as well as historical and contemporary sources, She Made the Earth Move brings to life King’s professional accomplishments, her personal challenges, and her lasting contributions to the great American songbook.
On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Jane Eisner spoke about her work on The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Forward, interviewing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the lessons she learned about Carole King throughout the process.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Jake's
Take with Jacob a Star podcast. I'm a host, Jacob
Alijar and chief content producer and writer at Jakesheak dot com,
a pop culture entertainment news website. If you're watching us
on YouTube, please give us a thumbs up and please subscribe.
If you're listening to us on our audio editions, please
download this episode and more episodes. I'm honored and thrilled
to welcome this guest to my right. She is for
(00:45):
twenty five years, she was the She worked for the
Philadelphia Inquirer, and then she became the very first woman
to hold the title of editor in chief of The Forward.
She has interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin at Yahoo, former
President Barack Obama, and a late Jessice Ruth Meteginsburg. She
has contributed to The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, the Los
(01:05):
Angeles Times, and Time Magazine. She has a new book out,
Carol King She Made The Earth Move, which can be
bought on Amazon and Barnes Noble.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I'm very honored and welcome.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
To have Jane Nice near to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I'm very glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Jake Jane, is such an honor to have you here.
Thank you so much for what you've done for the
art of journalism and important more hotly, Jewish journalism.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Thank you all right, So let's get started.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So when you get interested in journalism and how did
that passion evolve into desire to pursue your career in
the media industry.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Well, I'm one of these corny people who decided in
what we used to call junior high school that she
wanted to become a journalist. And it's something I've pursued
through most of my life. I have done a few
other kinds of jobs there, but I certainly think that
journalism is my passion. I think I'm good at it
(02:08):
can always get better and it opens the world to you.
You know, I was a kid in the Bronx who,
you know, grew up in a place that certainly was
filled with people who were trying to achieve. But I never,
in my wildest dreams thing thought I was going to
(02:29):
interview a president in the old Wolf office. And that's
a kind of possibility certainly that existed in journalism as
I knew it. I'm afraid those opportunities are have shrinked
shrunken dramatically, and I hope, I hope that young people
(02:51):
will still see this as a wonderful profession.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I agree completely. As a kid from Kansas City, watching
the likes of Just Philip and Barbara Walters, Katie Kirk
and Dan Rather and the late Peter Jennings on my
television that inspired me to do this and go to
school for gurals and work with the great people and internet,
both the Boxvilli and Kents City and the ABC NBC
(03:16):
affiliates of Denver. Without that, I wouldn't be sitting with
you today.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
That's a great story too.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Thank you so much. I really appreciate.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
So from nineteen eighty to two thousand and five you
worked with the Philadelphia Inquirer in multiple roles. So how
did that work? Your work at the publication help you
grow as a journalist?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Oh gosh, Philadelphia Inquirer when I was there in the
nineteen eighties and nineteen nineties was arguably the best newsroom
to work at in the country. It was run by
Gene Roberts, who was the editor, and Jene Foreman, the
managing editor, and it was a place where we just
(04:00):
were encouraged to do great stories. To do investigative work
to reach high The news room was also fun. They
definitely the top editors definitely believed that a kind of
camaraderie was a good environment to do great work. And
I was very fortunate. I was the first woman, certainly
(04:23):
the first mother in many of my roles, and the
men took a chance on me. You know, I became
a foreign correspondent in my late twenties with a year
old child, and they didn't say, oh, she'll never take
this job because of her situation. They said, do you
want it? And of course I never ever had thought
(04:46):
that that's what I would do. In the minute it
was offered, I wanted to do nothing else. So I
appreciate and what the way that the management the leaders
took chance people, and I tried to replicate that later
in my career.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I got to say, having mentors that trust you and
have and take a chance on you, it's always been great,
no matter for me, if it's either working at my
current day shop right now at a federal agency or
working in retail. And not to mention all the people
that have come on here, I took a chance on you.
So I'm very grateful for everything's happened, and it's amazing
(05:25):
to hear. It's amazing feeling to know that you want
that someone wants to take the chance on you and
want to shine. Yes, yes, alrighty, So you now, let's
go to talk about the forwards. From twenty eight twenty nineteen,
you were the editor in chief of The Ford. You
sat down with significant interviews with former US President Barack Obama,
(05:46):
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin and Yahoo, and the late Supreme
Court Justice Ruth Binga Ginsburg. But what were some of
the biggest takeaways from these conversations.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Well, they varied. I'm going to be honest with you,
the President was just amazingly gracious. I mean, we all
knew that he was articulate and persuasive. I was there
really primarily to talk about the Iran nuclear deal, which
was quite contentious in the Jewish community at that time.
(06:19):
And I can only tell you that they told me
I was going to have fifteen minutes with him, and
it turned into forty five. So that was quite amazing.
I had a less pleasant experience with Prime Minister Natanyahu.
He is not an easy person to interview. I think
all the journalists in Israel will tell you that. So, yeah,
(06:46):
that was not as good and just as Skinsburg. Wow,
that was just such an experience. We did that interview
live at a synagogue in Washington, d C. That fit.
I was told like twelve hundred fourteen hundred people and
(07:08):
it was also streamed. So just to be in front
of that many people with someone like her, and what
was truly extraordinary take is that, you know, we had
these secret service people around us. She's tiny, tiny, I
mean I'm tiny and she's tinier, and we walk on stage.
(07:28):
I was behind her, of course, and there's this just roar.
I mean, I've just never experienced that. It was at
I don't know. She was so beloved at that time.
So that was a really important part of, you know,
of my life as well.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
That's amazing to hear that crowd and hear that appreciation. Yes,
that is something that she's definitely greatly missed. And I
definitely think in addition to those magnificent blockbuster interviews. During
your time at the Forward, the online news outlet became
the most influential Jewish news outlet in the country and
won numerous regional and national awards. So can you describe
(08:10):
how your strategy and the editorial team strategy that propelled
the forward into becoming what it is today.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well, I inherited a newsroom that had been neglected and discouraged.
I think it's fair to say that my predecessor had
left almost a year ago and there really was no leadership.
So over time I rebuilt the newsroom. There were people
who left, and that was fine, but that gave me
(08:41):
the opportunity to hire new people. And what I was
looking for were people who were very good at their craft,
but also were willing to try new things, to experiment,
who were fearless because it's tough to work in Jewish media,
as I'm sure you know, and to think about having
a team, you know, with people who had different strengths,
(09:06):
but also some things that weren't so strong and that
other people made up for it. And we worked hard
to do serious investigative work, taking on a lot of
important topics anti Semitism, child abuse, things like that, and
(09:28):
then also to prepare ourselves for the digital age, which
required a whole different way of thinking producing news standards
of excellence. So it was a fantastic time and I
do feel like I did a lot.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
And he did a lot of wondering me and the
board still continues to do this, especially during one of
the darkest moments in our history. So, as of this recording,
we are coming up on a second anniversary the deadly
October seventh attacks. Your humble opinion, how has the Jewish
Median covered the rise of anti Scionism and anti Semitism?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And also how has how has.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
The mainstream media either hurts or helps cover this cover
this thing?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Well, I'm going to be really honest, I can't answer
your first question because I haven't paid attention to all
Jewish media. I certainly daily read israel websites American websites,
but I'm not as immersed in it as I once was.
(10:37):
It's also hard to assess the mainstream media because again,
you know, I'm a subscriber to the New York Times,
to the Washington Post, to The Atlantic, but I can't
tell you that I know what local and regional papers
are doing. You know, overall, I think the cover seems
(11:00):
to be accurate and fair. It is a very troubling story,
not only what happened on October seventh, but what's happened
in the last almost two years, and sometimes that coverage
is really disquieting, really upsetting, but we need to know
about it, and it's important for us as human beings,
(11:24):
as Jews, and also to be able to develop our
own opinions about what's happening with the gossip war.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Absolutely, it's definitely, it's definitely been frustrating, and it's definitely
been hard on not just me, but covering but also
getting gas as well, and also trying to make sure
that I find a fine line between what's posted on
social media and what not to post. So it's definitely
interesting to learn to have that balance.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yes, I can imagine.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
So, absolutely, But however, I want to get into a
much more happier story because it's your latest book. I'm
one of my all time favorite women, the legendary Carol King.
So Carol King, she made the earth mood. Why decide
it was time to write a book on this amazing woman.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Well, there hadn't been a full biography of her life
ever written. There was a book published nearly twenty years
ago that was what we call a group biography about
Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon, but it stopped at a
certain time. So I thought this was a great moment
(12:35):
to do that. Fortunately, Yale University Press and the Jewish
Live series agreed with me, and that's how I started
researching and writing this book.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
As you, what were some of the lessons that you
learned about Carol King throughout your writing process?
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Well, the first is that she is a complicated woman.
She certainly has enormous achievement, perhaps unique achievement, in what
she does, but she also had struggles. You know, she
had four marriages, none of them ended happily, and she
(13:15):
kind of, I wouldn't say fled, but she moved to
Idaho and lived in very remote communities for years and years.
And whether that was an escape from fame or just
a desire to get closer to the earth, I think
readers can make their own conclusions about that. But the
(13:39):
big thing I think I learned was how complex and
original her music was. We all know her lyrics or
the music that she composed to go with other lyrics,
for example, the famous ones written by her late husband,
Jerry Goffin. But it was only when I actually learned
(14:01):
how to play the piano my skills were really rusty,
that I came to appreciate how she was playing around
with chords and with song structures and trying to do
things that were relatable but also nuanced. That helps create
(14:23):
these deep attachments to her songs that I think last
till today.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Absolutely, And I definitely agree because I remember when I
as I'm going through right now, one of my all
time pavoed songs is that you make Me feel like
a natural woman. And I still remember Aretha Franklin one
of her final Reform appearances at the Tiny Center. Yes,
that through that song and written make make Carroll see
Carol cheer on her on when she played the piano
(14:52):
and President writing a Tear from his Eyes. That means
one of the best performances interpretations that song.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yes it is, And you know it's also quite remarkable.
I mean, here was a Jewish girl from Brooklyn who
came from a working class family and had just all
this talent and ambition. You have Aretha Franklin, a singer,
a black singer from the Deep South who had very
troubled childhood and rose to this you know heights, and
(15:25):
then you have the first black president and they were
all together in their own ways, just connecting deeply to
this music. And you know it I think really represented
some of the best opportunities we have in America. It
(15:46):
definitely represented a brilliant and hopeful moment.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
One of my bacon and last questions is this, why
should my audience read Carol King she maybe move Well?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I think I tell a good story, and I tell
the story about a brilliant, consequential, complicated, an amazing woman
who wrote songs that, as you said, Jake, that we
still connect to today and they've enriched our lives. And
I think hers is a Jewish story that shows how
(16:27):
Jewish women like her can really not just shape, but
really elevate American popular culture.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Absolutely, and my final question is this, where can they
find the book? And if you're doing any book book talks,
where can they find tickets to those talks? And also
if you're on social media, where can my audience connect
with you?
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Well, the book is available on all online sites and
all so through the Jewish Lives website. I'm on Facebook
a lot and LinkedIn, so you can always reach me there.
I am doing quite a few personal appearances all around
(17:14):
the country after the Jewish Holidays thanks to the Jewish
Book Council and the network that they create between authors
and venues. So right now there are too many to mention,
but I do hope people will come and see me
in person and buy the book then happy to sign
(17:36):
it or get it in any way that seems right
for them.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Awesome, and guys, to be missing an episode of the podcast.
Is there our channels on Amazon Music, Apple Podcast? I
heard Spotify and speaker Jake Sick with Jacob l A
rg ucu b e o y A c hj R.
You're on social media. I'm on social media to Facebook, Instagram, threads,
Twitter and YouTube Jacob l A rg acu b e
o y A c h a r. And for more
information on everything that on the blog, visit the blog
(18:04):
and started all Jake Seshik dot com, James, Jake Seshion
dot com. Jane, it was an honor and privilege to
welcome you to my podcast, and thank you so much
for taking time at your schedule to talk with me today.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
It was a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All righty, guys, thank you so much for watching, Thank
you so much for listening. Until next time, have a
great one, everybody.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Good Bye,
Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Jake's
Take with Jacob a Star podcast. I'm a host, Jacob
Alijar and chief content producer and writer at Jakesheak dot com,
a pop culture entertainment news website. If you're watching us
on YouTube, please give us a thumbs up and please subscribe.
If you're listening to us on our audio editions, please
download this episode and more episodes. I'm honored and thrilled
to welcome this guest to my right. She is for
(00:45):
twenty five years, she was the She worked for the
Philadelphia Inquirer, and then she became the very first woman
to hold the title of editor in chief of The Forward.
She has interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin at Yahoo, former
President Barack Obama, and a late Jessice Ruth Meteginsburg. She
has contributed to The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, the Los
(01:05):
Angeles Times, and Time Magazine. She has a new book out,
Carol King She Made The Earth Move, which can be
bought on Amazon and Barnes Noble.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I'm very honored and welcome.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
To have Jane Nice near to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I'm very glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Jake Jane, is such an honor to have you here.
Thank you so much for what you've done for the
art of journalism and important more hotly, Jewish journalism.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Thank you all right, So let's get started.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So when you get interested in journalism and how did
that passion evolve into desire to pursue your career in
the media industry.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Well, I'm one of these corny people who decided in
what we used to call junior high school that she
wanted to become a journalist. And it's something I've pursued
through most of my life. I have done a few
other kinds of jobs there, but I certainly think that
journalism is my passion. I think I'm good at it
(02:08):
can always get better and it opens the world to you.
You know, I was a kid in the Bronx who,
you know, grew up in a place that certainly was
filled with people who were trying to achieve. But I never,
in my wildest dreams thing thought I was going to
(02:29):
interview a president in the old Wolf office. And that's
a kind of possibility certainly that existed in journalism as
I knew it. I'm afraid those opportunities are have shrinked
shrunken dramatically, and I hope, I hope that young people
(02:51):
will still see this as a wonderful profession.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I agree completely. As a kid from Kansas City, watching
the likes of Just Philip and Barbara Walters, Katie Kirk
and Dan Rather and the late Peter Jennings on my
television that inspired me to do this and go to
school for gurals and work with the great people and internet,
both the Boxvilli and Kents City and the ABC NBC
(03:16):
affiliates of Denver. Without that, I wouldn't be sitting with
you today.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
That's a great story too.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Thank you so much. I really appreciate.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
So from nineteen eighty to two thousand and five you
worked with the Philadelphia Inquirer in multiple roles. So how
did that work? Your work at the publication help you
grow as a journalist?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Oh gosh, Philadelphia Inquirer when I was there in the
nineteen eighties and nineteen nineties was arguably the best newsroom
to work at in the country. It was run by
Gene Roberts, who was the editor, and Jene Foreman, the
managing editor, and it was a place where we just
(04:00):
were encouraged to do great stories. To do investigative work
to reach high The news room was also fun. They
definitely the top editors definitely believed that a kind of
camaraderie was a good environment to do great work. And
I was very fortunate. I was the first woman, certainly
(04:23):
the first mother in many of my roles, and the
men took a chance on me. You know, I became
a foreign correspondent in my late twenties with a year
old child, and they didn't say, oh, she'll never take
this job because of her situation. They said, do you
want it? And of course I never ever had thought
(04:46):
that that's what I would do. In the minute it
was offered, I wanted to do nothing else. So I
appreciate and what the way that the management the leaders
took chance people, and I tried to replicate that later
in my career.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I got to say, having mentors that trust you and
have and take a chance on you, it's always been great,
no matter for me, if it's either working at my
current day shop right now at a federal agency or
working in retail. And not to mention all the people
that have come on here, I took a chance on you.
So I'm very grateful for everything's happened, and it's amazing
(05:25):
to hear. It's amazing feeling to know that you want
that someone wants to take the chance on you and
want to shine. Yes, yes, alrighty, So you now, let's
go to talk about the forwards. From twenty eight twenty nineteen,
you were the editor in chief of The Ford. You
sat down with significant interviews with former US President Barack Obama,
(05:46):
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin and Yahoo, and the late Supreme
Court Justice Ruth Binga Ginsburg. But what were some of
the biggest takeaways from these conversations.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Well, they varied. I'm going to be honest with you,
the President was just amazingly gracious. I mean, we all
knew that he was articulate and persuasive. I was there
really primarily to talk about the Iran nuclear deal, which
was quite contentious in the Jewish community at that time.
(06:19):
And I can only tell you that they told me
I was going to have fifteen minutes with him, and
it turned into forty five. So that was quite amazing.
I had a less pleasant experience with Prime Minister Natanyahu.
He is not an easy person to interview. I think
all the journalists in Israel will tell you that. So, yeah,
(06:46):
that was not as good and just as Skinsburg. Wow,
that was just such an experience. We did that interview
live at a synagogue in Washington, d C. That fit.
I was told like twelve hundred fourteen hundred people and
(07:08):
it was also streamed. So just to be in front
of that many people with someone like her, and what
was truly extraordinary take is that, you know, we had
these secret service people around us. She's tiny, tiny, I
mean I'm tiny and she's tinier, and we walk on stage.
(07:28):
I was behind her, of course, and there's this just roar.
I mean, I've just never experienced that. It was at
I don't know. She was so beloved at that time.
So that was a really important part of, you know,
of my life as well.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
That's amazing to hear that crowd and hear that appreciation. Yes,
that is something that she's definitely greatly missed. And I
definitely think in addition to those magnificent blockbuster interviews. During
your time at the Forward, the online news outlet became
the most influential Jewish news outlet in the country and
won numerous regional and national awards. So can you describe
(08:10):
how your strategy and the editorial team strategy that propelled
the forward into becoming what it is today.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well, I inherited a newsroom that had been neglected and discouraged.
I think it's fair to say that my predecessor had
left almost a year ago and there really was no leadership.
So over time I rebuilt the newsroom. There were people
who left, and that was fine, but that gave me
(08:41):
the opportunity to hire new people. And what I was
looking for were people who were very good at their craft,
but also were willing to try new things, to experiment,
who were fearless because it's tough to work in Jewish media,
as I'm sure you know, and to think about having
a team, you know, with people who had different strengths,
(09:06):
but also some things that weren't so strong and that
other people made up for it. And we worked hard
to do serious investigative work, taking on a lot of
important topics anti Semitism, child abuse, things like that, and
(09:28):
then also to prepare ourselves for the digital age, which
required a whole different way of thinking producing news standards
of excellence. So it was a fantastic time and I
do feel like I did a lot.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
And he did a lot of wondering me and the
board still continues to do this, especially during one of
the darkest moments in our history. So, as of this recording,
we are coming up on a second anniversary the deadly
October seventh attacks. Your humble opinion, how has the Jewish
Median covered the rise of anti Scionism and anti Semitism?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And also how has how has.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
The mainstream media either hurts or helps cover this cover
this thing?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Well, I'm going to be really honest, I can't answer
your first question because I haven't paid attention to all
Jewish media. I certainly daily read israel websites American websites,
but I'm not as immersed in it as I once was.
(10:37):
It's also hard to assess the mainstream media because again,
you know, I'm a subscriber to the New York Times,
to the Washington Post, to The Atlantic, but I can't
tell you that I know what local and regional papers
are doing. You know, overall, I think the cover seems
(11:00):
to be accurate and fair. It is a very troubling story,
not only what happened on October seventh, but what's happened
in the last almost two years, and sometimes that coverage
is really disquieting, really upsetting, but we need to know
about it, and it's important for us as human beings,
(11:24):
as Jews, and also to be able to develop our
own opinions about what's happening with the gossip war.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Absolutely, it's definitely, it's definitely been frustrating, and it's definitely
been hard on not just me, but covering but also
getting gas as well, and also trying to make sure
that I find a fine line between what's posted on
social media and what not to post. So it's definitely
interesting to learn to have that balance.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yes, I can imagine.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
So, absolutely, But however, I want to get into a
much more happier story because it's your latest book. I'm
one of my all time favorite women, the legendary Carol King.
So Carol King, she made the earth mood. Why decide
it was time to write a book on this amazing woman.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Well, there hadn't been a full biography of her life
ever written. There was a book published nearly twenty years
ago that was what we call a group biography about
Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon, but it stopped at a
certain time. So I thought this was a great moment
(12:35):
to do that. Fortunately, Yale University Press and the Jewish
Live series agreed with me, and that's how I started
researching and writing this book.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
As you, what were some of the lessons that you
learned about Carol King throughout your writing process?
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Well, the first is that she is a complicated woman.
She certainly has enormous achievement, perhaps unique achievement, in what
she does, but she also had struggles. You know, she
had four marriages, none of them ended happily, and she
(13:15):
kind of, I wouldn't say fled, but she moved to
Idaho and lived in very remote communities for years and years.
And whether that was an escape from fame or just
a desire to get closer to the earth, I think
readers can make their own conclusions about that. But the
(13:39):
big thing I think I learned was how complex and
original her music was. We all know her lyrics or
the music that she composed to go with other lyrics,
for example, the famous ones written by her late husband,
Jerry Goffin. But it was only when I actually learned
(14:01):
how to play the piano my skills were really rusty,
that I came to appreciate how she was playing around
with chords and with song structures and trying to do
things that were relatable but also nuanced. That helps create
(14:23):
these deep attachments to her songs that I think last
till today.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Absolutely, And I definitely agree because I remember when I
as I'm going through right now, one of my all
time pavoed songs is that you make Me feel like
a natural woman. And I still remember Aretha Franklin one
of her final Reform appearances at the Tiny Center. Yes,
that through that song and written make make Carroll see
Carol cheer on her on when she played the piano
(14:52):
and President writing a Tear from his Eyes. That means
one of the best performances interpretations that song.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yes it is, And you know it's also quite remarkable.
I mean, here was a Jewish girl from Brooklyn who
came from a working class family and had just all
this talent and ambition. You have Aretha Franklin, a singer,
a black singer from the Deep South who had very
troubled childhood and rose to this you know heights, and
(15:25):
then you have the first black president and they were
all together in their own ways, just connecting deeply to
this music. And you know it I think really represented
some of the best opportunities we have in America. It
(15:46):
definitely represented a brilliant and hopeful moment.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
One of my bacon and last questions is this, why
should my audience read Carol King she maybe move Well?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I think I tell a good story, and I tell
the story about a brilliant, consequential, complicated, an amazing woman
who wrote songs that, as you said, Jake, that we
still connect to today and they've enriched our lives. And
I think hers is a Jewish story that shows how
(16:27):
Jewish women like her can really not just shape, but
really elevate American popular culture.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Absolutely, and my final question is this, where can they
find the book? And if you're doing any book book talks,
where can they find tickets to those talks? And also
if you're on social media, where can my audience connect
with you?
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Well, the book is available on all online sites and
all so through the Jewish Lives website. I'm on Facebook
a lot and LinkedIn, so you can always reach me there.
I am doing quite a few personal appearances all around
(17:14):
the country after the Jewish Holidays thanks to the Jewish
Book Council and the network that they create between authors
and venues. So right now there are too many to mention,
but I do hope people will come and see me
in person and buy the book then happy to sign
(17:36):
it or get it in any way that seems right
for them.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Awesome, and guys, to be missing an episode of the podcast.
Is there our channels on Amazon Music, Apple Podcast? I
heard Spotify and speaker Jake Sick with Jacob l A
rg ucu b e o y A c hj R.
You're on social media. I'm on social media to Facebook, Instagram, threads,
Twitter and YouTube Jacob l A rg acu b e
o y A c h a r. And for more
information on everything that on the blog, visit the blog
(18:04):
and started all Jake Seshik dot com, James, Jake Seshion
dot com. Jane, it was an honor and privilege to
welcome you to my podcast, and thank you so much
for taking time at your schedule to talk with me today.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
It was a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All righty, guys, thank you so much for watching, Thank
you so much for listening. Until next time, have a
great one, everybody.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Good Bye,
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