Little Death
Little Death
Podcast Description
Little Death is a podcast about finding our shared humanity in facing our fear of death. In this podcast, we enter unseen realms of grief, loss and ancestors to unearth what it means to be human living through apocalyptic times. No topic is too taboo. No alley is too dark.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into significant topics such as grief and healing, Jewish diaspora experiences, the intersections of identity and culture, and the impact of colonialism on personal narratives. For instance, episodes examine Jewish comedic traditions as coping mechanisms for grief and explore anti-Zionist perspectives in relation to cultural authenticity. Specific episodes like 'Grief, Humour and Chutzpah in Diaspora' and 'Jewish Authenticity and Yiddishkayt Yearning' highlight the complex relationships between history, identity, and community.
Little Death is a podcast about finding our shared humanity in facing our fear of death. In this podcast, we enter unseen realms of grief, loss and ancestors to unearth what it means to be human living through apocalyptic times. No topic is too taboo. No alley is too dark.
In this episode, I chat with my dear friend Elijah Lake Holstein, part dissident town crier, part goof-ball gesture, part Yiddish cantor. Traversing stories of childhood sickness and somatic hallucinations, Elijah speaks frankly about his near-death experiences living with chronic illness. From the “feminization” of Jewish men throughout history to Israel’s campaign of hyper masculinity today, our discussions cover topics of gender and Zionism that echo themes of Jewish male patheticness, weakness and defeat explored in Elijah's artwork. We break down the prolific lyrics from his debut album, drawn from anti-Zionist and anti-imperialist Yiddish poetry and protest songs dating back a century. Through his many expressions, Elijah’s through line is an insatiable curiosity for unearthing what remains hidden in our Jewish cultures and his unwavering dedication to the liberation of Palestinians.
Elijah Lake Holstein is a multi-(un)disciplinary artist and composer gratefully living and working on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ peoples – so called Vancouver. His debut album released under the moniker Exiliahu is titled Why Have You Stolen the Blue and White Colours from Our Honest Sky. The album’s lyrics are drawn primarily from the anti-Zionist and anti-imperialist Yiddish poetry and protest songs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Follow Elijah’s work:
Elijah’s Rec:
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Episode Sources:
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