The Rabbi and The Shrink podcast aims to teach people moral principles while improving understanding of different perspectives.
Jthe rabbi and the shrink is a podcast that lives up to its name.
With a mission to advance a global discussion on all things ethics, from ethics in business to ethics in relationships, the podcast — which is, of course, hosted by a rabbi and a shrink — aims to teach people moral principles while enhancing understanding of different perspectives. .
“It’s nice to have people you can disagree with to show how to have civil conversations and wisdom,” says the Taylor-based psychologist and podcast co-host. Dr. Margarita Gurri, a Cuban refugee who learned first-hand how important it is to be ethical. Growing up, Gurri was bullied and prejudiced, which taught him the value of traits like respect, honesty, and acceptance.
As the COVID-19 pandemic challenged ethics, especially on social media, Gurri, who focuses on conflict, crisis and ethics in her career, knew something had to be done. “You can’t just sculpt people,” she says, “so I wanted to start a podcast [about ethics].”
Bridging different cultures
The next step was to find the perfect partner and co-host to create a podcast. Thinking of who to contact, Gurri remembered the St. Louis-based company Rabbi Yonason Goldson, an Orthodox rabbi and senior ethics speaker whom she met at a virtual ethics panel in May 2020.
“I immediately thought of the rabbi,” says Gurri.
Goldson, a self-proclaimed “hitchhiking rabbi,” hosted a TEDx talk and works with leaders to create ethical corporate cultures. “He’s a guy who’s unusual for a rabbi because he’s very Orthodox now, but he wasn’t brought up that way. He’s never short of stories [to tell].”
Gurri called out “the good rabbi,” as she refers to her co-host, and asked her to “say yes” before popping the question to join the podcast project. Fortunately, he said yes and dove in.
Officially launched in December 2020, The Rabbi and The Shrink releases episodes weekly, except for a few skipped weeks for Jewish holidays, now seeing almost 50 episodes.
Each episode features a different topic and guest speaker, ranging from Grammy-winning pianists to convicted felons leading the charge for prison reform, all focusing on a common goal: to “anonymize” everyday ethics, making it easy to understand. .
Encourage constructive dialogue
“One of the things that really makes [the podcast] work is that we are able to model how to have conversations with different people,” says Rabbi Goldson. “We’re not in tune with all of our ideas, and that’s the point.”
Gurri says she and Goldson decided to add guests to the podcast in addition to their own ethical views because they “loved the disagreement.”
“It was a very interesting race for us,” she explains. “It’s fun and we learn.”
In selecting guests to invite to the show, Gurri and Goldson look for people who are ethical, but most importantly, “who make an impact”.
The podcast co-hosts say their audience varies because ethics can be enjoyed by just about anyone and touch every corner of business and life. To continue helping people build constructive ethical habits, Gurri and Goldson also plan to host quarterly virtual summits. The date of the first summit is still being confirmed, although it is hoped that it will take place this spring.
Creation of a “grey area”
“We want to be the rallying point so people can have these fun, safe conversations where they can update their values, update their skills, and feel more comfortable,” Gurri says, “while maneuvering with complicated ethics”.
Goldson, who is also the author of Struggling with the grey, an ethics handbook for personal success, ties ethics to a gray area, rather than something black or white – another important part of the podcast and upcoming virtual ethics summits.
With each episode, the co-hosts of The Rabbi and The Shrink learn something new about the podcast business and shape their vision for the future of the program. They receive feedback from listeners that helps them identify what their audience wants and how to achieve it.
“We’re thrilled to have the chance to really make a difference,” says Gurri. “We are very similar in that.”
To listen to the podcast, go to https://therabbiandtheshrink.buzzsprout.com.
