October 8, 2025

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 91 - Not Heroes. Not Alone.

Psalm 23 talks about walking through the shadow of death. Let’s walk into it together.

In this episode, we dive into one of the newer Marvel movies to hit the big screen through the lens of one of the most popular Psalm versus. We explore fear, trust, and the power of being alone. But the people who will guide us through this conversation are not heroes… far from it.

00:03:06 Psalm 23

00:06:11 The Thunderbolts

00:09:12 The pros and cons of being alone

00:17:37 The psalms are meant to give comfort

00:22:29 Who is You?

00:25:04 Not Giving Up

00:29:38 Heroes in our Sukkah

00:34:26 Favorite parts of The Thunderbolts

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September 25, 2025

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 90 - Brave New Mindset

As we reflect during this High Holy Day season, we’re diving into the Jewish concept of teshuva—turning, returning, and transforming. What does it mean to change, to repair, and to not be wholly defined by your past?

In this episode, we look at some truly marvelous characters wrestling with their pasts and the people they want to become. Along the way, we’ll apologize, we’ll grow, and then—depending on our emotions—we may grow just a little bit more.

00:00:40 Teshuva

00:04:24 Captain America: Brave New World

00:11:33 Changes to character

00:16:28 Apologizing

00:19:21 Final Battle Debate

00:26:08 Don’t be defined by your past

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September 10, 2025

Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

Episode 89 - Fantastic Four: First Tests

Finally, there was pretty strong Jewish representation in a Marvel movie!

In this episode, we venture through Marvel’s newest movie, Fantastic Four: First Steps, with a look at this tale of sacrifice, testing, and trust. From cosmic children with unimaginable power to the silence of those around them, we explore how stories can sometimes wrestle with what it means to be called to give up what matters most.

00:01:34 Fantastic Four: First Steps Recap

00:02:36 Akedah - The binding of Isaac

00:07:21 Responding to the call for a sacrifice

00:10:49 An absolutely fantastic movie

00:11:24 Let’s look at who’s not talking now

00:13:57 Not Nathaniel, but Franklin, is all powerful

00:15:34 Silver Surfer as a Herald

00:17:43 Tests and Choices

00:20:13 Marvel’s Movie Judaism

00:31:06 Other movie nods

Share this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-89-fantastic-four-first-tests

Connect with us online, purchase swag, support us with a donation, and more at www.torahsmash.com.