Upside Down LA

Telling the Persian Jewish Story through Film - Interview with Director Julia Elihu and Writer Ava Lalezarzadeh

Ben and Isaac sit down with Julia and Ava, two Persian Jewish filmmakers who are part of the Upside Down community. Their recent short film "In the Garden of Tulips" is qualified for an Oscar, and was recently screened at Upside Down! They talk the art of filmmaking, and the importance of storytelling for developing cultural awareness and empathy.
 
Learn more about their film at https://www.inthegardenoftulips.com/

Meet the Team: Daine

Let's get to know Daine! (That's not his first name... but it's fine). Possibly our most opinionated barista, full of hot takes. A true Texas boy, a filmmaker, and a gentle soul. We talk dancing, what's the best Kendrick album, and what it means to be an artist.

Meet the Team: Alexa

In this episode, we bring back the Meet the Team series to interview our newest barista, Alexa Babin. Listen to her talk about open water swimming, her favorite drink to order at Upside Down, and college football!
 

A Way to Grieve with Hope: a Reflection on Tisha B’Av

Tisha B’Av is an observance on the Jewish calendar that refers to the date when many disasters have happened to the Jewish people over many centuries, including the destruction of both temples in Jerusalem. The name is the Hebrew date on the calendar, the ninth of the month of Av.
 
As we remember this date and grieve, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on what brings us hope in the midst of our own grief. What resources of hope do you look to beyond yourself in times of sorrow?

Hope in the Darkness in a post-October 7th world

Isaac sits down with Jeanne and Amanda to talk about Upside Down's upcoming art commission, "Formless and Void," inspired by the first page of the Torah. They discuss the concepts of light, darkness, and what role art plays in processing the present chaos and increasing division in our world. 
 
For more information, go to upsidedown.com/formless-and-void. 

2 Jewish Mothers Give free advice

Isaac interviews fellow Upside Down team members Annette and Jeanne, who happen to be two Jewish mothers with adult children. Who doesn't need advice from a good Jewish mother? This summer, they've been going out with our team to do pop ups and giveaways, offering free advice to our community with some great results. Enjoy their amazing sense of humor, and benefit from their sage wisdom. Who knows, maybe they'll make you some matzo ball soup some day?Write to us if you want Annette and Jeanne to host a podcast of their own!

Jewish Summer Camp! Interview with Ilana and Leia

On this episode, Isaac reminisces about Jewish summer camp with Leia and Ilana, the directors of Camp Gilgal -- the Summer camp affiliated with Upside Down.If you attended summer camp, you'll probably get most of the inside jokes. It's nostalgia central!
Check out https://campgilgal.com for more info!

Spilling the Tea: An Interview with Artist Aldo Schwartz

Isaac and Jeanne interview artist Aldo Schwartz about his upcoming exhibition at Upside Down, Inner Sea: Crossing Borders Through Tea.
The discussion touches on the way that the ancient Japanese tea ceremony served as an inspiration and a catalyst for Aldo's life and art.
Aldo is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, and a graduate from UCLA. This exhibition at Upside Down is his Los Angeles debut.

"I'm Jewish, so what?" Interview with Rachel Friedlander, editor of Inherit Magazine

In this interview, we chat with Rachel Friedlander, editor of Inherit Magazine.
 
Inherit Magazine is produced by Jews for Jesus. It is a safe space for diverse voices to explore the ways our Jewish heritage intersects with modern life.
Subscribe to Inherit here!
 
Articles mentioned:A Hatred Immune to Education by Nadya WilliamsBorn Broken: A Look at Inherited Trauma by Michelle Van Loon
 
Email your article ideas to:inherit@inheritmag.com
Email us!hello@upsidedown.com 

Antisemitism on Campus - Interview with Abby Tang

Abby Tang joins us to chat about her experience with antisemitism on her campus at Brandeis University, and how that led to her writing an article during her internship at Upside Down.
 
Link to article: https://inheritmag.com/articles/antisemitism-on-campus-affected-my-identity