The Nose Job Episode: Ep. 117

We'll be recording live in NYC on 1/24 with comedian Judy Gold and Father James Martin! Buy your tickets here.

This week: Everything you ever wanted to know about nose jobs, and their particular prominence in American Jewish life. Tablet editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse and executive editor Wayne Hoffman discuss their personal experiences with rhinoplasty. Plastic surgeon Jonathan Kaplan, founder of price transparency platform BuildMyBod, breaks down exactly what happens during a nose job, and explains how 'deviated septum' became a euphemism. Professor and art historian Matthew Baigell tells us about the first Jewish nose job, performed in Berlin in 1898, and how stereotypes of Jews and noses can be traced all the way back to the 1300s. Filmmaker Gayle Kirschenbaum, who documented her mother's very unsubtle requests that she get rhinoplasty in 'My Nose,' tells us about coming to terms with her nose—and her mother.

Want more Unorthodox in your life? Join our Facebook group to chat with the hosts and see what happens behind-the-scenes!

We love hearing from our listeners. Please send your feedback to [email protected]—we may read your comments on the air.

This episode of Unorthodox is brought to you by PJ Library, the program that sends FREE Jewish books to more than 200,000 children around the world. Sign up at pjlibrary.org/unorthodox and they’ll send you a new book each month.

This episode of Unorthodox is also brought to you by Wrestling Jerusalem, a unique film about Israel and Palestine, now available on DVD. Learn more at wrestlingjerusalem.com.