Disqus - Latest Comments for EstherK

Re: Wexner Foundation to spin off North American leadership programs into new nonprofit

EstherK — Thu, 21 May 2026 17:20:03 -0000

Interesting news, Gabby, although I'm not clear what is achieved by it being "independent" or a separate nonprofit if it's all still funded by and branded with Wexner. What does "operating on its own" mean or allow that is better than where it is now? I don't know, because I wasn't part of these listening sessions, but imagine the challenge around Wexner's name and funding must have been a topic of conversation with alumni of the program. Does anyone have any insight to share?

Re: Jewish women, the vibe shift and how we step back into building a just world

EstherK — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:41:42 -0000

Beautiful piece that's all too true. The idea of the "dual nature" of holding our vulnerabilities alongside those of others is staying with me.

Re: Women’s reproductive choices are disappearing. Our Jewish values demand we step up.

EstherK — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:33:19 -0000

Chari and Ali, so great to see you speaking about these important issues. Thank you for transforming your pain into advocacy.

Re: New study of finds that L.A.’s Jewish community is growing and increasingly diverse

EstherK — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 12:14:36 -0000

It's not up yet, @Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi...as soon as it's linkable, we will!

Re: Collaboratory conference announces grants of up to $10k to push partnership

EstherK — Mon, 16 May 2022 15:10:41 -0000

Hi Debby, If you are connected to UpStart, reach out to the organizers you're in touch with there. If you're not and didn't go to the Collaboratory, I don't think you're eligible. The Grow the Good Together grants are only available to people who fit a specific set of requirements: applicants must be members of the UpStart Network or an alumnus of a legacy venture program (Bikkurim, PresenTense, Joshua Venture, UpStart); who attended and conceived the idea for the collaboration at The Collaboratory 2022, and several other restrictions. But if you are eligible, good luck!

Re: Marvel Should Focus On Writing Women Before Asking If the Name “X-Men” Is Outdated

EstherK — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 22:11:16 -0000

Mystique makes a similar comment in the new film - there were a couple of whoops in the theater, but it sounded like lip service to me. I just wasn't interested in many of the characters in the new "first class" series, even though I cared deeply about the originals...

Re: Mayim explains why she hates musicals

EstherK — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 10:19:39 -0000

I didn't know this, but understand it. My late mother also wasn't a fan of musicals, but mostly because they took serious things and sang about them. (She was particularly not a fan of "Oliver," with children singing about how hungry they were; years later, after she died, my nephew was in a production of "Oliver," which she would have liked because he was awesome in it, but still, listening to him sing plaintively about looking for anyone who would show an orphan love, and I understood her objections to the content/song combination...)

Re: Mayim reflects on her son’s Bar Mitzvah

EstherK — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 02:49:00 -0000

I can't believe I didn't even see your shoes. Shows you how fashion-focused I am...Firstborn was marvelous: his charming, smart and funny self, and it was an honor to be there even if there are no pictures, which in internet life means it didn't happen. (But this did happen. :)) Mazal tov to the whole fam!

Re: Question of the week: What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

EstherK — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 14:18:08 -0000

I don't read books as much as I used to - trying to change that in the new year...but I did love Nell Scovell's Just the Funny Parts: And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking into the Hollywood Boy's Club. It's funny for sure, and Nell had all the challenging experiences that would coax a lesser person to give up even trying to make it in Hollywood. But she stuck with it, and made a huge impact on many of your favorite shows. Check it out. (And follow her on socials - great conversations and empowerment there, as well as more funny parts, of course...)

Re: It’s not our ‘Black Panther,’ it’s our ‘Crazy Rich Asians’

EstherK — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 00:29:27 -0000

Great review, Kristina! Glad it worked out. :)

Re: Answer the inaugural Grok Nation question of the week

EstherK — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 19:06:25 -0000

Most of the time when I go away, it's for family or friends, not for a true vacation. The one exception to this was when I went to Club Med Turks & Caicos. I'm not a huge party animal, and I often hide from the sun under clothing, SPF 1,000,000 and an umbrella, but the water there was amazing and relaxing. It was years ago, before I started freelancing, before 9/11--it was a different world and I was a different person. But close my eyes, and I'm there again.

Re: ‘UnREAL’ EP on the show’s final season and lasting impact on women in TV

EstherK — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:28:08 -0000

It's tempting to want more, of course! But I actually think we'll appreciate it more in retrospect that the show never had the chance to jump the shark the way other shows have when they've gone on too long...

Re: ‘UnREAL’ EP on the show’s final season and lasting impact on women in TV

EstherK — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:27:17 -0000

I respected the fact that there was no miraculous reversal ending, and I found the specifics of the ending (trying to keep it spoiler free here!!) to be very reflective of something in the current zeitgeist, something brewing for so many people these days.

Re: Comic-Con fandom panel encourages geeky activism

EstherK — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 23:05:02 -0000

There are hundreds of panels. Some with thousands of people. Some with a dozen. It's true insanity. I was glad to find this gem of a panel and to fangirl out over Dr. Annalise Ophelian and Looking for Leia. :)

Re: My surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con

EstherK — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:03:55 -0000

I will also say that the "Esther" character did not take advantage of the free water. She had tea in the CExGF green room, and that's it. She also bought an Auntie Anne's pretzel and a Diet Pepsi, which together cost about $10. But she was super-glad to have been brought along for this crazy ride!

Re: My surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con

EstherK — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:01:21 -0000

The crowds were not to be believed. This is Friday morning as the Convention Center opened. Mayim & her team were already inside and I was among the regular folk, thousands of people trying to get in through only a few doors. It was pretty packed... https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Re: My surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con

EstherK — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 19:58:11 -0000

Esther did enjoy it a lot, yes, thank you, Regina. :)

Re: Emma Caulfield Ford watched ‘Castle Rock’—and wants more from it

EstherK — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 19:57:35 -0000

Another acceptable use of "Stephen King" as a verb, is when authors introduce a new, very interesting and likable character who looks like s/he's going to be the center of the book, but then write that character a grisly death in the first few chapters. I both love and hate when King does this. It's such a bold f-you to the form. :)

Re: ‘GLOW’ has a new fan in Emma Caulfield Ford

EstherK — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 17:33:34 -0000

Since you binged this show, the documentary about the real women of GLOW is probably also in your Netflix queue. I'm watching it now and it's all insane. But a thousand percent I agree with the 80s assessment, writing and cast chemistry.

Re: Miss Tennessee Teen talks about the weight pressures she faced as a model

EstherK — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 12:41:24 -0000

"I was told I needed to change, but really it is this industry that needs to change." Right on. It is beyond appalling what modeling has made you experience in terms of potential damage to your self-image; I'm very glad you came out the other side understanding that it's not you, it's THEM.

Re: Mayim volunteers in Israel with her son for his bar mitzvah project

EstherK — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 18:07:57 -0000

This is marvelous. Only thing better would have been a video of you and the conveyor belt "Lucille Ball" style. :) A great family doing great and important work. Nice job!!

Re: Grok Nation remembers our dads

EstherK — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 20:03:45 -0000

Shuddering at the prospect of escaped snakes living in the wall....but thanks for your story. :)

Re: The movie ‘Grease’ turns 40, and we’re conflicted about it

EstherK — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:11:21 -0000

Interesting questions...also I'm doing something a little unfair to the source material by imposing a set of 2018 standards onto a film that was made in the 70s and depicted the 50s, when material standing ("being a good provider") was a primary concern for many...

Re: The movie ‘Grease’ turns 40, and we’re conflicted about it

EstherK — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:09:35 -0000

Thanks, Hannah! Isn't it strange what our brains edit out when we lack the context to understand...

Re: Weekend Movie Pick: ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’

EstherK — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 11:58:00 -0000

I loved Mr. Rogers. Looking forward to seeing this documentary even if I do have to bring tissues! (Also a fun fact is that there's a children's show called Daniel the Tiger, based on a character from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood: my niece watches it constantly...)