Jonathan Goldstein was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is the author of the prize-winning novel Lenny Bruce is Dead. He is the co-author of Schmelvis: In Search of Elvis Presley's Jewish Roots. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Saturday Night Magazine, The New York Times, and The Journey Prize Anthology. His radio stories and essays have appeared on This American Life where he is a contributing editor. He was a producer at the show from 2000-2002. In Canada, he's contributed to numerous shows on the CBC. He was also the host of the CBC summer radio program Road Dot Trip. In 2002 he was a co-recipient of The Third Coast Audio Festival's Gold Prize. He currently lives in Montreal with his girlfriend Heather and her daughter, the Renaissance girl, Arizona O'Neill.

Join the discussion in Jonathan Goldstein's Topic.

Jonathan Goldstein Audio Links

For This American Life:

Buddy Picture
Last story. It's about me, my friend Joshua Karpati, and the Columbia phone message that I talk about in the manifesto.

Just Be Yourself
Last Story. I tell the story of what it's like to date Lois Lane after she breaks up with Superman.

It's Not The Heat, it's the Humility
About 30 minutes in. I spend the day at a Russian bath house. I eat "garbage salad," I learn how to "throw heat," and I see Jesse Jackson naked.

The Big Night
I rewatch an old video I took of my family having dinner on Rosh Hashanah fifteen years ago. A five course meal is consumed in fifteen minutes, my aunt and mother sing White Christmas, and my father spends three hours fixing a door knob.

Mr. Fun
My girlfriend Heather and I tell the true story of what happens when a person tries to intrude on an idyllic family of two, one of whom loves him, one of whom does not. For the first few years that I knew Heather, her daughter Arizona was not very fond of me. For a long time I was nineteenth on her list of favorite people -- behind the neighbor's dog and the plumber.

A Fate Most Of Us Fear
About 40 minutes in. I tell of the ten years I spent working as a telemarketer. I do so in ten minutes. That's a year a minute!

You Call That Love?
Last story. What I talk about when I talk about love.

And the CBC story that I mention in the manifesto:

My Parents' Music
I talk with my parents about the music they love.

Transom Talk Guests Bios Jonathan Goldstein

Questions? Comments? Contact the Webmaster