Moshe Kasher discusses his memoir about teenage substance abuse, overcoming identity crisis, and finding sobriety. Topics include embracing rave culture, becoming a husband and father, and the historical treatment of Jews. The episode also explores the intersection of Judaism and comedy, Jewish identity, and the complexity of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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Quick takeaways
The speaker found solace and support in attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, which helped them on their path to recovery and finding a new life.
The rave culture played a significant role in the speaker's identity transformation, as they embraced the environment and desired to fit in, despite not using drugs.
Spirituality and pop culture, experienced through AA dances and raves, shaped the speaker's sense of belonging, freedom, and cultural identity.
Deep dives
Discovering sobriety through AA
The speaker recounts their journey into sobriety and attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. They describe feeling lost and disconnected from adults, but finding solace in AA. They share their first experience of asking for help and the support they received from a fellow member. This moment set them on the path of recovery and finding a new life.
Exploring the rave culture
The speaker delves into their introduction to the rave culture and the impact it had on their identity. They discuss attending their first rave and being overwhelmed by the music and the environment. They reflect on their desire to fit in and their transformation on the dance floor. Despite not using drugs, the rave scene became an integral part of their journey.
Embracing spirituality and pop culture
The speaker reflects on their experiences with spirituality and pop culture as defining elements of their life. They discuss the influence of attending AA dances and raves on their sense of belonging and connection. They describe feeling a sense of release and freedom in these environments, and how it shaped their spiritual and cultural identity.
Finding purpose and destiny
The speaker contemplates the idea of destiny and purpose in relation to their journey through sobriety, the rave culture, and their evolving identity. They highlight significant moments of choice and chance that led them to where they are today. Despite some embarrassing or challenging moments, they see a pattern and purpose in their experiences that have shaped their life path.
Recreating Childhood at Raves
The podcast explores the speaker's experience of finding solace and recreating an artificial childhood at raves, where they could embrace innocence and freedom after a violent and difficult upbringing. They discuss the importance of having a space to feel different and express oneself authentically.
Conflicting Feelings about Deaf Parents
The podcast delves into the speaker's conflicted feelings about having deaf parents. They express both pride and embarrassment, highlighting the complexity of having deaf parents as guardians, teachers, and leaders. The speaker narrates instances where they acted as an interpreter for their parents and navigated the fine balance between accurately conveying messages and maintaining a subtle dance in meetings about their behavioral issues.
Moshe Kasher already wrote a memoir about his years as a teenage substance abuser growing up in an orthodox Jewish family with two deaf parents. Now Moshe’s back to talk with Marc about his second memoir, Subculture Vulture, which deals with how he put his life together since those teen years, including getting sober, embracing rave culture, finding standup comedy, becoming a husband and father, and the identity crisis along the way.