The Borscht Belt Tattler Podcast

07/11/2026

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mark Kutsher, whose family name is forever woven into the story of the Borscht Belt and the memories of generations of families, including mine.

Kutsher’s Country Club was a place where my family spent vacations, made memories, and experienced a piece of a uniquely Jewish history that is now cherished by so many.

I’m incredibly grateful that Mark agreed to sit down with me for an interview and share his stories, memories, and perspective. His generosity helped preserve a piece of this important legacy.

I’m sorry you never got to see your book published, Mark, but please know how much your voice, your stories, and your contributions mean to all of us who care about keeping the Borscht Belt alive.

Thank you for trusting me with your memories. I will forever be grateful that you shared your story with me. Your legacy will live on, and your memory will always be a blessing.

Podcast Episode · The Borscht Belt Tattler · May 30, 2022 · 1h 54m

05/14/2026

Tickets for We Met at Grossinger’s - making it's Canadian premiere at Toronto Jewish Film Festival - are available now.

Step into the heart of the Borscht Belt with a night full of nostalgia, laughter, and Catskills charm. Don’t miss this special premiere event.

📍 Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
📅 June 14 | 5:00 PM
🎟️ General Admission: $16.50
🎟️ Seniors/Students: $15.00

Click the links to watch the trailer and get your tickets!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAVdwEVIW24&t=6s
https://tjff.com/films/we-met-at-grossingers/

WE MET AT GROSSINGER'S (2025) Directed by PAULA EISELTThis vibrant documentary explores the legendary Catskills resort Grossinger’s, built when Jews faced ex...

05/12/2026

The news is finally out 🎬✨
We Met at Grossinger’s is having its Canadian premiere at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival 💕

📍 Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
📅 June 14 | 5:00 PM

I had the privilege of working on this film-a real full-circle moment, where stories have a way of finding you when you least expect it.

🎟️ Tickets:
Patron Circle: May 11
Flex Pass: May 13
Public: May 14

For anyone with Catskills / nostalgia-lived, inherited, or imagined.
For anyone who hears Grossinger's and feels something they can’t quite name.
For anyone drawn to the joy, noise, and fading magic of Jewish summers.

Hope to see you there 🎬

03/24/2026

I’m sharing this beautiful and meaningful interview with Larry and Shelly Strickler in memory of Larry, who passed away last week, just one day after his 85th birthday.

Larry brought joy to countless people as a performer and entertainer. He was Director of Activities, singer, and Master of Ceremonies at The Hotel Brickman and Kutsher’s Country Club, where my family and I spent l unforgettable summers, and where his warmth and talent were part of what made those days so special.

Larry’s kindness and warmth left a lasting imprint on everyone lucky enough to know him-he had a rare gift for making people feel truly special just by being himself. This interview captures the heart of who he was, the stories he carried, and the beautiful life he shared with Shelly. I hope you’ll take a moment to listen and honor his memory.

Podcast Episode · The Borscht Belt Tattler · September 6, 2021 · 1h 9m

01/28/2026

01/28/2026

We lost a legend yesterday.

I didn’t grow up knowing Elaine Grossinger Etess yet somehow, she found her way into my life.

My Borscht Belt summers were at Kutsher’s: days thick with laughter, food, and that unmistakable haymishe Jewish magic that felt like home. By the time I was old enough to really know it, was already gone - a place of legend, stories, and dreams carried forward by extraordinary Jewish women and families who built something enduring out of love, hard work, and community.

And yet.

When I first started my podcast - uncertain, finding my voice - I had the chance to speak with Elaine on the phone.

In our conversations, she was warm, generous, and fully present, offering history not as nostalgia, but as inheritance. Through her stories, I glimpsed a world shaped by Jewish women and families of persistence, strength, and courage - women who built spaces of belonging, joy, and tradition, even in the face of antisemitism, hardship, and the challenges of starting a life in a new country. Her family’s dedication to Grossinger’s was about more than hospitality; it was about carrying forward Jewish values, culture, and care l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation.

Elaine passed away at 98, and with her goes a living link to that world.

She showed me that care is power,
family is legacy,
and true influence endures quietly yet profoundly.
Hospitality is leadership,
and the strength of Jewish women, rooted in family and community, can resonate far beyond a single lifetime.

Some legacies don’t fade when doors close. They echo - in stories, in inspiration, and in every life they touch.

May her memory be a blessing, l’dor v’dor. 💔✨