A Book Title and a Label that Will Get You Cancelled: White, Blonde, Jew.

Alyssa Rosenheck was one of the only Jewish kids in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when a classmate stood up in class, pointed at her, and said, "The Jew took it." She pushed the girl down. Her dad's response: "My daughter has my permission to deck anyone who offends her family or faith."  That courage runs hrough everything that followed: a tennis scholarship, a decade in corporate medical sales, a thyroid cancer diagnosis that scared her into finally living, a camera she picked up to heal, and a divorce that hinged on one line from her husband she "can't unhear." After October 7th, Alyssa lost a book deal, got labeled part of a literary boycott, and co-founded Artists Against Antisemitism instead of going quiet. Her new book, White Blonde Jew, is what she wrote instead.   In this episode:   (02:00) Growing up one of the only Jews in Tulsa — and the classmate who pointed at her and said, "The Jew took it" (08:55) Chasing financial security after an unstable, alcoholic childhood — tennis scholarship to 3M to spine sales (11:15) The thyroid cancer scare that became her first real "life pivot" (13:33) Picking up a camera as therapy — and building a 14-year photography career from it (15:55) Her advice for anyone raised by an alcoholic parent (18:15) The marriage, and the line from her husband she "can't unhear": "He did not want to have Jewish children" (22:43) The New Southern — accidentally writing the most inclusive design book in the industry (24:45) Her 2021 "light bulb moment" on Israel, BDS, and October 7th (27:00) Losing a book deal 10 days into speaking out — and co-founding Artists Against Antisemitism (29:08) Fighting BDS resolutions in Nashville (31:26) Inside White Blonde Jew — out August 18 (40:15) The Kashariyot, and why being underestimated is a weapon  Quotes "I really allowed my haters to title the book. If it offends you, great, I wrote it for you. And if it doesn't, and you feel seen by it, I also wrote it for you." "Cancer gave me so much more than it took away." "When you get pushed down, you have to double down in the very thing that they don't want you to do." "It was a little bit like digital Ozempic." — on losing friends and followers after speaking out "My skin color would not have insulated me or protected me on October seventh, nor would it have protected me against the Nazis." "This project serves as historical insurance." "You can't create when you're stressed. You can't create when you're in chaos. You can't create when you're in fear." About the book: White Blonde Jew (BenBella Books / Geffen Books) releases August 18 — pre-order now. Three sections, White / Blonde / Jewish, each chapter closing with a book-club discussion prompt.