Some of the best conversations happen over a good meal, and for Alex Rich and Ben Poremba, that’s exactly the idea behind “Jews in the Lou.”
Filmed at Deli Divine and produced in partnership with St. Louis Jewish Light, the social media series brings real conversations with real St. Louis Jews to Instagram and YouTube. Each episode features unfiltered dialogue with community leaders, business owners, creatives, coaches and changemakers—anyone with a compelling story and a connection to Jewish life in St. Louis.
From concept to connection
For Rich, the show is deeply personal.
“The difference between hosting ‘Jews in the Lou’ and other things I have done in the past really comes down to the fact that this is something I personally created and brought to life with Ben,” he said. “As a Jewish person born and raised in St. Louis, these are conversations I have had throughout my life, and I am passionate about bringing those conversations to a broader audience.”
That sense of connection—between host, guest and viewer—is at the heart of the series.
“The goal of ‘Jews in the Lou’ is connection,” Rich said. “We offer a platform where people can learn and appreciate the individuals who make St. Louis what it is. It allows us to show the truly endless ways we are all connected as a community so much bigger than ourselves.”
A deli as a stage for culture
As the owner of some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, Poremba knows how to create atmosphere—and he sees “Jews in the Lou” as another way to tell stories through space.
“The setting couldn’t be more perfect—the Jewish deli,” he said. “It exudes comfort and nostalgia. It feels like home, a profoundly familiar and safe space for American Jews. The show would lose something important without that in the background. They can’t physically smell the chicken soup, but they know it’s there.”
Poremba also views the show as a continuation of the work he’s already doing.
“I aim to tell stories and strengthen identity and belonging,” he said. “I do this at my restaurants. I do this at my own home. And now with this show.”
Letting go, leaning in
The unscripted nature of the show sets it apart, and for Poremba, that’s been part of the fun.
“I’ve always considered my role as a restaurateur to be that of a stage designer,” he said. “Since ‘Jews in the Lou’ happened so organically and our conversations are unrehearsed, it’s been fun to allow myself to be looser and not care too much about details.”
For Rich, the show’s authenticity comes from surprise moments.
“I think every conversation we have, there is a surprise, and that is what makes these conversations so interesting,” he said. “There are unique things about everyone’s stories that make each episode as unique as the next.”
Food, memory and meaning
Food isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a catalyst.
“Jews and food have always been deeply connected—meals are where stories, traditions, and even debates happen,” Poremba said. “Food makes people relax. They start talking, they start telling stories. And sometimes, they forget they’re on camera—which is exactly what we want.”
The next episode, set to drop April 1, features Michael Staenberg, local real estate developer, philanthropist and current President of the Board of Directors for the Jewish Light.
Past guests include criminal defense attorney Scott Rosenblum, filmmaker Ben Hillman, St. Louis University basketball coach Josh Schertz, philanthropist Susan Sherman and Steven Rosenzweig, the new CEO of the Jewish Community Center.
New episodes of “Jews in the Lou” drop every other week on Instagram and YouTube.
