“Call Your Grandmother”
Meet Co-hosts Rita and Ellin: The ‘Lucy and Ethel’ of Podcasts
BY JILL DAVIS
Nor th Shore Towers’
resident Ellin Grodsky
has been friends with
Rita Kaye for more than 20
years. Little did they know
when they met that they would
one day be the co-hosts of the
extremely popular podcast series,
“Call Your Grandmother.”
In each episode, they introduce
a grandmother and grandchild
who share their mutual affection—
and funny stories—about
each other.
The New York Post writes:
“Mix the senior sass of ‘The
Golden Girls’ with the bawdiness
of ‘Broad City’ and
the punchy humor of ‘The
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ and you
get the new podcast ‘Call Your
Grandmother.’”
Ellin and Rita chatted recently
with the North Shore Towers
Courier for an interview to learn
a little “behind the scenes info.”
Courier:
I’ve listened to a few episodes
and the two of you have an
incredible rapport. Not to mention
that you’re hilarious. How
did you two meet?
Ellin:
My husband and I bought a
vacation home in the Berkshires
and a mutual friend told me I
had to meet Rita, who also had
a house up there. It was kismet…
all the planets aligned. We’ve
been friends ever since and will
be for life.
Courier:
So Ellin, what made you choose
to move to North Shore Towers?
Ellin:
North Shore Towers chose
me! My mother-in-law owned
our apartment and we rented it
out for a couple of years after
she died. When the lease was
up my husband said we should
move here.
Rita:
I live in Manhattan, but my
sister lives at the Towers too. Just
three fights from Ellin in the exact
same apartment. They know each
other also.
Courier:
Let’s talk about the show. How
did that happen?
Rita:
Leslie, who’s a friend of my
daughter, knows the producer,
Meryl Poster. It was Meryl’s idea
to talk to grandmothers and their
grandchildren. She asked Leslie
if she knew anyone who might be
good to host and she thought of
me. I said, “Why not? What else
do I have to do?” Then I asked
Ellin to join me. We bring back
things from the old days…”Oh, I
remember that…”
Ellin:
It’s really come at a time when
people need a smile on their face.
This podcast is just what the
doctor ordered, especially here
at North Shore Towers. Our story
is their story.
Courier:
So what has the whole experience
been like?
Rita:
Because of the pandemic, we
do the whole thing on Zoom. I
had no idea what I was doing but
I learned. The producers are the
nicest, most patient people. We’re
really enjoying ourselves.
Ellin:
And the grandkids are loving
that we’re doing this. My 15 year
old grandson listens. It gives us
something to talk about, something
in common. We’re leaving
a legacy to our grandchildren.
On top of that, I’ve gotten closer
to Rita than ever before.
Courier:
Did you interview any of your
own grandchildren on the show?
Ellin:
We’ve each had one of our
grandchildren on. I brought my
oldest grandchild on and Rita
brought her only granddaughter
on.
Rita:
Every Jewish grandmother has
one genius!
Ellin:
I have seven!
Courier:
You’ve mentioned that your
show is in the top 100 podcasts…
Rita:
We’re the Lucy and Ethel of
podcasting! Pause I’m Lucy!
Courier:
And you’re doing an interview
on “Today with Hoda and Jenna.”
That’s exciting!
Ellin:
We couldn’t believe it. Rita’s
daughter has a friend who works
on the show. We taped some of it
already and the whole thing will
be airing on Friday. The show
aired on February 19. You can
stream it on Today.com; msn.com;
Yahoo or Facebook.
Courier:
I know right now you’re doing
six episodes. You know that when
something takes off the way your
show has, they sometimes want to
renew it. Any thoughts on that?
Rita:
I’m 90! I can’t sign a long term
contract. Six months, tops!
ABOUT “CALL YOUR GRANDMOTHER”
“Call Your Grandmother” launched on iHeartRadio in January
and can be heard everywhere podcasts are available. New
episodes air every Thursday through mid-March but all six
will remain available for listening.
Visit iHeart.com/apps to download iHeartRadio and listen
on your favorite device. And if you don’t know how to sign up,
call your grandchild!
Podcast co-hosts Rita Kaye (left)
and Ellin Grodsky
March 2021 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 17
/Today.com
/msn.com
/apps
