Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer: Person of the Week

July 7, 2026 – Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer (rB) has found a hobby in the challenge of summarizing himself in a few sentences. rB is the executive director of Religion Outside The Box, a worldwide, internet-based congregation of over 3,500 members worldwide.

In 2025, rB published Rabbi Brian’s Highly Unorthodox Gospel—a fun read about religious autonomy and spiritual authority.

rabbibrian.com

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. “Understanding is the booby-prize.” — attributed to Werner Erhard.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I’m from NYC. I live in Portland, Oregon.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Curious.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. I’d like to live near my beloved, wherever that is.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. Being wiser/kinder than I was last week.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. People are able to keep from ending sentences with a preposition, but mis-gender someone’s preferred pronouns.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. I’d give ten $100,000 gifts to charities working on supporting religious expression.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. My Grandmother. She taught me about love.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you are small.

Q. Who made you feel seen growing up?

A. My Grandma.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

A. My children. (I know that is more than one.)

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. Growing up in Manhattan.

Q. What sound or sounds do you most remember from your childhood?

A. Sirens and car honks.

Q. Which part of your treatment and recovery do you feel was the most interesting or unexpected?

A. That I can surrender.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. I’ve written books about this one and cannot fit all my thoughts in this box—which works for me.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Capricorn.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Gabor Maté

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. “The Enlightened Mind” — translated by Stephen Mitchel.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. Yesteryear.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Magnolia.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. Pluribus / Task Master.

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. Notes.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Michael Jackson.

Q. Who are your heroes in real life?

A. My children.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. Let it be. Losing my religion.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Portland, Oregon.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Sushi.

Q. What is the best concert/performance/play you’ve ever attended?

A. Michael Jackson in Tel Aviv.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you (not including cell phone, keys, wallet, or lipstick)?

A. Paper, pen, readers, rubberband.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

A. A gold pen that was my rabbis.

Q. What do you value most in a friendship?

A. Honesty.

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. Writing a book, Rabbi Brian’s Highly Unorthodox Gospel.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. You helped me. Because I helped.

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

A. Nap.

Q. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

A. Calm — free from anxiety.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. Not having been more sexually active before monogamy.

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

A. I know this one thing I’ve done, but don’t want to tell it here.

Q. What is something you’ve learned about yourself in the last six months?

A. I’m much more open to feeling my emotions than I was six months ago.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. How do rational people make sense of their inconsistencies.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. My honesty.

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

A. When I needed to fess up to a rental house that I was responsible for damage.

Q. How important are your pets to you?

A. Moderately.

Q. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

A. That having been said…