War is Stupid: An Anti-War Podcast About War

Orli Matlow
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The history and comedy podcast that challenges the centuries-old conventional wisdom that war is the smart and sensible thing to do. Hosted by comedian Orli Matlow.

  1. 6d ago

    Lebanon Has A World-Class Comedy Scene? with Comedian Mahmoud Jaber

    Orli Matlow sits down with Lebanese American comedian Mahmoud Jaber to talk about the first time anything related to Ed Sheeran has ever been interesting. They discuss the amazing things about Lebanon (Comedy! Family! Food!) and the not-so-amazing things (war, Israeli occupation, war again). They also cover the improvification of standup, high school productions of Hamlet and Annie, and Comedy Karens. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Mahmoud:  Instagram TikTok Organizations to support: Lebanese Red Cross UN Refugee Agency Nafda Lebanon Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Bluesky Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

  2. Sep 22

    Christopher Columbus Was 'Genocidal Mr. Bean'? with Native Comedian Joey Clift

    Orli Matlow sits down with Emmy-nominated writer and comedian Joey Clift to talk about his new book, We’ve Been Here The Whole Time!: A Not So Sacred Guide To All Things Native America. Joey, an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, shares stories of Native badassery and diversity, what the LandBack movement actually is, and how the politics of Indian Country are not as harshly partisan as everything else in America. They explore the Hoobastank-approved Ilani Casino, the proper hand gesture for Mount Rushmore, and why Lake Ontario should be called Lake Ontario. Order the book here! Learn more about the Yes And… Laughter Lab. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Joey: Instagram Twitter TikTok Threads Bluesky Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

  3. Sep 21

    A Yom Kippur Quasi-Sermon from War is Stupid

    Not an episode, but a short message on the holiest day in Judaism: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Watch or read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.  We'll be back tomorrow with a full show!

  4. Sep 14

    ‘The Pitt’ In Gaza? With Filmmaker Poh Si Teng, ‘American Doctor’

    Orli Matlow sits down with Emmy winner Poh Si Teng, director of the documentary American Doctor, in theatres now. The film follows three physicians who volunteer at besieged hospitals in Gaza, and spread the word about what they saw—which their tax dollars paid for. Poh discusses the process of filming with a Gaza-based crew under blockade, the cut scene she still thinks about, and how everyone can fight for the living, wherever they are. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Find a screening near you at AmericanDoctorFilm.com Follow on Instagram: American Doctor Watermelon Pictures Poh Si Teng Dr. Mark Perlmutter Dr. Feroze Sidhwa Dr. Thaer Ahmad Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

  5. Sep 8

    Being A Good Hang Is The Least We Can Do? with Comedian Mika Stein

    Orli Matlow sits down with comedian Mika Stein for the War is Stupid High Holidays special, diving deep into Jewish philosophy and how to adapt to synagogues with guitars. Mika reflects on his experiences in Yeshiva and the Jewish non-profit world, being Black and Jewish, and how criticizing Israel more than America is like “hating your dad’s mistress.” They cover everything from the Jewish Labor Bund’s principle of doikayt (“hereness”) to the legacy of HBO’s Entourage. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Mika: Instagram TikTok   Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack   00:00 - Teaser: Zionism and Jewish Guilt 01:28 - Introduction to Mika Stein 01:54 - The Jewish Day School-to-Standup Comedian Pipeline 04:00 - Mika's family history and work in Jewish non-profits 5:26 - Rodeph, "human shields," and House of the Dragon 10:04 - Jewish identity outside of the modern nation-state of Israel 11:03 - Jewish hookup culture around the world 15:45 - Mika's background and frat era 1 6:39 - Exploring anti-Zionism 18:04 - Doikayt and the Jewish Labor Bund 21:07 - Mika's Zeyde 23:43 - The Texan Jewish Experience 26:05 - Political Power and the USS Abraham Lincoln 28:41 - The High Holidays and Mayor Zohran Mamdani 33:48 - Anti-LGTBQ+ hate crime in Jerusalem 34:27 - Becoming disillusioned on a middle school trip to Israel 36:27 - Mika's joruney to comedy through Entourage and Jon Stewart's Elmopalooza 42:28 - Being Black and Jewish and embracing multicultural families 45:12 - Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Joshua Heschel, and coalition building 49:40 - Modern antisemitism and the importance of being a good hang

  6. Aug 31

    Love Is A Revolution? with Rafael Jesús Gonzalez, Poet and Activist

    Orli Matlow sits down for Rafael Jesús Gonzalez, the first poet to appear on the show and the first Poet Laureate of Berkeley, California. Professor Gonzalez talks about his experiences in the Flower Power Revolution during the Vietnam War, organizing against nuclear weapons during the Reagan era, and building Dr. Martin Luther King's Beloved Community working towards healing. Professor Gonzalez reads two poems about the horrors of war, and explains how activism “must be deeply, deeply grounded in love and it must be informed by joy.” Follow Professor Gonzalez: Blog Learn more about the Earth-Justice-Peace flag Learn more about Dr. King's philosophy of the Beloved Community Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

  7. Aug 24

    The ‘Peace Industry’ Is About Peace? with Hamze Awawde, Palestinian Political Thinker

    Orli Matlow sits down with Palestinian political thinker, strategist, and writer Hamze Awawde for a powerful conversation about complexity and complicity. Hamze dives deep into the “peace-industrial complex” and its priorities, how many “Israeli-Palestinian dialogue” events are scripted, and how “settler violence” is a euphemism for “state violence.” He encourages people to reflect on the last three years and to speak up, because in his words, “what are you going to lose? The ship is sinking anyway. So what are we trying to protect by staying stubborn about certain attitudes in this world?”  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Hamze: Substack Instagram Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

  8. Aug 16

    Jesus Was An Anti-Imperialist? with Pastor Ben Daniel

    Orli Matlow sits down with pacifist Presbyterian pastor Ben Daniel, author of Grace Over Guns, which brings a proudly Christian perspective to pursuing peace in a militarized world. They discuss military violence’s dismal record in achieving peace, and stories of successful non-violent resistance in Costa Rica, Estonia, and The Bible. Ben discusses his experiences presiding over funerals, responding to the inevitable “What about World War II?” question, and finding inspiration in the anti-imperialist activism of Jesus.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Learn more about the Peace Church movement at the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship website. For more on conscientious objection, visit the Center on Conscience and War. Follow Ben: Website Instagram Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

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The history and comedy podcast that challenges the centuries-old conventional wisdom that war is the smart and sensible thing to do. Hosted by comedian Orli Matlow.

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