Back to Business Podcast

Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab
  • 4.5 (8)
  • Business

Back to Business is a weekly podcast where business, politics, culture, and current events come together in real conversation. Hosted by Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab, each episode explores the stories shaping our world, from global headlines and business trends to social issues, sports, media, and the conversations people are already having behind closed doors. With honest perspectives, thoughtful debate, and a focus on what it all means for business owners, leaders, and everyday listeners, Back to Business brings timely topics back to the table. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 10 AM.

  1. 1d ago

    Back to Business Podcast | META, HAMAS & NFL PREDICTIONS

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab break down Meta’s $18 billion settlement and what it could mean for kids on social media, the capture of a senior Hamas official as Gazans speak out about alleged abuse under Hamas, and make their picks for who will win each NFL division this season. 🔹 Meta’s $18 Billion Settlement: Kids, Social Media & AI Age Checks Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement over claims that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harmed children’s mental health and kept young users hooked. As part of the agreement, Meta will strengthen protections for minors, including using AI to estimate whether users are underage based on account activity, interactions, photos, and other behavior. We discuss social media’s impact on young users, Meta’s responsibility, and whether AI-powered age verification raises new concerns of its own. 🔹 Hamas Chief Captured: Gazans Speak Out Israeli special forces captured Muein al-Arabid, a senior Hamas internal security official accused by Gazan dissidents of kidnapping, torturing, and persecuting Palestinians who opposed Hamas. As Palestinians who say they suffered under Hamas speak publicly about their experiences, we discuss what their accounts reveal about life under Hamas and why this side of the story receives far less attention in much of the conversation surrounding Gaza. 🔹 NFL Division Predictions: Who Wins Each Division? The NFL season is here, and the hosts are making their picks. Sarah, Shaya, and Michael go division by division and predict who they think will come out on top across the AFC and NFC. Who takes each division, which teams could surprise, and where do the hosts disagree? New episodes every Wednesday at 10 AM. Subscribe and watch or listen to the Back to Business Podcast. #BackToBusinessPodcast #Meta #Facebook #Instagram #SocialMedia #Hamas #Gaza #Israel #NFL #NFLPredictions #NFLPicks #Football #AFC #NFC #NFLSeason #SportsTalk #CurrentEvents #NewsCommentary #Podcast

  2. Sep 2

    Back to Business Podcast | QATAR, FLOCK CAMERAS & LINDSAY CLANCY

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab break down three major stories making headlines: the Lindsay Clancy trial and the difficult conversation surrounding postpartum mental health and criminal responsibility, Qatar’s billions of dollars flowing into American education and questions surrounding foreign influence, and growing privacy concerns over Flock Safety cameras and police surveillance. 🔹 The Lindsay Clancy Trial: Postpartum Mental Health & Criminal Responsibility The Lindsay Clancy trial has drawn national attention to difficult questions surrounding postpartum mental health, mental illness, motherhood, and criminal responsibility. We discuss the circumstances surrounding the case, Clancy’s mental state, and the role postpartum mental health has played in the conversation. 🔹 Qatar’s Billions: Money, Influence & American Education Qatar has poured billions of dollars into American universities, schools, businesses, and lobbying efforts, raising questions about how foreign funding may influence institutions and public opinion in the United States. 🔹 Flock Cameras: Public Safety or Mass Surveillance? Flock Safety license plate reader cameras are being used by law enforcement agencies across the country to track vehicles and help solve crimes, but the technology is facing growing scrutiny over privacy and potential misuse. With reports of officers accessing Flock data for personal reasons and communities reconsidering the technology, we discuss who has access to this information, how vehicle location data can be shared, and whether Flock cameras are making communities safer or creating a surveillance system Americans don’t fully understand. New episodes every Wednesday at 10 AM. Subscribe and watch or listen to the Back to Business Podcast. #BackToBusinessPodcast #LindsayClancy #LindsayClancyTrial #PostpartumMentalHealth #MentalHealth #Qatar #QatarInfluence #FlockSafety #FlockCameras #Surveillance #Privacy #ForeignInfluence #HigherEducation #Israel #Antisemitism #TrueCrime #CurrentEvents #NewsCommentary #Podcast

  3. Aug 26

    Back to Business Podcast | SCANDAL, CONFLICT & CONTROVERSY

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab break down some of the biggest stories making headlines, including Hunter Biden’s laptop controversy, an Israeli student disqualified after displaying the Israeli flag, Russia’s mounting battlefield casualties in Ukraine, and the arrests surrounding a controversial march in Dearborn. 🔹 Hunter Biden’s Laptop: The Repairman Responds Hunter Biden told Tucker Carlson that he has no recollection of leaving his laptop at the Delaware computer repair shop. Now, the repair shop owner is pushing back, saying the man who entered his store identified himself as Hunter Biden before dropping off the laptop. We discuss the conflicting accounts, media coverage, and the questions that still surround one of the most controversial political stories in recent years. 🔹 Israeli Student Disqualified After Displaying Israeli Flag Israeli high school student Yotam Budnik won gold at the 2026 International Olympiad in Informatics, but was later disqualified after displaying an Israeli flag on the podium. We discuss the controversy and ask a larger question: Should a student’s national identity overshadow an academic achievement they already earned? 🔹 Russia Suffers Nearly 43,000 Battlefield Casualties in One Month Russia reportedly suffered nearly 43,000 soldiers killed or wounded in Ukraine during July. As casualties continue to mount and recruitment becomes increasingly difficult, we discuss how long Russia can sustain these losses and whether the human cost of the war could eventually change Putin’s strategy. 🔹 22 Arrested During Controversial March in Dearborn Hundreds gathered in Dearborn for a planned “Christian Crusader March,” where counterprotesters also showed up and tensions escalated. Police ultimately arrested 22 people on misdemeanor charges. New episodes every Wednesday at 10 AM. Subscribe and watch or listen to the Back to Business Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

  4. Aug 19

    Back to Business Podcast | MEDIA, WAR CRIMES & MCAs

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab discuss Tucker Carlson’s Hunter Biden interview and claims involving Israel, Bashar al-Assad and Syria, the University of Michigan’s new grading pilot program, and merchant cash advances (MCAs) and business debt refinancing. 🔹 Tucker Carlson, Hunter Biden & Israel Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hunter Biden left some major questions unanswered while introducing claims involving Israel and the Hunter Biden laptop controversy. We discuss media bias, accountability, Israel, and why the stories journalists choose to focus on matter. 🔹 Bashar al-Assad, Syria & War Crimes A Syrian court sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity. We discuss Syria’s civil war, its roughly 500,000 deaths, and whether leaders can truly be held accountable for atrocities committed while in power. 🔹 University of Michigan Tests a Semester Without Traditional Grades The University of Michigan is testing a program that replaces traditional letter grades with pass or no-credit marks for incoming first-year students during their first semester. Is this a smart way to reduce academic pressure and support mental health, or does it lower accountability? 🔹 What Are MCAs & How Can Businesses Get Out of Them? Merchant cash advances can provide quick access to capital, but high costs and frequent payments can put serious pressure on cash flow. We break down how businesses can become trapped in expensive MCA debt and how MCA refinancing through Wing Lake Capital Partners can help businesses consolidate that debt and regain control of their cash flow. 🎙️ Back to Business brings together politics, Israel, current events, culture, and business for conversations about the stories making headlines. New episodes every Wednesday at 10 AM. Subscribe and watch or listen to the Back to Business Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

  5. Aug 12

    Back to Business Podcast | ELECTIONS, IMMIGRATION & BIAS

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, join your hosts, Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab, as they break down three of the week's biggest stories spanning U.S. politics, immigration, media bias, Israel, artificial intelligence, and public policy. 🔹 Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan Senate Race & the Democratic Party Dr. Abdul El-Sayed defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary and will now face Republican Mike Rogers. 🔹 Spain's Illegal Migration Crisis & Europe's Borders Thousands of migrants have entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, putting pressure on local infrastructure and intensifying debate over illegal immigration and border security. We discuss Europe's growing immigration challenges, public safety, national sovereignty, humanitarian concerns, and whether governments can balance compassion for migrants with protecting their citizens and enforcing their borders. 🔹 Wikipedia, the "Gang of 40" & Alleged Anti-Israel Bias Wikipedia is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations that a coordinated group of editors manipulated articles involving Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, and Jewish history. We examine the controversy surrounding the so-called "Gang of 40," concerns about political and anti-Israel bias on Wikipedia, and why the issue matters beyond the website itself as Wikipedia content influences Google search results, schools, media, and artificial intelligence. 🎙️ From the Michigan Senate race and Europe's immigration debate to Wikipedia, Israel, antisemitism, and the growing influence of online information, the Back to Business Podcast takes on the stories shaping politics, culture, and society. Subscribe to the Back to Business Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, and join us every Wednesday at 10am for a new episode.

  6. Aug 5

    Back to Business Podcast | PATRIOTISM, TERROR & TAXES

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, join your hosts, Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab, as they tackle four of the week's biggest stories, exploring the intersection of patriotism, national security, global diplomacy, taxation, and public policy. 🔹 Patriotism, Respect & The National Anthem A viral incident at a sporting event has sparked national debate after a man slapped a child who remained seated during the National Anthem. We discuss where the line exists between patriotism and personal freedom, whether violence is ever justified in defense of national symbols, and what respect for the flag and anthem should look like in today's America. 🔹 Saudi Arabia, Nuclear Power & The Abraham Accords The United States continues negotiations with Saudi Arabia over a potential civilian nuclear agreement that could become part of a broader expansion of the Abraham Accords. We examine what this could mean for Israel, regional stability, the balance of power in the Middle East, and whether the benefits outweigh the potential security risks. 🔹 Terrorism, Radicalization & Public Safety A series of violent attacks in Paris, Germany, and New York has renewed concerns about Islamist extremism, public safety, and immigration policy. We discuss the growing threat of radicalization, how governments should respond to extremist violence, and whether enough is being done to protect civilians while preserving democratic values. 🔹 New York's Pied-à-Terre Tax & Wealth Flight Luxury homeowners in New York City are pushing back against unexpectedly large tax bills tied to the state's pied-à-terre tax. We examine whether higher taxes on second homes are a fair way to fund public services or whether policies like these risk driving investment, businesses, and high-income residents out of the state. Subscribe to the Back to Business Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, and join us every Wednesday for a new episode.

  7. Jul 29

    Back to Business Podcast | AID, SURROGACY & TARIFFS

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, we examine three stories raising difficult questions about terrorism, humanitarian aid, reproductive rights, international trade, and government policy. 🔹 U.N. Report, Hamas & Humanitarian Aid A new United Nations report found that Hamas forces interfered with humanitarian aid distribution at a Gaza aid site, renewing concerns that humanitarian assistance intended for civilians has been manipulated during the ongoing conflict. We discuss what the findings mean, how aid can be protected from terrorist organizations, and whether enough attention is being paid to Hamas's role in the humanitarian crisis. 🔹 Surrogacy, Disability & Reproductive Rights A legal dispute involving a surrogate pregnancy is raising complex ethical and legal questions after a couple sued their surrogate, alleging she refused to terminate the pregnancy following the discovery of what doctors described as a minor birth defect. We examine who ultimately has decision-making authority during a surrogate pregnancy, where contractual obligations begin and end, and how reproductive rights intersect with deeply personal medical decisions. 🔹 Trump, Canada, Tariffs & Wildfire Accountability President Trump has announced a 50% tariff on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian imports, citing what his administration describes as unfair Canadian trade policies affecting American industries. At the same time, Trump has argued that Canada should bear greater responsibility for the wildfire smoke impacting air quality across parts of the United States, suggesting those costs should also factor into trade policy. We discuss the potential impact on businesses, consumers, U.S.-Canada relations, and the broader debate over trade, environmental responsibility, and economic leverage. Join us as we break down today's headlines, ask difficult questions, and explore the stories shaping politics, business, justice, and global affairs.

  8. Jul 22

    Back to Business Podcast | CONTROVERSY, NFL & INJUSTICE

    In this episode of the Back to Business Podcast, we examine four stories raising difficult questions about leadership, accountability, justice, global conflict, and the systems that shape our world. 🔹 Ro Khanna, Israel & the Hostage Meeting Controversy Congressman Ro Khanna is facing criticism after reports claimed he declined opportunities to meet with former Israeli hostages and survivors of the October 7 Hamas attacks during a recent trip connected to Israel and the West Bank. We discuss why hearing directly from victims matters, the responsibilities of elected officials when speaking on international conflicts, and the broader conversation surrounding leadership. 🔹 The $9.6 Billion Seahawks Sale The Seattle Seahawks are being sold in a record-breaking $9.6 billion deal led by billionaire Vinod Khosla. Because Khosla already owns a minority stake in the rival San Francisco 49ers, the sale has sparked discussion about conflicts of interest, NFL ownership rules, and why professional sports franchises have become some of the most valuable and exclusive investments in the world. We explore what this historic sale means for the future of the league. 🔹 Sudan's Civil War & the Fight for the Country's Future As Sudan's devastating civil war continues, millions remain caught in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. We discuss the growing debate over U.S.-backed peace proposals, the role of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), concerns surrounding Islamist extremism, and why some global conflicts receive widespread international attention while others are largely overlooked. 🔹 Chicago's Wrongful Conviction Case After spending 17 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Alberto Ochoa may receive a $9 million settlement from the City of Chicago. Ochoa says he was pressured into signing a confession written in English despite only speaking Spanish at the time of his arrest. We examine wrongful convictions, language barriers in the justice system, and what protections should exist before a confession can permanently alter someone's life. Join us as we break down today's headlines, ask difficult questions, and explore the stories shaping politics, business, justice, and global affairs.

See All (28)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Back to Business is a weekly podcast where business, politics, culture, and current events come together in real conversation. Hosted by Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab, each episode explores the stories shaping our world, from global headlines and business trends to social issues, sports, media, and the conversations people are already having behind closed doors. With honest perspectives, thoughtful debate, and a focus on what it all means for business owners, leaders, and everyday listeners, Back to Business brings timely topics back to the table. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 10 AM.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab