Back to Business Podcast

Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab
  • 4.6 (10)
  • 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. 5d ago

    Back to Business Podcast | SENATE RACE, KRATOM & FAKE IDENTITY

    Shaya Baum, Michael Kassab and Sarah Annas are back to break down some of the biggest stories getting people talking. Mike Rogers vs. Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, the “Palestinian Rachel Dolezal” controversy, growing questions about kratom, two Ole Miss student deaths, and NFL headlines, this week’s Back to Business Podcast covers it all. MIKE ROGERS, ABDUL EL-SAYED & THE MICHIGAN SENATE RACE Mike Kassab shares his experience speaking at a Mike Rogers event before the conversation turns to Michigan’s U.S. Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. THE “PALESTINIAN RACHEL DOLEZAL” CONTROVERSY Philadelphia public school teacher and activist Hannah Gann admitted she falsely claimed Palestinian and Tunisian heritage for years; activist groups she worked with also accused her of falsely claiming Black identity. The story has prompted online comparisons to Rachel Dolezal. How did Gann build credibility around an identity that wasn’t actually hers, and what happens when the truth comes out? OLE MISS, KRATOM & THE QUESTIONS PEOPLE ARE ASKING Two Ole Miss students died in separate incidents on the same day, with kratom found during both investigations. Toxicology results were still pending when we prepared the episode, but the cases raise bigger questions about a substance millions of Americans have tried. What is kratom? Why are more people using it? And why is it so readily available at gas stations, smoke shops and online? NFL RAPID FIRE The crew closes out the episode with NFL rapid fire, including Jaxson Dart, Caleb Williams, the Vikings, Falcons, Chargers and Aaron Glenn’s return to Detroit. BACK TO BUSINESS PODCAST New episodes every Wednesday at 10 AM. #BackToBusinessPodcast #MikeRogers #AbdulElSayed #MichiganSenate #MichiganSenateRace #HannahGann #RachelDolezal #Kratom #OleMiss #NFL #Michigan #CurrentEvents #NewsPodcast #Podcast

  2. Sep 23

    Back to Business Podcast | MACKLEMORE, SECRET SCHOOLS & MIDDLE EAST

    This week on the Back to Business Podcast, Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum and Michael Kassab break down major stories making headlines across politics, culture, international affairs and sports. Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour amid renewed controversy over his pro-Palestinian comments and past rhetoric and imagery that critics have condemned as antisemitic. Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, said his opposition to Macklemore performing at the venue was not about supporting Palestinians, but about rhetoric he viewed as antisemitic. In Afghanistan, teenage girls are risking arrest simply to receive an education. CBS News recently went inside a secret school in Kabul where girls ages 14 to 16 continue studying despite Taliban restrictions. Before the reporters left, students handed them 21 handwritten “letters to the world,” describing the education and freedoms they have lost and their hopes of studying, working and choosing their own futures. What does it say that in 2026, girls are still forced to risk their safety just to go to school? The hosts also turn to escalating tensions in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a Houthi drone headed toward Mecca. As Saudi Arabia seeks outside help against the Iran-backed Houthis, reports have also raised the possibility of Saudi Arabia turning to Israel for security assistance. The hosts discuss what that could mean for Israel and Saudi Arabia, two countries facing shared regional threats, and whether security cooperation could bring them closer together. Finally, it’s NFL rapid fire. Shaya and Michael break down the biggest storylines from Weeks 1 and 2, including Caleb Williams and the Bears, Green Bay and Dallas, Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City, Lions vs. Bills, Seattle moving forward without Sam Darnold and whether the Giants can build on their early success. Watch or listen to the Back to Business Podcast every Wednesday at 10AM. CBS News Credit: This episode includes a brief video/audio excerpt from CBS News reporting on the secret girls’ school in Afghanistan. All CBS News footage and audio remain the property of CBS News. Topics: Macklemore, Ed Sheeran, Macklemore Ed Sheeran tour, Macklemore controversy, Macklemore antisemitism controversy, Robert Kraft, Gillette Stadium, antisemitism, Israel, Israel news, secret girls school Afghanistan, Afghan girls education, Taliban, women in Afghanistan, CBS News Afghanistan, letters to the world, Saudi Arabia, Mecca, Houthi drone, Houthis, Yemen, Iran, Israel Saudi Arabia relations, Middle East security, NFL Week 1, NFL Week 2, Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, current events, news commentary, Back to Business Podcast.

  3. Sep 16

    Back to Business Podcast | THC, BANS & 9/11

    This week on the Back to Business Podcast, Shaya Baum and Michael Kassab break down four major stories making headlines across politics, culture, sports and history. The UK, France and Canada announce new import restrictions targeting goods from Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria, prompting a diplomatic response from Israel and renewed debate over how European governments are approaching the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In Idaho, more than 1,000 new mothers have reportedly been placed on the state’s child-abuse registry following positive THC tests involving themselves or their newborns. But what happens when a positive test comes from accidental exposure or legal CBD and hemp products? The conversation raises questions about drug testing, parental rights and how child-welfare policies should be applied. Plus, Michigan’s controversial win over Western Michigan is under scrutiny after officials put time back on the clock before Michigan’s game-winning Hail Mary. With the NCAA saying it cannot retroactively change the final score, should there be a way to overturn the result of a game after an officiating error? Finally, the hosts reflect on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Twenty-five years after 9/11, how has America changed, what lessons have endured, and how should a generation with no personal memory of September 11 understand its impact? Watch or listen to the Back to Business Podcast every Wednesday at 10 AM on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Topics: Israel import bans, Israeli settlements, Judea and Samaria, UK Israel relations, France Israel relations, Canada Israel relations, THC testing, Idaho mothers, child abuse registry, CBD and THC, Michigan football, Michigan vs Western Michigan, NCAA officiating controversy, 9/11 anniversary, September 11 attacks, 25 years since 9/11, current events, news commentary, Back to Business Podcast.

  4. Sep 9

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
10 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
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sarah Annas, Shaya Baum, and Michael Kassab