People Jew Wanna Know

People Jew Wanna Know
  • 4.9 (74)
  • Judaism
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Welcome to People Jew Wanna Know, a podcast sharing stories of remarkable Jewish people! Hosted by Margarita Lyadova, each episode features conversations with interesting Jewish guests of today and historical figures who’ve shaped Jewish culture and identity. Together, we seek answers to today's essential questions facing the Jewish people. New episodes every Wednesday. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @peoplejewwannaknow for extras, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. Support our work here: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

  1. 1d ago

    Slam Frank: Andrew Fox on Satire Without Limits

    Andrew Fox is the creator and composer of Slam Frank, the satirical hip-hop musical that reimagines Anne Frank's story. "Every woman is a Jew hiding in her own attic," the show proclaims. After going viral online, it made its off-Broadway debut in 2025 and was named one of the New York Times' best comedies of the year. A former nonprofit founder and educator who taught musical theater in China right before COVID, Fox also built the show's cult-famous social media presence himself from an Android. In this episode, Fox makes his case for separating art from the artist. He describes how four Nick Fuentes fans flew in to see his show on the same night as a Satmar family, defends refusing to declare whether Slam Frank is Zionist or anti-Zionist, and explains why certainty is the real danger, and much more. This episode is brought to you by The Five Books Podcast! Listen wherever you get your podcasts & check out www.fivebookspod.org Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrewfoxmusic and follow the show @slamfrankmusical. See Slam Frank at the Orpheum Theater. Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 06:26 Running the Slam Frank account as performance art 07:21 Teaching musical theater in China before COVID 09:41 What "woke" was, and why the arts won't grapple with it 11:08 The professor suspended for teaching a Mandarin filler word 15:19 Andrew's grandfather and the McCarthy era 17:20 Why Slam Frank refuses to declare a side 20:38 The night 4 Holocaust deniers and a Satmar family saw the show 35:04 The October 7th show and the man who stormed out 45:49 Separating the art from the artist — up to a point 50:22 A message against Jewish tribalism 51:19 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    Slam Frank: Andrew Fox on Satire Without Limits

  2. Oct 26

    The Case For Liberal Zionism - Shanie Reichman

    Shanie Reichman is a rising star in the NYC Jewish non-profit scene. Today, she directs strategic initiatives at Israel Policy Forum and hosts the new podcast, Disputed Territory, where she makes the case for liberal Zionism to people who think the phrase is a contradiction. In a conversation that's timely given the Israeli elections, Margarita brings her questions, her skepticism, and a genuine willingness to be educated — and Shanie delivers, right down to the logistics of how you could create a two-state solution or, as IPF calls it, a two-state outcome. Follow Shanie on Instagram @ShanieMieka and listen to Disputed Territory wherever you get your podcasts. Check out IPF at www.israelpolicyforum.org Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow **What We Discuss:** 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 03:36 Nash Didan and an Aramaic-speaking family 07:30 How Shanie learned about the I/P conflict 10:00 What liberal Zionism actually means 14:00 Israeli elections and Netanyahu's cracking coalition 18:00 The Haredi draft, education, and the cost to Israel's economy 23:00 Haredi feminists and the fake primary that worked 28:00 Did October 7th shatter the status quo? 35:00 Should diaspora Jews have a say in Israel? 44:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    The Case For Liberal Zionism - Shanie Reichman

  3. Oct 21

    Rabbi Wolpe - What Happened to Jewish Peoplehood?

    Rabbi David Wolpe has been described as one of the most influential Rabbis in America. He's known for his pointed debates on the importance of religion, his outspokenness on current affairs, and a desire to shape today's Jewish leaders and their passion for Judaism. In this episode, Rabbi shares countless pieces of wisdom, an inside look at what's happening to Jewish denominations today, and opens up about his hilarious personality! Follow Rabbi Wolpe on Instagram @davidjwolpe Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Center for Jewish History. **What We Discuss:** 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 02:24 From aspiring writer to accidental rabbi 06:00 Native to America but immigrants to Judaism 11:30 Why young Jews lost the sense of peoplehood 16:00 Talking to students at the Harvard encampments 19:30 Courage, competence, and turning the argument around 24:00 Is Orthodoxy the "original" Judaism? 29:00 What 30 years taught him about influence 33:00 Optimism, bots, and confusing your enemy 36:30 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    Rabbi Wolpe - What Happened to Jewish Peoplehood?

  4. Oct 14

    Lindsay Pinchuk: It's Never Wrong to Do What's Right

    Lindsay Pinchuk built a seven-figure company from scratch, sold it, and became a mentor to hundreds of women over 40 who thought it was too late to start. Then, October 8th, 2023 happened. She posted a video in the parking lot of Whole Foods about what it felt like to be a Jewish American woman, and woke up to 100,000 views and a comment section full of "me too." Three years later, speaking up for what's right didn't cost her the business. Inquiries went up 500%. If you needed a reminder that it's never too late to chase your dreams - this episode is it. Follow Lindsay on socials @LindsayPinchuk and check out her work at www.lindsaypinchuk.comSupport our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 02:00 From advertising to Bump Club to Dear FoundHer 07:00 The Whole Foods parking lot video that changed everything 11:00 Fracturing, infighting, and why antisemitism shouldn't have a political party 15:00 Getting brands to work with Jewish creators 20:00 Why activism isn't a career (and why you need another lane) 28:00 What hundreds of female founders taught her 34:00 Raising two daughters after October 7th 40:00 The "From the River to the Sea" shirt and the letter to the principal 47:00 The SWEEP marketing framework 52:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    Lindsay Pinchuk: It's Never Wrong to Do What's Right

  5. Oct 8

    Gila Pfeffer - The Jewish Way To Grieve

    Gila Pfeffer lost her mother at 20 and her grandmother before that — both to cancers she carried the genetic blueprint for. So she did something very atypical at the time: a preventative double mastectomy in 2008, years before Angelina Jolie made the choice a norm. Unfortunately, Gila got breast cancer anyway. Both a previvor AND survivor, Gila is one of the funniest people you'll ever hear talk about all of it. An award-winning author and humorist, Gila wrote her memoir *Nearly Departed* through the lens of her Orthodox Jewish life — Shiva, mikveh, wigs during chemo, the whole thing. This conversation lands during a week built for grief, and Gila makes the case that laughter isn't a betrayal of grief. It's the way through. Follow Gila on Instagram @gilapfeffer and check out her novel, Nearly Departed, anywhere you get your books! Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow **What We Discuss:** 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 06:00 Writing Nearly Departed through an Orthodox lens 12:00 Same chemo as her mother, thirty years later 17:00 Phil, and the birthday that felt like a sign 21:00 Grief you don't expect — and its sixth stage 28:00 Emuna, agency, and choosing the mastectomy 35:00 Why teenage Gila would be shocked 40:00 How Margarita and Gila actually met (a Carnegie Hall heist) 45:00 Find a way to laugh 47:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    Gila Pfeffer - The Jewish Way To Grieve

  6. Sep 30

    The Jews Are The Winningest Team in Human History — Rabbi Leor Sinai

    Rabbi Leor Sinai changed Margarita's life before he ever met her. He ran Alexander Muss High School in Israel, the program that completely shaped Margarita's Jewish identity. Years later, they finally sit down together. Now, Leor is serving as the Senior Vice President at the Israel Innovation Institute. This is a conversation about the story we tell ourselves. Leor makes the case that "the world hates us" is a losing pitch — and that Jews are, in fact, the winningest team in human history. He also names something uncomfortable: America is in decline, and Israel was never meant to be an insurance policy. Check out Leor's work at www.leorsinai.com and learn more about the Israel Innovation Institute at www.israelinnovation.org.il/ Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 04:21 From New York nightlife to rabbinical school 09:00 Why Muss worked: experiential learning that sticks 14:00 The winning-team pitch vs. the world-hates-us story 22:00 America in decline and the rise of antisemitism 32:00 Innovation for the Jewish world: finding root causes 40:00 Living consciously and trusting your gut 48:00 Israel as home, not insurance policy 53:00 A generation of lions, not the TikTok generation 55:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    The Jews Are The Winningest Team in Human History — Rabbi Leor Sinai

  7. Sep 23

    Dara Horn - Why We Need More Courage, Not Knowledge

    Dara Horn, by her own admission, hates arguing with people. So how did the author of *People Love Dead Jews* become one of the sharpest, most fearless voices confronting antisemitism today? Necessity, mostly. And a refusal to keep pretending. In her return to the show, Dara unpacks her new book, *The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story For The Living*, and makes a case that'll stick with you: antisemitism isn't a bias, it's a lie — and the lie is always the same. Plus, why the anti-Israel movement is a "bag of hot air" with three words of substance behind it, and the data-poisoning plot she was handed in private. Buy Dara's new book everywhere books are sold and check out her work at www.darahorn.com Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow This episode was brought to you in partnership with the Center for Jewish History What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 04:00 Courage over knowledge, and whether we can expect heroism 12:00 The Gentleman's Agreement and the price of passing 21:00 Standing up to an organized hate movement 28:00 Antisemitism as a lie, not a bias 37:00 Jewish civilization as a 3,000-year anti-tyranny movement 44:00 The Wikipedia and Reddit data-poisoning plot 50:00 Her son, the gaming Discord, and cowardice at Harvard 56:00 The collapse of the humanities and the lost art of argument 58:30 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    Dara Horn - Why We Need More Courage, Not Knowledge

  8. Sep 16

    Building NYC's Magic Empire - Nadav Roet

    Nadav Roet started doing magic at 4 years old in Israel, moved to Amsterdam to live in his Holocaust-survivor grandfather's hometown, and landed in New York — where he now runs The Bluff, the city's underground magic show built for the young, cool crowd. He's an award-winning mentalist featured in Cosmopolitan and New York magazine, and in this episode, Nadav will convince you that magic is the single coolest art form ever invented. Follow Nadav on socials @NadavRoet and @TheBluffNYC Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow **What We Discuss:** 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 02:00 Growing up in magic and building The Bluff 06:30 The magic renaissance and why every party has a magician now 11:00 A third-generation Holocaust survivor's Jewish identity 14:00 Israeli skeptics vs. American audiences 17:00 A live mind-reading trick (watch on video) 24:00 Why magic is a proudly Jewish — but never insular — art form 30:00 Magic Camp, meeting your heroes, and killing your darlings 38:00 Where the female magicians are 41:00 Do what you love, with what you have, and have fun 43:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

    Building NYC's Magic Empire - Nadav Roet
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About

Welcome to People Jew Wanna Know, a podcast sharing stories of remarkable Jewish people! Hosted by Margarita Lyadova, each episode features conversations with interesting Jewish guests of today and historical figures who’ve shaped Jewish culture and identity. Together, we seek answers to today's essential questions facing the Jewish people. New episodes every Wednesday. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @peoplejewwannaknow for extras, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. Support our work here: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

Information

  • Creator
    People Jew Wanna Know
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 828057
  • Show Website
    People Jew Wanna Know

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