Jewish Actually

Jewish Actually
  • 5.0 (3)
  • JUDAISM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What does it mean to be Jewish today—especially if you’re a teen growing up in a world full of contradictions, questions, and culture shifts? Hosted by Lila Newman, a Gen-Z Jewish girl figuring it out in real time, Jewish Actually explores identity, memory, and meaning through honest conversations with people across generations. It’s a podcast about belonging, asking questions, and claiming your voice. Whether you’re religious, secular, just curious, or somewhere in between, Jewish Actually is for anyone thinking deeply about who they are and

Episodes

  1. 16H AGO

    When Holocaust Denial Went to Court: The Irving v. Lipstadt Trial with Dr. Kenneth Stern

    What happens when history itself is put on trial? In this episode of Jewish Actually, Lila sits down with Dr. Kenneth Stern, the director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate, who spent 25 years at the American Jewish Committee, and helped develop the working definition of antisemitism later adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and has testified before the U.S. Congress on hate and extremism. Stern also played a key behind-the-scenes role as a special advisor in one of the most consequential legal battles over truth in modern history: Irving v. Penguin Books and Deborah Lipstadt. In this conversation, Stern takes us inside the case, not just what happened, but how it was fought. From the decision to turn the trial into a case against the denier, to the strategy of relying on expert historians instead of survivors, to the painstaking work of exposing distortions line by line, Stern breaks down the legal and intellectual playbook used to dismantle Holocaust denial in court. Lila and Stern also explore how the IHRA working definition of anti-semitism and how it connects to hate and extremism today. As one of the leading drafters of the definition, Stern explains its significance and potential challenges, too.

    50 min

  2. MAR 14

    Capturing Jewish Stories: With Emmy-Nominated Filmmaker Laura Seltzer-Duny

    In this episode of Jewish Actually, Laura Seltzer-Duny, an Emmy-nominated and PBS award-winning documentary filmmaker, joins to discuss her powerful film Nobody Wants Us. In this conversation, she reflects on the role of film in preserving Jewish history, the responsibility of telling Holocaust stories, and how documentary storytelling can shape public responsibility, understanding, and takeaways. Seltzer-Duny also shares the impact the film has had on audiences and why continuing to tell Jewish stories through film remains so important today.

    34 min

  3. FEB 14

    Witnessing in Complicated Times: With 3x Emmy-Nominated Journalist & Filmmaker Allison Norlian

    In this episode of Jewish Actually, we are joined by Allison Norlian, a 3x Emmy-nominanted journalist, filmmaker, and writer. Known for her film "Thirteen", based on her sister's story, Allison talks about her film in addition to some of her writing with Forbes, which includes interviews with women from the Diaspora, Gaza, and Israel. Tune in to hear about her upcoming films and the behind-the-scenes work and thought process for "Thirteen".

    41 min

  4. FEB 7

    Jewish in the NFL: With Gus Ornstein

    On this episode of Jewish Actually, former NFL and Yankees player Gus Ornstein reflects on his journey as a Jewish athlete. From playing at three different colleges--Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Rowan Univeristy--to reaching the NFL, Gus talks candidly about identity, belonging, and what it means to be Jewish in spaces where you’re often one of the only ones.

    24 min

  5. JAN 31

    Jewish Joy Isn't Quiet: Harper Kincaid on Writing, Therapy, and Saying the Unsayable

    In this episode of Jewish Actually, we’re joined by Harper Kincaid, a Jewish therapist navigating what it means to show up professionally and personally right now. We talk about therapy, culture, Jewish identity, neutrality, boundaries, and what happens when your job is to hold space while also having very real feelings. It’s thoughtful, honest, and, yes, a little complicated.

    58 min

  6. JAN 24

    What We Inherit and What We Find: With Artist Baret Boisson

    In this episode of Jewish Actually, I sit down with artist Baret Boisson for a deeply personal conversation about identity, lineage, and belonging. Baret grew up knowing her mother was Jewish, but believing her father was not. Years later, while searching for her birth father, a DNA test revealed something unexpected — she is 100% Jewish. That discovery didn’t create a new identity. It reframed the one she thought she understood. We talk about what it means to inherit a history you weren’t fully raised inside of, how family truths can reshape self-perception, and how identity evolves over time. Baret is a major contemporary artist whose work has been seen by over 100,000 visitors in a civil rights museum exhibition. She has completed high-profile portrait commissions, including one of Jimmy Fallon and his family. But, this conversation is about something more intimate — the search for belonging. If you’ve ever questioned where you come from or how identity forms, this episode is for you.

    52 min

  7. JAN 22

    Jewish Actually: Why I'm Starting this Podcast

    Welcome to Jewish Actually. I'm Lila, and this podcast exists because Jewish identity isn’t a headline, a stereotype, or a comment section debate. It’s personal. In this first episode, I talk about why I’m starting this show — what I want to question, what I want to unpack, and why the conversation around Jewish life feels louder and more confusing than ever. This is a space for honest conversations. No scripts. No performative takes. Just nuance, curiosity, and real talk. Because being Jewish right now? It’s complicated. And we’re going there.

    5 min
  • 7 Episodes

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

What does it mean to be Jewish today—especially if you’re a teen growing up in a world full of contradictions, questions, and culture shifts? Hosted by Lila Newman, a Gen-Z Jewish girl figuring it out in real time, Jewish Actually explores identity, memory, and meaning through honest conversations with people across generations. It’s a podcast about belonging, asking questions, and claiming your voice. Whether you’re religious, secular, just curious, or somewhere in between, Jewish Actually is for anyone thinking deeply about who they are and

Information

  • Creator
    Jewish Actually
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jewish Actually
  • Show Website
    Jewish Actually