Podcast · Devotional & Spiritual

People Jew Wanna Know

by People Jew Wanna Know · English · Devotional & Spiritual

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 ess

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 45 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 49 min

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…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

30 Sep 2026 · 58 min
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…
23 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
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…
16 Sep 2026 · 45 min
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…
9 Sep 2026 · 35 min
Harrison Greenbaum: A Jewish Magician’s Guide to Reading People
Harrison Greenbaum does 900 shows a year. The Harvard grad turned comedian-magician has been called "the hardest working man in comedy." He's also the guy who wrote his college thesis on whether jokes can make people less racist. Turns out the answer is complicated — and there's one type of humor that can actually make prejudice *worse*. Harrison gets honest about the sharp rise in antisemitism showing up in his comments, the audience member who blurted "no" when he said he was Jewish, and why being a grandson of Holocaust survivors makes him want to talk about Jewish stuff *more*, not less.…
2 Sep 2026 · 50 min
Chloe Hechter - People's Jewish American Princess
Chloe Hechter calls herself "the People's Jewish American Princess," and she means it as a mission, not a punchline. Former child actor, recovering sorority girl, and now a comedy creator with 300,000+ followers, she's spent years reclaiming an insult and turning private-school-summer-camp-Murray-Hill life into beloved sketches.But the skits are just the surface. Chloe opens up about exposure therapy for emetophobia starting at age ten, why she believes Jewish women have to be "ten toes down," and her sharpest take yet: that a lot of Jinsta creators are failing. Follow Chloe on all socials…
26 Aug 2026 · 45 min
The Power of Quiet Confidence - Yardenne Greenspan
Yardenne Greenspan is a Tel Aviv-born writer and Hebrew translator whose work appears in numerous publications and has earned notable awards. She's married to Shai Davidai (yes, that one — Activist, former Columbia professor, and Margarita's viral early guest), but she's built her own formidable kind of activism: humanizing Israelis one carefully chosen word at a time. She's the person you drift toward at every Jewish event without quite knowing why. In this episode, Margarita and Yardenne discuss the importance of translation, the true reality of activism, and how to always take the high…
19 Aug 2026 · 44 min
Eitan Levine - Looking For Allies Before Enemies
Eitan Levine - you know him, you love him. He's a popular Jewish comedian, political commentator, and the man behind the beloved "Jewish or Antisemitic" series. This episode goes deeper than expected. Eitan opens up about the sarcoma that shaped his teens and twenties. He also delivers a blistering and hilarious critique of how Jewish organizations spent money after October 7th — and why he thinks it backfired. Follow @eitanthegoalie on Instagram and check out his work at www.eitanlevine.com Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda…
12 Aug 2026 · 33 min
"Zionists for Zohran" with Adam Malev
Adam Malev has performed at over 1,000 stand-up shows, built an app that maps every open mic in New York City, and once did a full minute of 9/11 jokes on Kill Tony. He's a proud Zionist, the self-proclaimed last Jew in his family's lineage, and — brace yourself — a genuine, non-satirical Zohran Mamdani voter. Margarita was sure the "Zionist for Zohran" bit was a joke. It is not. This episode is a real-time reckoning, a lot of laughing, and zero eye-to-eye. They stay friends anyway. Follow Adam on Instagram @adammalev & @malevcomedy Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What…
5 Aug 2026 · 42 min
Transcending Hate w/Arno Michaelis (former white supremacist)
Arno Michaelis is a former Neo-Nazi turned activist, writer, and tremendous ally to the Jewish people. He was a founding member of a racist skinhead crew, lead singer of a hate metal band, reverend in a violently antisemitic church — and then he walked away, worn down by exhaustion and undone by the kindness of the people he was taught to hate. Today he's a Buddhist, an author, and a peer specialist at Parents for Peace who talks pissed-off young men out of the abyss for a living.In this episode, Arno explains why every extremist ideology, left or right, eventually converges on hating Jews.…
29 Jul 2026 · 49 min
Raheel Raza on Muslims and Jews in an Age of Tension
Raheel Raza is a Pakistani-Canadian author, journalist, and president of Muslims Facing Tomorrow. She'll help you understand everything you'd like to know about Radical Islam. She's testified at the UN, spoken at Harvard and Oxford, and visited Israel 14 times. She also happens to be one of the warmest humans you'll ever meet. This is the conversation where Margarita finally gets to ask the questions that feel too "icky" to ask — about dhimmitude, about why Western Muslim leaders skew extreme, and about how Jews and Muslims can actually still be friends. Raheel answers every single one with…
22 Jul 2026 · 27 min
Marina the Marathon Princess: All Miles, All Smiles
Marina the Marathon Princess has run 76 marathons, finished multiple Ironmans, and walked the entire length of Israel. Her running joke, pun intended, is that she's one of the slowest people doing some of the hardest races in the world. Marina is an activism trendsetter who printed "Stand With Israel" on a race shirt years before October 7th. What started as a couchsurfing trip to Tel Aviv with a giant backpack turned into a years-long love affair with Israel, the Hebrew language, and the runners who cheer her on at every kilometer. Learn from Marina about what it takes to do the hardest…
15 Jul 2026 · 48 min
Brianna Wu - It's Time To Change The Left
Brianna Wu is the voice of reason on the left. The video game developer turned political commentator turned Democratic insider has spent her career being first to name what other people are too scared to say out loud — and she brings that same clarity to one of the most uncomfortable conversations on the American left right now. In this episode, Brianna talks about why democrat elites privately know better, why "respectability politics" are failing Jews, and what an actually effective information war would look like. Follow Brianna Wu on Instagram @BriannaWuSays Support our work:…
8 Jul 2026 · 46 min
Everything Misunderstood About Iran - Shay Khatiri
Shay Khatiri grew up in an Iranian Communist household where his dad handed him Das Kapital at age 12 — and somehow ended up a neoconservative Persian researcher at CAMERA, fighting media bias against Israel. Shay knows more about Jewish life than most Jews, and will absolutely turn off your lights before leaving Shabbat dinner. Shay breaks down why Iranians were cheering on Israeli fighter jets from their rooftops, the 2,500-year friendship between Persians and Jews that started with Cyrus the Great, and what the future for Iran may entail. Follow Shay on X @ShayKhatiri Support our work:…
1 Jul 2026 · 40 min
The Office's Andy Buckley: On Comedy w/ Conscience
Andy Buckley is David Wallace. You know him. You love him. But before he was Steve Carell's perfectly straight-faced boss at Dunder Mifflin, he spent years as a Merrill Lynch wealth manager — which explains why his corporate deadpan hits so painfully right. He's also one of the most thoughtful and openly supportive non-Jewish allies the community has had since October 7th. Andy talks about the moment that gave him permission to speak up, the dinner-table education that came with marrying into a Jewish family, and why he thinks the loudest voices in Hollywood are often the least informed.…
24 Jun 2026 · 25 min
Goy You Will Enjoy Returns | SOLO EPISODE
Margarita returns for a solo episode to catch you up on the comeback of the “Goy You Will Enjoy” season — dedicated to the allies showing up for the Jewish community — and the current state of Jinsta. She also reads a powerful letter from a listener about intermarriage that sparked one of the most thoughtful conversations we’ve had in a long time. Truly an incredible note. Follow People Jew Wanna Know on Instagram @peoplejewwannaknow Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow
17 Jun 2026 · 54 min
The Art of Looking Like Yourself - Dr. Monasebian
Dr. Monasebian is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and the man Margarita personally trusts with her own face. A Forest Hills native, Brandeis graduate, and proud half-Sephardic, half-Ashkenazi Jew, Dr. Monasebian has built a reputation not just for exceptional results, but for telling patients the truth. In an industry full of hype, he’s refreshingly candid about what procedures are worth considering, which ones are overhyped, and why credentials matter more than ever. In this conversation, we discuss everything from the evolution of rhinoplasty among Jewish patients to the rise of…
10 Jun 2026 · 29 min
Rebecca Brooks — PR, Presence & Power
Rebecca Brooks is the dark horse behind some of the biggest food and lifestyle personalities you know — Rachael Ray, Andrew Zimmern, Guy Fieri, Jacques Torres, Robert Irvine. She founded the Brooks Group at 25 out of her husband's family office in New York, and basically helped invent the "lifestyle of food" category before Food Network was a household name. Margarita talks to Rebecca about what actually happens behind the curtain — how to fix a PR crisis, how to say no without burning the bridge, and why the best clients lead with story, not product. Plus a tangent on what Judaism actually…
5 Jun 2026 · 38 min
Ari’el Stachel - Playing the Other
Ariel Stachel—Tony winner for The Band's Visit—gets brutally honest about learning to “act” by hiding parts of himself, and what it took to finally stop. We get into his solo show Other , the identity whiplash growing up post 9/11, and why he’s willing to say the uncomfortable things—about activism, platforming, and how Jews should be portrayed in media right now. Margarita and Ariel compare notes and bond over being children of immigrants. Connect with Ariel on Instagram @ArielStachel Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 1:42…
27 May 2026 · 41 min
Neil Friedman: Hollywood's Quiet Powerhouse
Neil Friedman is the quiet powerhouse behind some of the most important Jewish cinema of the last two decades. As founder of Menemsha Films and ChaiFlicks — the world's largest Jewish streaming platform — he's racked up five consecutive Oscar-nominated films, championed hidden gems from six continents, and turned Bad Shabbos into a $1.5 million theatrical juggernaut at a moment when nobody goes to the movies anymore. Neil's story is one of Jewish ingenuity, resilience, and work ethic. **Special Promo to get an annual subscription to ChaiFlicks for only $36 for People Jew Wanna Know…
20 May 2026 · 45 min
The Mayor’s Jewish Guy - Moshe Davis
Moshe Davis was Mayor Eric Adams' Jewish liaison and architect of NYC's first-ever Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism — until he found out via tweet that the Mamdani administration was replacing him. He's the guy who handled everything from synagogue security to the "Israel Bombs Way" street sign vandalism. Moshe has dealt with the good, the bad, and the ugly of Jewish life in NYC post October 7th. Margarita and Moshe sit down to discuss Moshe's experience and where he thinks Jewish life in NYC is headed. Plus: why antisemitism is less a prejudice and more the world's oldest conspiracy…
13 May 2026 · 50 min
What Comes After Nova - Shye Klein
Shye Klein was just weeks into his new life in Israel when he drove into the Nova festival at 2 a.m. on October 7th. Before noon, he was back in Tel Aviv — alive, with five friends and a roll of film of people he might never see again. A Canadian-Israeli photographer who'd never owned a Hillel sweatshirt or set foot on a Birthright trip, Shai walked out of that field and walked straight into 200 speaking engagements, years of therapy, and one of the most clear-eyed accounts of Nova & what resilience actually looks like. This conversation goes where most October 7th coverage won't: the…
6 May 2026 · 37 min
L'Chaim Motherf*ckers with Jill Kargman
Jill Kargman is a New York Times bestselling author of 12 books, creator of Odd Mom Out, and a "shtetl chic" Manhattan Jewess. Margarita and Jill talk wig life, vaginal lasers, antisemitism in middle school, and why Jewish joy is the whole point. Jill found her voice the moment she stopped hiding behind characters and just told the truth. She's excited to share her new film - Influenced (in theaters May 8th). Follow Jill on IG @jillkargman and @influenced.movie Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 02:12 Sephardic mom, Ashkenazi…
29 Apr 2026 · 51 min
Antisemitism Is a Virus. Here's How It Spreads — Vlad Khaykin
Vlad Khaykin is the Head of North American Advocacy for the Simon Wiesenthal Center (and a former ADL veteran). He approaches antisemitism the way a scientist approaches a virus: studying its architecture, its mutations, and why it keeps infecting new hosts across centuries. This is an episode where you'll learn a tremendous amount about antisemitism's latest "mutation" - Anti-Zionism. Anti-Zionism isn't an abstract debate — it's an ideology with a body count, and millions of living Jews can tell you exactly what it looks like when it wins. Vlad also makes the case that internalized…
22 Apr 2026 · 10 min
Ham The Underwear Man
Sometimes you run into a guy in his underwear on the streets of NYC and do a mini pod with him! Ham is an artist best known for standing in his underwear & talking to strangers! Learn more about his art on Instagram @sweatpantcity Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow
15 Apr 2026 · 38 min
@Qveenjulia - Say It With Your Chest
This episode is NOT a joke ;). Julia Ain, also known as @qveenjulia, is a funny Jewish girl with big boobs who will make you laugh and blush at the same time. A viral content creator with over 1M followers online, she sits down with Margarita to share her story and reflect on being a proudly Jewish content creator in this crazy time. This episode is for our boobers and boober lovers! Follow Julia on all platforms @qveenjulia Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 02:19 How an aspiring lawyer went to FanFix 04:33 What has Julia…
8 Apr 2026 · 43 min
Winning in the Court of Public Opinion — Scott Piro
Scott Piro is a communications strategist and Jewish advocate who has spent years shaping messaging around antisemitism, Israel, and Jewish communal response. After October 7, he went viral for sharing the moment he walked out of a recovery meeting when the conversation turned into the demonization of Jews and Israel. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to make messaging that resonates, why the goal isn’t to “dunk on the haters” but to persuade the silent lurkers, and how to think more clearly about anti-Zionism in this moment. Follow Scott on IG @ScottPiro and TikTok…
1 Apr 2026 · 54 min
Art From The Multiverse - Marc Dennis
Artist, Holocaust scholar, teacher, and devoted single dad, Marc Dennis joins People Jew Wanna Know with stories that sound almost unbelievable—from robberies to life on a Native American reservation and how it all led him to create hyper-realistic art. Follow Marc on Instagram @darcmennis and check out his art at marcdennis.com . Marc's art will be on display on April 18th in Los Angeles. What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 02:17 Marc's "Juban" upbringing & path to Holocaust art 16:38 Marc's troubled teen years 26:14 Living on a Native American reservation 27:30 What inspires…
25 Mar 2026 · 49 min
What Brings Jews Back, And What Pushes Them Away - Rabbi Mark Wildes
Rabbi Mark Wildes of Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) joins Margarita to reflect on the debate from the People Jew Wanna Know 2 Year Anniversary Party, talk all things Kiruv, and discuss how young adults make sense of Judaism. Check out MJE at www.jewishexperience.org and follow them on Instagram @mjexperience and @rabbiwildes . Buy Rabbi Wildes' book The Jewish Experience Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 05:03 How MJE came about 07:44 On Kiruv 18:52 On the debate Rabbi & Margarita did together 33:32 The Jewish Experience -…
18 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Bellamy Bellucci - The World Is Not Coming to Save You
Bellamy Bellucci is a sharp, self-aware Jewish activist who doesn’t shy away from calling herself “very insane” while asking some of the hardest questions facing our community today. In this episode, we learn about her incredible story straddling various identities - South-African, trans, Jewish, professional dancer, what can't she be? We discuss the wins & misses of Jewish activism, Bellamy's reflections on life post- Oct 7th and her recent Aliyah to Israel. Follow Bellamy Bellucci on Instagram @bellamybellucci Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow What We Discuss: 00:00…

About People Jew Wanna Know

People Jew Wanna Know is a English devotional & spiritual podcast from People Jew Wanna Know. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: People Jew Wanna Know
Language: English
Category: Devotional & Spiritual
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 45 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1518376121
Rights: 828057

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