What the Falafel is the podcast that brings BIG Jewish energy, hilarious and heartfelt conversations and a sprinkle of chutzpah to your life!
Created and hosted by Jodie Brandman, in partnership with The Jewish News this podcast is where Jewish culture, identity, humour and personal growth collide!
Michal Oshman’s grandmother survived the Nazis by jumping off a train, and her hyperawareness thereafter taught Michal that she needed to try and be in control of everything in her life. She climbed the corporate ladder (Head of Culture at TikTok and Meta), married, had kids and did all the things she was “supposed to”, yet she still carried around a level of anxiety that no therapy or cultural practice could shift… that is until she stumbled on scientific papers linking happiness to Judaism. From then on, she uncovered ancient Jewish teachings that changed her life. In this episode of What…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Hollywood producer and writer, Leo Pearlman. We chat about how he built a TV empire from a basement with 3 other Jewish guys; The Hollywood silence (and antisemitism) the last few years; why he’s speaking out as a proud Zionist Jew; and most importantly… why herring is absolutely NOT allowed in his office! It’s a brilliant inspiring, funny and insightful episode so make sure you tune in... → Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/ → Partnered with Jewish…
In this on-the-go episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Netflix’s Fauda co-creator Avi Issacharoff to hear about the upcoming Season 5! We hear how the mass invasion of Israel was too “unrealistic” a plot line; how everything changed after October 7th; and how writing it became a healing process for everyone involved. Avi shares his undercover military and then journalistic background, from speaking Arabic with Hamas operatives to being in situations that sparked ideas for the creation of Fauda. It’s a fascinating episode, so make sure you tune in… and prepare yourself…
In this episode of the What The Falafel podcast, Jodie Brandman sits down with Ciara Shalome, creator of the sensational Instagram page: The Mizrahi Story. Ciara has spent years documenting the stories, memories and voices of Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews from across the Middle East and North Africa.We talk about what “Mizrahi” actually means, the discrimination many Mizrahi Jews experienced after arriving in Israel, and the complicated reality of Jewish life across countries like Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Morocco. Ciara talks openly about how she used to see the world in black and white,…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Jennifer Rinkoff, a 4th generation baker from the famous Jewish East End Bakery, Rinkoffs. We cover everything from the bakery's family history to how Jennifer fought her way in as a female and transformed the bakery with viral “Crodoughs". Jennifer shares stories from her childhood and what it’s like to be a Rinkoff, and shows off her brand-new cookbook as we taste our way through some recipes! → Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/ → Partnered with…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Jewish content creator and mum of 3, Chaya of London, for a fun and heartfelt conversation! From her life in London and LA to her Chabad upbringing Chaya talks about the key moments in her life. We cover everything from religious marital pressures to building her Jewish home with her kids. This episode will have you feeling proud and inspired! → Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/ → Partnered with Jewish News: https://www.instagram.com/jewishnews/ →…
In the most powerful episode to date, Jodie Brandman sits down with Ofir Amir, Co-founder, producer, and survivor of the Nova Festival. Before October 7th, Ofir was building an incredible community alongside music festivals, all promoting connection and kindness at the core. At 6.29am on October 7th, everything changed. Fleeing from the Nova massacre, Ofir was shot by terrorists and had to watch one of his best friends die next to him, all the while trying to protect his pregnant wife at home who hiding in a bomb shelter. Ofir shows us what it means to be resilient. He has gone on to create…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Romy Kosher for a food filled chat! From discussing how Romy went Kosher in Israel to what excites her about kosher London restaurants, you do NOT want to watch this when you’re hungry!! We also find out all about Romy’s life supporting families with dementia, and her plans for travelling the world eating! → Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Find Jodie: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/ → Find Romy: https://www.instagram.com/romykosher/ Dementia care: →…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with writer, comedian and author, Max Olesker. In this laugh-out-loud conversation, Max shares how falling in love led to an Orthodox Jewish conversion complete with moving into a religious family's home in Hendon and a bris at the age of 36! We cover his gruelling journey with the Beth Din, his pro-wrestling and comedic career, and his brand NEW book aptly titled “Making The Cut: An Unorthodox Love Story”. → What The Falafel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/ →…
In this hilarious episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Jewish comedian and content creator Candy Gigi for a whole hour of laughter! We cover everything from feeling like a misfit in school, to auditioning for West End shows and spitting out vegetables during a live comedy performance. This one you do NOT want to miss! → Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/ → Find Candy Gigi: https://www.instagram.com/candy_gigi/?hl=en Sponsor: → Special thanks to Balagan for their AMAZING food! Find their…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Cat Young from Balagan to chat about everything from going frum to starting a kosher restaurant! Cat had no idea she was going to be a podcast guest until about 3 minutes before filming when she was put on the sofa with a mic! Hear how she threw away her skinny jeans in favour of a sheitel and how her husband was bundled off to Yeshiva before setting up multiple restaurants. It’s a great episode, make sure you check it out, subscribe, and go visit Balagan (https://www.balaganborehamwood.co.uk/)! Just say you saw this episode…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Karen Cinnamon, founder of Smashing The Glass and Your Jewish Life. We cover everything from how and why she set up her incredible businesses (from wedding blogs to Jewish Joy Journals), why rituals and values are so important, and why she believes inclusivity has been the deal breaker in her work. Karen is so passionate about everyone being themselves and living an authentic life, from wedding decor to everyday food choices, and Jewish rituals they may or may not choose to take on. 🎧Tune in for massive amounts of Jewish…
In this hilarious episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with comedian Yechiel Jacobs for a chat that covers SO much ground! From his time in yeshiva, to turning his political anger into humour, Yechiel shows us how you can make the world a better place and spread light even in the darkest of times. 🎧 Tune in for truth, strength, and a reminder that we all have a voice that matters… → Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/ → In collaboration with: https://www.instagram.com/joiceglobal/ → Find Yechiel…
In this intense and POWERFUL episode, Jodie Brandman sits down with Golan Horesh, a fitness coach who went viral after confronting an anti-Israel protest and later survived a deadly heart attack! We talk about why you should NEVER be afraid, and the shocking moment that changed his life forever. From a shocking heart attack that left him unconscious, to waking up 2 weeks later and re-thinking his entire life from family to fitness, nutrition and faith!This episode is unmissable, so get stuck in and prepare to be massively inspired! 🎧 Tune in for truth, strength, and a reminder that we all…
This week on What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman is joined by the unbelievably talented Josh Halmer AKA Falmer! Chef, DJ, artist, basically everything… and the man who once got death threats… for making a schnitzel! We get into his entire journey: how he he got the name "Falmer", going from DJ'ing to cooking for Premier League footballers, why he trained as a chef purely to travel the world for free, and the wild story behind the viral schnitzel that gained him up to 10,000 followers in 5 days! We talk food (a lot), creativity, and identity… you’re going to love it! CONNECT WITH WHAT THE…
In this episode of What the Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Adam Lind to talk all things boat life, adventure and mindset! After losing his dad, Adam spent years hitchhiking across the world, exploring human kindness, the limits of his own mind, and what it means to truly live a free life! We talk about everything from breaking out of the “Jewish bubble” and questioning identity, to mental health, intrusive thoughts, and life aboard a boat. Adam opens up about finding peace, social media algorithms, and taking responsibility for life! It’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest…
In this special Halloween- themed episode, Jodie Brandman sits down with the incredible Emma Kingston, currently starring as Elphaba in Wicked the Musical (yes, the actual green witch herself!) We talk about everything from Emma’s early obsession with singing and her rise through the world of theatre, to what it’s really like behind the scenes at Wicked. She shares her experience performing in Evita and Fiddler on the Roof, the wildness of auditioning, and what it’s like dating in the entertainment industry. But we also get real about identity... about being part of a Jewish minority in…
What does it mean to stay proud, grounded, and hopeful as a Jew today?! In this powerful episode, Jonny Daniels sits down with Jodie Brandman to talk about everything from antisemitism in the UK and the current political climate around Israel, to the deeper question of what keeps us connected to our faith and culture. We dive into Jonny’s life story… from the experiences and mentors who have shaped him, to the values that have guided him. This isn’t just a conversation about conflict; it’s about pride, purpose, and the beauty of Jewish life! We explore how faith, community, and giving back…
What does it take to make a match that lasts? In this episode FULL of Jewish joy, Jodie Brandman sits down with Aleeza Ben Shalom, Netflix’s Jewish Matchmaker, to explore why matchmaking matters more than ever! We talk about Aleeza's journey to Netflix, why EVERY community needs a matchmaker, what values couples should look for when choosing a partner, and how to create Shalom Bayit (peace in the home) for lasting marital happiness! We also talk about her personal journey from to becoming more observant, and how she’s bringing matchmaking to communities around the world! This conversation is…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with travel content creator Nicky Kelvin who shares insights into his life as a travel lover and aviation geek! We chat about the realities of being a content creator, his amazing experiences living in Israel, and his journey with Crohn's disease. Nicky also opens up about his identity as a gay Jewish guy and how important it is to be yourself! He gives those all- important tips on maximizing travel rewards and the joy of exploring diverse cultures through food and travel! 🎧 Tune in for truth, strength, and a reminder that we all…
In this powerful episode of What the Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Dov Forman… one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Content Creators, author, activist, and Holocaust educator… to talk about his family legacy, and what it means to use your voice for good! Dov shares the story of his incredible great-grandmother, Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert, and how their work together has sparked global conversations around remembrance, and rising antisemitism. We dive into identity, community, the role of social media, and even how having ADHD can be a superpower! It’s full of heart, history, and…
In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie sits down with the brilliant Hen Mazzig... author, speaker, and activist... to talk Pride, the complexities of being a gay Mizrahi Jew, the rise in antisemitism… and of course, food (because what else?)! Hen opens up about coming out in the IDF, his humanitarian work in the military, and the emotional toll of war. They chat about cultural identity, Mizrahi roots, the politics of shakshuka, and how food can be the ultimate way to connect! 🎧 Tune in for Jewish pride, spicy stories, and soul food that’ll leave you craving a Sabich… and more of Hen! →…
In this episode of What the Falafel, I'm joined by the brilliant Ben Rebuckm content creator, foodie, and proud Jew! We had an exclusive chat about everything from his shift out of veganism, and covered topics from navigating body image and mental health, to the wild world of content creation and being on TV, all through a Jewish lens! Ben opens up about antisemitism, identity, and what it really means to be yourself online when everyone has something to say. There’s laughter, some deep moments, and of course… falafel!! 🎧 Tune in for Jewish joy, hot takes, and heart to heart that’ll leave…
In this episode of What the Falafel, I sit down with the one and only Zach Margolin... a hilarious Jewish comedian who somehow makes hiding in bomb shelters sound like stand-up material! We dive into what it was like being in Israel during the war, why he swapped real estate for comedy (spoiler: thank G-d he did), and how he uses humour to bring joy during seriously unfunny times. We chat Jewish identity, dating, snog-marry-avoid but with food (iconic), and his hopes for the future! This one is FULL of laughs and the BEST kind of Jewish joy! 🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to follow,…
In this first EVER episode of What the Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with the bold and brilliant Elaine Chaya... the fashion blogger-turned-activist who’s as passionate about her Persian heritage as she is about empowering the next gen! Elaine talks about what it's like growing up in a traditional Iranian-Jewish household and then doing the exact opposite of what was expected... skipping Pre-med at UCLA, falling in love with The Hills, and landing a job at Bolthouse (yes, actually!). We chat about breaking cultural moulds, learning to trust your gut, and her journey from fashion blogger…
About What The Falafel
What the Falafel is the podcast that brings BIG Jewish energy, hilarious and heartfelt conversations and a sprinkle of chutzpah to your life!
Created and hosted by Jodie Brandman, in partnership with The Jewish News this podcast is where Jewish culture, identity, humour and personal growth collide!
What The Falafel is a English devotional & spiritual podcast from What The Falafel. 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.
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
