IsraelCast

Latest Episodes:

The History They Don't Teach: Melissa Brodsky on Truth, Propaganda, and Israel Jun 11, 2026

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In this episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes independent writer and researcher Melissa Brodsky, author of The Lioness Writes on Substack. Known for her meticulous use of primary sources and documented evidence, Melissa explores the historical blind spots, propaganda networks, and modern-day narratives shaping how Israel and the Jewish people are discussed today. This episode dives into lesser-known chapters of Jewish and Israeli history, including the displacement of Jews from Arab lands, Soviet influence on Palestinian nationalism, and the selective moral outrage often directed at Israel by countries such as Ireland and Spain. They also discuss the dangers of historical ignorance, the rise of antisemitic rhetoric online and on campuses, and the importance of confronting misinformation with facts. The conversation also turns personal, as Melissa reflects on losing friends after October 7, navigating online hate, and building communities of truth-seekers and allies. From Jewish pirates in Jamaica to the enduring lessons of history, this episode is a powerful reminder that knowing the past is essential to understanding the present. Melissa Brodsky is an independent writer and researcher who has made it her mission to document what many would rather ignore. She publishes long-form investigative research and commentary on her Substack, The Lioness Writes, where she has built a readership of more than 4,600 subscribers and reaches an audience of approximately 50,000 followers on Facebook. Her work has also appeared in the Jewish News Syndicate and The Jewish Star.

Strength After Survival: Sarri Singer on Trauma, Healing, and Resilience May 27, 2026

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In this deeply moving episode of IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz sits down with Sarri Singer to discuss survival, trauma, and the lifelong journey of healing after terror. Sarri recounts the events of June 11, 2003, when she survived the bombing of Jerusalem's No. 14 bus, sharing the split-second decisions that saved her life and the emotional aftermath that followed. She reflects on the impact of both 9/11 and the Jerusalem attack, the resilience she witnessed in Israeli society, and how those experiences ultimately led her to found Strength to Strength.

War, Intelligence, and the Future of Israel: A Conversation with Yaakov Katz May 13, 2026

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In this episode of IsraelCast, Yaakov Katz joins Steven Shalowitz for an in-depth conversation about the intelligence failures, political assumptions, and regional dynamics that shaped the October 7 attacks and continue to impact Israel today. Drawing from his bestselling book While Israel Slept, Katz explains how Israel underestimated Hamas, the breakdowns within the intelligence community, and the lessons the country must learn to prevent another national tragedy. The conversation also explores Israel's ongoing challenges in Gaza, the evolving threat from Iran and Hezbollah, the fragile state of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and the growing importance of public diplomacy in an increasingly polarized world. Katz offers candid insight into Israel's internal divisions, the emotional toll of prolonged war, and why true national healing remains elusive. Thoughtful, urgent, and deeply informative, this episode provides listeners with a clearer understanding of the forces shaping Israel's present and the difficult choices that will define its future.

Israel at 78: Resilience, Reality, and the Road Ahead Apr 29, 2026

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Speaking with host Steven Shalowitz, Shahar Azani returns to IsraelCast for a timely conversation on Israel at 78, the resilience of Israeli society, and the global challenges facing the Jewish people. Azani reflects on Israel's enduring optimism after October 7, the strength of Jewish identity on college campuses, and the importance of educating others amid rising misinformation and antisemitism. The conversation also explores the broader Middle East, including Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Turkey, Qatar's influence on American universities, and Europe's shifting relationship with Israel. Through personal stories and analysis, Azani offers a hopeful perspective on Israel's future, the strength of Jewish unity, and the responsibility each person has to speak up, stay informed, and remain optimistic in uncertain times.

Peace, Modernity, and the Changing Middle East with Hussain Abdul-Hussain Apr 15, 2026

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In this episode of IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz welcomes back Hussain Abdul-Hussain to discuss his new book, The Arab Case for Israel. Drawing on history, geopolitics, and his own personal journey from Iraq and Lebanon to Washington, D.C., Hussain argues that normalization with Israel is not only possible, but in the strategic interest of Arab states and societies. He explores how Iran's aggression has reshaped Gulf thinking, why Egypt and Jordan's "cold peace" has fallen short of its potential, and how the Abraham Accords offer a far more promising people-to-people model. The conversation also examines Lebanon's future, Saudi Arabia's calculations, Qatar's double game, and the roots of anti-Israel narratives in both Arab nationalism and political Islam. Along the way, Hussain reflects on culture, identity, and what it means to challenge deeply entrenched orthodoxies from within the Arab world. This is a candid, provocative, and deeply informed conversation about peace, modernity, and the changing Middle East.

Healing, Resilience, and Inclusion: Inside ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran Apr 10, 2026

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IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Elie Klein, North American Director of Advancement and JNF-USA liaison for ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran, a groundbreaking rehabilitation village in Israel's South. Located near the Gaza border, this one-of-a-kind community provides residential care, education, and advanced medical rehabilitation for individuals with severe disabilities while fostering a model of true inclusion.

South Africa, Media, and the War on Truth Mar 18, 2026

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In this episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with journalist and commentator Rolene Marks for a wide-ranging and timely conversation on Israel, South Africa, media, and modern antisemitism. Drawing on her background as a South African-born Israeli journalist, Marks offers sharp insight into the deteriorating relationship between South Africa and Israel, the political motivations behind Pretoria's hostility, and the broader international forces shaping anti-Israel narratives.

Inside Iran's Regime: Beni Sabti on War, Freedom, and the Fight Ahead Mar 09, 2026

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In this timely episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Iran expert Beni Sabti for a timely and deeply personal conversation recorded from near Tel Aviv in the midst of missile sirens and shelter runs. Sabti, born in Iran and now a leading researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, brings a rare lens shaped by lived experience under the Islamic Revolution and decades of work analyzing Iranian culture, propaganda, and regime behavior.

Israel's 21st Century Pioneers Feb 18, 2026

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IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Amit Meir, CEO & Founder of Adam V'Adama, a Jewish National Fund-USA high school network launched with Hashomer HaChadash, another of the organization's affiliates, to strengthen Israeli agriculture and deepen young Israelis' connection to the land. Speaking from one of their campuses in Israel's South, Meir traces his journey from a farming family and an elite Israel Defense Forces Search & Rescue unit to building a bold alternative to traditional schooling—one rooted in responsibility, leadership, and Zionist purpose.

Iran on the Brink: The Axis of Aggressors and a Middle East in Flux Feb 04, 2026

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IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Jonathan Schanzer, executive director of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, about what FDD calls the "axis of aggressors" — China, Russia, and Iran — and how Iran's internal turmoil could reshape the Middle East. Schanzer describes Iran's long-running protest cycle, severe economic collapse, and the regime's vulnerability after major Israeli and U.S. strikes, then outlines three possible U.S. paths: renewed diplomacy, degrading Iran's military capabilities, or pursuing full regime decapitation. They discuss whether Iran's military will fire on its own people, and the regime's reliance on proxy forces. Schanzer explains Iran's global networks, including links through Venezuela and Hezbollah's illicit finance routes, and argues Iran's "axis of resistance" is unusually weakened. The conversation also covers shifting regional power dynamics, Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords (including Indonesia), concerns about Egypt and Jordan, and confusion over President Trump's "Board of Peace." They close on the value of history, anti-Semitism's recurring patterns, and Schanzer's book on Gaza as a warning sign.

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