Judaism

People Jew Wanna Know

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

Latest Episodes:

Nissim Black - When Rap Meets Religion Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

Margarita welcomes Nissim Black onto People Jew Wanna Know podcast in an episode where they discuss his path to Judaism, his many visits to Ukraine, and his love for music.

Nissim is a black Orthodox Jewish rapper, songwriter and record-producer known for his iconic music and fur hat!

Check out Nissim's music at nissimofficial.com and follow him on Instagram @nissimofficial

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

05:47 Who is Nissim Black?

09:02 Nissim's journey from Islam to Christianity to Judaism

17:29 On having a black Jewish family

21:12 Nissim's thoughts post Oct 7 - where are the Jews at?

22:12 On growing up in the hood & building good credit

24:02 Nissim's visits to Ukraine

31:30 On black people in Ukraine

33:20 Nissim's upbringing in Seattle - "I didn't experience racism"

37:31 Rap & Music Lighting Round!

40:47 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Let's Talk Sh*t with Tushy Doc! Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

In an unconventional turn of events, Margarita welcomes Dr. David Rosenfeld, a proctologist, onto the podcast! Dr. Rosenfeld is known as the viral Tushy Doc on TikTok.

Margarita and Tushy Doc discuss all things butt & gut health, and Dr. Rosenfeld offers numerous pieces of helpful advice! Us Jews know that we need it!

Follow Dr. Rosenfeld on TikTok @tushydoc and check out his practice at toproctology.com

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:52 Who is Dr. Rosenfeld?

08:25 Margarita's first colonoscopy at 18

09:23 Why go on TikTok & what is the Tushy Team?

14:08 What has Dr. Rosenfeld learned from his followers?

20:38 Why talking about colon & gastro issues can be lifesaving

30:55 Holistic remedies that can help with colon & gastro issues

36:05 On laxatives

43:05 Why do Jews have so many gastro issues?

45:54 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Hostage Negotiations - A Deep Dive with Mickey Bergman Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

Hostage negotiator, Mickey Bergman, joins People Jew Wanna Know podcast to talk about his experience negotiating for the release of hostages in Gaza and reflect on his career.

Mickey is responsible for negotiating pretty much all the major hostage cases in our generation, including the release of Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, Otto Warmbier, Gilad Shalit, and the deal in Israel on November 2023 which released 105 hostages. Mickey has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice, and it is a tremendous privilege to have him on the podcast.

Follow Mickey on X @mickeybergman and on Instagram @mickey.bergman and check out his work at www.reach.global .

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

08:52 Who is Mickey Bergman & the world of hostage negotiations

16:28 How Mickey defines luck

17:00 Releasing Gilad Shalit

19:04 The situation with 101 hostages in Gaza today & Mickey's call for a deal

27:00 The counterargument to securing a deal

28:36 "The problem with the Gilad Shalit deal wasn't in the deal" it's what happened after

29:38 On creating deterrence for Hamas & the struggle of working within the current Israeli administration

31:37 Why aren't the hostages an American issue?

33:18 2 Cardinal Rules of Hostage Negotiation

35:10 "President Biden is most likely the last Zionist president"

36:54 Antisemitism on the far left vs. far right - where is it worse?

42:57 On emotional intelligence & resilience in negotiations & life

49:10 Case Study of Serena Williams' emotional intelligence

52:53 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Hear Me Raw: Mike Indursky's Skincare Revolution Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

Margarita interviews Mike Indursky, former executive at major beauty brands like L'Oreal, Bliss and Burt's Bees who now runs his own skincare company - Hear Me Raw. Mike has over 30 years of experience in beauty & skin marketing, and his episode is full of useful information not only on skincare but on career building and marketing.

Mike's lighthearted and humorous demeanor will keep you on your toes in this episode!

Try Mike's products at hearmeraw.com and follow Hear Me Raw on Instagram @hearmerawskin

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

06:01 Who is Mike Indursky & what is Hear Me Raw?

13:05 The story about Mike's mom & the Lalique statuettes

14:29 Will Mike sign up for stand up comedy class?

14:54 Mike's Good Clean Fungi cleanser

17:57 How Mike got into marketing

18:53 What is going on in the skincare industry & why natural skincare is the way

25:20 Mike's tried & true pieces of marketing advice

30:40 On the advertising industry & lower quality advertisement

32:45 Margarita's Amazon scam

35:59 Skincare lightning round

40:52 Mike's reflections on his career

41:37 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Daniella Rabbani - The Yiddish Songstress Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

Margarita welcomes Daniella Rabbani onto the podcast! Daniella is an actress, filmmaker, podcaster, and singer, with a special passion for Yiddish music.

According to Daniella, "Jews don't control the media, but they did create Hollywood!"

After being suggested by numerous guests of the pod, Margarita finally found a chance to connect with Daniella, and it did not disappoint! Daniella talks about the fascinating industry of Yiddish theater and its influence on Broadway and Hollywood. She also walks us through her various projects including numerous films, performances, and her podcast - Mom Curious.

Follow Daniella on Instagram @daniellarabbani and check out her website daniellarabbani.com

Follow the Mom Curious podcast on Instagram @momcurious and listen wherever you get your podcasts

Daniella’s Kickstarter for Klezmerette: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/klezmerette/klezmerette-a-multimedia-project?ref=project_build

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:17 Who is Daniella Rabbani - actress and Jewish songstress?

05:56 Daniella's scene in Ocean's 8 & how God Friended Me was filmed outside of Margarita's apartment

08:35 How did Daniella become involved in Yiddish theater & music?

12:34 Tumbalalaika & the Russian Jewish audience

15:30 How did Yiddish theater impact Off Broadway, Broadway & Hollywood?

21:23 On Klezmer Music & the influence of other countries on Jewish culture

25:05 Daniella's upcoming film - Klezmerette

30:25 How has Daniella's activism on social media impacted her in the last year?

35:50 Mom Curious Podcast

37:55 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

In Memory of October 7th - Hugo Wolaj & Avichai Koch Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

This is Part 2 of a two-part episode series in memory of the events of October 7th. Margarita interviews Hugo Wolaj and Avichai Koch.

Hugo is a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri who now works to rebuild the Kibbutz post-October 7th.

Avichai Koch is a farmer in Moshav Tkuma which is located a mere 4 miles from Gaza.

We cover the lives of these two men post-October 7th and their remarkable contributions.

Help rebuild Kibbut Be'eri at www.rebuildbeeri.org

Check out Avichai's farm on Instagram @meshek1tkuma and help save a farm at www.saveafarmfund.org

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

07:27 Rebuilding Kibbutz Be'Eri - Hugo Wolaj

39:29 Avichai Koch & the life of farmers in Israel

In Memory of October 7th - Shira Rosenstein & Eilat Tibi Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

This is Part 1 of a two-part episode series in memory of the events of October 7th. Margarita interviews Shira Rosenstein and Eilat Tibi.

Shira is the PR Manager for a NGO organization called ISRAEL-Is. One of the major contributions of this organization is their unique virtual reality film, "Survived To Tell" which takes the viewer through the sites of October 7th.

Eilat Tibi is a Nova Music Festival survivor. In the past year, Eilat spent time serving in the IDF and working for the Nova Exhibition in NYC and LA.

We cover the lives of these two women post-October 7th and their remarkable contributions.

Connect with Shira on Instagram @israel.is.you and @survived.to.tell . Learn more about the work of ISRAEL-IS at www.israel-is.org

Connect with Eilat on Instagram @eilatibi . Learn more about the Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Instagram @novaexhibition .

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

05:03 Shira Rosenstein's story & ISRAEL-Is

35:35 Eilat Tibi - Finding the way after Nova

On Being Jewish Now - Zibby Owens & Bradley Tusk Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

Margarita brings back Bradley Tusk and welcomes Zibby Owens onto the podcast. Zibby is releasing a book titled On Being Jewish Now which Bradley contributed to. Learn more about this interesting book and both Zibby's and Bradley's take on the current Jewish landscape.

Purchase On Being Jewish Now in audio or eBook format now, or get it in paperback in November 2024.

Follow Zibby Owens on Instagram @zibbyowens

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

Zibby Owens Interview

02:13 Who is Zibby?

04:20 How did On Being Jewish Now come about & what is it?

09:57 Why Zibby pulled her sponsorship from the National Book Awards - this was international news

15:00 What has surprised Zibby in the last year?

18:57 How can people connect with Zibby? "If you're listening, don't lose hope"

Bradley Tusk Interview

21:10 How did Bradley get involved with On Being Jewish Now?

21:55 What is in Bradley's essay?

25:46 Quick tangent re: Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan

28:00 Did Bradley throw out any essay ideas? How much antisemitism do we actually experience?

30:55 What is happening in modern society re: antisemitism? On finding purpose

37:50 Does Bradley feel the same about Columbia as he did when Margarita first interviewed him?

45:05 Mobile voting!!!

47:50 The upcoming Presidential election

52:38 Advice for Jewish voters

57:30 Closing Remarks

Joe Buchanan - Country with a Jewish Twang Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Margarita sits down with Jewish country singer Joe Buchanan, who blends the soul of country music with the wisdom of Torah—something you won’t hear anywhere else! Discover Joe’s inspiring journey to Judaism and how he found his calling in creating music for the community.

Check out Joe's work at joebuchananmusic.com . Follow Joe on TikTok and Instagram @joebuchananmusic

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

4:51 What is Joe's story & how did he get into Jewish country music?

11:37 On Joe's conversion process

14:25 What surprised Joe most about his conversion process?

19:00 Jewish community in Texas vs. NYC

26:16 Joe's take on the southern community post Oct 7 - "We have to continue being exactly who we are"

35:09 Did Joe experience any challenges in the Jewish community considering he converted?

37:76 "When people [converts] come here, they've been through some stuff"

41:33 What's Joe's favorite part of being Jewish?

45:20 "We're supposed to be a light to the nations"

47:36 What is the Tableside Shabbat Siddur?

49:56 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Margarita goes to Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

This week is a solo episode where Margarita does a deep dive on her recent trip to Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan with JDC Entwine. JDC Entwine is a branch of the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Entwine holds roughly 24 global service and travel experiences a year for Jewish young professionals all over the world. Young Jews are able to travel to places like Argentina, Rwanda, India, Spain, and of course, Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan with Entwine.

In this episode, Margarita discusses the work of JDC, her motivation for the trip, the trip itself, and her takeaways. In a pseudo "coming home" journey, Margarita reflects on her visit to the Former Soviet Union and sharing this experience with Americans.

Check out JDC at JDC.org and JDC Entwine at JDCEntwine.org

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

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