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.

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Latest Episodes:

What Art Museums Leave Out - Beatrice Levine Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Beatrice Levine, art historian, digital creator and graduate student pulls back the curtain on the art world - from Nazi-era restitution and Jewish art history to why museums are inherently political spaces. We talk art scandals, post-Oct 7th art, and what it's like for her to manage some of the most influential Jewish pages on social media.

Follow Beatrice on Instagram @culturequota and subscribe to her Substack: https://culturequota.substack.com/

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:13 Beatrice's unconventional upbringing & path to academia

08:51 Inside the fine art industry

11:35 Beatrice's Jewish upbringing & conversion process

19:04 What it's like to manage massive Jewish social pages

20:50 What is the role of a Jewish page in delighting vs. educating?

25:11 Jewish art history

27:38 What has surprised Beatrice about Nazi-era art?

28:54 What key Jewish artists stand out to Beatrice?

30:38 Anish Kapoor scandal

35:15 "A museum is a political space"

37:19 Post Oct 7th art

39:35 Beatrice's message to the Jewish people

45:21 Museum recommendations from Beatrice

49:34 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Benji Rosenzweig - Storied, Not Scared Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Benji Rosenzweig - founder of Storied, special needs dad advocate, sobriety advocate, and proud Jewish atheist—joins People Jew Wanna Know for a conversation about parenting, faith, music, and Jewish continuity.What do people get wrong about special needs parenting? Why does Holocaust-centered Jewish education fall short? What do the Beatles have to do with Jewish contribution to music? All of this we discuss in the episode we jokingly describe as "fitting 10lbs of sh*t in a 5lb bag."

Follow Benji on social media @BenjiRosenzweig

Follow Storied Show @sotired.show and www.storiedshow.com

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What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:01 Where being a special needs dad, sober advocate, & activist come together

07:46 On atheism

15:32 Benji's philosophy on special needs parenting looks like

30:01 The famous Storied Show!

40:00 Benji's message to the Jewish people

46:44 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

The Path To Conscious Content - Becky Tahel Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Why be Jewish at all? Becky Tahel, writer, filmmaker, and conscious content creator helps us scratch the surface on this question. In this episode, Becky reflects on her vibrant creative career, the personal 180 that led her toward more intentional work, and what it really looks like to shift from living in your head to following your heart. We also talk about her documentary on Jewish intermarriage!

Follow @beckytahel on Instagram to keep up with her work.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

05:42 Becky's vibrant career & the path to conscious content

09:42 How did Becky make a 180 in her life?

12:41 The switch from your head vs. your heart - how do you start?

17:27 Becky's documentary on intermarriage

27:28 Why are you Jewish?

42:08 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Let Me Tell You Why Everyone Knows Jeremy Jacobowitz Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Jeremy Jacobowitz is a New York–based content creator who is best known for his food reviews and iconic tagline - "Let Me Tell You Why." Margarita and Jeremy discuss why he chose to vote for Mamdani, what he makes of his 10+ year career, and how he's continuously evolving and improving as a content creator.

Follow Jeremy online at @jeremyjacobowitz.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:04 Reflecting on 10 years of content creation

17:16 On Jeremy's autism diagnosis

20:46 Jeremy's Jewish upbringing

22:40 Breaking down Jeremy's choice to vote for Mamdani

42:46 Jeremy's message to the Jewish people

44:42 Lightning Round

53:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Noam Bardin - If There's A Will, There's A Waze Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

This week, Margarita sits down with Noam Bardin, the former Waze CEO whose ideas reshaped how the world moves. From his time serving in Gaza to the scrappy early days of Waze, Noam brings sharp opinions, unexpected stories, and a clarity that only comes from building something truly legendary. We also talk about the costs of scale, the limits of big tech, and why where you work is ultimately a moral choice.

Follow Noam on LinkedIn - Noam Bardin

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

05:26 Noam Bardin's Jewish upbringing

10:22 Noam's experience serving in Gaza

15:36 "Israel is the off Broadway to the world's Broadway"

17:29 Early days of Waze

22:41 Unintended consequences of Waze

26:25 How do we affect change if it is just "the nature of the beast?"

32:10 How does Israel need to evolve or change?

34:00 How social media is ruining society & what needs to change

45:59 What unconventional business advice would Noam give to his kids?

51:07 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

The Jewish Dating Game Debrief With Linnea Sage Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Linnea Sage is the creator and host of The Jewish Dating Game, a live matchmaking show blending comedy, culture, and real connection. We talk about her path from voice acting to matchmaking, what she’s learned about modern dating, the AI lawsuit involving her and her partner Paul, and—yes—Margarita’s own appearance on the show.

Follow @thejewishdatinggame on Instagram and visit www.thejewishdatinggame.com to see what they’re building next.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

2:23 From voice acting to matchmaking

5:45 Margarita's appearance on The Jewish Dating Game!

21:34 What has Linnea learned about dating & relationships?

27:00 The AI lawsuit - How Linnea & Paul had their voices stolen

37:19 How has Linnea and Paul's relationship changed?

39:25 Lightning Round!

49:00 Hear Linnea do her voices!

53:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Shabbat Schmooze: Shimon Raskin Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

Bonus episode featuring Shimon Raskin, an entrepreneur in the college sponsorship and fraternity scene, and a Russian-speaking Jewish content creator with over 100,000 followers on TikTok.

This is a real schmooze of an episode. Lighthearted, fun, and inspiring, Shimon and Margarita bond over their shared heritage.

Follow Shimon on Instagram & TikTok @shimon_raskin

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:06 How Shimon went viral overnight

05:32 Greeky - Is Greek life having a comeback?

10:04 How has Shimon's audience received his Jewish identity?

11:57 "I wish people would believe in themselves a little more"

13:20 On the Russian-English TikTok world

17:09 The key to people embracing their culture & roots

18:58 Does Shimon feel too Russian for the Americans and too American for the Russians?

23:11 How have Shimon's parents received his content career?

24:45 Lightning Round!

27:43 Shimon's message to the Jewish people

28:57 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Press Play with Chantae Vetrice Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Margarita sits down with Chantae Vetrice, a singer-songwriter and Black Jewish artist, to hear how her music and Jewish identity have evolved over time. Chantae traces how Judaism entered her life, how October 7 reshaped her experience as an artist, and what’s fueling the new music she’s about to release. In this fun, fast-paced episode, Chantae gives us an inside look at her creative process, reflects on a defining moment in her career, and shares the message she hopes Jewish listeners will take with them.Learn more about Chantae at www.chantaevetrice.com and follow her on socials @ChantaeVetrice

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What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:14 Chantae's journey to music & Judaism

04:47 Does Chantae wrestle with any parts of Judaism?

06:12 Being a black Jewish artist post Oct 7th

11:06 On Chantae's upcoming singles!

13:00 What is Chantae's music making process?

17:58 A moment Chantae is very proud of

19:53 Chantae's musical inspirations

23:29 Chantae's message to the Jewish people

29:26 Advice for artists

31:05 Lightning Round!

35:53 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

The Bottom Line with Ariella Noveck Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Margarita talks with journalist and media strategist Ariella Noveck, co-founder of BottomLine Media and Shield Communications PR. Ariella shares her path from chef school to newsrooms, her work after October 7 helping hostage families get airtime, and why journalism is struggling in today’s media ecosystem. We dig into citizen journalism, AI tools for reporters, and her top advice for Jews navigating media appearances.

Follow Ariella on on Instagram @AriellaNoveck.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:51 From chef school to journalism

05:42 "How do you hide your horns so well?"

07:34 Ariella's work post Oct 7th: from getting the hostage families on air to Birthright for journalists

17:48 Is the media failing us or are we failing them? What's going on with journalism?

21:34 On citizen journalists

23:43 "ChatGPT" for journalists

28:25 Ariella's advice on media appearances for Jewish people

32:26 Is People Jew Wanna Know a form of journalism & how to correct media

41:23: A win & a do-over

49:51 How Margarita was on NewsNation

56:20 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

One Day In October - Bonus Episode Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

By popular request, here’s a bonus episode featuring highlights from our December 3rd One Day In October screening and moderated panel event. In this episode, you’ll hear from Oct. 7th survivor Sabine Taasa.

Sabine Taasa is a French-Israeli survivor from the Israeli community of Netiv HaAsara, where her husband, Gil, and eldest son, Or, were murdered on Oct. 7th. She has since become a prominent advocate, sharing her family's story internationally, including speaking at the United Nations and appearing in the HBO Max series One Day in October.

This event was made possible by Jewish Parent Academy (JPA) and Jewish ERGs.

https://www.jpacademy.org/

https://www.jewishergs.com/

Stream One Day In October on HBO Max and follow on Instagram @onedayinoctoberofficial

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow