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:

In A Pickle? Try Satire - Ryan Turkienicz, The Daily Brine Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

What started as a satirical page run by 2 brothers has grown into a sharp, witty voice in the Jewish community. Ryan Turkienicz of The Daily Brine shares what’s brined his brain this year, the team's approach to satire, and why honesty matters more than Hasbara.

Follow The Daily Brine on Instagram and TikTok ⁨@DailyBrine⁩ and read their writing at www.dailybrine.com

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:00 How 2 brothers started a satirical page

06:09 How has The Daily Brine been received by the community?

07:05 Voice Of The People - what is it & how is The Daily Brine involved?

12:08 What has brined Ryan's brain the most this year?

14:08 On Slam Frank!

17:57 The Daily Brine's dream headline

18:49 On former Mossad head - Yossi Cohen

22:56 "We're not going to win with Hasbara"

24:56 Why The Daily Brine started out as anonymous

26:30 Ryan's rules around content

27:31 Family telepathy

30:20 Ryan's message to the Jewish people

31:38 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

The Road Less Traveled Is Actually a Blast – Jen Cohn Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Jen Cohn — voice of countless characters and a true “joy hog” — sits down with Margarita to talk about the Jewish roots that shaped her, the unconventional turns of her career, and what it really takes to raise proud Jewish kids. Along the way, they laugh about Russian accents, psychic visits, and yes… even the voice of a matzoh ball. Connect with Jen on Instagram @heyitsjencohn.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:10 "I'm a joy hog"

06:10 Jen's Jewish upbringing & eclectic career

14:40 "The road less traveled is the more exciting road"

17:51 On Jews in entertainment & Jewish parenting

22:30 The steps to raising proud Jewish children

29:50 Jen's Russian accent

31:37 How is Jen preparing her son for college?

34:57 What is Jen optimistic about?

40:50 Margarita's trip to the psychic

42:16 What would a matzoh ball's voice sound like?

45:33 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

When Inclusion Leaves Jews Out - Steven Phillips of JewishERGs Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Margarita welcomes Steven Phillips — former tech leader, now founder of JewishERGs, and full-time advocate for Jewish representation in the workplace.

In this episode, we dig into his journey of founding a Jewish Employee Resource Group at Amazon, scaling that into a worldwide community, and the challenges and opportunities Jewish professionals face at work.

Learn more about Steven's work at www.jewishergs.com

Follow JewishERGs on Instagram @JewishERGs

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:36 Steven's story - from Tech to Jewish ERGs

08:25 How did Steven take Jewish ERGs full-time?

09:54 What's the pushback to Jewish ERGs?

13:39 Which corporations get it right & which don't?

15:50 Margarita's experience at Amazon

19:42 How can Jews push back from hostility in the workplace?

31:23 Steven's visits to Israel & what they taught him

38:31 Steven's advice to Jews in corporate

41:57 What else is Steven working on?Margarita welcomes Steven Phillips — former tech leader, now founder of JewishERGs, and full-time advocate for Jewish representation in the workplace.

Andrew Zimmern: Eat Everything, Fear Nothing Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Andrew Zimmern joins People Jew Wanna Know to talk about the Jewish upbringing that shaped him, from his grandmother’s legendary roast chicken and pickled tongue, to Shabbat dinners that later inspired Family Dinner. He reflects on his most vivid Bizarre Foods moments, including being marched through a Rio favela with AK-47s under his chin. He also opens up about the spiritual lessons he found in sobriety and why “being the only” has guided his entire media career.

Lear more about Andrew's incredible work at www.andrewzimmern.com and follow him on Instagram @chefaz

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

05:41 How Margarita met Andrew's childhood best friend

8:16 Andrew's Jewish upbringing

12:08 "I want to be a NYC Jew"

13:07 "In the world of media & brands, it's better to be an only"

14:02 Andrew's staple Shabbat dish

19:48 Visiting Kazakhstan

27:19 Unsolved mysteries of Bizarre Foods - Rio & Mexico City

34:57 How do we stay connected in a disconnected world?

37:40 Andrew's new book about seafood & obsession with service

44:02 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Marching To His Own Beat - Nolan Marsh Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

Musician and nomad, Nolan Marsh (@livefromthebus), joins us to talk about being Jewish in the U.S. Army, jamming at a neo-Nazi bar, life lessons from the road, and making music across the world. Follow him on Instagram & TikTok @livefromthebus!

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:45 Nolan's story & Jewish upbringing

9:41 On serving in the U.S. Army as a Jew

11:26 A blues jam at a Neo-Nazi bar

19:00 The story of Daryl Davis, the black man who befriended the grand wizard of the KKK

22:00 Nolan's biggest lesson from living a nomadic life

30:21 Has Nolan been to Israel?

31:30 Nolan's take on staying relevant on social media

33:20 On making music all over the world

40:30 Nolan's musical inspirations

45:29 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Shabbat Schmooze: Hadar Baron Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

Bonus episode featuring Hadar Baron, NYC-based singer, actress, songwriter & musician. Hadar won a giveaway Margarita did to be featured on the podcast!

Bonding over their immigration experiences, a love for art, and Jewish life, this conversation will remind you just how many remarkable Jewish people we have in our community.

🎤 Follow Hadar on Instagram & TikTok: @hadarbaron / @hadarbaronmusic
🌐 Explore her work: www.hadarbaron.com

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:23 From Israeli Immigrant to American Artist

06:38 The immigrant experience

11:54 The last 2 years as an Israeli artist

16:20 Playing Carole King

22:23 Hadar's message to the Jewish people

23:41 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

NYC's Famous Bagel Ambassador - Sam Silverman Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Sam Silverman—aka @BagelAmbassador—left the world of finance to build a bagel empire and uncover the deeper story behind this iconic Jewish food. He shares the surprising history of New York bagels, how the bagel industry has evolved, and, most importantly, why blueberry bagels are the worst. Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda02:19 From Finance to Bagels?!08:24 Sam's trip to Poland10:40 Sam's Jewish upbringing12:19 What is the bagel history of NYC? 17:19 How has bagel culture changed post-pandemic19:50 How Margarita waited almost an hour for a bureka 24:11 Bagel-making classes in Philly26:32 What's up with open-faced bagels? 28:30 Surprising piece of history about bagels 30:35 Sam's message to Jewish people 33:38 Lightning Round! 38:31 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Shabbat Schmooze: Rachel Lander Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

Bonus episode featuring Rachel Lander, a software engineer from the Upper East Side who decided one stressful career wasn’t enough, so now she does stand-up too.

Margarita and Rachel chat all things NYC, dating, & comedy.

Follow Rachel on Instagram & TikTok @rlandz

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:05 Rachel's eclectic NYC life & Jewish upbringing

07:57 How does Rachel think about comedy material?

11:20 Jeff Ross' one man comedy show

13:54 Why are sex jokes a comedic crutch for women?

16:14 Rachel's Jewish cookbook & how she met Brad Lander

17:50 Rachel's message to Jews today

20:28 How Margarita ran into Fran Lebowitz on the street

23:00 Rachel's dream dinner guest list of NYC people

24:33 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Singles Deserve Better: The PlotTwist Changing How We Date Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

Healthcare professionals Julie and Danielle had zero tech experience—yet they built PlotTwist, a social and dating app reshaping how people connect. They share what inspired their leap from medicine to matchmaking, what sets Jewish dating apart, and the behavioral science behind finding “the one.” Follow @joinplottwist to see how they’re redefining modern dating!Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda03:28 Julie & Danielle's backgrounds05:13 Latest research on dating & what PlotTwist was created to solve11:30 What dating phenomenon has not been cracked? 13:06 Jewish dating vs. non-Jewish dating on PlotTwist15:56 How did Julie & Danielle learn how to start an app company? 20:04 Establishing boundaries as co-founders vs. best friends22:56 Julie & Danielle's own dating life 27:38 Behavioral Science dating tips from Logan Ury 29:34 Using Pareto Efficiency/ AI in dating32:54 What are some business do-overs Julie & Danielle would like to have? 35:02 Lightning Round! 42:07 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Shabbos Kestenbaum - We Need To DOGE Jewish nonprofits Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Margarita sits down with Shabbos Kestenbaum to unpack his unconventional journey—from Bernie supporter to PragerU, from suing Harvard to calling out Jewish nonprofits—and his bold vision for the Jewish future. Connect with Shabbos and follow his work on Twitter/X @shabbosk and Instagram @shabboskestenbaum.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:13 Shabbos' eclectic family & upbringing

05:06 From Bernie supporter to PragerU

11:50 Why Jews are moving to the right

14:20 How to combat antisemitism according to Shabbos

17:20 Why Jewish nonprofits are failing

24:00 The FIDF scam & why we should DOGE Jewish non-profits

26:29 What was the outcome with the Harvard lawsuit?

28:53 A rant about Hillel (of course)

33:50 "We welcome all people, but we don't welcome all ideas"