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:

Schlepping In Style - Alex Schinasi Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

Margarita chats with Alex Schinasi—mom, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the viral Hulken bag. Alex opens up about her Jewish upbringing, parenting after October 7th, and what it takes to grow a brand in today’s market. From business lessons to mentorship and dream collabs, she keeps it real with wisdom and humor. Follow Alex on Instagram @alexschinasi and check out @hulkenbag to see the bag everyone’s talking about.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:07 Alex Schinasi's background & Jewish upbringing

07:04 How is Alex talking to her kids about life post Oct 7th

11:21 The Hulken bag!!! All about this business

16:12 Tried & true business principles - what are they?18:52 How is Hulken navigating dupes?

20:37 On tariffs

23:17 Alex's mentors

24:45 Alex's proudest achievement

27:42 On the culture of "BSing" in entrepreneurship

32:00 Who would be on Hulken's influencer trip?

33:07 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Class in Session with Charlotte Korchak Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Korchak—founder and senior educator of the Jerusalem Education Institute—whose life between the US and Israel, experience at Auschwitz, and work in Jewish education shape a candid dialogue on antisemitism, activism, and resilience amid global crises.

Learn more about JEI at https://www.jerusalemedu.org/

Follow Charlotte on Instagram @charlottekorchak and JEI @jerusalemedu

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

(00:00) Intro & Episode Agenda

(03:39) How Charlotte's life experiences shaped her into an Israel educator

(08:20) Solutions to Israel & Jewish education

(21:38) Trends on antisemitism

(37:36) Charlie Kirk's assassination

(43:10) Charlotte's incident at Auschwitz

(53:00) Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Dara Horn: The Antisemitism Lorax Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Dara Horn is the bestselling author of People Love Dead Jews and one of today’s sharpest voices on antisemitism. In this episode, she exposes the failures of Holocaust education, the tensions between diaspora and Israel, and the hard truths Jews need to confront now.

Connect with Dara and support her work at www.DaraHorn.com

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

05:03 "Being a writer is less of a career choice and more of a chronic illness"

08:19 Dara, the antisemitism "Lorax"

09:41 How Holocaust education needs to change

18:00 What is the Tell Institute curriculum?

28:16 Role of the diaspora vs. Jews in Israel

33:37 Are Jews like everyone else or like no one else?

44:59 Dara's message to the Jewish people

48:13 Why are you in the defendant's dock against a racist?

48:50 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Next Stop: Jewish Storytelling with Benjamin Resnick Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Author Benjamin Resnick joins Margarita to talk about his debut novel Next Stop, the heart of Jewish storytelling, and the big questions that keep us all up at night. Insightful, thoughtful, and full of stories that linger long after the episode ends.

Follow Benjamin on Instagram @Benjamin_Resnick and buy his book, Next Stop, anywhere where books are sold.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

06:03 Novelist turned Rabbi

08:44 Rabbis are meant to be storytellers

11:29 On Next Stop - Ben's debut novel

21:15 Jewish vs. Non-Jewish storytelling

28:30 Post Oct 7th, what message does Ben want to leave for Jews?

36:35 Why must there be something bad with something good?

43:10 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

We Are In WW3 - Alexander Rojavin Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

Are we already in World War III? Alexander Rojavin—an intelligence, policy, and media expert on the frontlines of information warfare—joins us to untangle the chaos of today’s world. From Soviet anti-Zionist propaganda to TikTok, from the invasion of Ukraine to the weaponization of antisemitism, Sasha explains how politics, media, and culture collide to shape society—and what it will take to push back.

Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts alarming and hopeful, and discover why fighting disinformation might just be the fight of our time.

Connect with Sasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-rojavin-2a689568/

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

06:34 How a theater kid went into information warfare

11:20 The role of USSR in Anti-Zionism

16:19 How the global climate changed in 2014 because of the invasion of Ukraine

20:10 Antisemitism is a national security issue & why we can't seem to handle it

25:00 How China saved TikTok w/antisemitism

27:00 What are strategies that work to fight postmodernism & our current condition?

41:18 How many years will it take to change culture?

46:48 What are surprising information warfare tactics?

48:33 What gives Sasha hope?

50:29 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Jake Cohen - Dinner Party Animal, Unleashed Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

New York Times bestselling cookbook author and social media star Jake Cohen joins People Jew Wanna Know to talk about his upcoming book Dinner Party Animal, what it’s like to be openly pro-Israel in media and TV, and—just maybe—settle the question of whether he’s psychic.

Follow Jake on Instagram and TikTok @jakecohen, and grab your copy of Dinner Party Animal wherever books are sold.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:24 Who is Jake Cohen? His upbringing & career

08:02 Is Jake psychic?

09:28 Being in Israel during the Iran attack

14:41 How is Jake navigating the gay community and Hollywood as a pro-Israel personality?

19:43 Dinner Party Animal

21:40 What has Jake iterated as he has written more books?

22:44 What does Jake keep private vs. share?

27:01 What does Jake eat when he has the munchies?

28:26 Who would play Jake in his biopic? Does any celebrity make him nervous?

30:17 Jake's chef inspirations

32:56 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Speak Your Opponent's Language - with Z.E. Silver Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Margarita’s friend and fellow “Jinsta” activist Z.E. Silver joins People Jew Wanna Know to debate Hillel’s role on campus, unpack the dynamics of Jewish life, and share tips on winning debates.

Z.E. is a content creator focused on Jewish peoplehood, antisemitism, and Israel, with experience at organizations including Chabad, AIPAC, ADL, Jewish Federation, Hillel, and JNF-USA.

Follow Zach on Instagram and TikTok @z.e.silver and @gam_v.gam, subscribe to his newsletter at beacons.ai/gamvgam, and check out his podcast On The Road To Zion.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

05:05 How Zach went from aspiring author to online Jewish activist

14:05 What does Zach make of the Jewish activism space and what's happening to our community?

24:20 A debate about Hillel

43:42 How do we fix the myriad of issues facing the Jewish community?

52:45 How to debate people who disagree with you

57:04 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Peter Beinart: The Case Against Zionism Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

Peter Beinart is one of the most provocative voices in Jewish public life today—a journalist, commentator, and professor who critiques long-held assumptions about Israel, Zionism, and Jewish identity.

In this episode of People Jew Wanna Know, Margarita pushes Peter on everything from Zionism's purpose to the future of a binational state.

Follow Peter on X @PeterBeinart and on Instagram @Peter_Beinart

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

09:34 Peter's upbringing & how it shaped his view of Israel

11:59 If Jews don't need Zionism, what do they need?

16:05 Peter's vision for a binational state

23:00 How can we unwind the conflict?

33:58 What has prevented Palestinians from establishing their own society given the billions in aid they've received?

41:29 Peter's message to Jewish people

42:50 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Places Jew Don't Wanna Go - Scotland & Ireland Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode, Margarita unpacks her trip to Scotland & Ireland which turned out to be way more complicated than frolicking through fields and drinking Guinness. She explores the current atmosphere toward Jews in both countries, weaves in a sharp look at the history of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and shares the unexpected moment she actually needed the Heimlich (teehee).

For exclusive content, follow the pod @peoplejewwannaknow on Instagram & TikTok

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib - Pragmatism for Palestine Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, Palestinian-American activist and leader of Realign For Palestine, closes the Goy You Will Enjoy season.

Realign For Palestine aims to cultivate a new generation of Palestinian voices committed to a two-nation solution, nonviolence, and radical pragmatism.

Follow Ahmed on X and Instagram @afalkhatib and support Realign For Palestine at https://realignforpalestine.org/

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:54 What is Ahmed working on & how is it going?

13:40 Ahmed's upbringing & disillusionment re: the Free Palestine movement

28:50 Appearance on Jubilee's Middle Ground

35:30 "What did they think would happen attacking Israel with the most right-wing government it's ever had?"

37:45 The harm of right-wing Jewish activism & inability to criticize Israel

41:25 Why growing a Muslim majority for Realign For Palestine is no longer the strategy

48:00 "The pragmatists need wins."

49:29 Israel will be a pariah state if it occupies all of Gaza according to Ahmed