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:

Goy You Will Enjoy Trailer! Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

People Jew Wanna Know is launching a new season of the podcast lovingly called "Goy You Will Enjoy!" This season features 10 episodes sharing the stories of allies.

The trailer episode is dedicated to explaining what motivated the season and what kinds of guests to look forward to. Margarita also reads letters from her listeners about their experiences with non-Jewish friends and peers post October 7th.

For exclusive content and guest suggestions, follow @peoplejewwannaknow on Instagram!

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This Barbie is a Zionist - Jordyn Tilchen Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Popular social media activist, journalist, editor, and marketing professional, Jordyn Tilchen, joins People Jew Wanna Know to reflect on "Jinsta," her career, and the current state of journalism.

Jordyn also shares her difficult decision to move back to the US after she made Aliyah just a few months before Oct 7th, 2023.

Follow Jordyn on Instagram @jtilch and X @JordynTilchen.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:12 Jordyn's upbringing, career, & the pivot to Jewish activism

05:42 Working at MTV & responding to anti-Israel rhetoric

09:25 Timothee & Kylie - yay or nay?

10:04 Is Jordyn concerned about the current state of media & journalism?

16:59 "Social media deprived me of the joys of life" & making Aliyah

23:50 Is there anything Jordyn would do differently?

26:45 Advice to Jewish content creators

28:18 Urban Legend - meritocracy for content creators

36:30 "The Jewish activism space is going to shrink"

41:00 What is Jordyn optimistic about?

42:56 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Ari Frenkel - Is Jewish Content A Career? May 28, 2025

Show notes

Actor, writer, and producer, Ari Frenkel, joins People Jew Wanna Know podcast to discuss Hollywood, Jewish social media, and debate Margarita on salient questions going through the minds of Jewish activists and influencers.

In a warm conversation with two friends, Ari and Margarita address "the elephants in the room" and laugh their way through it. Ari leaves us with powerful messages of Jewish Joy, positivity and empowerment.

Follow Ari Frenkel on Instagram @arifrenkel and check out his work on www.arifrenkel.com

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:54 Ari's career in acting/film & pivoting to make Jewish-centered content

05:07 What is "See You On The Other Side?"

07:08 How is it being Jewish in Hollywood right now?

11:35 When do people with a following have an obligation to speak up? When are we "accepting crumbs" as Jews?

17:00 What WOULD change the hearts & minds of people?

20:15 Joe Rogan's episode with Douglas Murray & Dave Smith

22:33 Is it unethical to make money from Jewish activism content?

34:35 An impactful moment Ari has recently had

43:06 The importance of humility & compassion when discussing war & debiasing

55:04 A message to young Jewish people

55:39 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

From Runway to Right-Wing - Elizabeth Pipko May 21, 2025

Show notes

Model, activist and former National Spokeswoman for the Republican Party, Elizabeth Pipko, joins People Jew Wanna Know to reflect on supporting the Trump campaign and the current state of politics. This episode is a front row seat into the world of people closest to Donald Trump.

Margarita and Elizabeth discuss Elizabeth's work for the Republican party, her Russian-speaking Jewish upbringing, and her new non-profit - Chabad Friends.

Follow Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethpipko .

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

06:08 Elizabeth's path into politics from modeling

08:22 What was it like to support Trump's latest campaign?

11:06 Elizabeth's Jewish upbringing & identity

14:12 Elizabeth's take on what's happening to the Jewry right now

16:40 How to keep going when experiencing antisemitism & political polarization

22:45 "I could not get closer to the campaign unless I was Donald Trump himself"

23:30 Do you have an obligation to vote for someone else's interests?

26:00 Chabad Friends - what is it?

29:40 Can we make progress on antisemitism in the next 4 years?

33:27 A message to young Jews - get religious!

38:05 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Amichai Lau Lavie - Let's Meet In The Messy Middle May 14, 2025

Show notes

Named "one of the most interesting thinkers in the Jewish world" by The Jewish Week and one of America's Top 50 Rabbis by The Forward, Amichai Lau Lavie joins People Jew Wanna Know podcast to share his story.

Rabbi Amichai comes from 38 consecutive generations of Rabbis and is known for his progressive, "God-optional" congregation Lab/Shul in NYC and a documentary film about his life - Sabbath Queen. In this conversation, Margarita and Amichai discuss Sabbath Queen, the importance of embracing "the messy middle," and the current political landscape in Israel.

Follow Amichai on Instagram @amichailaulavie and check out his film, Sabbath Queen, at www.sabbathqueen.com

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

07:18 Who is the Sabbath Queen? Meeting in the messy middle

13:11 At what point is changing tradition changing Judaism altogether?

16:40 Death of the conservative Jewish movement in NYC

20:03 How do we build bridges with Anti-Zionist Jews? Learnings from Amichai's Lab/Shul congregation

31:15 Amichai's take on Israeli politics today - end the occupation, immediate ceasefire

39:21 "We are dreaming a nightmare, and we have to wake up."

42:30 Is the Moshiach coming?

43:21 What is Amichai optimistic about?

45:04 What would Hadassah say?

46:02 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Hannah Simpson - I Didn't Change My Gender, My Gender Changed Me May 07, 2025

Show notes

This week, Margarita interviews Hannah Simpson - writer, speaker, and activist on queer & trans identity.

Hannah's episode is filled with humor, depth, and meaning as she walks us through her transition journey, the queer Jewish community, and what the situation looks like for queer people today.

Follow Hannah on Instagram @hannah.e.simpson and check out her website www.hannahsimpson.net

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:30 Becoming Hannah Simpson - from medical school to trans activism

09:54 What is the trans Jewish community like?

11:20 "And I know I'm a nice person because science removed the dick part of me"

13:58 "Judaism gives me a better framework for being a trans person"

14:16 Explaining being trans to Rabbis & reintroducing yourself to everyone

19:50 Israel's importance to the queer community

25:30 How do you build bridges with people in the queer community who don't support Israel?

35:30 "We always want to walk in others' shoes, especially if they're high heels"

44:25 Hannah's work as a mortuary technician during COVID 19

50:28 A message to us about the current state of trans rights - we have a crisis on our hands

56:06 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Decolonize Your Mind With Ysabella Hazan Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Ysabella Hazan, a very long-standing activist, writer, and international speaker joins People Jew Wanna Know to reflect on her career, the current state of the Jewry, and where she thinks we're headed.

Ysabella is one of the original Jewish activists on social media who has revolutionized student grassroots movements on campuses. Her inspiring, candid, and principled takes will leave you feeling energized and ready to show up as a proud Jew wherever you go.

Follow Ysabella on Instagram @ysabellahazan and @decolonizedjudean . Check out www.decolonizedjudean.com

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:51 Ysabella's diaspora experience & founding Decolonized Judean

07:47 Ysabella's legal work - how can we be proactive & empowered?

11:12 How can Jewish activists reach people outside of the echo chamber?

15:20 "If we want to reach broader audiences, we have to change our messaging. Immediately."

18:40 Antisemitism on college campuses

20:50 "Anti-Zionist Jews are Jews that have internalized antisemitism"

24:50 "When we have a safe space, we are ghettoizing ourselves."

25:00 What does grassroots work on campus look like?

27:28 He who has his "why" can bear any "how" - How Ysabella processes the antisemitism she experiences

34:49 One-State or Two-State Solution?

40:33 Solutions for coexistence need to be local

46:58 What has given Ysabella hope?

48:52 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

"Read Your Bible" - A Powerful Message From Holocaust Survivor, Miriam Griver Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

On Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Margarita interviews Holocaust survivor - Miriam Griver. Miriam lived through the Holocaust as a child, and she talks about her family's brave, unbelievable story of survival.

Miriam's father, Yehudah Meisels, survived 9 months in Auschwitz followed by the Death March. Miriam and her older sister hid in the trash in their ghetto to save themselves.

Miriam reflects on her life, tells us how she channeled her story into an incredibly successful career of Jewish philanthropy, and leaves us with a powerful message to future Jewish generations.

On Yom HaShoah, consider donating to The Blue Card fund which supports Holocaust survivors in need -https://bluecardfund.org/

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:03 Miriam's impressive career & life in Israel

10:03 The story of Miriam's family during the Holocaust

36:50 Miriam's reflections on living in Israel post Oct 7th

42:02 Miriam's message to young Jewish people

Let's Get JScreened - Estie Rose & Shari Ungerleider Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

Estie Rose and Shari Ungerleider from JScreen join People Jew Wanna Know to discuss Jewish genetic diseases. JScreen is a non-profit on a mission to give every adult in the US access to preventive genetic testing and counseling.

In this insightful conversation, they discuss the history of Jewish genetic conditions, what options are available to genetic carriers who want to have children, and how the observant Jewish community views reproductive care. Jscreen is doing vital work in helping form healthy, Jewish families.

Check out Jscreen at jscreen.org and follow them on Instagram @getjscreened

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:15 Faces of JScreen - The story of Estie & Shari

09:04 How many families are affected by Jewish genetic diseases every year?

12:30 What options are there for carriers of Jewish genetic diseases who want to have children?

14:42 How does the observant Jewish community view reproductive care?

18:50 On autism

20:21 What is JScreen? History of Jewish genetic diseases

27:15 Health insurance SUCKS!

28:20 Are there any emerging discoveries in Jewish genetics?

34:28 A message to aspiring Jewish parents

35:09 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Kickin' It With Westside Gravy Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Rapper and producer, Westside Gravy, joins People Jew Wanna Know podcast to reflect on his career, his music, and his Black/Jewish/Russian-speaking identity.

This conversation takes a surprising turn when Margarita and Gravy dive into the legacy of his grandfather, Mikhail Shufutinsky, who is a famous Russian singer. Gravy talks about his upbringing and how it inspired his music. They also discuss BLM and Gravy's reflections on the black community.

Check out Westside Gravy anywhere you get your music and follow him on Instagram @westsidegravy

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:08 On Westside Gravy's upbringing & career

05:33 Gravy's Black/Jewish/Russian-speaking identity & how he made Aliyah

08:35 Response to Gravy's music post Oct 7th

10:28 Gravy's take on black/Jewish relations, issues with BLM, & Margarita's experience in Minneapolis

25:52 Gravy's Russian-Jewish identity & the influence of Mikhail Shufutinsky

36:00 Westside Gravy's message to us

41:15 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination