People Jew Wanna Know

Margarita returns for a solo episode to catch you up on the comeback of the “Goy You Will Enjoy” season — dedicated to the allies showing up for the Jewish community — and the current state of Jinsta.She also reads a powerful letter from a listener about intermarriage that sparked one of the most thoughtful conversations we’ve had in a long time. Truly an incredible note.Follow People Jew Wanna Know on Instagram @peoplejewwannaknow Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

Rebecca Brooks is the dark horse behind some of the biggest food and lifestyle personalities you know — Rachael Ray, Andrew Zimmern, Guy Fieri, Jacques Torres, Robert Irvine. She founded the Brooks Group at 25 out of her husband's family office in New York, and basically helped invent the "lifestyle of food" category before Food Network was a household name. Margarita talks to Rebecca about what actually happens behind the curtain — how to fix a PR crisis, how to say no without burning the bridge, and why the best clients lead with story, not product. Plus a tangent on what Judaism actually says about psychics, mediums, and the woo-woo of it all.Follow Rebecca on Instagram @Rebecca_BrooksPR and ⁨@BrooksGroupPR⁩ and check out her website brookspr.com Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss:00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda06:11 Growing up Jewish on Long Island10:30 Starting the Brooks Group at 2514:00 Pioneering storytelling in beauty PR17:45 Advising Jewish clients on speaking out20:30 Owning mistakes and the art of the apology23:15 How to say no without burning bridges25:40 Joe Dispenza, Reiki, and reading energy28:30 Message to the Jewish people & Guest Nomination

Neil Friedman is the quiet powerhouse behind some of the most important Jewish cinema of the last two decades. As founder of Menemsha Films and ChaiFlicks — the world's largest Jewish streaming platform — he's racked up five consecutive Oscar-nominated films, championed hidden gems from six continents, and turned Bad Shabbos into a $1.5 million theatrical juggernaut at a moment when nobody goes to the movies anymore.Neil's story is one of Jewish ingenuity, resilience, and work ethic. **Special Promo to get an annual subscription to ChaiFlicks for only $36 for People Jew Wanna Know listeners!**Redemption link: http://www.chaiflicks.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=people36&plan=yearlyRedemption code: PEOPLE36Follow Menemsha Films on IG @Menemshafilms and learn more at menemshafilms.com Follow ChaiFlicks on IG @chaiflicks and learn more at chaiflicks.com Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss:00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda03:15 From Park Avenue lawyer to Hollywood independent08:40 Why Jewish art house — and trusting his parents' taste12:20 Launching ChaiFlicks the first week of the pandemic17:10 Why *Bad Shabbos* worked when *Nobody Wants This* didn't24:30 The Florida-to-New York release strategy29:15 Films every young Jew should see34:50 Israeli TV is the best in the world, pound for pound38:20 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Shye Klein was just weeks into his new life in Israel when he drove into the Nova festival at 2 a.m. on October 7th. Before noon, he was back in Tel Aviv — alive, with five friends and a roll of film of people he might never see again.A Canadian-Israeli photographer who'd never owned a Hillel sweatshirt or set foot on a Birthright trip, Shai walked out of that field and walked straight into 200 speaking engagements, years of therapy, and one of the most clear-eyed accounts of Nova & what resilience actually looks like. This conversation goes where most October 7th coverage won't: the bureaucratic nightmare of qualifying for Israeli government aid, the survivors who can't return to their old jobs, and the Band-Aid pizza parties masquerading as mental health support. Shai also names exactly where the diaspora should be sending money — and why.Follow Shye Klein on Instagram @ShyeKleinCheck out Shye’s work www.shyeklein.com/october7storySupport our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss:00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda05:30 Making Aliyah three weeks before Nova09:45 Shye's account of Nova27:30 Finding the 54 people in Shye's photographs32:00 Speaking tour burnout and avoidance37:00 Why the aid system fails Nova survivors42:30 Where the diaspora should actually donate46:30 Beyond the Supernova photo project49:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Vlad Khaykin is the Head of North American Advocacy for the Simon Wiesenthal Center (and a former ADL veteran). He approaches antisemitism the way a scientist approaches a virus: studying its architecture, its mutations, and why it keeps infecting new hosts across centuries. This is an episode where you'll learn a tremendous amount about antisemitism's latest "mutation" - Anti-Zionism. Anti-Zionism isn't an abstract debate — it's an ideology with a body count, and millions of living Jews can tell you exactly what it looks like when it wins. Vlad also makes the case that internalized antisemitism is one of the most pressing problems facing the Jews today. Connect with Vlad Khaykin on LinkedIn or Instagram @vkhaykin , and learn about the instrumental work of Simon Wiesenthal Center at https://wiesenthal.org/Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss:00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda03:45 Vlad's path from Soviet refugee to advocacy leader07:20 What anti-Zionism actually did to Jewish communities12:15 How the Soviets weaponized antisemitism18:30 Antisemitism as an explanatory model, not a prejudice24:10 There is no panacea for antisemitism31:00 The Zionism terminology wars36:45 Internalized antisemitism and the doll test parallel44:20 The cost vs. value of being Jewish49:30 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

This episode is NOT a joke ;). Julia Ain, also known as @qveenjulia, is a funny Jewish girl with big boobs who will make you laugh and blush at the same time. A viral content creator with over 1M followers online, she sits down with Margarita to share her story and reflect on being a proudly Jewish content creator in this crazy time. This episode is for our boobers and boober lovers!Follow Julia on all platforms @qveenjuliaSupport our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda02:19 How an aspiring lawyer went to FanFix04:33 What has Julia learned? 06:35 On securing the talent visa07:50 On selling bikini pics & marketing yourself 11:50 On how Julia uses her platform to advocate for Jews 15:22 What is Milk Mansion? 20:40 Something Julia is sharing for the first time32:55 What would Julia tell her younger self? 34:39 We thought we were done with the episode... but we were not35:37 How Julia's family receives her work

Artist, Holocaust scholar, teacher, and devoted single dad, Marc Dennis joins People Jew Wanna Know with stories that sound almost unbelievable—from robberies to life on a Native American reservation and how it all led him to create hyper-realistic art. Follow Marc on Instagram @darcmennis and check out his art at marcdennis.com . Marc's art will be on display on April 18th in Los Angeles. What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda02:17 Marc's "Juban" upbringing & path to Holocaust art 16:38 Marc's troubled teen years 26:14 Living on a Native American reservation27:30 What inspires Marc's art? 32:31 Marc's message to the Jewish people 40:41 How Margarita visited Marc's gallery opening 46:27 The origin of the Puma tracksuit50:27 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Bellamy Bellucci is a sharp, self-aware Jewish activist who doesn’t shy away from calling herself “very insane” while asking some of the hardest questions facing our community today.In this episode, we learn about her incredible story straddling various identities - South-African, trans, Jewish, professional dancer, what can't she be? We discuss the wins & misses of Jewish activism, Bellamy's reflections on life post- Oct 7th and her recent Aliyah to Israel. Follow Bellamy Bellucci on Instagram @bellamybellucci Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda04:52 "I am a very insane person" 08:46 Bellamy's trans journey18:55 How Bellamy found Judaism26:49 On being a Jewish activist 33:06 What we have to fix within the Jewish community42:14 On how wealth affects Jewish life43:20 Does the conservative viewpoint on trans issues concern Bellamy? 50:42 Has Bellamy changed her mind on anything? 58:00 Bellamy's message to the Jewish people1:00:20 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

HBO's One Day In October Co Creator and Producer Daniel Finkelman & Producer Chaya Amor, reconnect with Margarita to discuss the lasting impact of the show & their experience working closely with Oct 7th survivors along with Director and Co-creator Oded Davidoff and Producers Lee Kuperman and Aviv Ben Shlush. Finding a way to make art from trauma is no easy feat, and this episode will open your eyes to how integral storytelling is in times of war.Watch One Day In October on HBO Max and rate it 5 stars on IMDB. Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 04:20 Daniel's upbringing & philosophy on storytelling 06:00 The war in Ukraine - film, storytelling, and language14:24 Reflections from One Day In October18:20 How did non-Jews react to One Day In October? 24:27 Chaya's path to filmmaking 26:25 What has changed for Daniel & Chaya re: their Jewish identities? 33:42 A message to the Jewish people40:25 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Inspired by the book The Condition of Jewish Belief, this first-of-its-kind event brings together 4 Rabbis from different Jewish movements for a bold public discussion—and likely some debate—on the most pressing questions facing Jews today:What are the most urgent spiritual or moral questions facing Jews today?What should be the relationship between the Jewish diaspora and Jewish Israelis?In what ways do you see Zionism evolving—or needing to evolve?Support our work: https://buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

Julie Smolyansky is the immigrant founder and CEO of Lifeway Kefir, who turned a family business into a category-defining wellness brand—and did a some truly unhinged things along the way to make it work. In this episode, we talk about our shared Russian-speaking Jewish heritage, grit, raising kids while scaling a company, and how Julie thinks about Jewish leadership and antisemitism today. Follow Julie Smolyansky on Instagram @juliesmolyansky and check out Lifeway Kefir wherever you buy your groceries! Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda02:49 Immigrating to America & creation of Lifeway 15:14 Unhinged things Julie did to grow business & what she's learned31:06 What are Julie's kids up to? 35:00 On antisemitism 37:20 How did Julie find her mentors? 39:32 Julie's message to Jewish people44:08 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

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/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 02:13 Beatrice's unconventional upbringing & path to academia08:51 Inside the fine art industry 11:35 Beatrice's Jewish upbringing & conversion process19:04 What it's like to manage massive Jewish social pages20:50 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 scandal35:15 "A museum is a political space" 37:19 Post Oct 7th art 39:35 Beatrice's message to the Jewish people45:21 Museum recommendations from Beatrice 49:34 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

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/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda05:42 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