What Matters Now
by The Times of Israel
Is this your podcast?The Times of Israel is a prominent news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of events in Israel and the Jewish diaspora. Founded in 2012, it has gained recognition for its insightful reporting and analysis on a range of issues affec…
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
- Israeli current events
- Jewish cultural issues
Podcast Focus
- key issues shaping Israel
- Jewish world perspectives
Publishing Consistency
- 100 episodes produced
- active for 2 years
Platform Reach
- available on major podcast platforms
- potentially limited audience data
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 2 chart positions in 2 markets.
By chart position
- 🇰🇷KR · News#1841K to 10K
- 🇮🇱IL · News#4910K to 30K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
3.3K to 12K🎙 Daily cadence·100 episodes·Last published today - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
11K to 40K🇮🇱75%🇰🇷25% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
3.3K to 12K1.6K real followers tracked across platforms
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 23 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz: Nothing is black and white in Israel's religious societies
Jul 29, 2026
45m 24s
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Hamas still holds two million hostages
Jul 22, 2026
49m 43s
Haviv Rettig Gur: Why is Israel still the first campaign stop for wannabe US presidents?
Jul 14, 2026
47m 23s
Dr. Deborah Gilboa: The neuroscience of resilience
Jul 10, 2026
34m 56s
Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook: The Israeli food we serve tells our story
Jul 1, 2026
49m 50s
Social Links & Contact
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/29/26 |  Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz: Nothing is black and white in Israel's religious societies | Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, the director of the Israel Democracy Institute's Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society and head of the Religion and State Program at the center. Ahead of the upcoming October 27 elections, Israel is looking increasingly stratified, with each segment fighting for its own electorate and particularist needs. In this week's conversation, we focus on two pivotal Israeli societies: the Religious Zionist and Haredi or ultra-Orthodox communities. Ravitsky Tur-Paz, who earned two degrees from the Hebrew University's law school, has spent much of her professional life dealing with the question of how religion can coexist with modern civil society. In the first half of the episode, we learn about the Religious Zionist community and how the party of the same name does -- or does not -- reflect it. We delve into the settler movement and new patterns of extremist, violent behavior within it. How do these actions align with Jewish theology, or is a new theology being forged? In the second half, we turn to the Haredi sector and learn about its own mosaic of communities. Ravitsky Tur-Paz describes the growing resentment facing the society as it chooses to prevent the vast majority of its men from serving in the IDF and from participating in the workforce. We hear what demographic, security and financial concerns this lifestyle presents to Israel today, and in the near future. And so this week, we ask Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, what matters now? What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 45m 24s | ||||||
| 7/22/26 |  Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Hamas still holds two million hostages | Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign for Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. Alkhatib gives us an overview of the conditions on the ground right now in the Gaza Strip. We learn about an uptick in diseases such as chicken pox due to extreme unsanitary conditions and lack of vaccinations. There are new efforts to allow residents to open bank accounts -- but where is the money to be found even as paper bills are so worn they are disintegrating? Khalil al-Hayya has been elected to be the new leader of Hamas, the terror group announced Monday after months of speculation following a vote in the General Shura Council. We learn how, following the subjugation of protests in the Gaza Strip in late June, al-Hayya's annointing is another signal that the terror group is entrenching its ties with Iran and continuing consultations with Hezbollah. In the second half of the program, we discuss the intensity of support for Hamas in three population centers: the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority, and Jordan. Alkhatib's comment on the Palestinians living in the Hashemite Kingdom may surprise. Finally, Alkhatib describes his new short book, "Hamas and its Two Million Hostages." Part memoir, part explainer, the work is an attempt to offer an approachable take on the past almost three years of war and how Hamas's stranglehold is only tightening on the people in the Strip. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now? What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 49m 43s | ||||||
| 7/14/26 | US presidential campaignsIsrael-US relations+3 | Haviv Rettig Gur | The Times of Israel | USIsrael | IsraelUS politics+5 | — | 47m 23s | ||
| 7/10/26 | resiliencemental health+4 | Dr. Deborah Gilboa | From Stressed to Resilient: The Guide to Handle More and Feel It Less | PittsburghGaza | resilienceneuroscience+5 | — | 34m 56s | ||
| 7/1/26 | Israeli cuisineculinary influences+3 | Michael SolomonovSteve Cook | CookNSolo RestaurantsJames Beard Foundation | PhiladelphiaNew York+1 | Israeli foodZahav+5 | — | 49m 50s | ||
| 6/24/26 | Israeli literatureartist-audience relationship+3 | Etgar Keret | Ben-Gurion University of the NegevJewish Theological Seminary+1 | Israel | Etgar KeretIsraeli literature+5 | — | 44m 06s | ||
| 6/17/26 | Israel politicsexistential crisis+4 | Naftali Bennett | TogetherThe Times of Israel | Israel | Naftali BennettIsrael+5 | — | 48m 02s | ||
| 6/9/26 | AI manipulationinformation warfare+3 | Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler | Israel Democracy InstituteGoogle | — | AIinformation manipulation+5 | — | 44m 24s | ||
| 6/2/26 | IsraelLebanon+5 | Matti Friedman | Pumpkin Flowers | LebanonMount Herzl+2 | IsraelLebanon+5 | — | 38m 29s | ||
| 5/27/26 | Jewish identityeducation initiatives+4 | Dara Horn | The Times of IsraelPeople Love Dead Jews+4 | JerusalemGaza | Jewish questionDara Horn+5 | — | 52m 02s | ||
| 5/19/26 | traumarecovery+4 | Yishai Ishi Ron | DuvdevanNetflix+4 | — | Yishai Ishi RonDog+7 | — | 44m 12s | ||
| 5/14/26 | British Jewsantisemitism+4 | Michael Wegier | British Board of DeputiesLabour+2 | BritainLondon+1 | British Jewsantisemitism+5 | — | 37m 11s | ||
| 5/12/26 | Hamaswar crimes+4 | Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy | The Civil Commission on Oct. 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and ChildrenHamas | IsraelJerusalem+2 | Hamasrape+8 | — | 36m 29s | ||
| 5/5/26 | GazaHamas+4 | Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib | Realign for PalestineAtlantic Council+2 | IsraelGaza Strip | GazaHamas+7 | — | 45m 47s | ||
| 4/29/26 | Israeli electionspolitical analysis+4 | Haviv Rettig Gur | The Times of IsraelChannel 12 | — | Israeli electionsHaviv Rettig Gur+5 | — | 49m 49s | ||
| 4/21/26 | griefwriting+5 | Rachel Goldberg-Polin | What Matters NowThe Times of Israel+1 | — | Rachel Goldberg-PolinHersh Goldberg-Polin+5 | — | 51m 55s | ||
| 4/13/26 | Jewish soldiersWorld War II+3 | Aron Heller | The Times of IsraelZaidy’s Band | — | Jewish soldiersWorld War II+5 | — | 34m 27s | ||
| 4/8/26 | comedyIsraeli society+4 | Shahar Cohen | HamasIran+2 | JerusalemTel Aviv | Shahar Cohencomedy+7 | — | 32m 29s | ||
| 3/31/26 | Jewish identityantisemitism+4 | Angela Buchdahl | Central SynagogueTimes of Israel | New York CityIsrael | Angela BuchdahlPassover+5 | — | 43m 12s | ||
| 3/26/26 | HamasIran war+4 | Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib | Realign for PalestineAtlantic Council | Gaza StripIsrael+1 | HamasIran+5 | — | 53m 04s | ||
| 3/18/26 | IsraelLebanon+4 | Matti Friedman | Out of the SkyEli, Eli+1 | IsraelLebanon+1 | Matti FriedmanIsrael+6 | — | 42m 44s | ||
| 3/15/26 | US-Israel relationsIran conflict+4 | Bret Stephens | The New York TimesSapir magazine | IranIsrael+4 | Bret StephensUS-Israel war+7 | — | 43m 30s | ||
| 3/10/26 | IranPalestinianism+5 | Einat Wilf | Oz party | IranGaza+2 | IranPalestinian Authority+6 | — | 51m 42s | ||
| 3/5/26 | IsraelUS-Iran relations+3 | Micah Goodman | Iranian Islamic Republic | IsraelUnited States+1 | IsraelUS+5 | — | 42m 14s | ||
| 2/24/26 | filmIsrael+4 | Meyer Levinson-Blount | Tel Aviv Film SchoolButcher's Stain | Tel AvivGaza | Butcher's StainMeyer Levinson-Blount+5 | — | 33m 24s | ||
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Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
The Times of Israel is a prominent news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of events in Israel and the Jewish diaspora. Founded in 2012, it has gained recognition for its insightful reporting and analysis on a range of issues affecting Jewish communities worldwide. "What Matters Now" is a distinctive weekly podcast that delves into a critical issue currently influencing Israel and the Jewish world. Each episode features expert interviews and discussions, providing listeners with in-depth perspectives on contemporary topics, from politics to culture and social challenges. The podcast attracts an audience of engaged listeners, ranging from Jewish community members to those interested in Israeli affairs. With an estimated reach of 11K to 40K listeners, it offers valuable insights and fosters informed discussions, helping audiences navigate complex issues shaping their world today.
By the numbers
- Total followers: 1.6K
- Total plays: 21K
- Total reviews: 11
Platforms
TuneIn
- Followers: 450
Castbox
- Followers: 962
- Plays: 21K
- Reviews: 3
Podcast App
- Followers: 38
- Reviews: 8
Podcast Republic
- Followers: 196
Find them online
Audience
general
Key insights
What the show covers
- key issues shaping Israel
- Jewish world perspectives
- weekly topical discussions
- in-depth analysis of events
Audience interests
- Israeli current events
- Jewish cultural issues
- Middle East politics
- global Jewish community news
Platform reach
- available on major podcast platforms
- potentially limited audience data
- no specific platforms detected
- followers across platforms unknown
Publishing consistency
- 100 episodes produced
- active for 2 years
- weekly episode cadence
- reliable content delivery
Chart history for What Matters Now
Peaked at #49 in IL, currently #49 in IL.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL | — | #49 | #49 | — |
| South Korea | — | #184 | #184 | — |
Chart Positions
2 placements across 2 markets.
Chart Positions
2 placements across 2 markets.