On the Road to Zion - Margarita Lyadova

Special Episode: David Daoud of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Shalom Chaverim - Today we have a special episode featuring David Daoud. Normally, my Gam v’Gam episodes are reserved for political and social discussions and debate while my On the Road to Zion episodes are reserved for more intimate conversations, we are doing both today. Because David Daoud’s personal story intertwines so much with his professional career, I felt this was a unique opportunity to combine the two. The first half of our conversation focuses on David’s upbringing and personal journey with Judaism and then we transition into extreme depth regarding the situation in Lebanon. David Daoud is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Lebanon and Hezbollah. He previously worked as a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, director of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria research at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), and a research analyst at FDD. David also has experience working as a staff member on Capitol Hill providing analysis on matters related to the Middle East, Israel, and Iran. David holds a JD with a concentration in International Law and the Laws of Armed Conflict from Suffolk University in Boston. He is fluent in Arabic and Hebrew and has spent extensive time living in the Middle East, primarily in Israel and Lebanon. His work has been cited or published in outlets including Haaretz, Foreign Policy, Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to David Daoud and His Background 02:58 The Lebanese Jewish Community: History and Identity 05:54 The Impact of the Lebanese Civil War on Jews 08:39 The Decline of the Lebanese Jewish Community 11:18 Personal Reflections on Growing Up as a Lebanese Jew 14:15 Cultural Dynamics of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews 17:06 The Evolution of Jewish Identity in Israel 20:07 The Tension Between Right and Left in Israeli Politics 22:57 The Future of Jewish Identity and Community 34:08 Exploring Jewish Prayer Traditions 37:39 Halachic Perspectives: Ashkenazi vs Sephardic 41:25 Jewish Identity and Community Dynamics 46:28 Lebanon’s Complex Historical Landscape 01:00:19 The Sectarian System and Its Challenges 01:02:25 Lebanon’s Cultural Identity: A Facade of Progressivism 01:07:55 The Rise of Hezbollah: Historical Context and Dynamics 01:18:15 Hezbollah’s Role in the Modern Geopolitical Landscape 01:28:22 Understanding the Complexity of Lebanon’s Political Landscape 01:32:55 The Role of Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Society 01:39:17 Challenges in Addressing Hezbollah’s Influence 01:47:42 Strategies for a Sustainable Future in Lebanon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com [https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

On the Road to Zion - Jenny Anne Hochberg

Today, we speak with Jenny Anne Hochberg, a New York based actor, acting coach, content creator, and Jewish activist. We get a chance to talk about her personal journey of reconnecting with her Jewish identity following the events of October 7th, the challenges of being a Jewish actress in the entertainment industry, and the importance of activism and community support. Our conversation naturally led to one about accurate Jewish representation in media and how we can think about telling the stories of everyone who’s a member of Am Yisrael. Jenny recently starred in the Verbatim Off-Broadway play “October 7th,” portraying a Nova festival survivor. Her screen credits include countless TV Series like “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “House of Cards,” “Parks & Recreation,” and various award-winning indie films. A trained solo improviser, known for her act “I Am Not Sara Bareilles.” She has performed nationwide at comedy festivals. Jenny also coaches actors in on camera work and audition prep. Beyond performance, she’s a proud Jewish voice in the arts, using storytelling and social media to combat antisemitism and share stories of resilience and identity. For Jenny, art and activism are inseparable. Her content has reached 162K views per video. Where You Can Find Jenny Instagram: jenny.anne.hochberg IMDB: Jenny Anne Hochberg Check out her Reel Here! [https://linktr.ee/JennyAH?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAOVp1hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAae4lcnce1V9mSMJn7y_Q6lFAGsgP0z2j7f0hQiSGnZAHTaYYgQF1J6o9s4Dbg_aem_mUbmEzyEZjq-agsJNTER6Q] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jenny Hochberg 02:54 Jenny’s Jewish Journey and Identity 06:11 Impact of October 7th on Jewish Identity 09:07 Experiences in the Entertainment Industry 11:53 Navigating Anti-Semitism in the Industry 14:52 Community and Activism Post-October 7th 18:07 The Role of Jewish Day Schools 21:07 Current Experiences in New York City 23:56 Reconnecting with Jewish Practices 26:52 The Future of Jewish Representation in Media 38:04 Exploring Jewish Identity in Acting 39:54 The Balance of Judaism in Character Development 42:21 Navigating Jewish Identity in Non-Jewish Spaces 44:00 The Dilemma of Jewish Representation in Media 45:53 Opportunities in Christmas Movies: A Jewish Perspective 51:21 Diversity Within the Jewish Community 55:25 The Need for Diverse Jewish Narratives 01:01:23 The Future of Jewish Identity Post-October 7th Watch on Youtube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com [https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Pushing Jewish Institutions to Do Better - Shabbos Kestenbaum

Shalom Chaverim - On this episode of Gam v’Gam, I interview Shabbos Kestenbaum. You may know him only as the student who successfully sued Harvard, complains a lot on TV, and spoke at the RNC as a former Bernie Sanders supporter. What you may not know is that he has his own show on PragerU called The Brief where he interviews such people like Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren and provides analysis on breaking news. More importantly, you might know that Shabbos isn’t actually a MAGA fascist, and the more you get to know him, the more you realize he’s not even the bombastic personality you might assume (okay maybe I’m only talking about myself). Shabbos is someone who believes in pushing Jewish organizations to do better because as he says at the very beginning: The better that legacy Jewish institutions, the better the American Jewish community does overall. Where You Can Find Shabbos X: ShabbosK Instagram: shabboskest The Brief on PragerU [https://www.prageru.com/shows/the-brief] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Shabbos Kestenbaum 02:38 The State of American Jewry 06:26 Critique of Legacy Jewish Organizations 10:20 The Role of Student Activism 12:08 Free Speech and Anti-Semitism on Campus 16:57 Strategies for Combatting Anti-Zionism 20:35 The Intersection of Jewish and American Identity 27:08 Legal Action and Community Support 29:28 The Isolation of Jewish Communities 31:54 Addressing the Needs of Smaller Jewish Communities 34:23 The Importance of Jewish Day Schools 38:23 Balancing Resources Between Coastal and Non-Coastal Communities 42:58 Engaging with Smaller Communities 54:05 Proposing Solutions for Jewish Community Challenges Watch on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com [https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Climate Change Doesn't Mean Climate Crisis - Lucy Biggers

Summary On this episode of Gam v’Gam, I speak with Lucy Biggers—a former climate activist turned anti-climate alarmism creator. She is the creator of a viral video series, “Calming Climate Charts,” that counters some of the scariest misconceptions about climate change. At her day job, she is the Head of Social Media for The Free Press. Lucy shares her journey from passionate advocacy to questioning media narratives and the broader climate movement. We discuss the historical context of climate debates, the complexity of data, and the media’s influence on public perception. Lucy also opens up about the emotional toll of climate anxiety, her time away from social media, and her return to public conversation with a more balanced outlook—one that embraces truth in journalism and market-based solutions. Where to Find Lucy Instagram: lucybiggers X: LLBiggers Substack: Lucy Biggers Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lucy Biggers and Her Journey 03:04 From Climate Activism to Skepticism 05:55 The Role of Media in Climate Perception 09:07 Understanding Climate Change: Facts and Misconceptions 12:04 Historical Context of Climate Change 14:59 The Impact of Human Activity on Climate 17:49 Extreme Weather Events and Their Correlation with Climate Change 20:57 Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change 23:58 Prioritizing Human Prosperity Over Environmental Alarmism 27:17 Adapting to Climate Change 30:30 Media Influence on Climate Perception 37:51 Personal Evolution and Identity 42:06 Emerging Voices in Climate Discourse 49:04 Hope for a New Mainstream 50:25 Navigating Political Discourse 51:51 Shifting Perspectives on Trump 54:08 The Role of Media in Political Understanding 56:15 The Complexity of Climate Change 01:00:34 Energy Policy and Future Directions Watch on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com [https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

On the Road to Zion - Margarita Lyadova

Shalom Chaverim - Today’s episode features Margarita Lyadova. Margarita is the host of People Jew Wanna Know podcast where she interviews remarkable Jewish people every week. People Jew Wanna Know Podcast has been around for 1.5 years and features over 100 episodes with notable Jewish guests like Modi Rosenfeld, Aleeza Ben Shalom, Shai Davidai, Dan Ariely, Talia Lichtstein, among many others. Margarita started People Jew Wanna Know in an effort to create a Jewish podcast that felt young, intellectual and joyful. People Jew Wanna Know is the most diverse Jewish podcast on the market, and the only one to feature full-length interviews with Anti-Zionist Jews. From hostage negotiators to drag queens, from Rabbis to comedians, you will be left surprised every week with People Jew Wanna Know. While she runs the podcast as a part-time endeavor, Margarita serves full-time as the Director of Product at an Israeli adtech company. She received her Bachelor's from the University of Minnesota in Supply Chain, Business Law and Spanish, and her Master's from University of Pennsylvania in Behavioral Science Where to Find Margarita Find Margarita on all platforms as @PeopleJewWannaKnow Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Margarita Lyadova 01:04 Margarita's Journey as a Jewish Refugee 06:00 Understanding the Context of Immigration 12:06 The Distinction of Ukrainian Jews 16:21 Jewish Identity in America vs. Ukraine 18:08 Critique of Jewish Organizations 21:42 Grassroots Efforts and Community Impact 24:41 Cultural vs. Religious Jewish Identity 27:51 The Role of Holocaust Education in Jewish Identity 30:29 Navigating Jewish Identity in Predominantly Christian Environments 32:37 The Impact of Reform Judaism on Jewish Identity 36:24 Experiencing Jewish Life in Diverse Environments 40:17 The Importance of Jewish Education and Ethics 45:49 Jewish Values and Immigration Perspectives This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com [https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]