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 .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 survived years 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/

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

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

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

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

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

Stephanie Butnick joins People Jew Wanna Know to chat all things Jewish life, lifestyle, and her new project - Golda.

After 13 years at Tablet Magazine, 10 of which Stephanie co-hosted Unorthodox Podcast, Golda is her latest endeavor.

In this lighthearted and uplifting episode, learn about "the what, the why, and the stuff" from Stephanie.

Follow Stephanie Butnick on Instagram @sbutnick and @goldaguide . Subscribe to Golda at www.goldaguide.com

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:07 The beauty of Hamantaschen & Stephanie's career path

06:44 What is Golda?

11:30 Unorthodox Podcast

15:50 Best kept secrets of podcasting

20:44 How Margarita put up a mezuzah

26:20 What is Stephanie optimistic about?

33:41 What will the Jewish community look like in 50 years?

41:26 Influencer compensation - the good, the bad, & the ugly

48:38 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination