Shows
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 13: Showcasing The Fun Side Of Judaism w/Sophie HarrisDeciding to skip college and permanently move to Israel takes guts and self-belief. After Sophie's gap year there, she felt it was right to stick around, even though she barely spoke Hebrew and knew just a handful of people. In this episode, Sophie and I share plenty of laughs and dive into some deep chats, covering everything from the balagan life in Israel to her experience on October 7th. We also discuss Sophie's awesome new project, Hot Girls Do Shabbat.
Meet Sophie Harris: the founder of Hot Girls Do Shabbat and TikTok account AmericanInIsrael, and a friendly face at Cafe...2024-05-1253 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 12: Redefining Hot Jewish Energy w/Michael ValdesRight now, the ENERGY in Jewish communities is off the charts, despite all the negativity we face. In my chat with Michael, we dive into how he's flipped that negative energy into Hot Jewish vibes. Michael shares stories from his Jewish upbringing while attending Yeshiva and his journey in acting and singing. With his humor and authenticity, he's fused his love for Judaism with his passion for the arts, birthing the 'HotJewishEnergy' movement, now rocking over 18K followers on Instagram.
Michael Valdes is currently attending The New School in Manhattan, continuing to pursue his career in acting and singing. In...2024-05-051h 05
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 11: A Journey From Comedy To Enlightenment w/Daniel SteinbergPublic speaking seems to have become a lost art, leaving many struggling to captivate their audiences, be it in a graduation speech or a D’Var Torah. In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with Daniel Steinberg where we discuss his passion project called the Maggid Method, which is a transformative project reshaping communication in congregations. We explore how Daniel's innovative approach is revolutionizing the way people speak and connect in religious settings. Plus, we'll uncover his rich background in comedy, including stints at SNL and the Howard Stern Show, and how that impacted his personal brand.
Daniel Steinberg em...2024-04-291h 00
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 10: Leveraging His Brand As A Pro Athlete w/Cory GreenbergIn the past, the worlds of IBD activism and cycling never intersected. However, professional cyclist Cory Greenberg has rewritten this narrative and woven a connection between the two. After receiving a diagnosis of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) early on in his cycling career, Cory found himself hospitalized and faced with the grim prospect of not being able to compete again. Nevertheless, he defied the odds and eventually founded a movement bringing a positive light to IBD advocacy, known as Ride4IBD. Beyond recounting how he founded Ride4IBD, you'll discover insights into Cory's unique upbringing, where he embraced both his...2024-04-1857 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 9: Reconnecting With Judaism At College w/Josh BerkowitzCollege is a time where we learn a lot about ourselves and our true identity. It is just as important to know who we AREN’T as is it to know who we ARE. This episode with current Pitt student Josh Berkowitz, goes into detail about the ups and downs he has faced as a college student. Aside from the challenges that stemmed from attending college during the peak of Covid, Josh also struggled with finding a proper work/life balance. Despite the hurdles he faced, Josh was able to enhance his Jewish identity through connecting with Chabad and he ev...2024-04-1142 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 8: Winning With Passion And A Purpose w/Rami LaviGrueling hours, low pay, and little job security. The sports media industry is not kind to those who are LAZY. Especially because he had no prior experience working in sports, Rami had to HUSTLE to get to the place where he currently is. In our conversation, Rami and I discuss how his work ethic ultimately created a career that aligned with his passion. Rami shares stories about his Jewish identity and what makes him believe in God, as well as stories about the time he met one of his role models, Mike Breen. This is an episode you’ll want to...2024-04-0451 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 7: Having A Personal Brand As A Teacher w/Lisa BitonFrom her journey at a private Catholic University to her current role as the Dean of Israel Studies, Lisa's personal journey is truly exceptional. I had the privilege of being her student back in 2018 at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, and she remains my favorite educator to date. This episode is filled with stories of my time at HSI, and you’ll learn about the importance of having a strong personal brand as a teacher.
Lisa Biton currently serves as the Dean of Israel Studies at Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Unlike the majority of Israel’s popu...2024-03-2857 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 6: Founding Students Supporting Israel w/Ilan SinelnikovAs a high schooler, Ilan immigrated from Israel to Minnesota, embarking on a journey that reshaped his life. Overcoming the daunting challenge of adjusting to a new culture and language barrier, Ilan found an escape through soccer.
This episode delves into the captivating story of Ilan's remarkable personal brand, influenced by his family's Ukrainian roots and his impactful career coaching and playing soccer. Discover how Ilan ascended to the role of President of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), spearheading its expansion to nearly 200 college campuses worldwide.
Ilan Sinelnikov, President and Founder of SSI, is not only a catalyst for Israel advocacy...2024-03-2146 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 5: Noshing On Kosher Our Roots w/Chaim “CW” SilverbergComing from the greatest state in the US, Chaim "CW" Silverberg and I delve into our shared heritage as Minnesota Jews. In this episode, we share tales about our close-knit community, reflecting on how our upbringing fostered a deep appreciation for kosher cuisine. As CW shares insights from his experiences in the kosher food industry, you’ll gain a fascinating glimpse into the rich narrative behind kosher food. Tune in to discover how CW's work uniquely champions the kosher lifestyle. Trust me, this episode is best enjoyed with a kosher ribeye in hand!
CW is the Executive Producer of “Tripping Kosh...2024-03-1449 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 4: Fighting Antisemitism On TikTok w/Harley SteinHarley Stein, who took on DJing at the young age of 14, has seamlessly translated her music expertise into the digital domain, where she's created a TikTok account with over 167K followers. In our conversation, we explore Harley’s journey navigating the intersection of social media and Jewish activism. With her innate ability to captivate audiences both on the dance floor and the digital stage, Harley leverages her TikTok platform not only to promote her personal brand but also to promote important causes such as Israel activism.
As you can tell by her accent, Harley Stein is from Long Island, New Yo...2024-03-0754 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 3: Life As A Lone Soldier In The IDF w/Drew SilbermanGrit, perseverance, and determination; all of these are characteristics needed to survive as a lone soldier in the IDF. Originally from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Drew and I discuss his decision to ultimately leave America and sacrifice his life to fight for Israel. We cover everything from prank wars at Camp Ramah Wisconsin to actual combat experiences in Gaza.
Drew Silberman is an IDF reservist who serves in the Tzanchanim (Tzan-Cha-Neem) or Paratroopers brigade. When he’s not on the frontlines defending Israel, Drew enjoys writing for his blog, 'Shekel For Your Thoughts,' where he shares insights into Israeli culture an...2024-03-031h 03
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 2: A Proud Yankees Fan And An Even Prouder Jew w/Max MannisIn the second episode of Schmoozing Time, Max talks about what it's like being a diehard Yankeess fan, working in a dream role at Jomboy . We also discuss his Jewish background and talk about his notable Twitter account. You’ll get a good laugh out of this episode and learn what it’s like to work in the sports media industry as an Orthodox Jew.
Max Mannis is a Social Media Coordinator at Jomboy Media, one of the best up-and-coming sports media companies in the world. In his role with Jomboy, Max is responsible for posting Yanks highlights, messing with Red...2024-02-2247 min
Schmoozing TimeEpisode 1: First Schmooze w/Adam BershadWelcome to the first episode of Schmoozing Time! In this episode, Adam and I sit down to discuss his favorite Shabbat food, his passion for being a proud Jew, and his successful ventures on Jewish TikTok. Adam also opens up about his stomach problems (like a typical Ashkenazi) and we also reminisce over our recent trip to Israel.
Adam Bershad is the Director of Engagement and Israel Experience at the University of Maryland's Hillel. When Adam isn't working hard convincing lazy college students to sign up for his Israel classes, he can be found watching Philly sports and screaming at...2024-02-1548 min
Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 89: I Believe in DhoomThis week, dear listeners, Windy and Melissa bring you their favorite Bollywood movies! Well, Bollywood and other films from India. But mostly Bollywood. And mostly Shahrukh Khan movies. Seriously, there’s a lot of Shahrukh Khan talk in this episode. Anyway, you’ll enjoy hearing us make egregious geographical and pronunciation errors.
If you would like to drink along, we suggest either Bogle Essential Red (if you’re into wine) or New Glarus’ Staghorn Octoberfest (if you’re into beer and have access to Wisconsin).
Show notes behind the cut!
Movies mentioned...2015-11-131h 06