Episodes
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Mohamad Ghaoui is a Palestinian-Lebanese man who grew up religious and worked with the PLO/PA in the 2000s. Mohamad is deeply committed to resolving the refugees and right of return issues, believing that its resolution is essential for overcoming barriers and paving the path to lasting peace.
He actively opposes the Lebanese ban on communication with Israelis, which hinders progress towards understanding and reconciliation. Mohamad speaks up in support of decriminalizing dialogue with Lebanon’s neighbors.
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Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1969. As she grew up, she embraced Islam and strove to live as a devout Muslim. In 1992, Hirsi Ali fled to the Netherlands to escape a forced marriage. There she was given asylum, and in time citizenship. She quickly learned Dutch and was able to study at the University of Leiden.
From 2003 to 2006, Hirsi Ali served as an elected member of the Dutch parliament. She then moved to the US, and in 2007 founded the AHA Foundation to protect and defend the rights of women in the US from harmful traditional practices.
Hirsi Ali is a Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, the Founder of the AHA Foundation, a Senior Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at The Harvard Kennedy School, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Founder of Restorationbulletin.com, where she explores the forces of subversion plaguing Western society. She is the best-selling author of Infidel (2007) and Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now (2015).
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Rania Dean is a Druze Israeli who embodies the Arab and Jewish experience, understanding both languages and cultures while maintaining an independent ethnic and religious Druze identity. This unique perspective allows her to view both sides objectively, tirelessly working to dispel falsehoods and promote the truth about her country.
Rania's advocacy took on renewed vigor on October 7th, driven by a resolute determination to counteract misinformation about Israel.
Donate to the Druze of Majdal Shams: https://causematch.com/maman/hopefordruzecommunity/ -
Dr. Florence Bergeaud-Blackler is a distinguished academic and researcher who specializes in the study of Islamic norms within secular contexts in Europe, like the role of the economy in shaping religious norms and the development of halal ecosystems.
Florence has written about the processes of Salafi indoctrination, considering both its fundamentalist and political dimensions, and how it interacts with the neo-liberal and post-modern political spheres.
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Mansour Al-Hadj was born and raised in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and immigrated to the US in 2005. He has a degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies from The International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan. Mansour has first-hand experience with radicalization tactics used to recruit and mobilize Muslims worldwide. His research and writings in Arabic and English have focused on understanding the root causes of violent extremism in Arab and Muslim lands. Mansour is the Director of the Reform Project at the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI) and a founding member of Clarity Coalition and has testified before the US Congress on the development of strategies to counter jihadist websites.
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Adam Elmasri is an Australian Egyptian free thinker, human rights activist, author, and content creator. Adam was born in Cairo and grew up in Egypt as an orthodox Coptic Christian. He is a strong religious critic whose viewpoints are based on academic studies and as a supporter of the LGBT and women’s rights in the Middle East. Adam has written two books, How did Christianity begin, REALLY? and Wounded by Faith.
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Enas was forcibly taken to Gaza to be married off to a family member chosen by her father. She joins us in this episode to share that experience, as well as her time living in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Egypt.
With roots in Palestine and having lived in several Arab and Muslim countries, Enas offers a wealth of knowledge, insights, and firsthand experiences about the region—and the current war in Gaza. -
Deep Halder is an Indian journalist, author, and editor with a career spanning more than two decades in the media industry. He has worked with leading Indian publications such as India Today and India Today Group Online, covering various topics including politics, society, and culture. Halder is known for his writing on socio-political issues, particularly focusing on marginalized communities in India.
One of his notable works is the book Blood Island: An Oral History of the Marichjhapi Massacre, which explores the mass killing of Bengali refugees in the Sundarbans in 1979. Through his investigative work and storytelling, Halder sheds light on forgotten or overlooked events in India’s history, bringing attention to stories of suffering, resistance, and resilience. His work often highlights issues of displacement, migration, and injustice.
Follow Deep Halder on X: @deepscribble -
Isaac Yomtovian, originally known as Es’hagh Pesare’ Ebram Johood, traces his Persian roots back 2,500 years.
He was born in Tehran near the Marble Palace of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. He immigrated to Israel, where he volunteered in the 1967 Six-Day War and earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the Technion.
In 1971, Yomtovian moved to the US, obtaining a Master of Science from the University of Nebraska, and conducting post-graduate work at Cornell University. He later founded EnviroScience, an engineering firm in Minneapolis, before relocating to Cleveland, where he earned an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Yomtovian is a prominent real estate developer in New York and Ohio and a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He is also a passionate educator on Iranian history and culture, speaking at synagogues, churches, and universities worldwide on topics ranging from the Persian Empire to the modern Islamic Republic.
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David Bernstein is a prominent law professor with expertise in constitutional law, civil rights, and legal history. He has authored influential books and articles on topics such as free speech, government regulation, and the protection of civil liberties. Known for his ability to bridge legal theory and practical application, Professor Bernstein is a vocal advocate for individual rights and the fair application of the law.
In addition to his academic contributions, he frequently provides expert commentary on legal issues in the media and serves as a consultant on significant cases. Committed to education, Professor Bernstein mentors and inspires future lawyers, fostering critical thinking and a deep understanding of the law. His work continues to shape important legal discussions and advance justice.
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Yirmiyahu Danzig is a content creator and digital educator specializing in Jewish diversity, history, and identity. His family has lived in Israel for nine generations, countering the narrative that Jews are colonizers in their own land. With roots in both the Old Yishuv of Jerusalem and the Caribbean, Yirmiyahu's unique heritage informs his social media activism, where he uses English, Hebrew, and Arabic to connect with diverse audiences.
Inspired by his ancestors who lived in the Old City of Jerusalem and survived the sugar plantations of the Caribbean, Yirmiyahu is a dedicated educator-activist. He speaks on Jewish identity, diversity, and antisemitism all over the world, and founded Shachar, a community for Caribbean, African American, and West African Israeli Jews.
On Instagram, Yirmiyahu shares his insights under the handle @thatsemite, focusing on equity in Israel, racial justice, and Jewish liberation.
His content resonates with young people interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Jezebel, an ex-Jehovah’s Witness and Doomsday Cult survivor, spent over 20 years in the organization, enduring intense indoctrination, mind control, and emotional and mental abuse. Her experiences, including severe anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, are chronicled in two books written under her pen name.
A lifelong historian and pro-freedom activist, Jezebel advocates for trauma survivorship and the sacredness of individual sovereignty. She promotes positive survivor mentality, emphasizing inner strength and gratitude, and educates others about the dangers of childhood indoctrination, mind control, deceptive propaganda, weaponized language, censorship, and totalitarianism.
Through her work, Jezebel aims to raise awareness and ensure that others know they are not alone in their struggles.
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Social media sensation, Ashley Waxman Bakshi is an entrepreneur, content creator, TV host, and activist. Following the kidnapping of her cousin, Agam Berger, by Hamas on October 7th, Ashley has been dedicated to advocating for the release of Israeli hostages.
She collaborates with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and has met with world leaders to push for sanctions against the IRGC and entities supporting Palestinian terrorist organizations in Canada and the European Union.Known for her platform "Girl Abroad," Ashley is a 38-year-old Canadian beauty and lifestyle content creator who moved to Israel at 21 after volunteering and falling in love with the country and an Israeli.
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Richardis is a German feminist who became an activist after experiencing stalking at the hands of an abusive man who kept using his status as a Muslim migrant to try and reverse victim and offender. She also had to witness a friend fall victim to a Muslim grooming gang as an underage girl. Today, she’s part of a wider movement that fights violence against women and girls and vehemently opposes trivializing honor violence, the Islamic veil, FGM etc. She experiences the atmosphere in Germany in regards to discussing these matters as stifling as cultural relativism and accusations of racism are used to shut women down. This is her first time speaking publicly after years of fear of retaliation from her stalker and the wider culture, as well as overcoming doubts whether her story even matters.
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Yasmine is first generation Israeli-American wife and mother, who has used her passion for Jewish history and representation to create and foster a community using her online work and advocacy, since 2016.
Yasmines paternal Saba fled Aleppo at age 13, where he and his family had lived for hundreds and hundreds of years, as antisemitism became increasingly violent. Her Saba was rescued by the first Youth Aliyah group along with other children from Lebanon in 1943. He had to leave behind his mother as she was blind and unable to make the trip safely. He served in the Haganah, fighting both in the War of Independence and the 6 day war. He later served as a policeman who guarded the home of the first Israeli Prime Minister Ben Gurion.
These stories, that are sadly not uncommon, but are lesser known within the community, sparked Yasmine’s passion for Jewish storytelling and Jewish pride. -
Dr. Einat Wilf is a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010 to 2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Wilf served as an Intelligence Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Foreign Policy Advisor to Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and a strategic consultant with McKinsey & Company. Dr. Wilf has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. She was the Goldman Visiting Professor at Georgetown University. Dr. Wilf is the author of seven books that explore key issues in Israeli society. “We Should All Be Zionists“, published in 2022, brings together her essays from the past four years on Israel, Zionism and the path to peace; the co-authored “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace”, was published in 2020.
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Born into a Muslim-Jewish family in Morocco, Chama Metchaly has dedicated her career to creating safe spaces for dialogue and bridging the gaps between Muslim and Jewish narratives, as well as Eastern and Western values. Since the advent of the Abraham Accords, Mechtaly has advised numerous governmental and nongovernmental organizations on regional integration and Israeli-Arab relations. Based in New York and Dubai, her work has been featured in international media, including a feature documentary film by Asharq News. As a visual artist, she has exhibited her work in four continents, including twice at the Jerusalem Biennale. Mechtaly is currently a WIn fellow and an Executive Leadership Program participant at Atlantic Council as well as a convener at the Israel Policy Forum. In 2023, she was recognized in the Middle East Policy Council’s 40 under 40 list. She is the co-founder of the Emma Lazarus Institute for Liberty and Tolerance, where she bridges the gaps between the Democratic West and the Moderate East. She is a policy advisor, entrepreneur, activist, artist and speaker, known for her intersectional and interdisciplinary approach to peacebuilding, Jewish inclusion, and Arab-Israeli integration in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
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At the age of 11, Uthman enrolled in an Islamic boarding school and graduated as an Islamic scholar. With over 20 years of experience as an Imam, he has dedicated his life to exploring and understanding religious dynamics. He holds a Master of Arts in Muslim-Christian Relations from Hartford International University and is currently a PhD student in anthropology, focusing on Coptic Christianity. Uthman's research is a deep dive into the intricate relationship between religion and cultural identity, with a special focus on the Coptic Christian community in North America. His work is not just informed by a rich background in interfaith dialogue, but also by his personal journey that encompasses both Islamic and Christian traditions. His research interests span themes of indigeneity, migration, and the impact of conservative beliefs on religious minorities, making his work highly relevant and insightful. In addition to his academic pursuits, Uthman has been actively involved in community service, providing support and guidance to individuals navigating religious trauma and identity crises. His unique journey through different facets of faith and academia provides him with a profound perspective on religious questioning and interfaith dialogue.
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Hamza Howidy is peace activist living in exile. He was born and raised in Gaza. He lived under the control of Hamas and was imprisoned by them when he participated in the "We want to Live" protests. Join us to hear the truth about what it was like to live in Gaza, how dangerous it is to oppose Hamas publicly, and what he has to say to university students in the west praising the terrorist group that imprisoned and tortured him.
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Jaleh Tavakoli and I went to Israel for a week as part of a delegation of people from across the Middle East invited to join a group called Sharaka. Sharaka means "partnership" in Arabic and the NGO is a partnership between the UAE and Israel that was inspired by the Abraham accords. Their mission is to "Shape a New Middle East- Together".
While we were there we visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial, as well as the Nova Forest, which holds an Oct 7th memorial. It was the first time for both of us - Jaleh with roots in Iran, and me with roots from Gaza and Israel. We discussed what surprised us, what enraged us, what our favorite and least favorite parts were and so on...
Follow Jaleh on X: https://twitter.com/JalehTavakoli - Show more
