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Our guest today is Almog Meir Jan — one of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.

Almog was taken from where he hid in woods near the Nova Music Festival, where hundreds of young people were either murdered or abducted.

For months, his mother Orit campaigned tirelessly around the world for his release. I interviewed her on TalkTV back in November 2023, and I remember telling her then that I believed her son would come home.

Today, I have the privilege of sitting opposite Almog himself — here in London — alive, free, and ready to tell his story. Tragically, just hours before Almog was rescued and reunited with his family, his father died, never getting the chance to see his son return home.

We’ll talk about October 7, the terror of captivity inside Gaza, the moment of rescue, what kept hope alive, and what he wants the world to understand now about the hostages still being held.

This is a remarkable conversation — and one I’ll never forget.

Jonny Gould is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his ⁠Substack⁠ channel. Support his efforts by ⁠buying him a coffee here⁠.

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Find all of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. You can support him by buying a coffee here.

With thanks to the Anglo-Israel Association and ELNET UK, it was a pleasure to hear Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus. A former international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, where he served for 24 years as a combat commander, military diplomat and strategic communications officer, Conricus is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, specialising in Middle East security and regional affairs.

As he often points out, he now speaks as an independent voice rather than on behalf of the Israeli government or military.

In this concise briefing, Conricus gives a sobering yet at times cautiously hopeful assessment of the region.

Gaza, despite the terrible bloodshed and the sacrifices being made by IDF forces, remains bleak and unresolved.

On Lebanon, he noted signs that the weakening of Hezbollah may be allowing some Lebanese voices to express a very different attitude towards Israel.

On Iran, he suggested there are still grounds for cautious optimism that internal pressure could eventually bring change.

He also addressed the alarming worldwide surge in antisemitism since October 7th, which he described as having grown far beyond what many imagined possible.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education.

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Before we start today’s episode, a quick note: our guest, Tomer Zadik from Tel Aviv and an Israeli Navy veteran, was just 23 when his life changed forever. He survived the horrific attack at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023 — a day meant for music and celebration that instead became a tragedy, claiming more than 270 lives and injuring thousands.

Tomer’s story is one of survival, courage, and endurance in the face of unimaginable chaos. He faced moments most of us can barely imagine, and his experience at Nova has shaped him in profound ways — a story that spans trauma, resilience, and the human instinct to carry on."

"For those in London, you can witness the impact of that day at the Nova Exhibition, from May 20th through July 2026. Titled ‘06:29 AM — The Moment Music Stood Still,’ the exhibition recreates the festival environment and memorializes those who were lost, offering visitors a powerful space to reflect and remember.

In today’s episode, Tomer shares his personal account of survival at Nova Festival — the moments of fear, courage, and resilience that defined that day. Stay with us as we hear his story firsthand."

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Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

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I had the incredible honor of sitting down with Sagi Muki—Olympic medalist, 2019 World Champion Judoka, two-time European Champion, and part of Israel’s bronze-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics. But this conversation went beyond medals.

How he overcame a career-threatening back injury just before the Rio Olympics… how he stayed motivated at the very top of the sport… what it’s like to represent Israel on the global stage after October 7, and the untold story behind his extraordinary friendship with Iranian competitor Saeid Mollaei.

This is Sagi Muki, in-depth, with thanks and gratitude to JNF UK, who made it all possible.

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It’s year four of our Schools Podcaster of the Year Award, presented by Dangoor Education — a project close to my heart because it’s about encouraging the next generation to think seriously about journalism, storytelling, and the power of asking the right questions.

Today’s young people are growing up in a world saturated by TikTokers, YouTubers, influencers and instant opinion. News and current affairs reach them faster than ever, often through the pressure and noise of social media.

Real journalism still matters. The heavy lifting of inquiry, accuracy, courage and curiosity remains fundamental to our democracy and freedoms. And this award is our way of encouraging high-minded journalistic ambition in the next generation.

All three of our winners today come from North West London Jewish Day School.

First, Maya Ryz and Leonore Gould quiz Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs.

Jason's built an accomplished screen career, from Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter to acclaimed roles in The Patriot, Star Trek: Discovery and The OA, combining intensity, wit and remarkable range.

Then Sarah Amsellem gets to grips with her cousin, Nathan Trochet.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State proudly supports our North West London Jewish Day School Podcaster of the Year.

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Born to a family who lived in a one-bedroom basement apartment in Soviet Ukraine, denied opportunity because he was Jewish, and starting out at the bottom of a steel mill, Eduard Shyfrin went on to build a vast business empire — but that’s only part of his story.

In this episode, he takes us from Soviet hardship and discrimination to music, memory, reinvention and Jewish identity, revealing how a boy shaped by love, discipline and adversity became a profound Jewish thinker and entrepreneur.

He's also a musician and a determined smoker!

Don't miss this out-of-the-box conversation on kabbalah, data and philosophy with Eduard Shifryn.

Help Jonny continues to make his podcasts by supporting him here.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

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The October 7th War aka the 47 year long Iran Israel War is reaching a head. The head of the snake is being cut off.

This is a collage of soundbites, news conferences and parliamentary statements which tell the story of how this decisive leg of the war started in the early hours of Saturday morning, the 28th February 2026.

It also underscores the ideological schism that exists between Britain and Europe and on the other hand the United States.

In this episode, we'll hear from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, British opposition leader of the Conservatives Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK party leader, Nigel Farage.

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Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, supporting philanthropy.

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In this conversation, we meet Rawan Osman - a woman of Syrian and Lebanese heritage who grew up in a world where the "Jew" was the ultimate, untouchable enemy.

Rawan’s worldview shattered during an everyday trip to a grocery store in Strasbourg. What started as a visceral panic attack at the sight of Hebrew turned into a life-altering epiphany. "That gentleman converted me from an enemy to an ally simply by deciding to be kind," she says.

It wasn’t just a change of heart; it was a total identity reset. From the discovery of her Mizrahi Jewish blood to the "chutzpah" of a tradition that encourages you to argue with God, Rawan deconstructs the patterns of prejudice with unflinching clarity.

But what is the personal cost of choosing conviction over comfort? How do you rebuild an identity when your family and friends remove themselves from your world?

Rawan offers a roadmap for finding truth in a region defined by shadows. This isn’t just a conversion story, it’s a wake up call for the future of the Middle East.

Join us for the story of Rawan Osman!

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Parents, if you're about to send your child to university, how are you preparing them for it?

Western campuses aren't all what they used to be.

In this powerful conversation, I meet the brilliant Izabella Tabarovsky — a leading scholar on Soviet antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and author of Be a Refusenik: A Jewish Student’s Survival Guide.

Izabella grew up under the Soviet system, where 'anti-Zionism' was the official line — and it quickly turned into suspicion of all Jews, Zionist or not.

"Jews who grew up in the Soviet Union know well their copybook is being repeated here", says Izabella.

And Israel hate doesn’t distinguish between the Jewish State or its diaspora or your child, the institutions become anti-Zionist, so all Jews are suspect.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a Zionist or not.

They don’t even understand what Zionists are. When they speak about Zionists they mean you and me.

The Iron Curtain hate of the Cold War-era has resurfaced in universities in the UK, US, Europe, and beyond — dressed up in modern language, but delivering the same chilling results: isolation, hostility, and erasure of Jewish identity.

What does this mean for your son or daughter heading off in their first weeks away from home? How can families prepare? What lessons from Soviet refuseniks can help Jewish students thrive — or simply survive — in today's environment?

Izabella breaks it down with unflinching clarity: the patterns, the propaganda echoes, and practical steps parents and students must take now.

This isn't just history repeating — it's a wake-up call for the present.

This is Izabella Tabarovsky.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Find all of Jonny's podcasts, personal appearances and writing on ⁠Substack⁠ and support him with a ⁠coffee here⁠.

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Help support Jonny by buying him a coffee and find his Substack feed with all his podcasts and articles.

What you’ll hear now in this short interview is a headline masterclass in defining and tackling antisemitism.

If only I had longer, but our guest filled the room with shorthand wisdom of the deepest kind when we met during an antisemitism conference in Vienna where I was presented with a plethora of brilliant and courageous people.

Vienna, the scene of my own family’s escape to Birmingham in 1938 and 1939 from Hitler’s European tyranny.

Join us for a compelling conversation with Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel's former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, ex-Knesset member, and leading voice on the "oldest hatred" in its modern form.

Born in Jerusalem, raised in Canada as stepdaughter to renowned human rights advocate Irwin Cotler, she returned to Israel for military service, law studies, and a career bridging academia, policy, and politics. Her PhD probed free speech limits on campuses—eerily prescient today.

Since the October 7 attacks, Michal has spotlighted the surge in antisemitism, featured in the documentary Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred. She dissects how anti-Zionism mutates into mainstream Jew-hatred, the failures of the global response, and why this threat demands urgent action from everyone - and you.

A must-listen on resilience, truth, and defending shared humanity.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, supporting philanthropy.

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And so it’s happened. There’s now a piece of Palestine on British soil.

In Galena Road, a back street of Hammersmith.

An interesting name for a Palestinian address. It’s a Sephardi Jewish surname for one.

And archaeologists discovered a prehistoric trench under the modern office building on which this embassy now stands - the remnants of a Roman road. The Romans,conquerors of Jerusalem, destroyers of the Second Temple, which forced most of the indigenous Jews into exile.

You decide if G-d has a sense of humour.

Keir Starmer’s ill-conceived declaration of Palestine, which has led to this embassy and described by former prime minister Boris Johnson as a “fart in a gale” amounts to a staging post in the Palestinian pursuit to destroy the Jewish State.

Starmer’s unleashed a persistent stink on the British people rather than a momentary pong.

As the continuing Hamas protests ruin London’s premier shopping and entertainment thoroughfares, Starmer’s only served to embolden the keffiyeh-wearing terror supporters into Palestining our city centres on days off and threatening the daily lives of Jewish people as they go about communal prayer or dropping kids off at school.

In a stroke, Starmer’s turned an office block off King St’s one-way system from a self-proclaimed mission to a full-blown embassy, with a Palestinian flag hoisted outside.

“Palestine” has no internationally agreed boundaries, no capital and no army.

No army of course, but for terrorist militias Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others.

But now Starmer has gifted them the diplomatic credentials and privileges of every other state represented in London - now with the cloak of diplomatic protection to plan what Palestine is best known for.

Starmer’s proclaimed vision for Palestine included a governing militia he freely calls a terrorist group, whatever he now says since Donald Trump’s decisive action to bring all but one of the remaining Israel’s hostages home from Gaza hell.

So if you’re wandering down King Street in your kippah or tzitzis unlucky enough to take the wrong short cut to Ravenscourt Park tube, think twice about the route you take.

Because the Palestine Embassy isn’t a peaceful diplomatic entity and by promoting it, Starmer’s contributed to importing the intifada to Britain’s streets.

Here’s Hassan Zomlot, Palestine’s first Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Listen very closely to his words.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Find all of Jonny's podcasts and writing on his Substack.

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