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Artwork for What Matters Now

What Matters Now

The Times of Israel
Hamas
Gaza
Israel
Israel-Hamas War
Self-Defense
Hostages
Middle East Conflict
UNRWA
IDF
Wartime Diaries
Palestinian Civilian Deaths
Talmud
Jewish Ethics
Military Ethics
October 7th
Gaza Strip
Burials In Jewish Law
Jon Polin
Rachel Goldberg
Hersh Goldberg-Polin

A weekly exploration of one key issue shaping Israel and the Jewish World right now.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for What Matters Now

Latest Episodes

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign for Palestine, an Atlantic Council p... more

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Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with author and journalist Matti Friedman.

The first half of our episode is dedicated to an in-... more

YouTube

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Bret Stephens, a The New York Times columnist and the editor-in-chief of Sapir magazine.

R... more

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Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Einat Wilf, a former MK, author and CEO of the newly formed Oz party.

Wilf describes the p... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Matti Friedman
Author and journalist; expert on Lebanon and Israel
Author of Out of the Sky; journalist for Times of Israel
Episode: Matti Friedman: Israel's forever wars in Lebanon
Einat Wilf
Author, former MK, head of Oz party
The Oz Party (Israel)
Episode: Einat Wilf: Fall of Iran an opportunity to uproot 'Palestinianism'
Micah Goodman
Public intellectual and author
Episode: Micah Goodman: How Israel and the US may prevent World War III
Meyer Levinson-Blount
Director of Butcher's Stain and Oscar nominee
Independent Filmmaker
Episode: Meyer Levinson-Blount: Oscar nominee's film 'Butcher's Stain' reveals life post-Oct. 7
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project.
Realign For Palestine
Episode: Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Five likely scenarios for Gaza in 2026
Asher Cohen
Just completed his eight-year term as the president of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Hebrew University
Episode: What Matters Now to Prof. Asher Cohen: Academic boycott of Israel is 'catastrophic'
Eli Sharabi
Former hostage and author of the book Hostage.
Episode: What Matters Now to Eli Sharabi: Living with trauma and mourning
Deborah Conway
A well-known recording and performing musician with over 40 years of experience and contributor to the anthology Ruptured.
Episode: What Matters Now to Deborah Conway & Tamar Paluch: Australia is rife with antisemitism
Tamar Paluch
An occupational therapist, activist, and editor of the anthology Ruptured, addressing antisemitism through the lens of Jewish women.
Episode: What Matters Now to Deborah Conway & Tamar Paluch: Australia is rife with antisemitism

Hosts

Jessica Steinberg
Host of What Matters Now
Amanda Borschel-Dan
Deputy Editor

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 598 ratings
  • Hollywood movie review

    I generally find the podcast very interesting, but a podcast about movies where only one participant is knowledgeable and is explaining the movie to a novice is not interesting. The conceit is that Borscell-Dan is a “tabula rasa,” and Hoffman is the expert explaining the film to her. Ick! She’s a smart cookie as a journalist, smart enough to assign someone who loves movies to partner Hoffman. Otherwise, it is a “mansplaining” 101 venture.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    womanbyherradio
    United States5 months ago
  • Lifeline

    Amanda Borschel-Dan, Lazar B, David H, et al are top of the line podcast journalists and a lifeline to Israel in turbulent times! We tune in first thing dailyand salute their brilliance.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vincentthecat
    United Statesa year ago
  • A real pain

    The only thing this Jordan person (yeah I know who he is) said was: “Medjanik”. How does anyone Jewish and a Variety critic doing Jewish films not know the name of Majdanek?!

    Oh and he was certainly smitten with Guy Pierce. Why else in the middle of describing his antisemitism would he drop the “information” (twice) that he’s handsome? (I myself don’t particularly think so.)

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    nucuplmnjuyh
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ba
    a year ago
  • Inappropriate artwork

    Depicting Israel as having annexed all Palestinian Territories, despite those being ruled as illegally occupied by the International Court of Justice.

    Also worth noticing that Israel has violated 28 resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, which are legally binding on member-nations UN. Israel also violates resolutions by he Human Rights Council, and the fourth Geneva convention.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    juhujuhujuu
    Denmarka year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There is praise for the depth of analysis and the diversity of topics covered, adding value in understanding complex geopolitical dynamics.
Listeners appreciate the intelligent and insightful content, particularly regarding current social justice issues and the Israeli experience.
Some critiques mention a perceived bias, suggesting that differing political viewpoints may influence listener reception, but many still engage with the content positively.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#58
Israel/News
Apple Podcasts
#167
Norway/News
Apple Podcasts
#193
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#198
Argentina/News
Apple Podcasts
#213
Chile/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Matti Friedman: Israel's forever wars in Lebanon
Q: What is the current strategic takeaway from your Lebanon discussion for readers today?
The situation is not about a clean victory; it's about managing a chronic problem with a non-state actor, considering the broader Iran connection, and thinking through long-term security arrangements that can actually protect civilians.
Matti Friedman: Israel's forever wars in Lebanon
Q: How does Hannah Senesh differ from the heroic portrayal she has in early Israeli myth?
Her writings show a thoughtful, educated, human figure who understood sacrifice in a nuanced way, and revealing that complexity makes the story more powerful and instructive than a simple poster-child portrayal.
Matti Friedman: Israel's forever wars in Lebanon
Q: What drew you to this particular mission and its legacy?
I was struck by how the mission sits at the crossroads of myth and history, and I wanted to uncover what these women and men actually did, what they believed, and how their memory was constructed over time.
Bret Stephens: America and Israel are engaged in a common fight for civilization
Q: how will this war end and what would a Hollywood ending look like?
The discussion suggests a ceasefire with Iran's nuclear program degraded, and a settlement where Iran cannot threaten the region, possibly reshaping regional power dynamics rather than delivering a traditional total victory.
Bret Stephens: America and Israel are engaged in a common fight for civilization
Q: do you think America was dragged into the war by Israel?
No, not at all; the decision was framed as a US-led action aligned with strategic goals, with some skepticism from segments of the MAGA movement.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About What Matters Now

What is What Matters Now about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on key contemporary issues impacting Israel and the Jewish world, this podcast offers insightful discussions around pressing topics such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, cultural identity, and social justice themes. Notable for featuring a mix of expert interviews and personal stories, the content resonates with listeners seeking a deeper understanding of complex situations and diverse perspectives in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Episodes often cover recent developments and historical contexts, making them suitable for audiences interested in current affairs, humanitarian viewpoints, and Israel's societal dynamics.

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Which podcasts are similar to What Matters Now?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What Matters Now:

1. The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
2. Ask Haviv Anything
3. For Heaven's Sake
4. Unpacking Israeli History
5. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

How many episodes of What Matters Now are there?

What Matters Now launched 10 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact What Matters Now?

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What guests have appeared on What Matters Now?

Recent guests on What Matters Now include:

1. Matti Friedman
2. Einat Wilf
3. Micah Goodman
4. Meyer Levinson-Blount
5. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
6. Asher Cohen
7. Eli Sharabi
8. Deborah Conway

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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