The Actual

In this episode of The Actual, we speak with Chavi Block-Israel, an educator, writer, and founder of The Empowered Jew, about surviving the Bondi terror attack whilst shielding her infant son with her body. Chavi takes us inside the moments during and after the attack, how her mind narrowed under threat, how instinct took over, and how motherhood was central to her experience. We explored the psyc...

This fascinating episode features Lynda Ben-Menashe, President of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia and a long-time leader in the Jewish community. She speaks about the concerning tidal wave of misinformation and disinformation shaping people's perspective of the world today. She describes the way antagonistic positions towards Israel are typically one's own expression of a 'morality...

Iranian activists Ali and Amin were invited onto The Actual to explain how a series of economic and political pressures in Iran escalated into a nationwide uprising in late December 2025. They break down the factors that have led to a revolution where the Iranians demand the removal of the Islamic regime. The conversation also provides historical context on Iran’s political system since 1979 and h...

Shortly after the terror attacks at Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world, the host of this podcast Lissy Abrahams, and two other courageous members of the Jewish community were interviewed by Dr. Phil. They share their personal experiences and reflections of the massacre on 14 December 2025, where a mass shooting broke out during celebrations of the first night of Hanukkah. Wha...

In this episode, activist Tamar Paluch talks about Ruptured , the collection of essays she co-edited with author Lee Kofman that documents how Jewish women experienced and responded to events following the terror attacks on October 7 and beyond. Tamar explains how the book provided a way for women to write through grief, record their memories in real time, and take back ownership of their stories...

In this episode of The Actual, Michele Goldman, CEO of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies opens up about the impact of disinformation, the rise of anti-Semitism, and what it means to lead a community during times of uncertainty. She shares her insights on advocacy, the importance of interfaith relationships, and the challenges faced by the Jewish community in the wake of recent events. T...

Violinist, composer, arranger, and founder of CHUTNEY, Ben Adler joins The Actual to discuss the way music becomes an emotional communicator and how Jewish identity and community have shaped his work. He describes why carefully designed concerts can move people from despair to hope to jubilation, and how SHIR concerts are deeply thought through to create a truly transformational experience. Ben sh...

Arno Michaelis once lived a life consumed by hate. Today, he devotes himself to preventing others from following this path, and recognises the urgent need to confront antisemitism and misinformation. In this deeply moving and fascinating episode of The Actual, Arno shares his journey from violent extremism to healing. His story is one of painful reckoning and hope. Arno now works with Parents 4 Pe...

Returning as a guest on The Actual, Michael Scott CSC, founder of The 2023 Foundation and author of his recently released book A Light Still Burns: Israel and the Values Worth Defending reflects on the rise of disinformation and anti-Semitism in the wake of October 7 2023. Drawing from more than 30 years of military service and his time living in Israel, he shares how these experiences shaped his...

Colonel (Ret.) Michael Scott CSC, Founder and CEO of The 2023 Foundation, joins The Actual to speak about combating antisemitism, terrorism, and disinformation. Drawing on more than 30 years in the Australian Army and his 27 months serving in Israel with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), Michael reveals why he refuses to be a bystander, the ripple effect of his personal ac...

Mark Leach is the co-founder of Never Again Is Now and a longtime church leader. In this incredible episode of The Actual, he reveals how his earlier years of personal trauma, faith, and later leadership have directly shaped his current responses to the major challenges we face today. We discussed his courageous words and actions and why he keeps standing up to Jew hatred and how this impacts Aust...

What started as one woman’s way of coping with fear and grief, through sharp humour and biting honesty, has since become one of Australia’s fiercest watchdogs for online hate. In this episode, Zara Cooper or more known as @clammy_fraud, shares how her personal response to the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, grew into a community-powered digital defence movement. From satirical posts to serio...

Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio OAM joins Relationships Under the Microscope to discuss her extraordinary journey from lawyer to rabbi. She shares her experiences as a female leader in the Jewish community, and her reflections on and post the terror attacks on Israel of October 7, 2023. Rabbi Jacki is a humanitarian at heart, and in this episode imparts her insights on faith, community, and leadership duri...

More than 600 days since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, taking hostages. In this episode I’m joined by Shoshana Eisner, the powerhouse behind Operation Golda - a grassroots mission launched from her kitchen just days after October 7. What began with a WhatsApp callout for empty suitcases turned into a full-scale relief effort that has since delivered over 26,000 kilos of trauma supplies...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the Middle East conflict, including war, violence, and humanitarian issues, which may be distressing to some listeners. In this episode, my guests, Tzachi and Alexis, speak from the heart of a humanitarian crisis that began on October 7, 2023, which continues to reverberate across borders in the Middle East. Reading the names of the remaining hostages and ti...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the Middle East conflict, including war, violence, and humanitarian issues, which may be distressing to some listeners. In this episode, my guest, Lynda Ben-Menashe, shares her journey of building bridges across communities, faiths, and histories. As President of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, and with decades of work as an educator, writer,...

Australia stands at a turning point in this coming federal election, and in this episode, Sophie Calland of Better Australia joins us to talk about what’s at stake. An engineer by profession and a community advocate by choice, Sophie stepped forward out of concern for the growing influence of political extremism and elite activism. Through Better Australia, she champions accountable leadership, st...