Tribe and Tribulations With Julia Makowsky

When you think of Danielle Renov, you probably think of recipes, food, and the vibrant chaos of raising a family in Israel. But this conversation goes so much deeper. In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Julia sits down with Danielle Renov for an honest exploration of faith, identity, family, and what it means to build a life grounded in values rather than comfort. From growing up Modern...

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, Tzivi Itzkowitz lost her sister Nancy. But this episode isn’t about how Nancy died. It’s about how she lived. Nancy was a beloved daughter, sister and friend. She was young, vibrant, building her career, and had so much life still ahead of her. And while the world remembers 9/11 as a day that changed history, for Tzivi and her family, it was the day th...

What happens when you realize that the most important work you're meant to do isn't in a classroom, a shul, or a Shabbaton—but in the quiet moments of your everyday life? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Julia sits down with Faigy Blumstein, one of the voices behind the Thank You Hashem movement, for an honest exploration of faith, purpose, gratitude, and what it really means to...

What happens when the life you thought you were going to have disappears overnight? In this deeply personal conversation, Abbey Wolin—founder of AW Media and creator of The Foundry—shares the story behind the woman she’s become. After losing her father at a young age, Abbey watched her family, identity, and sense of stability change in ways she never expected. Instead of letting that loss define h...

How do you build one of the biggest media brands in the Chasidish world without ever relying on traditional social media? In this episode, Julia sits down with Eli Weber, founder of Weber Media, to talk about the power of storytelling, why WhatsApp became the secret weapon that changed content creation in his community, and how he built a business by understanding people—not algorithms. But this c...

In this deeply important and rarely discussed episode, Julia sits down with Erica Pelman, founder of Shifra, the only American-based organization dedicated to supporting Jewish women through unplanned pregnancies. From the woman with ten children who discovers she's unexpectedly pregnant again, to the 44-year-old who thought her baby years were behind her, to the teenager facing an impossible deci...

In this episode of Tribe & Tribulations, Julia sits down with Adina Moss for a thoughtful conversation about growth, identity, and embracing new seasons of life. Adina shares stories from her upbringing, the values that shaped her, and what inspired her recent personal and professional rebrand. Together, they explore spirituality, self-discovery, and the balance between honoring where you came fro...

This week on Tribe & Tribulations, Julia sits down with Max Cohen, better known as Murray Hillboy, for an honest conversation about identity, belonging, comedy, and the courage to be yourself. Known for his hilarious and painfully accurate portrayals of Jewish life, Max has built a devoted following by turning shared experiences into comedy. From sleepaway camp culture and helicopter parenting to...

In this unfiltered, and deeply honest episode, Julia sits down with Zoli Honig and Chava Feigen for a conversation that refuses to play by the rules. From second marriages and second chances to reinventing faith, business, and identity, this couple has lived a thousand lives before 40, and they're not apologizing for any of it. Zoli and Chava didn't just start over. They blew up the blueprint. Div...

In this deeply personal episode, I'm joined by my sister, Lauren, for an honest conversation about what it means to come from the same home but grow into two very different women. Our lives don't look the same. Our personalities aren't the same. Our paths have taken us in different directions. And yet, somewhere along the way, we stopped expecting each other to be the same and started choosing eac...

In this essential and deeply needed episode, Julia tackles one of the most talked about yet rarely addressed topics in the Orthodox community: the Jewish day school system. From skyrocketing tuition costs to children who don't fit the mold, to identity crises within schools to the question of accessibility, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a system that is both beautiful and broken, sac...

In this fascinating and eye-opening episode, Julia welcomes Yitzhak Pinkesz, Author of Kosher Astrology, for an conversation that tackles one of the most controversial topics in the modern Orthodox world: astrology. With manifestation, moon signs, and zodiac talk dominating social media, many people are left wondering: Is this even allowed? Is it Kabbalah? Is it avodah zarah? And if we're supposed...

In this episode Julia sits down with two beauty experts to tackle a topic that's often dismissed as superficial but is actually deeply personal: beauty, both internal and external. Whether you're a minimalist who swears by soap and water or someone navigating the overwhelming world of serums, injectables, and skincare routines, this conversation strips away the noise and gets real about what beaut...

In this essential and eye-opening episode, Julia tackles one of the most taboo yet critical topics in the Orthodox community: divorce. Whether navigating secular courts or the religious Beit Din system, most people enter the process completely unprepared, armed only with fragmented information from social media and whispered conversations. Julia brings together two powerhouse experts to break down...

In this refreshing and honest episode, Julia welcomes two young men Gabe Einhorn and Caleb Pollan who are doing something many in the modern Orthodox community still find uncomfortable: building their brands, businesses, and futures through social media. Gabe and Caleb, both in their early twenties, are leveraging Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to create opportunities that didn't exist for previo...

In this dynamic episode, Julia brings together two elite basketball coaches from different worlds to explore what it takes to develop young athletes in both secular and Jewish basketball environments. Coach Kevin Carpenter and Coach Abie Rosow sit down for an honest, insightful conversation about the intersection of sports, character development, and navigating the unique challenges facing today's...

Breaking the Silence: An Honest Talk About Mikvah, Marriage, and Meaning In this deeply personal and groundbreaking episode, Julia sits down with Mrs. Rifki Freundlich, a yoetzet halacha (female halachic advisor), for an intimate conversation that breaks through the silence surrounding one of Judaism's most private mitzvot: mikvah and the laws of family purity (taharas hamishpacha). Rifki shares h...