The Actual

Israel is heading to the polls on October 27 2026, in its first national election since the October 7 attacks. My phenomenal guest is Matan Yaffe, Israeli social entrepreneur, reserve officer, and Chairman of El HaDegel, a new political movement seeking to keep Zionism centre stage in Israeli politics. Politics was never part of Matan’s plan, however he recognises the ongoing existential threats I...

In this episode of The Actual, Yoash Dvir, CEO of Technion Australia, describes Technion's fascinating life-enhancing technical and medical innovations that are being used globally. Based in Haifa, the Technion has been at the heart of Israeli science and technology for more than a century with discoveries that reach far beyond its borders. Yoash shares why the Technion's work matters in Australia...

After a near-death illness in 2022, journalist and author Nikki Goldstein awoke from a medically induced coma. Whilst unconscious, her fate intertwined with Rabbi Eli Schlanger (May his memory be a blessing) who prayed at her bedside and blew the shofar. This experience set in motion a deep journey between them where they embarked on writing a book together. In this episode, Nikki shares the perso...

In this episode of The Actual, I am delighted to be joined again by pharmacist, proud Zionist, community volunteer and Operation Golda founder Shoshana Eisner. Guided by what she believes should begin every conversation - "How can I help?” - Shoshana has become a constant point of connection for a community still carrying the impact of the Bondi massacre. Since the morning after the attack, she ha...

In this episode of The Actual, I speak with Idan Goldberger, CEO of the Australian Friends of Sheba Medical Centre, about the extraordinary power of healthcare to reach beyond borders. Idan’s relationship with Sheba is deeply personal. More than two decades ago, he was critically injured during his military service and treated at the hospital that would later become central to his life’s work. Our...

Following the massacre on October 7 2023 in Israel, many young Australian Jews question what kind of future they have here - could they remain at university? Have a career? Stay true to their identity? On this episode of The Actual, Ariel Eisner shares his experiences at university, the hostility he faced on campus, and how his trust was broken by the institution that was supposed to keep him safe...

What does it really mean to be strong? In this episode of The Actual, my guest is Sammy Yahood. He is the founder of Peace Through Strength, a movement dedicated to restoring Jewish values and empowering Jews through resilience and community. Sammy reveals why we need to embrace discomfort to become mentally and physically strong to be prepared for the world we now live in. He adds that courage is...

In this fascinating episode of The Actual, my guest is Darya Rubenstein, Executive Director of Australian Friends of United Hatzalah of Israel. Darya reveals the groundbreaking life saving work and their role in Australia post-Bondi. United Hatzalah is Israel’s largest fully volunteer emergency medical service with thousands of trained volunteers responding to medical emergencies across the countr...

In this episode of The Actual, my phenomenal guest is Australian social and political commentator Calista Clements. Her fearless online commentary has earned her a rapidly growing audience across the country. At just 25 years old, Calista calls cuts through the the maddening noise to discuss rising crime rates, political and leadership issues, social fragmentation, antisemitism, and radicalisation...

In this episode of The Actual, my guest is Will Nemesh, Mayor of Waverley, home to Bondi Beach, and member of Sydney’s Jewish community. Will shares how he found himself leading Waverley Council through one of the most devastating periods in recent Australian history. Will describes how the events at the Bondi massacre challenged him personally and as a leader. He reveals what his council has done...

In this moving episode of The Actual, my guest is Rabbi Yossi Friedman of Rabbi On Demand. Following the terrorist attack in Bondi on December 14 2025, Yossi became a leading grassroots figure helping Jews, Australians from all walks of life, and tourists process the enormity of the attacks through his memorial prayer services at Bondi Pavillion. What emerged in the weeks and months through these...

Four times as a guest on The Actual, Australian Iranian patriot Ali had his social media platform taken down before and after the recording of this episode. Ali shares the realities of the dark forces of terrorism and how we live alongside it, many unaware of the proximity to us. Ali and I continue the broader discussion on the propaganda war unfolding across social media and the continuous silenc...

My guest on this episode of The Actual is Jessica Chapnik Kahn, an Argentinian–Australian writer, artist, and fellow Bondi survivor. Jessica and I met in the aftermath of the Bondi massacre on 14 December 2025. Jessica and I return to that day reflecting on our different experiences. This discussion is personal and moving as we both explored uncharted territory together, revealing aspects of ourse...

In this episode of The Actual, my incredibly knowledgeable and courageous guest is Marnie Perlstein, a passionate Jewish advocate and one of Australia’s most visible voices in the fight against antisemitism and antizionism. Marnie shares how online and university campus antisemitism in Australia were on her radar years prior to October 7 and why she dedicates her life to speaking publicly on these...

Tamar Pross, the founder of Citizen Cafe Tel Aviv, is my latest guest on The Actual. In this fascinating episode, she shares her deep reflections on Jewish identity and how her global platform Citizen Cafe became a space where people meet, connect, and feel closer to Israeli life through the Hebrew language. Tamar shares her reflections on why Gilad Shalit's story mattered, how this extended to Oc...

On this episode of The Actual, Judith Levitan from Royal Commission Legal Aid Service explains what the Royal Commission is, how the process works, why it matters, and how Australians can make a submission if they have experienced or witnessed antisemitism or have noticed changes to social cohesion. She clarifies the role of the Royal Commission, especially in understanding how submissions help mo...

In this episode of The Actual, my incredible guest is Ben Carasso - the “Spokeskid of Israel”. Ben has been representing Israeli children on the global stage since the age of 8. Now 11, Ben has led advocacy tours across 8 countries, spoken at the UN and UK Parliament, and uses his platform to share how life is for Israeli children with a foreground of war. Having lived through multiple military op...

In this episode of The Actual we are joined by Robert Goldshaft, the CEO of Mosaic Living, to better understand community living for Jewish seniors in Australia. Mosaic Living is a not-for-profit organisation and one of the largest providers of affordable housing for Jews. Originally established to support Holocaust survivors, it continues to serve the Jewish community by offering independent livi...

In this episode, Michelle Scheibner tells the story of how she uncovered her Jewish identity later in life and how a major family secret led her to a journey of discovering crucial parts of herself. Michelle reveals her intergenerational trauma, inherited stories, and the empty spaces throughout her life and inside her psyche. Through her book Hush, Michelle explores how emotional inheritance infl...

In this episode of The Actual we are joined by Stephen McAlpine, a Christian cultural commentator, public theologian, and former pastor of nearly three decades. Stephen describes the impact on Australia of the ongoing rise of disinformation and antisemitism following October 7, and what it reveals about the deeper fractures in the West. Stephen reveals his perspective from years of working with ch...

In this episode, Doron Amitai Libshtein, an international speaker, author, leadership mentor, and the chairman of The Life Academy, shares his passion for humane leadership following the loss of both his brother Ofir and his nephew on October 7 2023. We discuss the processing of these losses, grief, and how these ultimately reshaped the direction of Doron's life and a Foundation honouring and cont...

In this episode, I’m joined by Australian-Iranian patriot and activist Ali for his third appearance on the The Actual to dissect the rapidly evolving situation in Iran and the global implications of the ongoing war. Since our last conversation, there have been significant developments, including the death of Khamenei, military interventions, growing pressure on the Islamic regime, and the critical...

In a world increasingly shaped by uncertainty, polarisation, and collective distress, what does it truly mean to hold onto hope? In this deeply reflective episode, psychotherapist and psychologist Dr. Julian Pascal Saadi explores hope not as naïve optimism, but as a psychological force. Drawing on his clinical experience in adult mental health, he unpacks the delicateness between hope and despair,...

In this episode of The Actual, author and editor Lee Kofman reflects on writing, identity, and Jewish life in the aftermath of October 7 2023. She examines the surge of disinformation, antisemitism, and the pressure placed on Jewish voices in public discourse. Lee describes co-editing Ruptured, an anthology documenting Jewish women’s lived experiences post October 7, and felt the urgency of record...

In this follow-up episode of The Actual with Iranian patriot and activist Ali, he discusses the critical updates on the rapidly deteriorating situation in Iran and its expanding global implications. As disinformation intensifies and extremist rhetoric gains traction worldwide, this episode examines Iran’s prolonged and unprecedented internet blackout, the regime’s escalating violence against civil...