Boots on the Ground

In this episode of Boots on the Ground , Ari sits down with Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin for a wide-ranging conversation on Judaism, science, Zionism, and the ideological battles shaping Israel today. They explore how the animals and plants of Tanakh reveal the Jewish people’s deep indigenous connection to the Land of Israel, unpack the argument at the heart of Slifkin’s book Lions of Zion , and examin...

In this episode, Shaun and Ari break down the latest developments in Israel's war with Iran, the growing political battle over the Haredi draft, and the increasing speculation about early elections. They discuss the military, political, and social implications of these issues, what they mean for Israel's future, and how the country's leadership is fumblin  one of the most challengin...

In Part II of this special Yom HaZikaron episode of Boots on the Ground , we sit down with Mark Levin, the father of lone soldier Michael Levin, who fell in the Second Lebanon War. This is not just a story of loss. It is a story of conviction, sacrifice, and what it means to raise a child who chooses a life of purpose and responsibility to the Jewish people. Mark reflects on the values that shaped...

How do you remember a war that hasn’t ended yet? In this special Yom HaZikaron episode of Boots on the Ground, we confront that question head-on. Instead of trying to process the present while still living it, we look back, finding clarity, meaning, and strength in the stories that shaped Israel’s past and continue to define its present. In Part I, Ari sits down with Michael Rabibbo, a lone soldie...

For Yom HaShoah, we step away from our usual conversations on war, politics, and identity to do something far more personal. In this special episode, I sit down with my mother, Sharon Spira, to tell the story of my grandparents, Holocaust survivors whose lives shaped everything I understand about resilience, faith, and what it means to be part of the Jewish people. We speak about my grandmother’s...

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari sits down with Alex Traiman, CEO of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), for a behind-the-scenes look at the media battlefield, Israel’s leadership, and the shifting global order since October 7th. Alex shares what it’s really like to be “in the room” with decision-makers—from Prime Minister Netanyahu to President Trump—and unpacks how Israel’s strategic pos...

In this episode of Shaun and Ari Discuss Israel, Shaun and Ari break down the latest developments in the ongoing war with Iran. As Israel and the United States deliver major blows to Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure, missiles are still falling on Israel, though at a noticeably slower pace. They examine what this shift could mean for the next phase of the conflict, whether American gro...

In this episode, Shaun and Ari go beyond the battlefield to examine the Iran war from a broader geopolitical perspective. While missiles and airstrikes dominate the headlines, the deeper story may lie in how global powers are reacting as the conflict unfolds. They explore the role of the United States and its strategic interests in the region, China’s reliance on cheap oil and its ambition to domi...

This episode was recorded especially for Purim before the outbreak of the current war.  As Ari and Shaun are both back on reserve duty, we hope to bring you a new episode discussing the current Iran war as soon as possible.  In this special Purim episode, Ari sits down with Yaakov Zimmerman for a conversation that blends story, faith, and exceptional Israeli wine. Yaakov shares his journey from Pa...

In this episode, Ari and Shaun take a structured, look at Israel’s political system, moving beyond the slogans to analyze the realities shaping the country today.  Together, they examine the parties and personalities driving the current landscape, mapping the rivalries, and ideological fault lines that define the political battlefield. The discussion covers the full spectrum of the Knesset, from L...

In this more combative episode, Ari and Shaun take on three of the most volatile issues facing Israel today. First, they clash over the spiralling murder rate within Israel’s Arab communities. Why has lawlessness deepened? Is this a failure of governance, policing, culture, or politics? The two see both the root causes and the solutions very differently. Next, they turn outward to the question loo...

In this lively, fast-paced episode, Ari and Matan Peleg, Zionist activist, author, and outspoken Israel advocate, trade questions and challenge assumptions in a dynamic conversation about Zionism and Jewish identity. The conversation moves quickly through their lives as they speak openly about military service, reserve duty, difficult decisions, and the impact on families. They also look ahead to...

In this emotional episode, we reflect on the life of Josh Boone, his philosophy of service, his sacrifice, and why he embraced the role of the “sheepdog”: the moral duty to protect others. Ari shares his experience of Josh’s loss, the efforts to have him officially recognized as a fallen soldier, and what that recognition represents. Yet, it was denied, his friends and family still ensured he was...

Imagine a man who witnessed the 1979 Islamic Revolution from inside Iran, spent nearly 28 years advising multiple U.S. Secretaries of Defense, and later waded through chest-deep sewage in a bombed-out Baghdad basement to rescue the most important collection of Iraqi Jewish history in existence. That man is Dr. Harold Rhode . In this extraordinary episode, Ari interviews one of the most unique mind...

 In this episode of Boots on the Ground , Ari speaks with Moshe Glick about the role of deep faith in Hashem during moments of profound challenge, and the antisemitic attack that forced him to step in and defend a fellow Jew. Moshe recounts how that incident escalated into a broader legal battle, shedding light on the ingrained antisemitism he believes exists within the system meant to deliver jus...

In this week's episode: Ari breaks down the critical details of Maduro’s capture and what it reveals about Israel’s strategic value to the U.S. Then we look at Iran. Is it really on a knife-edge? Shaun shares his alternative perspective and explains how to spot early signs of shifting dynamics.  Plus, an update on local Israeli politics and protests: is another internal constitutional crisis...

Shaun and Ari debate Israel’s historic recognition of Somaliland and what it means for regional politics. They examine the challenges of lawlessness among the Negev Bedouin community and discuss potential solutions. The episode also takes a close look at the Trump–Netanyahu relationship and its impact on Israeli politics. Finally, they confront the harsh realities of a new New York mayor whose pol...

In this episode, Shaun and Ari discuss the latest political maneuvering in the Knesset, where new proposals increasingly resemble political theatre, focused more on positioning and avoiding blame than on taking responsibility for the failures of October 7. They then discuss the government’s efforts to establish a new commission of inquiry in order to circumvent existing law that requires a court a...

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari welcomes Aron Schoenfeld — a passionate Zionist, dedicated volunteer, and IDF reservist who made Aliyah during the height of COVID with his wife and children. Aron shares the formative experiences and education that shaped his deep commitment to Israel and the Jewish people, and how that foundation ultimately inspired him to create “Smiles for the Kids.”...

In this powerful and personal episode of Boots on the Ground , host Ari Kalker sits down with Josh Boone, the “sheep dog from Idaho”  whose journey has taken him from being the only Jewish kid in his high school in Boise to serving as an IDF sniper and dedicating his life to defending the Jewish people. Josh shares how growing up as a minority in rural America forced him to fight for his identity,...

In this episode, Ari sits down with Rabbi Ben Packer for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about the critical role of the farms in Judea and Samaria in strengthening both security and prosperity throughout the region. Together, they explore how agricultural presence shapes strategic realities, the challenges faced on the ground, and the broader national implications. Ari also presses Rabbi Pa...

For decades, Israel’s supporters have invested enormous effort into hasbarah, the attempt to “explain” Israel to the world. Yet time and again, this strategy achieves the opposite of what it intends. In this episode, Shaun and Ari explore why the hasbarah approach fails, how it keeps Israel on the defensive, and why true strength begins with refusing to justify one’s existence. They examine the de...

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, host Ari Kalker sits down with Haim Brenner for a hard-hitting conversation on the failures of political leadership and the cost of indecision in Israel’s current security crisis. With the Rafiah tunnel standoff and ongoing Israel–U.S. coordination challenges as the backdrop, they unpack how hesitation and lack of clarity at the top can endanger national str...

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, host Ari Kalker is joined by Lt. Col. (Res.) Maurice Hirsch, former Military Advocate General of Judea and Samaria, for a discussion on the ongoing scandal surrounding Israel’s Military Advocate General. Together, they unpack what this controversy reveals about Israel’s military justice system, how it impacts public trust, and what true honesty and morality...

In this special episode of Boots on the Ground, recorded from afar with Shaun still on reserve duty and Ari travelling in the U.S., we unpack the growing talk of new elections in Israel. What scenarios could actually trigger them? From the ongoing Haredi draft debate and Ben Gvir’s political threats, to the looming Knesset budget vote and the government’s paralysis on appointing an investigation c...