Breaking the Narrative

This week, Jesse sits down with Simon Wolle, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, for an important conversation about the rise of antisemitism across the country. Drawing on the findings of B’nai Brith’s Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, they discuss what the latest data reveals, the factors driving these trends, and the impact they’re having on Canadian Jewish communities. They also explore what gover...

On this week’s episode, Jesse speaks with renowned dancer, singer, and social media activist Montana Tucker. Montana discusses what it meant to wear her now-iconic Grammys dress, adorned with a large yellow ribbon in honour of the hostages taken into Gaza on October 7, as well as the legacy of being the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. She also reflects on her journey from entertainment influ...

This week, Jesse sat down with Goldie Ghamari, an Iranian-Canadian activist and former MPP. Having immigrated to Canada from Iran as a child, Goldie has spent decades speaking out against the Iranian regime and the IRGC, drawing from her firsthand understanding of the regime’s tyranny. She speaks with Jesse about the urgency of dismantling the IRGC, the future of Iran, and the Iranian people’s pur...

This week, Jesse sat down with Toronto-based artist Taiga Bentley, Owner/Director of Olga Korper Gallery and Founder of the Reframe Arts Fellowship, an immersive arts and culture experience in Israel for Canadian professionals in the visual arts space, in partnership with StandWithUs Canada. Jesse and Taiga discuss the connection between art and Judaism, how October 7th changed her worldview, and...

On this episode, Jesse sits down with Natasha Pein, co-founder and Senior Executive Leader of the Stop Antizionism Initiative (stopaz.org) and author of Unmasking Antizionist Tactics: A New Face of Old Hate. Through her work, Natasha examines antizionism as a contemporary manifestation of antisemitism through rigorous research, strategic analysis, and actionable education. Jesse and Natasha break...

On this episode, Jesse sits down with a small group of young Israelis hosted by StandWithUs Canada during a week of campus visits, student dialogues, and community events. The group participated in our WordSwap program, which brings Israeli voices to Canadian campuses, countering the reductive and often distorted portrayals of Israelis promoted by antizionist activists on campus. Coming from Druze...

On this episode, we welcome back former Member of Parliament Kevin Vuong, who used his platform in government to unapologetically champion a pro-Israel voice, even in the face of threats and continued antagonism. Kevin joins Jesse for a candid conversation about the alarming rise of antisemitism in Canada, the disruptive anti-Israel protests that unfolded in our streets, and the growing concern th...

On this episode of Breaking the Narrative, we are joined by Dr. Alan Bostakian, an Iranian expat, change leader, and certified human rights consultant. With a background in human rights advocacy and as the founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting human rights victims, Dr. Bostakian has tirelessly championed the Iranian community, an effort made even more urgent by the current un...

When Jewish model Miriam Mattova was kicked out of an Uber simply for being Jewish, her experience quickly became a national conversation about antisemitism in everyday life. On this episode of Breaking the Narrative, Miriam joins Jesse to speak candidly about the wave of hate she has faced since the story went public, and what she believes needs to be done to keep Canadians safe from this kind of...

In this powerful episode of Breaking the Narrative, Jesse sits down with Luai Ahmed, a Yemeni-born Muslim Zionist whose life could have taken a very different path. Raised in an environment shaped by extremism, indoctrination, and anti-Israel propaganda, Luai was taught from childhood to glorify martyrdom, hate the West, and embrace the ideology of groups like the Houthis. Instead, he chose truth....

In this episode of Breaking the Narrative, host Jesse sits down with two bold voices from the medical world: Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Ottawa, and Dr. Lior Bibas, a cardiologist and president of the Association of Jewish Physicians of Quebec. Together, they explore the growing threat of antisemitism, not just in public discourse but within h...

In this episode of Breaking the Narrative, Jesse is joined by Michael Hollander of Choueke Hollander, a Montreal-based law firm. Since October 7th, Michael has committed a great deal of time to supporting students on campus, and has been effective in protecting them from discrimination and bigotry. As a result, he is amongst the leading experts in the rights of Canadian students, and the challenge...

Barrister and International law expert Natasha Hausdorff returns to Breaking the Narrative for another powerful conversation. In this episode, we explore the latest false claims of Israel violating international law, the truths behind them all, and the double standard Israel is held to on the world stage. The law is black and white, and Natasha’s sharp insights and keen understanding help to illum...

In this episode of Breaking the Narrative, Jesse sits down with Jacqui Dressler, Senior Director of Advocacy at Hillel Ontario. In the face of modern campus antisemitism, the two discuss the ways in which our organizations are working together to support Jewish and pro-Israel students as the new school year begins. Jesse and Jacqui share insights from the frontlines of student advocacy, and discus...

In this episode of Breaking the Narrative, Jesse sits down with Michael Dickson, Executive Director of StandWithUs Israel. Michael opens up about the fight against antisemitism, the challenges of public diplomacy in the digital age, and what the world can learn from Israel’s resilience. From the October 7 aftermath to the ongoing battle of narratives on campuses and online, this conversation dives...

In this episode of Breaking the Narrative, Jesse sits down with Drew Sylver, a student leader, former Emerson Fellow, and former member of the Concordia Student Union. Drew shares his unique perspective from the frontlines of campus life, opening up about the challenges Jewish students face, the rise of antisemitism at Concordia, and how students can take matters into their own hands to make a dif...

In this powerful episode of Breaking the Narrative, Canadian journalist Dahlia Kurtz shares her deeply personal and professional journey confronting antisemitism. From enduring Jew hatred firsthand to continuing the legacy of her father, who stood on the front lines against antisemitism in Canada, Dahlia offers an unfiltered look at what it means to speak truth in an increasingly hostile world.

In this episode, Jesse is joined by Eylon Levy, the former Israeli government spokesperson who became one of the most recognizable voices defending Israel in the aftermath of October 7. They discuss the ongoing war in Gaza, the mounting threats from Iran and its proxies, and the global silence surrounding the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. Eylon offers sharp insight into the moral challenge...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tamara Gottlieb and Aaron Kucharczuk, co-founders of JEFA (Jewish Educators and Families Association) , for an unfiltered conversation about what Jewish students and families are facing in the Toronto District School Board. From antisemitic bullying to hostile classroom materials like the book P is for Palestine, featuring “I is for Intifada”,  they share...

This week on Breaking the Narrative, we’re joined by Collin May, former Chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Collin was appointed to lead the AHRC in 2022 after years of involvement with the organization, but just before his term began, controversy erupted over a book review he wrote 13 years prior. That review of Efraim Karsh’s "Islamic Imperialism: A History" resurfaced in a media artic...

On this episode of Breaking The Narrative, Daniel, a StandWithUs Canada alumnus from Western University, and Noa, a current Emerson Fellow at Toronto Metropolitan University, join us for a powerful and timely conversation on what it means to be Jewish on campus in Canada after October 7th. Together, they shed light on the sharp rise in antisemitism across Canadian universities and share deeply per...

In this powerful episode of Breaking the Narrative, we sit down with Neil Oberman, Conservative candidate for Member of Parliament in Mount Royal and a lawyer at Spiegel Ryan LLP, to discuss the urgency of student activism and the importance of speaking up in the face of rising antisemitism. Neil brings both his legal and political perspective to the conversation, highlighting the role of advocacy...

In this episode, award-winning filmmaker and journalist Wendy Sachs joins us to discuss her powerful new documentary, October 8th — a searing exposé on the surge of antisemitism in America following Hamas' October 7th attack on Israel. Wendy reveals how antisemitic ideologies have infiltrated college campuses, social media, and the streets, with foreign regimes like Iran, China, and Russia fueling...

In this powerful episode of Breaking the Narrative , we sit down with Miriam Haart—entrepreneur, speaker, and star of Netflix’s My Unorthodox Life —for an unfiltered conversation about Jewish identity, Israel advocacy, and the rising tide of antisemitism. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Miriam shares her personal journey navigating faith, activism, and online hate, while standing up for...

In this episode, we are joined by Barrister and International Law expert Natasha Hausdorff for a compelling discussion on the false claims of illegality being levied against Israel and the use of lawfare to delegitimize the Jewish state. She reveals how international courts and institutions are being weaponized to target Israel, all while turning a blind eye to genuine human rights violations arou...