Jewish Actually

In this episode of Jewish Actually , I sit down with Neil Friedman, CEO of ChaiFlicks and Founder of Menemsha Films, to explore his journey in building and shaping Jewish film and media. We discuss his path into the industry, the evolution of his work from distribution to streaming, and what it takes to bring Jewish stories to diverse audiences around the world. Neil has worked as an associate law...

In this episode of Jewish Actually, I sat down with Sarah Hurwitz, The Obamas’ former speechwriter, to talk about her journey from the White House to writing her own two books exploring her own Jewish identity re-discovery and passion. We discuss her time crafting speeches at the highest levels of American politics, what she learned about language and power, and how that work eventually led her to...

In this episode of Jewish Actually , I'm joined by Dr. Stephen Arnoff, CEO of the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center, for a wide-ranging conversation on music, meaning, and Jewish life. We talked about Dr. Arnoff's transition from the IDF, to fellowships and experiences that shaped his leadership, to his work today at the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center. A major focus of our conversation is music—especially Bo...

In this episode of Jewish Actually, Aaron Bregman joins me to discuss the American Jewish Committee’s Leaders for Tomorrow program (which he oversees): an initiative shaping the next generation of Jewish leaders. The conversation explores how young people are building leadership skills, strengthening their Jewish identity, and preparing to engage with today’s most pressing challenges. Aaron shares...

In this episode of Jewish, Actually , we go inside AJC ACCESS Global with Alana Wilck, Assistant Director of the program. Alana shares how ACCESS connects young Jewish leaders around the world, builds global networks, and shapes the future of Jewish advocacy. Tune in for insights on leadership, international impact, and what it really means to take Jewish engagement global.

In this episode of Jewish Actually , I’m joined by actress and producer Alysia Reiner ( Orange Is the New Black , Equity ), and filmmaker and writer Shaina Feinberg ( The New York Times , This American Life ). Together, they discuss their short film “We Should Eat,” an absolutely hilarious look at family, identity, and the tensions that surface around the dinner table. We also talked about Alycia...

What happens when history itself is put on trial? In this episode of Jewish Actually, Lila sits down with Dr. Kenneth Stern, the director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate, who spent 25 years at the American Jewish Committee, and helped develop the working definition of antisemitism later adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and has testified before the U.S. Congress...

In this episode of Jewish Actually, Laura Seltzer-Duny, an Emmy-nominated and PBS award-winning documentary filmmaker, joins to discuss her powerful film Nobody Wants Us . In this conversation, she reflects on the role of film in preserving Jewish history, the responsibility of telling Holocaust stories, and how documentary storytelling can shape public responsibility, understanding, and takeaways...

In this episode of Jewish Actually, we are joined by Allison Norlian, a 3x Emmy-nominanted journalist, filmmaker, and writer. Known for her film "Thirteen", based on her sister's story, Allison talks about her film in addition to some of her writing with Forbes, which includes interviews with women from the Diaspora, Gaza, and Israel. Tune in to hear about her upcoming films and the...

On this episode of Jewish Actually, former NFL and Yankees player Gus Ornstein reflects on his journey as a Jewish athlete. From playing at three different colleges--Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Rowan Univeristy--to reaching the NFL, Gus talks candidly about identity, belonging, and what it means to be Jewish in spaces where you’re often one of the only ones.

In this episode of Jewish Actually, we’re joined by Harper Kincaid, a Jewish therapist navigating what it means to show up professionally and personally right now. We talk about therapy, culture, Jewish identity, neutrality, boundaries, and what happens when your job is to hold space while also having very real feelings. It’s thoughtful, honest, and, yes, a little complicated.

In this episode of Jewish Actually, I sit down with artist Baret Boisson for a deeply personal conversation about identity, lineage, and belonging. Baret grew up knowing her mother was Jewish, but believing her father was not. Years later, while searching for her birth father, a DNA test revealed something unexpected — she is 100% Jewish. That discovery didn’t create a new identity. It reframed th...

Welcome to Jewish Actually. I'm Lila, and this podcast exists because Jewish identity isn’t a headline, a stereotype, or a comment section debate. It’s personal. In this first episode, I talk about why I’m starting this show — what I want to question, what I want to unpack, and why the conversation around Jewish life feels louder and more confusing than ever. This is a space for honest convers...