The Western Spirit - With Ariel Whitman

In this special episode, I sat down with Admiral Mike Rogers, former Director of the NSA, former Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, and now Operating Partner at Team8 — one of the world’s leading venture fund focused on building startups and investing in cybersecurity, AI, data, fintech, digital health companies. We spoke about the mood in Israel after October 7th, the frustration and uncertainty Is...

In this episode of The Western Spirit, I sit down with Ben Habib ‪@BenHabibOfficial‬ — chairman of the Great British Pact and former deputy leader of Reform UK — for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about the crisis facing Britain and the West. Ben shares candid criticism of Nigel Farage’s control over Reform UK, describing it as a political 'monarchy' without space for other voices...

In this incredible episode of The Western Spirit, we spoke with John Daly — a man who was forced into a neo-Nazi gang as a Jewish teenager, survived their brutal murder attempt, and went on to build a life of courage, resilience, and redemption in Israel. John shares his harrowing story of survival, why he chose to testify against his attackers, and how he sees the same hate he once witnessed on t...

In this episode of The Western Spirit, we spoke with Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a senior fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies and a leading expert on India and counterterrorism. We explored India’s evolving foreign policy, its carefully calibrated stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the geopolitical balancing act with Iran. Abhijit offers sharp insights into India’s historical ties...

In this fascinating conversation, Prof. Moshe Koppel, founder of Forum Kohelet, breaks down the true reasons behind Israel’s judicial reform crisis, the protests, and the deeper sociological battle over who controls Israel.🔹 Why judicial reform became the spark for a much bigger conflict🔹 How Israel’s elite institutions resist political change🔹 The surprising way protests became personal attack...

In this powerful episode of The Western Spirit, I sit down with Malcolm Hoenlein, CEO Emeritus of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. With five decades of leadership in American Jewry, Malcolm shares his insights on:The immediate impact of October 7th on American JewsThe rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses and in public lifeHow foreign funding, social media,...

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský joins us to discuss his visit to Israel, highlighting the deep friendship between the Czech Republic and Israel. He shares insights on Czechia’s unique position in Europe, its unwavering support for Israel, and efforts to combat antisemitism. We also explore key geopolitical issues, including the aftermath of October 7th, the two-state solution, and the role of...

ישראל טובעת בבזבוזים - עם אלי גרונר 🎧 ישראל טובעת בבזבוזים – האם אפשר להציל את הכלכלה לפני שיהיה מאוחר מדי? והאם אפשר ליישם את DOGE, המחלקה ליעילות ממשלתית שהקים טראמפ, גם בישראל? אלי גרונר חושף את מה שלא מספרים לכם על הנעשה מאחורי הפוליטיקה הישראלית: איך הפכה ישראל למדינה עם תקציב מנופח ומנגנון ממשלתי שמתנפח משנה לשנה? למה אף ממשלה לא מצליחה לעצור את הסחף, ואיך זה משפיע על הכיס של כל אחד ואחת? ה...

🎙️Antisemitism is rising, and the world is looking the other way. In this powerful conversation, journalist and media personality Erin Molan exposes the growing hatred against Jews in Australia and beyond. Erin knows firsthand what it means to stand up for Israel and pay the price. After years as a top journalist, she was forced out of her news job for refusing to stay silent. But instead of backi...

🎙️How did the sexual revolution, identity politics, and the decline of faith collide to reshape the West? In this thought-provoking conversation, Mary Eberstadt—acclaimed author of Primal Screams and How the West Really Lost God—reveals how these cultural shifts, along with family breakdown, have left an entire generation searching for meaning.-Why are young people lonelier than ever?-How does ide...

🎙️The Western world is facing an identity crisis, and nowhere is it more evident than in academia and the economy. In this episode of The Western Spirit Podcast, we sit down with Professor Barak Orbach, Professor of Law & Business in the University of Arizona, expert in antitrust, corporate governance, and regulation, to dissect the alarming rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses, the colla...

🎙️What is REALLY happening in the Middle East, and why does the West keep getting it wrong? In this explosive episode of The Western Spirit Podcast, we sit down with Catherine Perez-Shakdam, the Executive Director of We Believe in Israel, to expose the ideological battle shaping the region and its impact on Israel and the West. Catherine shares her firsthand experience living in Yemen, where she e...

🎙️In this gripping episode of The Western Spirit Podcast, we sit down with Howard Feldman, a leading South African commentator, author, and radio host, to unravel the complex relationship between South Africa and Israel. Why has the South African government taken such an extreme anti-Israel stance, despite widespread local challenges? And do the South African people actually share this hostility,...

🎙️What is happening to Britain? In this gripping episode of The Western Spirit Podcast, we sit down with Jonny Gould, one of the UK’s most insightful political commentators, to break down the seismic shifts in British politics, culture, and identity. From the Labour Party’s landslide victory to the unexpected rise of Reform UK, Jonny dissects how Britain’s political landscape is undergoing its mos...

🎙️In this episode of The Western Spirit Podcast, we sit down with Karys Rhea, a journalist and producer at The Epoch Times, to uncover the rise of the woke right—a new trend that claims to be America First but, in reality, is anything but. From Tucker Carlson to Candace Owens, from blind isolationism to radical revisionism, we break down how this faction is mirroring the worst tactics of the woke...

🎙️The Jewish world changed forever on October 7th, but what happened behind the scenes? In this episode, we sit down with Sam Grundwerg, former Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles and World Chairman of Keren Hayesod, to uncover the untold story of Israel’s global fight for survival—and the challenges few are willing to discuss. For over a century, Keren Hayesod–United Israel Appeal has been th...

🎙️Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been called controversial and polarizing, but is the full picture being told? In this conversation, we sit down with Beatrix von Storch, AfD deputy chair and commissioner for combating anti-Semitism, to discuss the party’s growing influence, its stance on key political issues, and its relationship with Israel. As AfD gains momentum ahead of the e...

🔥 This is a MUST-WATCH episode of The Western Spirit Podcast! 🔥We sit down with Nick Lowery, NFL legend, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer, and a passionate advocate for Israel. While he made history on the football field, today he’s making an impact in an even bigger way—spreading light, standing up against anti-Semitism, supporting hostage families, and exposing the truth about Hamas’s propagan...

🎙️האם האוניברסיטאות עדיין מוקד של חופש מחשבה – או שהן הפכו לזירה של אג’נדות פוליטיות והנדסת תודעה? למה חוקרים מפחדים לשאול שאלות קשות, איך מדענים שמפקפקים בקונצנזוס מוצאים את עצמם מוחרמים, ומה זה אומר על העתיד של המדע? פרופ’ יוני דובי מגיע לשיחה מטלטלת שחושפת את האמת שמנסים להשתיק.האם כל מה שמספרים לנו על משבר האקלים באמת מגובה מדעית – או שמדובר בנרטיב שהפך לכלי פוליטי? איך השריפות בקליפורניה קשור...

🎙️לרגל הוצאת ספרו החדש ״תתיישנו״, אני מתכבד לארח את הרב חיים נבון לשיחה מעמיקה על המתח שבין שמרנות לקדמה, על הקונספציה ששלטה במדינה והתנפצה בשביעי באוקטובר, ועל מקומן של הקהילות החרדית והדתית-לאומית בתוך המבנה החברתי של ישראל. דיברנו על עסקת החטופים – האם חזרנו על טעויות העבר, או שזו המציאות הבלתי נמנעת? האם חופש הביטוי נמצא תחת איום, או שאנשים פשוט לא רוצים לשמוע דעות לא נוחות? שוחחנו על הפער בין...

🎙️In this gripping conversation, we sit down with Melanie Phillips, one of the most fearless and sharpest voices on the decline of the West. As a British-Israeli journalist and author of The Builder’s Stone: How Jews and Christians Built the West and Why Only They Can Save It, she dissects how moral decay, radical ideologies, and the erasure of history are bringing the West to its knees. We explor...

הפרק הזה מביא דיון מרתק, מורכב וסוער על אחד הנושאים הכי רגישים בחברה הישראלית – תפקידו של מוסד היועץ המשפטי לממשלה וההשפעה שלו על הדמוקרטיה הישראלית. האם היועמ”ש/ית הוא גורם מייעץ או שמא מדובר בשומר סף שמגן על הדמוקרטיה? למה המוסד הזה נמצא במחלוקת עמוקה, במיוחד בעידן הממשלה הנוכחית? והאם הגיע הזמן לשנות את חוקי המשחק?בפעם הראשונה בפודקאסט, שני אורחים עם עמדות מנוגדות יושבים לשולחן אחד: עו”ד שחר בן...

🎙️בפרק הזה אני מארח את אלי פלאי, מו”ל העיתון החרדי “משפחה” וראש המכון החרדי למחקרי מדיניות, לשיחה נדירה ומעמיקה על הפערים, המתחים וההזדמנויות שבין החברה החרדית לחברה החילונית בישראל. דיברנו על חוק הגיוס והשפעתו על יחסי חרדים-חילונים, על המגמות הדמוגרפיות שמשנות את פני המדינה, ועל השאלה הגדולה: האם הציבור החילוני באמת מבין את העולם החרדי ואת הצרכים הייחודיים שלו?אלי משתף בתובנות חדשות ומפתיעות על ה...

🎙️In this episode of The Western Spirit Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Fox, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and former British Army Major with 16 years of experience in conflict zones like Afghanistan and the Middle East. Drawing from his deep expertise, Andrew unpacks the complexities of the Gaza conflict, shedding light on the information war, the global manipulation of narrativ...

🎙️In this deeply moving episode of The Western Spirit, we confront the unspeakable atrocities committed during Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7th, 2023. Our guest, Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, a recipient of the 2024 Israel Prize in Solidarity and founder of the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes, exposes the harrowing truth behind the attack and its devastating impact on families. Dr. Elkayam...