Dive Right In

Welcome back to Dive Right in with Jackie and Hannah! This week, we wanted to provide an approachable look into what is going on this week in the United States. Throughout the episode, we discuss the controversy surrounding the AP African American Studies course, the recent shooting In Monterey Park, CA, a brief overview of Lunar New Year, the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster hearing, the new Oreo flavor, and the decision to temporarily remove the M&M spokescandies. This episode has a great balance of serious and fun topics, but they all share the theme of criticizing what is going on in the United States. As always, please reach out if you are interested in being a guest or if you have any episode topic suggestions. Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------- Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

Welcome back to Dive Right in with Jackie and Hannah! After a brief fall hiatus, we’re back with a current events update. This week, we zoomed in on antisemitism through the lens of Jewish joy. We talked about Kanye West, the effects of his words and actions, and what we can do to fill this world with love. The goal of this week's episode is not to give Kanye or any other extremists more attention, but rather share why we’re each proud of our religion, community, culture, and traditions. We’re excited to share this empowering episode with you all and look forward to hearing why you are proud of your heritage.  Love,  Jackie and Hannah  ---------- Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

Welcome back to Dive Right In with Jackie and Hannah! After a summer hiatus, we're ready to jump back into podcasting! A summer of reflection and inspiration has left us feeling ready to tackle anything society might throw our way, we won't shy away from talking about even the most daunting topics. Join us as we dissect our trip to Poland and our experience living together in Israel for six weeks. Hear about the highs and lows (no, we're not just talking about the hikes we took, though they were breathtaking), Hannah's famous "Mah Rabu" moments, and what we've learned. Both of us had moments that challenged us and others that left us filled with pride and hope. We can't wait to share, so thank you for tuning in! Love, Jackie and Hannah  Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

“Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God’s name is our backbone to have the courage to deal with it and stand up to the lobbies? It’s time to turn this pain into action. For every parent, for every citizen in this country, we have to make it clear to every elected official in this country: It’s time to act.” -President Biden This week we decided to devote the entire episode to talking about the recent school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas this past Tuesday. Our hearts break for all of the families in this community, and we send them all of our thoughts and prayers. We spend some time discussing what this means for our country and what we can do to help. We hope you all learn something, and we will see you all soon! Love,  Jackie and Hannah

This week we dive deep into the concept of Menstrual Equity and talk about inclusive language, sustainable and accessible period care, education, and reproductive health. We also talk about Denim Day which happened this week and celebrate our two year anniversary as a podcast community! Love,  Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Nadya Okomoto: Website and Socials Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

This week we dive deep into elitism in our country and the different industries it impacts (e.g. healthcare, academia, politics, etc.). This was such an interesting conversation and we look forward to doing a part two sometime soon!  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride."  - Volodymyr Zelenskyy Welcome back to Dive Right In with Jackie and Hannah! This week, we talk about what it means to be good global citizens while reflecting on the Ukraine-Russia conflict. After extensive research, we start giving some context to the conflict by highlighting Ukraine and Russia's geopolitical history. We talk about Putin's rise to power and the election of President Zelenskyy. After reflecting on the emotional toll of news headlines on North American teenagers, we take a look at the Jewish-Ukrainian perspective by sharing some of our family histories and talking about the resilience of European Jewry. Ultimately, we talk about the value of peace and action steps we can take from abroad to spread awareness and share prayers for peace, hope, and unity.  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Links to Donate and Learn From Fight for Right - "Fight For Right works to let all Ukrainians with disabilities know the answer to this question. Our team has a clear position: #IStayInUkraine and we do everything to make it safe for Ukrainians with disabilities to stay here." "The Urgent Action Fund is helping support women, transgender, and nonbinary activists on the ground in and around Ukraine, by providing flexible funding, access to communication channels, and medical support." "IOM is scaling up its humanitarian operations in Ukraine and neighboring countries, providing emergency services in health, shelter, winter supplies, and protection." Tikva Odessa - Tikva’s core mission is to care for the homeless, abandoned, and abused Jewish children of Odessa and neighboring regions of the Former Soviet Union. Tikva offers its graduates the opportunity for a brighter future through university & technical education in Odessa & immigration to Israel, where Tikva continues its support services to help them thrive. ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

“Won’t it be wonderful when black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” – Maya Angelou Welcome back to Dive Right In with Jackie and Hannah! This week, we talk about what it means to be good allies to the Black Community especially during Black History Month. We aren’t black and don’t identify as People of Color; however, we were unable to line up an interview for this week's episode yet still believe it’s valuable to uplift stories that have often gone unnoticed and unheard of inspiring Black people who have touched our lives. After sharing the stories of Margaret Collins, Tishaura Jones, Zalia Avant-Garde, and many more, we talk about the theme for this years' Black History Month: Black Health and Wellness. At the end of the episode, we call on our white friends to strengthen their allyship and remind our listeners that we are all still learning. Through reading, listening, and reflecting, we can create a more just world.  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Links to Donate and Learn From "Thurgood Marshall College Fund was established in 1987 to support public historically black colleges and universities and students. The fund has grown well beyond merely providing scholarships. It tackles the obstacles students face before, during and after college." "The Black AIDS Institute helps prevent the spread of HIV in the African-American community. Most recently, the group has focused on rural areas, addressing poverty, structural barriers and other factors that hamper access to care." "Black Girls CODE teaches African-American girls how to code, creating a generation of black women prepared for the digital workforce."  "The group 100 Black Men of America improves educational, quality-of-life and economic opportunities within African-American communities." ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

“The takeaway from this episode is recognizing that you have a voice. Youth are the future of our nation, and no matter how you decide to use your voice, your thoughts and opinions matter." -Jackie and Hannah  Welcome back to Dive Right In with Jackie and Hannah! This week, we invite on two guests, one who identifies herself as not being politically aware and another guest who does consider himself to be politically aware, to try and figure out why some teens feel the desire to be involved in politics and others do not. To start us off, we welcome Phoebe, Jackie's sister who is still grappling with where she stands politically, to talk about how she uses her voice in political settings. Phoebe identifies some reasons she chooses to stay out of politics, while also recognizing the need to stand up for what she believes in. We also welcome Aaryan Ram to the podcast to talk about why he thinks political engagement is so important. Aaryan talks about ways he's able to stay politically and socially aware, while also recognizing that it's important for teens to start small with issues they care about. We end the episode by reminding all listeners that they have the power to create change by using their voice!  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

“It’s going to take all of us together to bring about change." -Elise Braverman-Plotkin Welcome back to Dive Right In with Jackie and Hannah! This week, we welcome Elise Braverman-Plotkin, Hannah's mom who holds degrees in Talmud and Philosophy, to talk about the effect her generation (Gen X) has had on society and the lasting impact of Gen X's actions. We start the episode with an homage to Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as we reflect on his legacies and think about powerful ways to participate in MLK Day this year. After our icebreaker question, we dive into our interview with Elise, touching on quintessential Gen X experiences, generational accomplishments, and generational shortcomings. With hope for the future, Elise also talks about our collective responsibility to take a stand and make a change. Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"Each new year offers an exciting opportunity for a fresh start and new beginnings, while also giving us the opportunity to reflect on the past and remember all that happened the year prior." -Jackie and Hannah This week, in honor of the start of 2022, we start by reflecting on our winter break and talking about the impact of the omicron surge on our lives. We also share some of our personal 2021 accomplishments before sharing some new years resolutions and goals for the coming year. Our listeners also submitted resolutions to be shared live on air! We then transition into the bulk of our episode talking about 2021 in review. We highlight various events, ranging from the January 6th insurrection, to the Surfside building collapse, to Jeff Bezos in space, and talk about the effects of these events on us. It was powerful getting to look back on the year and set intentions for the year to come. Happy New Year! Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"Gun control is only the first step. We need to start thinking critically about the ways in which our education and court systems are based on systemic racism and the ways they affect mass incarceration. Everything is related." -Jackie and Hannah This week, we unpack the hot-button issue of gun control and talk about the importance of reforming our education and court systems! We skipped the ice breaker this week to pay homage to the victims of the Oxford Highschool Shooting. We unpack the events of the Michigan shooting and discuss the intersection of mental health and gun control. We also talked about the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and how the media responses have garnered Fame for Rittenhouse.  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"Placing a ban on abortion is only banning safe abortions done by a medical provider. We need to guard abortion to ensure that everyone has access to reproductive healthcare, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, or place of residence." -Jackie and Hannah  This week, we unpack the hot-button issue of abortion and talk about the importance of reproductive healthcare for all people! After breaking the ice by talking about role models, we discuss about Roe v. Wade and the current supreme court hearings trying to place bans on people's healthcare choices, our personal opinions on abortion, and reasons why people may need an abortion. We also take a moment to debunk pro-life arguments and also take a look at Ohio and Texas restrictive abortion laws.  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"While Thanksgiving is known to be a joyous holiday where we spend time with our loved ones and eat lots of food, it is also important to remember its history and how for many people this may be a very bittersweet or sad time." -Jackie and Hannah This week we take some time to talk about the history of Thanksgiving as well as how we celebrate and what we are thankful for. We hope everyone has a good holiday and we will see you all next week! Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"There was a snowball effect where all these little things were going wrong leading up to the big tragedy, and I think this is partially fueled by the lack of social awareness society has post quarantine. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected." -Jackie and Hannah This week, we unpack some of the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has affected society socially. We spend some time discussing the Astroworld tragedy and the ways in which we experience social and school interactions differently in this post quarantine age.  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"Many people don’t have the resources to inform themselves about the elections which can cause them to not vote or vote based off of an unimportant quality or misinformation. We need to limit voter suppression in any ways we can as it is harmful to our environment and doesn’t give us the most accurate or authentic voting results." -Hannah and Jackie This week, we unpack some of the elections in New York City, New Jersey and Ohio that took place this past week. We also spend some time talking about forms of voter suppression and why it is so harmful to our country. Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"I've come so far. I first figured out I was trans when I was eleven. It's just what felt right to me." -Theo  This week we're hearing from Theo, a transgender teen, who talks to us about his experience growing up in a binary world. Thank you so much Theo for taking the time to share your story! Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"Something I love about Judaism is how it gives me a unique opportunity to connect to something greater and find a warm and welcoming community. My disability has not affected my relationship to Judaism, other than needing to find large print books and Siddurim." -Malka Levanna Love,  Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Malka Levanna:  Instagram: @malka.jpeg Tiktok: @ThatJewishQueen Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

"Overall, how does the language we use affect the climate of the group?"  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell

“We were honestly really nervous going into this new situation, but everyone was incredibly welcoming which taught me that stepping out of your comfort zone is incredibly important.”- Jackie and Hannah Welcome back to Dive Right in with Jackie and Hannah! We're beyond excited to get back into podcasting after our 5-month break! In this episode, we delve into where we've been, what we've learned, and where we're going. Stay tuned for lots of new Podcast content coming your way and get ready for new guests starting next week!  Love, Jackie and Hannah ---------------------------- Jackie and Hannah: Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin Twitter: @DiveRightIn2 TikTok: @DiveRightIn Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com Follow our Instagrams: Podcast: @diverightinpodcast Hannah: @hannah.plotkin Jackie: @jackiespinnell