People Jew Wanna Know

Andrew Fox is the creator and composer of Slam Frank, the satirical hip-hop musical that reimagines Anne Frank's story. "Every woman is a Jew hiding in her own attic," the show proclaims. After going viral online, it made its off-Broadway debut in 2025 and was named one of the New York Times' best comedies of the year. A former nonprofit founder and educator who taught musical theater in China right before COVID, Fox also built the show's cult-famous social media presence himself from an Android.In this episode, Fox makes his case for separating art from the artist. He describes how four Nick Fuentes fans flew in to see his show on the same night as a Satmar family, defends refusing to declare whether Slam Frank is Zionist or anti-Zionist, and explains why certainty is the real danger, and much more. This episode is brought to you by The Five Books Podcast! Listen wherever you get your podcasts & check out www.fivebookspod.org Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrewfoxmusic and follow the show @slamfrankmusical. See Slam Frank at the Orpheum Theater.Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss:00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda06:26 Running the Slam Frank account as performance art07:21 Teaching musical theater in China before COVID09:41 What "woke" was, and why the arts won't grapple with it11:08 The professor suspended for teaching a Mandarin filler word15:19 Andrew's grandfather and the McCarthy era17:20 Why Slam Frank refuses to declare a side20:38 The night 4 Holocaust deniers and a Satmar family saw the show35:04 The October 7th show and the man who stormed out45:49 Separating the art from the artist — up to a point50:22 A message against Jewish tribalism51:19 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Shanie Reichman is a rising star in the NYC Jewish non-profit scene. Today, she directs strategic initiatives at Israel Policy Forum and hosts the new podcast, Disputed Territory, where she makes the case for liberal Zionism to people who think the phrase is a contradiction.In a conversation that's timely given the Israeli elections, Margarita brings her questions, her skepticism, and a genuine willingness to be educated — and Shanie delivers, right down to the logistics of how you could create a two-state solution or, as IPF calls it, a two-state outcome. Follow Shanie on Instagram @ShanieMieka and listen to Disputed Territory wherever you get your podcasts. Check out IPF at www.israelpolicyforum.orgSupport our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow**What We Discuss:**00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda03:36 Nash Didan and an Aramaic-speaking family07:30 How Shanie learned about the I/P conflict10:00 What liberal Zionism actually means14:00 Israeli elections and Netanyahu's cracking coalition18:00 The Haredi draft, education, and the cost to Israel's economy23:00 Haredi feminists and the fake primary that worked28:00 Did October 7th shatter the status quo?35:00 Should diaspora Jews have a say in Israel?44:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Rabbi David Wolpe has been described as one of the most influential Rabbis in America. He's known for his pointed debates on the importance of religion, his outspokenness on current affairs, and a desire to shape today's Jewish leaders and their passion for Judaism. In this episode, Rabbi shares countless pieces of wisdom, an inside look at what's happening to Jewish denominations today, and opens up about his hilarious personality! Follow Rabbi Wolpe on Instagram @davidjwolpeSupport our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowThis episode is brought to you in partnership with the Center for Jewish History. **What We Discuss:**00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda02:24 From aspiring writer to accidental rabbi06:00 Native to America but immigrants to Judaism11:30 Why young Jews lost the sense of peoplehood16:00 Talking to students at the Harvard encampments19:30 Courage, competence, and turning the argument around24:00 Is Orthodoxy the "original" Judaism?29:00 What 30 years taught him about influence33:00 Optimism, bots, and confusing your enemy36:30 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Lindsay Pinchuk built a seven-figure company from scratch, sold it, and became a mentor to hundreds of women over 40 who thought it was too late to start. Then, October 8th, 2023 happened. She posted a video in the parking lot of Whole Foods about what it felt like to be a Jewish American woman, and woke up to 100,000 views and a comment section full of "me too."Three years later, speaking up for what's right didn't cost her the business. Inquiries went up 500%. If you needed a reminder that it's never too late to chase your dreams - this episode is it. Follow Lindsay on socials @LindsayPinchuk and check out her work at www.lindsaypinchuk.comSupport our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknowWhat We Discuss:00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda02:00 From advertising to Bump Club to Dear FoundHer07:00 The Whole Foods parking lot video that changed everything11:00 Fracturing, infighting, and why antisemitism shouldn't have a political party15:00 Getting brands to work with Jewish creators20:00 Why activism isn't a career (and why you need another lane)28:00 What hundreds of female founders taught her34:00 Raising two daughters after October 7th40:00 The "From the River to the Sea" shirt and the letter to the principal47:00 The SWEEP marketing framework52:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Gila Pfeffer lost her mother at 20 and her grandmother before that — both to cancers she carried the genetic blueprint for. So she did something very atypical at the time: a preventative double mastectomy in 2008, years before Angelina Jolie made the choice a norm. Unfortunately, Gila got breast cancer anyway. Both a previvor AND survivor, Gila is one of the funniest people you'll ever hear talk about all of it.An award-winning author and humorist, Gila wrote her memoir *Nearly Departed* through the lens of her Orthodox Jewish life — Shiva, mikveh, wigs during chemo, the whole thing. This conversation lands during a week built for grief, and Gila makes the case that laughter isn't a betrayal of grief. It's the way through.Follow Gila on Instagram @gilapfeffer and check out her novel, Nearly Departed, anywhere you get your books!Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow**What We Discuss:**00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda06:00 Writing Nearly Departed through an Orthodox lens12:00 Same chemo as her mother, thirty years later17:00 Phil, and the birthday that felt like a sign21:00 Grief you don't expect — and its sixth stage28:00 Emuna, agency, and choosing the mastectomy35:00 Why teenage Gila would be shocked40:00 How Margarita and Gila actually met (a Carnegie Hall heist)45:00 Find a way to laugh47:00 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination