What does it mean to be Jewish today—especially if you’re a teen growing up in a world full of contradictions, questions, and culture shifts?
Hosted by Lila Newman, a Gen-Z Jewish girl figuring it out in real time, Jewish Actually explores identity, memory, and meaning through honest conversations with people across generations. It’s a podcast about belonging, asking questions, and claiming your voice. Whether you’re religious, secular, just curious, or somewhere in between, Jewish Actually is for anyone thinking deeply about who they are and
Building Bridges: NYU Professor Rabbi Yehuda Sarna on Jewish Belonging Around the World
In this episode of Jewish Actually, I speak with Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, NYU professor and Executive Director of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life, about Jewish identity, belonging, leadership, and the power of dialogue.
Rabbi Sarna shares his journey from growing up in Montreal to becoming a leader in Jewish communities around the world, including his work at NYU and in the United Arab Emirates. He reflects on building relationships across religious and cultural differences, creating spaces for Jewish belonging on college campuses, and navigating Jewish life in a rapidly changing world.
From interfaith dialogue to Jewish campus life after October 7th, this conversation explores what it means to listen, build bridges, and create community while staying grounded in who you are.
15 Aug 2026
Behind the Camera: Rachel Israel on the Direction of The Floaters Film
In this episode of Jewish Actually, I’m joined by Rachel Israel, writer and director, whose work explores identity, relationships, and belonging. Rachel made her feature film debut with Keep the Change, which premiered at Tribeca and went on to receive numerous awards. Her recent film, The Floaters, takes us into the world of Jewish summer camp, exploring Jewish identity, community, and what it means to find where you belong.
Today, Rachel and I talk about her Jewish upbringing, her journey into filmmaking, and the stories that inspire her work. We also dive into The Floaters and what it means to tell complicated, funny, and deeply personal Jewish stories on screen.
8 Aug 2026
Inside The Floaters Movie: With Broadway and Film Actor Jim Kaplan
In this episode of Jewish Actually, broadway and film actor Jim Kaplan joins me to discuss his role as "Tums" in The Floaters, a coming-of-age comedy set at a Jewish summer camp. Jim shares how he got into acting, what it was like bringing the film to life, and why stories centered on Jewish identity and community matter. We also talk about growing up Jewish, and Jim's experience being an Asian-American Jew who was adopted. Whether you've spent summers at camp or simply love meaningful conversations about identity, storytelling, and film, this episode is for you.
9 May 2026
Jewish Media Today with Neil Friedman (CEO of ChaiFlicks & Founder of Menemsha Films)
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 lawyer on the set of Hairspray and has held numerous senior roles with major film distributors, including New Line Cinema, Columbia Pictures, and The Pressman Company. He has represented multiple Academy Award nominees and has played a key role in financing and distributing Jewish film and television across North America and globally through Menemsha Films and ChaiFlicks—the largest Jewish streaming platform in the world.
Our conversation also dives into the broader role of Jewish media today: why storytelling matters, how it’s evolving in response to current events and rising antisemitism, and the responsibility of preserving and sharing Jewish narratives in a modern landscape.
Whether you’re interested in film, media, or the future of Jewish storytelling, this episode offers a thoughtful look inside the industry from one of its leading voices.
Thanks to ChaiFlicks and Neil, you can use the special discount code ACTUALLY36 to use ChaiFlicks at a discounted rate for only $3 a month, or $36 a year.
Redemption link: http://www.chaiflicks.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=actually36&plan=yearly (http://www.chaiflicks.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=actually36&plan=yearly)
25 Apr 2026
The Obamas’ Former Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz on Her Books and Rediscovering Jewish Identity
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 a deeper engagement with Jewish texts and tradition through her books: "Here All Along" and "As A Jew".
Sarah reflects on how her writing has evolved and how Jewish ideas reshaped her understanding of purpose and identity.
18 Apr 2026
From the IDF to Bob Dylan: Finding Jewish Meaning in Music with CEO Dr. Stephen Arnoff (Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center)
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 Bob Dylan—and how it can serve as a powerful lens for understanding Judaism, spirituality, and identity.
Tune in for an absolutely fascinating conversation with one of the most compelling voices at the intersection of Jewish identity, culture, and music today!
👉 Check Dr. Arnoff's Substack: https://stephendanielarnoff.substack.com/ (https://stephendanielarnoff.substack.com/)
And Dr. Arnoff's book "About Man and God and Law: The Spiritual Wisdom of Bob Dylan".
11 Apr 2026
AJC's Leader's For Tomorrow Program: With Aaron Bregman
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 insights into the program’s impact and why investing in future leaders to combat antisemitism matters now more than ever.
4 Apr 2026
Inside AJC's ACCESS Global with Alana Wilck, Assistant Director
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.
28 Mar 2026
Jewish Film Feature: "We Should Eat" with Alysia Reiner and Shaina Feinberg
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 and Shaina's incredible careers and fascinating Jewish upbringings and lives.
21 Mar 2026
When Holocaust Denial Went to Court: The Irving v. Lipstadt Trial with Dr. Kenneth Stern
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 on hate and extremism.
Stern also played a key behind-the-scenes role as a special advisor in one of the most consequential legal battles over truth in modern history: Irving v. Penguin Books and Deborah Lipstadt.
In this conversation, Stern takes us inside the case, not just what happened, but how it was fought. From the decision to turn the trial into a case against the denier, to the strategy of relying on expert historians instead of survivors, to the painstaking work of exposing distortions line by line, Stern breaks down the legal and intellectual playbook used to dismantle Holocaust denial in court.
Lila and Stern also explore how the IHRA working definition of anti-semitism and how it connects to hate and extremism today. As one of the leading drafters of the definition, Stern explains its significance and potential challenges, too.
14 Mar 2026
Capturing Jewish Stories: With Emmy-Nominated Filmmaker Laura Seltzer-Duny
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. Seltzer-Duny also shares the impact the film has had on audiences and why continuing to tell Jewish stories through film remains so important today.
14 Feb 2026
Witnessing in Complicated Times: With 3x Emmy-Nominated Journalist & Filmmaker Allison Norlian
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 behind-the-scenes work and thought process for "Thirteen".
7 Feb 2026
Jewish in the NFL: With Gus Ornstein
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.
31 Jan 2026
Jewish Joy Isn't Quiet: Harper Kincaid on Writing, Therapy, and Saying the Unsayable
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.
24 Jan 2026
What We Inherit and What We Find: With Artist Baret Boisson
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 the one she thought she understood.
We talk about what it means to inherit a history you weren’t fully raised inside of, how family truths can reshape self-perception, and how identity evolves over time.
Baret is a major contemporary artist whose work has been seen by over 100,000 visitors in a civil rights museum exhibition. She has completed high-profile portrait commissions, including one of Jimmy Fallon and his family. But, this conversation is about something more intimate — the search for belonging.
If you’ve ever questioned where you come from or how identity forms, this episode is for you.
22 Jan 2026
Jewish Actually: Why I'm Starting this Podcast
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 conversations.
No scripts. No performative takes.
Just nuance, curiosity, and real talk.
Because being Jewish right now?
It’s complicated.
And we’re going there.
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Spotify
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