Podcast
I'M THAT
Hosted by Eitan Chitayat · EN
Whether through work or at play, I've had the good fortune of meeting some pretty prolific people. On 'I'm That', we have a chat about who they are, what they do, and why. It may be deep. Profound. Funny. Many times, all of the above. But it's always honest.
(Music by Lisa Coleman)
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Aviva Klompas, Co-Founder and CEO Boundless
Nov 29, 202400:38:43Tap to summarizeAviva Klompas is the co-founder and CEO of Boundless. She has made a name for herself as an outspoken advocate for the Jewish people and as a leading Israel educator. Before launching Boundless, she served as the Director of Speechwriting for Israel's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City and as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Ontario government supporting efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in Canada.A prolific writer, Aviva has written articles that have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Foreign Policy, The Jerusalem Post, and other international publications. She is also the author of two books. Her first, “Speaking for Israel,” reflects on her time as a speechwriter for Israel and offers an honest and entertaining insight into Israeli diplomacy. Her second book, “Stand-Up Nation: Israeli Resilience in the Wake of Disaster,” released in 2024, details Israel’s remarkable and longstanding work in international development. The book builds on Israel’s rich history of international development, and profiles 18 extraordinary Israelis involved in international development work today.Aviva submitted the book’s manuscript before October 7th, and since October 7th, she’s devoted herself to the narrative war on social media and improving Israeli hasbara. Like many of us, she’s focused on getting the truth out there and telling Israel’s story to the world. Aviva just started her own podcast called Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas in which she dives into the most pressing issues facing Israel and Jewish communities.Each week, she will be in conversation with Dr. Michael Oren bringing fresh insights and thoughtful analysis to complex issues. You can find her podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Shabbos Kestenbaum, Jewish Student Activist
Nov 14, 202400:59:56Tap to summarizeAlexander Shabbos Kestenbaum is a religious American Jewish activist. Until not long ago, he was a Harvard Divinity School student and that’s evolved since October to where he’s suing Harvard University in a landmark case that alleges Harvard failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. While at Harvard he founded and was President of the Harvard Divinity School Jewish Student Association and active member of both Harvard Chabad and Harvard Hillel. He didn’t just become a campus leader and a Jewish activist on October 8th. Like many of us, Shabbos is on the frontline of the fight for Israel right now especially for Jewish students, but really all Jewish Americans, with one of the world’s most prestigious universities.InstagramX
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Ella Kenan, Digital Marketing Professional
Oct 23, 202401:11:06Tap to summarizeElla Kenan is an Israeli digital marketing professional and content creator specializing in travel. She runs a well known travel blog for Israelis, but since October 7, Ella has been actively engaged online in the information war, focusing on the Israel Gaza conflict and the broader scope of psyops against Israel, involving Iran, Russia, Qatar and other bad actors.As Ella sees it, these misinformation and disinformation efforts pose a significant threat to life in the West as we know it. She sees Israel serving as the first domino in a much larger global picture, and she fights the good fight every day for Israel and her allies. She's amassed hundreds of millions of views, and in December 2021 Ella, alongside other figures, was given the honor of lighting a torch at Israel’s national Independence Day ceremony by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The honorees at the ceremony came from various fields where they represented Israel in the world by excelling in their professional arena, alongside activity for Israel's image in the media and on social networks.InstagramX
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Abraham Hamra, Syrian Jewish Advocate
Oct 15, 202401:28:43Tap to summarizeAbraham Hamra is that loud and proud Syrian Jew. But you know that already, don’t you?Born in Damascus Syria, he emigrated with his family to the US after 1992 because prior to that Jewish families were not allowed to leave Syria all together.Abraham has a superpower. He’s fluent in English, Arabic, and Hebrew. His social media posts in Arabic are impactful and just what the doctor ordered in taking on the lies of radical Islamists and their supporters.He’s also a shareholder and the chief growth officer of Cohen Tucker and Ades, PC, a leading national immigration firm.Since October 7th, Abraham has taken an active role in combating the type of antisemitism we have seen take the United States by storm. When I say Abraham takes an “active” role, I mean in your face, going toe to toe with anti-Israel protesters and the haters.He also supports victims of antisemitism and makes videos fighting misinformation about Israel and Jews.You will find him fighting back against Jew haters on social media. He also organized rallies and protests and regularly gives speeches sharing his experience as a Syrian refugee.Brash, unapologetic, in your face, Abraham challenges the liberal notion that all Jews are white and he celebrates the true diversity of the Jewish People just by speaking up.LinkedInInstagram
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Dr. Deborah Gilboa, Resilience Expert
Oct 1, 202401:02:11Tap to summarizeResilience expert Deborah Gilboa, MD, aka “Dr. G” works with families, organizations, and businesses to identify the mindset and strategies to turn stress to an advantage. Renowned for her contagious humor, Dr. G works with groups across multiple generations, to rewire their attitudes and beliefs, and create resilience through personal accountability and a completely different approach to adversity. She is a leading media personality seen regularly on TODAY, Good Morning America and The Doctors. She is also featured frequently in the Washington Post, The New York Times, Authority Magazine, and countless other digital and print outlets.Dr. G is board certified attending family physician and is fluent in American Sign Language. She lives in Pittsburgh with her four sons. Follow her here:FacebookInstagramYouTubeXLinkedIn
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Michelle Ahdoot, Director of Programming and Strategy, EndJewHatred
Sep 15, 202401:02:44Tap to summarizeMichelle Ahdoot is Director of Programming and Strategy at End Jew Hatred, a non-partisan international grassroots civil rights movement that unites ordinary people, activists, and organizations from around the world who support the cause that defines the movement: to end Jew-hatred in our lifetime. Comprised of members from all paths and walks of life, EJH’s mission is embedded in upholding the rights of Jews worldwide through strategic partnerships, mobilization and activism. Before joining EJH, Michelle served as a board member and advisor to Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, helping to create and market the FIDF Women’s Brigade. For the past eight years she has also served as the Master of Ceremonies at FIDF’s Annual North Shore Gala. With a strong belief that parent/teacher/administrator partnerships lie at the core of a strong community’s bedrock, Michelle served as President of Great Neck Public School’s United Parent-Teacher Council and led eight joint committees which enhance student education and quality of life across the district’s ten schools. Michelle holds a B.S. in Finance and Marketing from NYU Stern School of Business.
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JopauL, Jewish History Defender
Sep 3, 202401:15:43Tap to summarizeJopauL is a hip-hop legend, with 20 years in the game, straight outta Staten Island, NY. After making waves in the Hip Hop scene, he took his skills to JP Morgan, getting the lowdown on the corporate hustle. He's a master of reinvention, now living at the crossroads of music, business, and influence. JopauL runs the Verified Podcast, where he shares life-changing stories from unconventional folks. His raw, no-holds-barred style keeps it real, and he's never afraid to call out the BS. Fans love him for his music, his big personality, and his knack for rolling with life's punches. These days, JoPaul is dedicating his all to defending the Jewish People on Instagram, where his relentless energy and unfiltered honesty keep everyone hooked.
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Matan Peretz, Comedian
Aug 19, 202401:28:16Tap to summarizeMatan Peretz is the f**king sh*t.He’s an Israeli standup comedian and content creator, who recently gained a lot of exposure due to his Hasbara videos during his reserve service in Hebron. That’s how I first got wind of him and he blew me away with his rhetoric.Matan is hilarious, he’s a nice guy, he’s modest, he’s the real deal. There’s a reason nearly 200,000 people follow him on Instagram.He’s a reserve soldier in the IDF, was on the front since early in October 7th, he knows what’s going on, he speaks first hand about what’s going on in Israel and he’s in it for the right reasons. Completely unapologetic, he takes the fight to the haters and is fearless in responding to their lies and obfuscations.He’s is a truth seeker, he’s a truth teller and he gets attention online with his approach. And he’s funny about very unfunny subjects. He’s also funny about funny subjects and talks about a lot of stuff in his sell-out shows across Israel where he’s incredibly successful.Matan speaks great English, he’s 100% proud to be Israeli and he’s someone I want you to know about and pay attention to. Please listen to our conversation and if you haven’t already, please follow him here.
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Yechiel Jacobs, Comedian & Advocate
Aug 12, 202400:45:57Tap to summarizeWhat most people know about Yechiel Jacobs is how he makes so many people cry with laughter on Instagram about some serious Jewish subjects. He's only 23 years old, he's fearless, funny as s**t, and his comedic star is rising as he captivates audiences on and offline with his one-of-a-kind approach.He asks the tough questions and skewers the people promoting the lies and hypocrisy about Israel and the Jewish People, and he doesn’t stand for the craziness that’s running rampant today. He doesn’t hold back and has no fear when it comes to the haters. He just uses his unforgettable voice to get straight to the heart of any issue, break it down, and give his hilarious take on what’s really happening.One of the things I love about Yehiel is his unique ability to use comedy so powerfully to spark conversations and awareness about what's happening to the Jewish People and in Israel. That voice, his physicality, and his fearlessness all combine with intense smarts and funny to make you laugh out loud about some very unfunny subjects. Follow him on Instagram and YouTube and TikTok
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Marnie Perlstein, Anti Antisemitism Advocate
Jul 31, 202401:01:51Tap to summarizeMarnie Perlstein is an Australian antisemitism advocate. Her first career was in communications and corporate and consumer PR but she then pivoted into her next one - Jewish education. She became the Marketing Manager at Mount Scopus College in Melbourne and then worked with the Board of Jewish Education in Sydney. She is a committed and passionate member of the Sydney Jewish community and has been working to connect organizations, individuals and programs in the common goal of fighting antisemitism since 2001. Post October 7 she started talking online, accidentally growing from 1000 personal followers to over 40K new followers.
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