Podcast
Shoulder to Shoulder
Hosted by Doug Reed and Pesach Wolicki · EN
Welcome to Shoulder to Shoulder, a podcast where a pastor and a rabbi get to the heart of issues that matter to people of faith.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
(243) What Zohran Mamdani Means for America, and the Rise of the Red-Green Alliance
5d ago00:45:42Tap to summarizeRabbi Daniel Schonbuch joins Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki to examine what Zohran Mamdani's rise to the New York mayor's office reveals about the changing political and cultural landscape in America. They discuss the growth of the Democratic Socialists of America, the alliance between the far left and political Islam, rising antisemitism in New York City, and why these developments should concern both Christians and Jews. The conversation also explores coalition-building across faith communities and why defending biblical values and democratic ideals has become an increasingly urgent challenge.
Transcribe →(242) The Iran Mistake: What the West Still Doesn't Understand, with Dr. Harold Rhode
2w ago01:03:21Tap to summarizeWhy have decades of negotiations, sanctions, and military pressure failed to change Iran's behavior? According to Dr. Harold Rhode, the answer lies in something far deeper than politics. It lies in culture. Having lived in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and later served for twenty-eight years as the Pentagon's leading adviser on the Islamic world, Dr. Rhode argues that American policymakers repeatedly misunderstand how Iranian leaders think because they assume that other cultures share Western assumptions about compromise, diplomacy, and power. Drawing on his remarkable firsthand experiences, he explains why cultural misunderstandings have shaped U.S. policy toward Iran for decades, how the regime maintains its grip on power, and what Israel and the United States should learn if they hope to confront the Islamic Republic successfully. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the intersection of culture, history, and geopolitics, and demonstrates why understanding an adversary's worldview may be the most important step toward defeating it.
Transcribe →(241) The Logic Behind the Middle East's Most Dangerous Standoff, with Elliot Chodoff
3w ago00:38:53Tap to summarizeIs the region drifting toward another major war, or are all sides carefully managing the conflict? Elliott Chodoff returns to Shoulder to Shoulder to explain the strategic calculations behind the latest confrontation with Iran. He discusses why Western diplomacy often misunderstands Middle Eastern political culture, why Iran continues to test American resolve, how Israel might respond if attacked, and why Lebanon remains one of the region's biggest wild cards. Rather than focusing on the daily headlines, this conversation examines the deeper strategic forces shaping events and what they could mean for the months ahead. Join an all-star panel of Middle East experts for a special Israel365 webinar on Iran, regional security, and what comes next. Register at israel365.com/regime.
Transcribe →(240) America at 250: The Biblical Ideas That Built a Nation
4w ago00:42:29Tap to summarizeAs America celebrates its 250th birthday, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki look beyond fireworks and patriotism to the ideas that made the American experiment unique. They explore how the Bible shaped the Founders' understanding of liberty, why freedom and personal responsibility are inseparable, and what passages from Deuteronomy, the Ten Commandments, and even Little House on the Prairie reveal about the moral foundations of a free society. Along the way, they discuss the Ark Encounter, biblical literalism, and why Israel's appreciation for America reflects more than politics. It's a thoughtful conversation about faith, freedom, and the enduring power of America's Judeo-Christian heritage.
Transcribe →(239) Why the Future of Christian Zionism Is Brighter Than You Think, with Heather Johnston
Jul 100:43:37Tap to summarizeIs support for Israel weakening among younger Christians and conservatives? Has the U.S.-Israel relationship reached a turning point? Pesach speaks with Heather Johnston, founder of the U.S. Israel Education Association, about educating Congress, strengthening Christian support for Israel, and why she believes today's challenges are serious but far from hopeless. Along the way, Heather shares the remarkable personal journey that led her from replacement theology to a lifetime of service to Israel.
Transcribe →(238) A Bad Deal, Not a Disaster: The U.S.-Iran MOU in Perspective
Jun 2400:42:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki unpack the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, and ask what it really means for Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah, and the future of the Middle East. Is this MOU a dangerous betrayal, a temporary pause, or a diplomatic framework that was never meant to survive? Pesach argues that while the agreement contains deeply troubling concessions, much of the panic surrounding it misses the larger picture. Together, Doug and Pesach examine the fine print, the political calculations behind it, the role of Iran's proxies, and why Israel must retain the freedom to defend itself. They also move beyond geopolitics to a deeper question of faith: when evil is real and peace feels impossible, do people of faith wait for God to fix history, or do they step forward with courage and act?
Transcribe →(237) "The Quran Is a Zionist Document": A Muslim Leader Challenges the Orthodoxies of Islam, with Anila Ali
Jun 1700:54:43Tap to summarizeIs Zionism embedded in the Quran itself? According to Muslim activist and interfaith leader Anila Ali, the answer is yes. In this fascinating conversation, Anila joins Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed to explain why she believes that the Quran affirms the Jewish people's connection to the Land of Israel, why she proudly calls herself a Muslim Zionist, and why much of the Muslim world's hostility toward Israel stems not from Islamic theology but from modern political movements. Drawing on her own upbringing, her study of Islamic texts, and her work building Muslim-Jewish partnerships, Anila offers a strikingly different vision of Islam than the one most people encounter in the headlines. The discussion explores her efforts to bring Muslim delegations to Israel, the reactions of those who discover a reality very different from what they expected, and the personal cost she has paid for speaking publicly in support of Israel and the Abraham Accords. Whether you agree with her or not, Anila presents a perspective that challenges assumptions and invites a deeper conversation about faith, history, and the possibility of peace.
Transcribe →(236) Why Lebanon Can't Fix Itself: The Forgotten History Behind Hezbollah, Iran, and a Dysfunctional State
Jun 1000:47:47Tap to summarizeWhy does Lebanon seem trapped in a cycle of political paralysis, foreign interference, and violence? In this episode, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Pastor Doug Reed step back from the headlines to explore the deeper story behind Lebanon's ongoing crisis. From the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of Lebanon's unique political system to the rise of Hezbollah and Iran's growing influence, they explain how a century of decisions has produced one of the Middle East's most dysfunctional states. Along the way, Doug shares stories from his travels across America, including an unexpected conversation about Israel with a former Major League Baseball All-Star. The result is a wide-ranging discussion about history, geopolitics, faith, and why understanding Lebanon is essential to understanding the modern Middle East.
Transcribe →(235) The Strange Alliance Against America and Israel: Dr. James Lindsay on Dugin, Russia, and the New Right
Jun 300:49:50Tap to summarizeWhy have some of the most influential voices on the populist right become increasingly hostile to Israel, skeptical of America, and sympathetic to Russia? In this fascinating solo interview, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki sits down with cultural critic and author Dr. James Lindsay to explore the ideas of Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin and the growing influence of his worldview on parts of the American right. Together they examine the roots of anti-globalism, the appeal of traditionalism, the rise of what some call the "woke right," and the intellectual currents connecting Russia, Iran, nationalism, and anti-Israel sentiment. They discuss why so many young people are searching for identity and rootedness, how legitimate frustrations with modern culture can be manipulated into destructive ideologies, and why the Judeo-Christian foundations of America remain essential to understanding both freedom and human dignity. This is a wide-ranging conversation about ideas, propaganda, faith, nationalism, and the battle for the future of Western civilization.
Transcribe →(234) Dual Loyalty? | Rabbi Elie Mischel on American Jews, Israel, and Redemption
May 2700:49:57Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki welcome Rabbi Elie Mischel to discuss his provocative new book, Countdown: American Jews and God's Plan for Redemption. At the center of the conversation is one of the most uncomfortable questions in modern Jewish life: the issue of "dual loyalty." Can Jews fully belong to America while remaining faithful to the Jewish mission centered in Israel? And what happens when rising antisemitism forces that question into the open? Rabbi Mischel makes the controversial argument that Judaism is not fundamentally a religion at all, but a nationhood rooted in the Bible, the Land of Israel, and a collective historical destiny. Drawing on the stories of Abraham, the Exodus, and the Book of Esther, he argues that many American Jews are confronting the same identity crisis faced by Persian Jewry thousands of years ago: are they Americans who happen to be Jewish, or Jews temporarily living in America? The discussion explores Zionism, assimilation, exile, redemption, Tucker Carlson, the modern accusation of dual loyalty, and why Rabbi Mischel believes the current moment may be a turning point for the future of American Jewry. The episode also examines the growing crisis of biblical literacy among both Jews and Christians, and why recovering the Hebrew Bible is essential for understanding Israel and the moral struggles of our time. Check out The Israel Bible YouTube channel. Join Doug and his family as they prepare to move to Israel by watching The Reeds Are Here on YouTube. Watch Shoulder to Shoulder along with Pesach's other fantastic content on his YouTube channel.
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