Podcast Summary: Karol Markowitz Show – Ashira Solomon: Black. Jewish. Bold.

Release Date: June 4, 2025
Hosted by: iHeartPodcasts

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Carol Markowitz Show, host Carol Markowitz sits down with Asherah Solomon, the dynamic host of the Black and Jewish podcast. The conversation delves deep into Asherah's mission to bridge the Black and Jewish communities, address rising antisemitism, and navigate personal and professional challenges.

Bridging Black and Jewish Communities

Asherah Solomon explains the inspiration behind her podcast, emphasizing the importance of uniting two communities she identifies with:

“[00:04] Asherah Solomon: Black and Jewish, not because I'm a black Jew, but because I wanted to bridge both of these communities that I'm both a part of.”

She highlights the misconceptions each community holds about the other.

Misconceptions Faced:

• From the Jewish Community:
  Jews perceive the Black community as becoming deeply antisemitic. Asherah clarifies this isn’t rooted in hate but misinformation about Israel and Jewish people.

• From the Black Community:
  There's a prevalent myth that Jews are white colonizers in Israel, suppressing brown Palestinians. Asherah addresses this by fostering informed dialogue.

“[03:21] Asherah Solomon: I believe that what we see as anti Semitism in the black community is not from the hate of the Jewish person, but it's from being misinformed about Israel and about Jewish people.”

Asherah’s Path into Media and Launching The Quad

Asherah recounts her journey into media, which began unexpectedly during a tumultuous period in Israel.

“[05:16] Asherah Solomon: She didn't even ask, do you want. And I just said, oh, my God, yes.”

Her mentor, Flor Hassan Nachom, proposed her as a co-host for a new show The Quad, akin to "The View" but focused on Jewish women in Israel. The show was slated to launch in November but faced an abrupt change due to the events of October 7th.

First Episode During October 7 Attack

Shortly after October 7th attacks in Israel, Asherah was thrust into media coverage, alongside Flor Hassan and Emily Schrader. Their first episode tackled the immediate impact of the attack, highlighting the fear and resilience within the community.

“[07:28] Asherah Solomon: This is me, my first time in Israel, experiencing an attack. I've lived in Israel before, but never like an attack. And I'm shaken to my core.”

Defining Hasbara and Its Importance

Carol inquires about Hasbara, a term often misunderstood by the general audience.

“[08:17] Asherah Solomon: Hasbara is defined as like the public relations, diplomacy department of explaining Israel to the international community.”

She emphasizes the neutral nature of the term, despite its negative connotations by some groups.

Career Aspirations and Cultural Diplomacy

Asherah shares her initial ambitions to enter diplomacy, inspired by her time as a Bourne Fellow with the State Department. Although her path took a different turn, she still identifies as a cultural diplomat, striving to bridge communities through dialogue and representation.

“[09:44] Asherah Solomon: I still feel like that's why I call myself a cultural diplomat now, because I still feel like I'm bridging and showing each other, showing people, you know, each other's communities and stuff.”

Being a Bridge and Representation

Discussing the challenges of being an intermediary between two communities, Asherah finds the role rewarding rather than burdensome due to her deep care for both the Black and Jewish communities.

“[12:13] Asherah Solomon: I find it rewarding because I care so much. I care so much about the Jewish people. I care so much about the black community.”

She strives to provide positive representation while addressing critical issues within each community.

Personal Worries and Work-Life Balance

Asherah opens up about her personal fears, particularly the balance between career ambitions and building a family. She reflects on societal pressures and her rabbi's advice, which shifted her perspective towards prioritizing family without compromising her professional growth.

“[14:49] Asherah Solomon: What I worry about every night before I go to sleep is when am I going to get married and when am I going to create a family.”

Advice to Her 16-Year-Old Self and Growing Up

Reflecting on her upbringing in California's Bay Area, Asherah emphasizes the importance of listening to her parents. She recognizes the value of their strictness in shaping her resilient and focused character.

“[17:33] Asherah Solomon: I would tell her to listen to your parents. Your parents are... they don’t want you to have a sucky social.”

She shares anecdotes about her childhood responsibilities and how her parents' guidance helped her avoid unnecessary hardships.

Self-Improvement Tips and Conclusion

Asherah concludes with her best tip for personal growth: be brutally honest with yourself while maintaining grace and kindness. She advocates for authentic self-assessment without succumbing to harsh self-criticism.

“[22:59] Asherah Solomon: Being brutally honest with yourself and who you are so that you can grow and you can heal, but having tons of grace and kindness with yourself as you're growing in your healing.”

She believes that individual healing contributes to a collective upliftment of global energy and love.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Defining Hasbara:
  “[08:17] Asherah Solomon: Hasbara is defined as like the public relations, diplomacy department of explaining Israel to the international community.”

• On Misconceptions:
  “[03:21] Asherah Solomon: I believe that what we see as anti Semitism in the black community is not from the hate of the Jewish person, but it's from being misinformed about Israel and about Jewish people.”

• Representation:
  “[14:01] Asherah Solomon: Representation is crucial because...” (paraphrased for brevity)

• Self-Improvement Tip:
  “[22:59] Asherah Solomon: Being brutally honest with yourself and who you are so that you can grow and you can heal, but having tons of grace and kindness with yourself as you're growing in your healing.”

Conclusion

Asherah Solomon's candid conversation with Carol Markowitz sheds light on the intricate dynamics between Black and Jewish communities. Her dedication to fostering understanding, coupled with her personal insights on growth and representation, makes this episode a compelling listen for anyone interested in cultural diplomacy and social harmony.

Podcast Information Recap:

• Title: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (Note: Episode appears to be from The Carol Markowitz Show)
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: Karol Markowicz Show: Ashira Solomon: Black. Jewish. Bold.
• Release Date: June 4, 2025

This summary is based on the provided transcript and aims to encapsulate the essence of the conversation while highlighting key discussions and insights.