Podcast
War is Stupid: An Anti-War Podcast About War
Hosted by Orli Matlow · EN
The history and comedy podcast that challenges the centuries-old conventional wisdom that war is the smart and sensible thing to do. Hosted by comedian Orli Matlow.
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Torah Is Political? with Rabbi Jill Jacobs, T'ruah
2w ago00:50:20Tap to summarizeOrli Matlow sits down Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, an organization that trains and mobilizes rabbis and cantors and their communities to bring a moral voice to protecting and advancing human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories. They discuss Truah’s decision to host Mayor Zohran Mamdani at their gala rather than declare him “an enemy of the Jewish people” (like a certain chair of UJA Federation did), and how that rhetoric does not help the Jewish community. Rabbi Jacobs shares her vision for a New York Jewish Parade to replace the Israel Day Parade, reflects on T'ruah’s work defending immigrants, and reveals her favorite niche tractate of Talmud. Note: Recorded BC (Before Championship). Knicks in 5! Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow T'ruah: Website Instagram YouTube Bluesky Facebook Substack Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack
Transcribe →London Is A Jewish City? with Historian Joseph Finlay
3w ago00:55:00Tap to summarizeOrli Matlow sits down with British Jewish historian, writer, and musician Joseph Finlay, who passionately argues against her claim from the Amsterdam episode that “London is like NYC for goyim.” They explore the rich Jewish history of London, which was one of socialism and anarchism up until Thatcherism. They discuss the anti-fascist resistance of the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, which was recently co-opted by the Zionist Right in response to a protest against West Bank settlement sales. They talk about British Jewish heroes like Oliver!’s Lionel Bart and British Jewish villains like Lord Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks—and the contradictions of a “Rabbi Lord.” Joseph breaks down philo-semitism, a phenomenon that endangers Jews while mainstream institutions cheer it on. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Joseph: Torat Albion Newsletter Bluesky Website Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack
Transcribe →Italian Americans Are MAGAroni? with Comedian Ron Placone
4w ago00:57:07Tap to summarizeOrli Matlow sits down with Italian American comedian Ron Placone, whose show Anti-Fascist Pasta Night is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. They discuss the true history of fighting fascism with food, covering everything from Mussolini to Heated Rivalry. Ron opens up about his political awakening during the Iraq War, the multiplicity of Italian American identity, and shares his pro tips for surviving a run at the biggest arts festival on the planet. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Ron: Website Instagram Substack Podcast YouTube Watch Left At Wall: Tubi YouTube Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website
Transcribe →Trauma Begets Trauma? with British Jewish Filmmaker Gillian Mosely
Jun 800:35:34Tap to summarizeOrli Matlow sits down with British Jewish filmmaker Gillian Mosely, whose latest film Planet Israel explores Israeli society during and after October 7th. She investigates how right-wing Religious Zionism and settler ideology came to dominate Israel, with its roots in the work of Bibi’s dad’s boss Ze’ev Jabotinsky and Brooklyn-born convicted felon Rabbi Meir Kahane. They discuss what we owe our ancestors, interviewing people in Gaza, and the British Jewish experience—including Orli (figuratively) bombing in Camden cabarets. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Watch Planet Israel on Kinema Follow Planet Israel: Website Instagram Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website
Transcribe →Veterans Appreciate "Thank You For Your Service"? with Common Defense
Jun 101:03:14Tap to summarizeOrli Matlow sits down with Common Defense organizer Michael Carter and member Susan O’Neill, who served as an Operating Room Nurse in Vietnam. They discuss organizing veterans against forever wars, authoritarianism and VA privatization, and what Supporting The Troops actually looks like, with shoutouts to Stephen Sondheim and Bruce Springsteen along the way. They talk the realities that lead people to join the military, the militarization of society, and finding hope in people—and birds. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Common Defense: Instagram YouTube Website Follow Susan: Buy Don't Mean Nothing on Amazon Website Follow Michael: Instagram Substack Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website
Transcribe →Cuba Is The Future? with Comedian Gabe Pacheco
May 2600:51:51Tap to summarizeOrli Matlow sits down with comedian Gabe Pacheco, who might soon be subpoenaed by the federal government for joining the same aid mission to Cuba as Hasan Piker. They talk about Cuba’s history and present, whether Che Guevara shirts are as popular there as they are at liberal arts colleges, and why we need to bring the name Smedley back. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Gabe: Instagram YouTube Halal Cartels Podcast Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website
Transcribe →American Voters Can Fix Israel and Palestine? with Mattan Berner-Kadish
May 1801:01:53Tap to summarizeOrli Matlow sits down with Mattan Berner-Kadish, an advocate for civil rights in Israel since his parents sued the country when he was four years old. Mattan talks about his work in the Occupied West Bank, bearing witness to extreme Israeli settler and military violence, including the killing of his close friend and fellow football fan Awdah Hathahleen. They talk nepo babies in the IDF, ICC evidence on Israeli Tinder, and how American Jews are the most progressive in the world (complimentary). Mattan talks about his new nonprofit From Here Forward, and makes the case that Naftali Bennett is not the Great Hope to save lives in Palestine and Israel—American primary voters are. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Donate to From Here Forward Follow Mattan: Instagram TikTok Substack Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website
Transcribe →Catholics and Protestants Can Live Together? with Comedian Katie Boyle
May 1100:56:15Tap to summarizeHost Orli Matlow welcomes Irish comedian and newly minted American citizen, Katie Boyle. Katie teaches Orli about iconic figures in Irish history including Michael Collins, the pagan goddess Bridgid, and Crazy Bob. They talk the cool anti-war Pope Louis XIV and the real purpose of religion, plus Katie covers gun control and abortion rights—and doing standup in places that don’t have either. They also cover The Troubles, The Great Famine, and the lessons that today’s empires can learn from Britain losing theirs. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Watch Katie’s specials: Terapy I'll Do It Myself Follow Katie: Instagram TikTok YouTube Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok YouTube Website
Transcribe →Nuance Is Possible? with Alex Willick, New Israel Fund
May 400:47:52Tap to summarizeHost Orli Matlow sits down with Alex Willick, who was featured in the recent New Yorker article “At Synagogues, Tensions Are Boiling Over" by Eyal Press. A director at the New Israel Fund, he was invited to talk to the congregation about a recent trip to The Land, but the invitation was rescinded when he planned on speaking about settler violence in the West Bank. He shares the story that was banned from the bimah, and they discuss just how extreme this Israeli government truly is, its roots in the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, and what our responsibilities are as people who care about human rights. Read The New Yorker piece here. Learn more about the New Israel Fund here. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website
Transcribe →The Western Front Is Walkable? with Author Briana Gervat
Apr 2700:43:24Tap to summarizeHost Orli Matlow sits down with Briana Gervat, author of There Will Come Soft Rains: A Journey Along the Western Front. Briana hiked for 36 days through France and Belgium, tracing the path of World War I, a devastating war that changed the world for the absolute worst (with the exceptions of Winnie the Pooh and Pilates). Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Briana: Instagram Amazon Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website
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