
Unholy: Two Jews on the News
Yonit Levi of Israel's Channel 12 News and Jonathan Freedland of The Guardian are two of the most prominent journalists in the world today. They are also Jews. Each week, join what MSNBC's Rachel Maddow calls "two great, smart smart smart hosts" as they dissect and debate current events shaping Israel, Jewish life - and the wider world.
Their blend of nuanced discussion and sparkling conversation, featuring a dazzling range of guests, is why New Yorker editor David Remnick calls himself a “proud, avid listener," why Ira Glass says he "completely enjoys this show" and why Malcolm Gladwell calls it an "incredibly fun podcast".
For a weekly fix of globally informed talk – including nominations for the greatest act of chutzpah and outstanding mensch of the previous seven days – there’s only one destination. Make every Friday morning Unholy.
Contact us via: unholy@unholy-media.com
Latest episodes

Jul 15, 2022 • 35min
When Yonit Met Joe
Armed vehicles, numerous flags and even a presidential menu - after much preparation, President Joe Biden landed in Israel this Wednesday, kicking off his Middle East visit with a jam-packed schedule in the Holyland. But a moment before leaving for Jerusalem, Biden sat down with our host, Yonit Levi, for a one-on-one, exclusive televised interview - the first ever for a foreign network. In this week's special edition of Unholy, Yonit gives Jonathan - and you listeners - the juiciest behind-the-scenes details from the interview, including the one question she didn't have time to ask - and the moment the leader of the free world serenaded her with "Happy Birthday". Listen to the full interview: https://mobile.mako.co.il/news-world/2022_q3/Article-e01937823a10281026.htm Find us on Facebook and Instagram: Unholy Podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 8, 2022 • 51min
Hello Biden, Bye Bye Boris - with Peter Baker
Roll the red carpet and get the cameras ready - in less than a week, the leader of the free world will make his way to Israel, only to be greeted by a freshly-appointed Prime Minister of a caretaker government. Yonit and Jonathan are joined by the New York Times’ Chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker, to discuss the objectives of the visit, the upcoming midterms and the American relations with Saudi Arabia. And, it seems our British friends got a bit jealous of Israel hogging all the political drama - and decided to take a shot at it, with the announcement of Boris Johnson (Br)exiting office. But as the United Kingdom is left prime minister-less, one issue troubles our co-host most - who will replace Johnson, the star of more than one of Jonathan’s columns?! Plus - here’s a scoop: this ice cream manufacturer is losing cone-trol (okay, we’re done with the gelato puns) over a battle on selling their products in the settlements. -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 1, 2022 • 1h 4min
Prime Time Minister - with Micah Goodman
The term Prime Minister Yair Lapid may take some getting used to - but don’t take too long, as it’s paired with “interim”. After dissolving the Knesset and bidding farewell to his coalition partner, Naftali Bennett, Lapid embarked on his spell as head of a caretaker government - but all heads are turned to the fifth election round, which will determine whether the late-night host turned premier will be more than just another anecdote in a continuous political narrative. Yonit and Jonathan aren’t scientists (yet), it's safe to say this political experiment didn’t quite go according to plan. Joined by author and unofficial philosopher to the coalition, Micah Goodman, our co-hosts discuss whether the results should really be seen as a failure, what the lab conditions to shrink the conflict are - and also, why Israelis are both closer, and further than ever. And - for many, the United States Supreme Court ruling abolishing women’s right for abortions reflects the capacity conservatives have to turn the wheel backwards while imposing their beliefs on the public. But with protesters marching daily through D.C., concerns on the extent of these perceptions are heard as far as Israel - where some view the ruling as a warning sign of what may occur here under a more conservative leadership - and an unyielding American influence. Plus - what Jewish ritual did the chutzpah recipients of this week make profitable? -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 24, 2022 • 46min
Election Nation - with Amit Segal
If you look up the words “Israel” and “Elections” in any search engine at any given time during these last three years, chances are you either saw articles about upcoming ballots - or results of a recent round. That’s why this week’s results won’t come as a surprise. This week, Bennet and Lapid themselves hammered the final nail into the coalition’s coffin - sending Israelis to vote yet again. Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Channel 12 political analyst Amit Segal, to chat about the open questions - from Lapid, the caretaker government’s appointed caretaker, to his failed coalition’s legacy, and to the odds that an Arab party will fit into a governmental puzzle again. But, even though the Holy Land seems to hold first prize - topsy-turvy politics aren’t exclusively Israeli. French President Emmanuel Macron lost his absolute majority in Parliament by a wide margin this week, in a political blow that complicates his leadership - with far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s party coming in with a strong showing that exceeded expectations. Plus, coming to shelves soon - gefilte fish hot dogs?! Yonit and Jonathan try and stomach the news of this culinary crossover that probably won’t become a bestseller at ball games. -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 17, 2022 • 60min
The Escape Artist - with Jonathan Freedland!
This week's guest is someone Unholy listeners are quite familiar with - our very own co-host (and bestselling author) Jonathan Freedland! In this episode, Yonit gives him the tried and tested interviewee treatment as they discuss his new book, The Escape Artist, which details the all but unknown story of Rudolf Vrba. Vrba is one of only four Jews to escape Auschwitz, and is credited with publishing a detailed report on the atrocities being perpetrated behind barbed wire, a report which led to halting the deportations of Hungarian Jews, ultimately saving tens of thousands of lives. In other matters - is an Unholy episode ever complete without Israeli political drama? We continue to follow the slow-motion train wreck that is the Bennett coalition - who might not hold on to the reigns long enough to greet President Joe Biden when he arrives in Israel in less than a month. Plus, these two prime ministers have seen their fair share of courtrooms, but now they meet in the same one, head to head, and it's the best show in town. -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 10, 2022 • 37min
Last Man Standing
On the same night and only twenty minutes apart, members of parliament from two different countries cast votes which would determine the fate of their current head of government. On one end, lawmakers voted against a bill that represented their opinions just to wound the coalition, and on the other - a Prime Minister rejoiced even though nearly half of his party voted in favor of outing him. Sounds crazy, right? Well - for our Israeli and British co-hosts, respectively, that’s just called internal politics. And- "Fight like a girl" may have been an insult once, but now, for young women in the IDF, it’s becoming more and more of a reality. Yonit and Jonathan discuss the Israeli military’s latest promise for a gender based revolution - and how, despite the strict conditions for recruitment and prolonged timetable for implementation - this decision to integrate more women into combat units still counts as a victory. Plus - being named mensch once doesn’t guarantee you won’t be brought up again - even if it’s the opposite category. Find out which former world leader (and former Mensch) landed herself in the Chutzpah slot. Follow us on Instagram @unholypodcast | Facebook: Unholy Podcast Get Jonathan's book, The Escape Artist: https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Artist-Broke-Auschwitz-World/dp/0063112337See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 3, 2022 • 1h 1min
Our Diamond Jubilee - with Ira Glass
We’re celebrating - and you’re all invited! After all, it only took sixty episodes of Unholy - and seventy years on the throne - to convince Jonathan to discuss the monarchy favorably. This week’s special guest, Ira Glass, set the gold standard for podcasts with his award winning "This American Life", he is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize - but if you ask him, he doesn’t really consider himself a celebrity. Glass talks with Yonit and Jonathan about being the non-traditional voice that reinvented radio, about journalism losing its grip on the truth, and- naturally- about letting down his Jewish parents by deciding to not be a doctor. Plus, in the Chutzpah category - they say Bat Mitzvahs are the rite to adulthood, but these invitees may have taken that too literally. -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 27, 2022 • 36min
Guns, Pride and Power
In the aftermath of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, Yonit and Jonathan discuss how Israel, compared to the U.S. is both well-armed and at the same time well- regulated when it comes to guns. This week's episode also features a discussion about the reality television episode of "Married at First Sight" that made LGBTQ history, with two men under the Jewish wedding canopy, shattering the glass (both literally and metaphorically). Plus, if you're a "Jewish-looking" actor - we suggest you tune into our award session at the end of our program, as Jonathan and Yonit may have found you a job on the small screen. Follow us on Instagram @unholypodcast | Facebook: Unholy Podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20, 2022 • 1h 4min
Coalition Crisis, AIPAC and an Interview with Mayim Bialik
Israel's PM Naftali Bennett hoped to silence his government’s swan song - but the music is getting louder by the moment, with a surprising exit stage left of the coalition, possibly giving Netanyahu the one-up he needed. We discuss the great replacement theory, how the world viewed one funeral in Jerusalem, and why everyone is talking about AIPAC. And this week we are joined by special guest Mayim Bialik, actress and host of "Jeopardy!", who tells us how Jewish mourning rituals influenced her directorial debut, the film "As They Made Us"; shares her experiences as a pro-Israel actress in Hollywood; plus - helps us determine once and for all: is Jonathan Freedland a geek or a nerd? -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 13, 2022 • 38min
Stuck
The death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an IDF raid in the Palestinian city of Jenin has shifted the international spotlight back on Israel. Yonit and Jonathan discuss the contradicting narratives and the implications of this tragedy for both sides. In the meantime, the Bennett-Lapid coalition is keeping its head above water for now, but the answer to whether it makes it to safe shores or drowns is still pending. For dessert, we hope you don’t mind a dish served cold - as our mensch of the week award is an excuse for a bit of revenge against a certain English co-host.... Follow us on Instagram @unholypodcast | Facebook: Unholy Podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.