Ever wondered why Europe looks the way it does today? What it might have looked like without World War II. What might have been had the holocaust not happened?

What incalculable loss to the continent has the murder of 6 million Jews left?

Scientists, artists, business people, industrialists – and sportsmen.

There were many remarkable Jewish footballers who helped build the European game before the Holocaust—and how thoroughly their names had been erased from our collective memory.

History remembers those who win. Totalitarianism tries to ensure it forgets those it destroys.

The Nazis didn’t simply murder millions of Jews; they attempted to extinguish every trace of the lives they had lived, the communities they had built and the contributions they had made.

David Bolchover’s extraordinary new book, Digging Deep, is an act of defiance against that erasure.

With the instincts of a detective and the compassion of a storyteller, David has painstakingly reconstructed the lives of eleven outstanding Jewish football figures whose brilliance once filled stadiums across Europe before hatred consumed their world. He restores not just their statistics or medals, but their humanity.

This conversation isn’t only about football, although football is the thread that runs through it. It’s about memory. It’s about identity. It’s about belonging. It’s about what Europe lost when it lost its Jews—and why remembering these men matters just as much today as it did eighty years ago.

I think you’ll find this a fascinating, moving and, at times, deeply sobering conversation.

You can buy David's book here.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his Substack.

Menachem Begin remains one of the least understood giants of the twentieth century.

A freedom fighter, a terrorist, a liberator of Jewish people, his own and subsequent generations, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a champion of Jewish dignity after the Holocaust, and Israel’s sixth Prime Minister,

Begin transformed the country’s politics forever. He brought peace with Egypt, welcomed Soviet and Ethiopian Jews home, ordered the destruction of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear reactor, and gave voice to Israelis who had long felt ignored by the political establishment.

Yet behind the history books was a deeply principled, intensely private man whose moral convictions shaped every decision he made.

Our guest today has dedicated much of his life to preserving that extraordinary legacy.

Herzl Makov is the CEO of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, the national institution entrusted with safeguarding Begin’s archives, museum, educational programmes and research. For decades he worked closely with Begin himself, offering a rare personal insight into the man behind the statesman.

In a distinguished career in public service Herzl was also Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.

We’ll discuss how Begin’s ideas continue to influence Israel today, why his life story still matters to democracies around the world, and the work of the Heritage Center in bringing his values to new generations.

We’ll also explore the acclaimed documentary Upheaval, which tells the remarkable story of Begin’s rise from persecution in Europe, through the underground struggle for Jewish statehood, to the office of Prime Minister.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his ⁠Substack.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find more of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his Substack.

Our Young Podcaster of the Year series is presented in partnership with Dangoor Education.

This is now the fourth year of the competition, and each year I’m

I visit schools to meet young people with curiosity, enthusiasm,

Just as importantly, they’re supported by parents and teachers who encourage them to explore the world around them.

This episode features our latest winners, two outstanding Year 6

Talya and Amalie impressed me with their intelligence, confidence, and thoughtful approach to interviewing. As winners, they earned the opportunity to co-host an episode with me – and they certainly made the

Together, they secured time with an exceptional guest: Ambassador

Born in London, Daniel is an Israeli diplomat, international

Educated at Oxford and Harvard, Daniel has written extensively on

The Young Podcaster of the Year programme, supported by Dangoor

Have a word with your headteacher and put them in touch with us if you want to take part next year.

This Talya Sacks-Goldstein and Amalie White as with Ambassador Daniel Taub.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and writings on Substack.

Help support Jonny with a monthly chai latte at buy me a coffee.

My guests today are Michael and Lisa Marlowe, the parents of Jake Marlowe, who was murdered at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023.

Playing it back brings tears to my eyes as a parent.

Jake was a 26-year-old British-Israeli musician and security guard. Known to many as the bassist for the hardcore band Desolated, he had toured the world before building a life in Israel.

On the morning Hamas terrorists attacked the festival, Jake was working as part of the security team. Witness accounts say he spent his final moments helping others escape to safety. He died as he lived — looking after other people.

When I met Michael and Lisa, they had already spent hours recounting the worst day of their lives to journalists from around the world. Michael had just completed an especially emotional interview and needed a moment to compose himself. In the brief time we had together, I was able to offer my condolences and a hug before speaking with Lisa, who courageously continued the conversation.

It takes extraordinary strength to relive such loss in public. I hope these conversations offer something meaningful — a chance to honour Jake’s memory, to ensure his story is heard, and perhaps, in some small way, to contribute to the tribute he deserves.

Of course, no interview can lessen the pain of losing a son. Some losses are simply carried forever.

You’ll first hear a short conversation with Michael Marlowe, followed by my fuller interview with Lisa.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet. May the memory of Jake Marlowe be a blessing.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and writings on ⁠Substack⁠.

Help support Jonny with a monthly chai latte at ⁠buy me a coffee.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. Support his efforts by buying him a coffee here.

Our guest today is Almog Meir Jan — one of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.

Almog was taken from where he hid in woods near the Nova Music Festival, where hundreds of young people were either murdered or abducted.

For months, his mother Orit campaigned tirelessly around the world for his release. I interviewed her on TalkTV back in November 2023, and I remember telling her then that I believed her son would come home.

Today, I have the privilege of sitting opposite Almog himself — here in London — alive, free, and ready to tell his story. Tragically, just hours before Almog was rescued and reunited with his family, his father died, never getting the chance to see his son return home.

We’ll talk about October 7, the terror of captivity inside Gaza, the moment of rescue, what kept hope alive, and what he wants the world to understand now about the hostages still being held.

This is a remarkable conversation — and one I’ll never forget.

Jonny Gould is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find all of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. You can support him by buying a coffee here.

With thanks to the Anglo-Israel Association and ELNET UK, it was a pleasure to hear Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus. A former international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, where he served for 24 years as a combat commander, military diplomat and strategic communications officer, Conricus is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, specialising in Middle East security and regional affairs.

As he often points out, he now speaks as an independent voice rather than on behalf of the Israeli government or military.

In this concise briefing, Conricus gives a sobering yet at times cautiously hopeful assessment of the region.

Gaza, despite the terrible bloodshed and the sacrifices being made by IDF forces, remains bleak and unresolved.

On Lebanon, he noted signs that the weakening of Hezbollah may be allowing some Lebanese voices to express a very different attitude towards Israel.

On Iran, he suggested there are still grounds for cautious optimism that internal pressure could eventually bring change.

He also addressed the alarming worldwide surge in antisemitism since October 7th, which he described as having grown far beyond what many imagined possible.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find all of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his Substack.

Before we start today’s episode, a quick note: our guest, Tomer Zadik from Tel Aviv and an Israeli Navy veteran, was just 23 when his life changed forever. He survived the horrific attack at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023 — a day meant for music and celebration that instead became a tragedy, claiming more than 270 lives and injuring thousands.

Tomer’s story is one of survival, courage, and endurance in the face of unimaginable chaos. He faced moments most of us can barely imagine, and his experience at Nova has shaped him in profound ways — a story that spans trauma, resilience, and the human instinct to carry on."

"For those in London, you can witness the impact of that day at the Nova Exhibition, from May 20th through July 2026. Titled ‘06:29 AM — The Moment Music Stood Still,’ the exhibition recreates the festival environment and memorializes those who were lost, offering visitors a powerful space to reflect and remember.

In today’s episode, Tomer shares his personal account of survival at Nova Festival — the moments of fear, courage, and resilience that defined that day. Stay with us as we hear his story firsthand."

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find all of Jonny's writing, podcasts and videos on his Substack.

I had the incredible honor of sitting down with Sagi Muki—Olympic medalist, 2019 World Champion Judoka, two-time European Champion, and part of Israel’s bronze-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics. But this conversation went beyond medals.

How he overcame a career-threatening back injury just before the Rio Olympics… how he stayed motivated at the very top of the sport… what it’s like to represent Israel on the global stage after October 7, and the untold story behind his extraordinary friendship with Iranian competitor Saeid Mollaei.

This is Sagi Muki, in-depth, with thanks and gratitude to JNF UK, who made it all possible.

Would you like to help Jonny makes his podcasts? Buy him a coffee!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find all of Jonny's writing and podcasts on his Substack.

It’s year four of our Schools Podcaster of the Year Award, presented by Dangoor Education — a project close to my heart because it’s about encouraging the next generation to think seriously about journalism, storytelling, and the power of asking the right questions.

Today’s young people are growing up in a world saturated by TikTokers, YouTubers, influencers and instant opinion. News and current affairs reach them faster than ever, often through the pressure and noise of social media.

Real journalism still matters. The heavy lifting of inquiry, accuracy, courage and curiosity remains fundamental to our democracy and freedoms. And this award is our way of encouraging high-minded journalistic ambition in the next generation.

All three of our winners today come from North West London Jewish Day School.

First, Maya Ryz and Leonore Gould quiz Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs.

Jason's built an accomplished screen career, from Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter to acclaimed roles in The Patriot, Star Trek: Discovery and The OA, combining intensity, wit and remarkable range.

Then Sarah Amsellem gets to grips with her cousin, Nathan Trochet.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State proudly supports our North West London Jewish Day School Podcaster of the Year.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Help Jonny continues to make his podcasts by ⁠supporting him here⁠.

Born to a family who lived in a one-bedroom basement apartment in Soviet Ukraine, denied opportunity because he was Jewish, and starting out at the bottom of a steel mill, Eduard Shyfrin went on to build a vast business empire — but that’s only part of his story.

In this episode, he takes us from Soviet hardship and discrimination to music, memory, reinvention and Jewish identity, revealing how a boy shaped by love, discipline and adversity became a profound Jewish thinker and entrepreneur.

He's also a musician and a determined smoker!

Don't miss this out-of-the-box conversation on kabbalah, data and philosophy with Eduard Shifryn.

Help Jonny continues to make his podcasts by supporting him here.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices