Schmoozing Time

Deciding to skip college and permanently move to Israel takes guts and self-belief. After Sophie's gap year there, she felt it was right to stick around, even though she barely spoke Hebrew and knew just a handful of people. In this episode, Sophie and I share plenty of laughs and dive into some deep chats, covering everything from the balagan life in Israel to her experience on October 7th. We also discuss Sophie's awesome new project, Hot Girls Do Shabbat.

Meet Sophie Harris: the founder of Hot Girls Do Shabbat and TikTok account AmericanInIsrael, and a friendly face at Cafe Xoho in TLV. By dishing out real Israeli lifestyle content, she's snagged over 50K followers across Instagram and TikTok.

Right now, the ENERGY in Jewish communities is off the charts, despite all the negativity we face. In my chat with Michael, we dive into how he's flipped that negative energy into Hot Jewish vibes. Michael shares stories from his Jewish upbringing while attending Yeshiva and his journey in acting and singing. With his humor and authenticity, he's fused his love for Judaism with his passion for the arts, birthing the 'HotJewishEnergy' movement, now rocking over 18K followers on Instagram.

Michael Valdes is currently attending The New School in Manhattan, continuing to pursue his career in acting and singing. In addition to his work with HotJewishEnergy, Michael has also created his own podcast (the HotJewish Podcast) and co-authored a book (Hot Jewish Hanukkah). Michael was also just recently invited by TikTok to attend March Of The Living, an annual march that takes place to commemorate those who lost their lives during the Holocaust.

Public speaking seems to have become a lost art, leaving many struggling to captivate their audiences, be it in a graduation speech or a D’Var Torah. In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with Daniel Steinberg where we discuss his passion project called the Maggid Method, which is a transformative project reshaping communication in congregations. We explore how Daniel's innovative approach is revolutionizing the way people speak and connect in religious settings. Plus, we'll uncover his rich background in comedy, including stints at SNL and the Howard Stern Show, and how that impacted his personal brand.

Daniel Steinberg embraced an unconventional path that led him from comedy to founder of the Maggid Method. Daniel also has tons of experience in storytelling and the marketing world, where he’s managed to assist clients in generating over $1 million in yearly revenue through compelling storytelling.

In the past, the worlds of IBD activism and cycling never intersected. However, professional cyclist Cory Greenberg has rewritten this narrative and woven a connection between the two. After receiving a diagnosis of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) early on in his cycling career, Cory found himself hospitalized and faced with the grim prospect of not being able to compete again. Nevertheless, he defied the odds and eventually founded a movement bringing a positive light to IBD advocacy, known as Ride4IBD. Beyond recounting how he founded Ride4IBD, you'll discover insights into Cory's unique upbringing, where he embraced both his Christian and Jewish heritage that shaped his unique identity.

Cory Greenberg is a professional cyclist who divides his time between California and Germany. Prior to his involvement with Ride4IBD, Cory rode for various professional cycling teams across the globe. When he's not immersed in the cycling world, Cory finds joy in following Formula 1 racing.

College is a time where we learn a lot about ourselves and our true identity. It is just as important to know who we AREN’T as is it to know who we ARE. This episode with current Pitt student Josh Berkowitz, goes into detail about the ups and downs he has faced as a college student. Aside from the challenges that stemmed from attending college during the peak of Covid, Josh also struggled with finding a proper work/life balance. Despite the hurdles he faced, Josh was able to enhance his Jewish identity through connecting with Chabad and he even started his own jewelry company called Berko Jewelry Services.

Josh Berkowitz is currently a senior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Finance. Throughout his time in college, he’s assumed many leadership roles including President of Sigma Alpha Mu at Pitt and served as a Campus Ambassador for Pitt Hillel. Next year, Josh will be working for SEI as an Alternative Investment Fund Accountant.

Grueling hours, low pay, and little job security. The sports media industry is not kind to those who are LAZY. Especially because he had no prior experience working in sports, Rami had to HUSTLE to get to the place where he currently is. In our conversation, Rami and I discuss how his work ethic ultimately created a career that aligned with his passion. Rami shares stories about his Jewish identity and what makes him believe in God, as well as stories about the time he met one of his role models, Mike Breen. This is an episode you’ll want to listen to if you need a little extra motivation.

Rami Lavi is a full-time sports media expert. In addition to hosting three podcasts, Rami recently made his debut on WFAN Sports Radio, the #1 sports radio station in NYC. He has experience producing, creating content, and video editing for many sports media companies. When he’s not sulking about the Jets, Rami likes to whip up some amazing kosher meals that he shared on his food account.

From her journey at a private Catholic University to her current role as the Dean of Israel Studies, Lisa's personal journey is truly exceptional. I had the privilege of being her student back in 2018 at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, and she remains my favorite educator to date. This episode is filled with stories of my time at HSI, and you’ll learn about the importance of having a strong personal brand as a teacher.

Lisa Biton currently serves as the Dean of Israel Studies at Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Unlike the majority of Israel’s population, Lisa resides in the Negev with her husband and three children. Beyond teaching, Lisa is a passionate runner and loves listening to podcasts—activities integral to shaping her distinctive personal brand.

As a high schooler, Ilan immigrated from Israel to Minnesota, embarking on a journey that reshaped his life. Overcoming the daunting challenge of adjusting to a new culture and language barrier, Ilan found an escape through soccer.

This episode delves into the captivating story of Ilan's remarkable personal brand, influenced by his family's Ukrainian roots and his impactful career coaching and playing soccer. Discover how Ilan ascended to the role of President of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), spearheading its expansion to nearly 200 college campuses worldwide.

Ilan Sinelnikov, President and Founder of SSI, is not only a catalyst for Israel advocacy but also a nationally licensed USSF B soccer coach recognized by the United States Soccer Federation. Join us as we uncover the depths of Ilan's inspiring narrative and the profound impact of his endeavors.

References:

10:25-https://shorturl.at/mFIY8

Coming from the greatest state in the US, Chaim "CW" Silverberg and I delve into our shared heritage as Minnesota Jews. In this episode, we share tales about our close-knit community, reflecting on how our upbringing fostered a deep appreciation for kosher cuisine. As CW shares insights from his experiences in the kosher food industry, you’ll gain a fascinating glimpse into the rich narrative behind kosher food. Tune in to discover how CW's work uniquely champions the kosher lifestyle. Trust me, this episode is best enjoyed with a kosher ribeye in hand!

CW is the Executive Producer of “Tripping Kosher”, host of the new show “Schmoozing & Cruising", and owner of CWS Meats. With more than a decade of expertise in crafting and documenting kosher cuisine, he possesses a profound understanding of the kosher culinary world. Stay connected with "Tripping Kosher" across all social media platforms for an incredible array of kosher content!

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/trippingkosher

Harley Stein, who took on DJing at the young age of 14, has seamlessly translated her music expertise into the digital domain, where she's created a TikTok account with over 167K followers. In our conversation, we explore Harley’s journey navigating the intersection of social media and Jewish activism. With her innate ability to captivate audiences both on the dance floor and the digital stage, Harley leverages her TikTok platform not only to promote her personal brand but also to promote important causes such as Israel activism.

As you can tell by her accent, Harley Stein is from Long Island, New York. She is a Multidisciplinary Media Studies major and has a passion for content creation and social media marketing. One fun fact about Harley is that she has set the record for most sleepaway camps attended by a Jewish kid, where she attended SIX different sleepaway camps as a child! Please go follow her on social media:

TikTok: @sorrygrandma2.0

Instagram: @harleyystein