In this on-the-go episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Netflix’s Fauda co-creator Avi Issacharoff to hear about the upcoming Season 5!

We hear how the mass invasion of Israel was too “unrealistic” a plot line; how everything changed after October 7th; and how writing it became a healing process for everyone involved.

Avi shares his undercover military and then journalistic background, from speaking Arabic with Hamas operatives to being in situations that sparked ideas for the creation of Fauda.

It’s a fascinating episode, so make sure you tune in… and prepare yourself for Netflix’s new release!

→ Podcast Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Host:

https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Partnered with Jewish News:

https://www.instagram.com/jewishnews/

Sponsors:

→ Presteez bars:

https://urlgeni.us/amazon/10falafel

Use code Falafel10 for 10% off!

Chapters:00:00: Season 5 05:57: Sponsor Ad Presteez10:08: Oct 7th casualties 12:42: How Fauda got started 18:00: Healing and writing 20:00: Journalistic background 25:00: The media war 29:00: Bukharan and Kurdish heritage

In this episode of the What The Falafel podcast, Jodie Brandman sits down with Ciara Shalome, creator of the sensational Instagram page: The Mizrahi Story.

Ciara has spent years documenting the stories, memories and voices of Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews from across the Middle East and North Africa.We talk about what “Mizrahi” actually means, the discrimination many Mizrahi Jews experienced after arriving in Israel, and the complicated reality of Jewish life across countries like Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Morocco.

Ciara talks openly about how she used to see the world in black and white, and how listening to people who actually lived through these experiences completely changed the way she thinks.

This is a conversation about Jewish identity, memory, culture, propaganda, social media, polarisation, Muslim-Jewish relationships, and the importance of being willing to see the grey… because history and people are layered.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe to What The Falafel and come join us for more conversations about Jewish life, culture, identity, achievement, spirituality and the things that make us proud to be part of this crazy, brilliant tribe!

→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Partnered with Jewish News: https://www.instagram.com/jewishnews/

→ Find Ciara: https://www.instagram.com/themizrahistory/Sponsors:

→ Contemporary Judaica:

https://contemporaryjudaica.co.uk

Showroom by appointment: 58 Crewys Road, NW2 2AD

→ Presteez bars:

https://urlgeni.us/amazon/10falafel

Use code Falafel10 for 10% off!

Chapters:00:00 What is Mizrahi?08:29 Contemporary Judaica09:40 Discrimination14:33 Ciaras Story, Yemenite and Baghdadi Jews22:31 Presteez23:02 Nuances and Scrolling29:06 The current climate32:12 A Jew and the Quran35:52 Stories1ZOUIIDKKIWW7318

In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Jennifer Rinkoff, a 4th generation baker from the famous Jewish East End Bakery, Rinkoffs.

We cover everything from the bakery's family history to how Jennifer fought her way in as a female and transformed the bakery with viral “Crodoughs".

Jennifer shares stories from her childhood and what it’s like to be a Rinkoff, and shows off her brand-new cookbook as we taste our way through some recipes!

→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/ → Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Partnered with Jewish News: https://www.instagram.com/jewishnews/

→ Visit the Rinkoff website: https://www.rinkoffs.co.uk→ Find Rinkoff: https://www.instagram.com/rinkoffsbakery/?hl=en→ Get the recipe book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jewish-Bakery-Family-Recipes-Londons/dp/1837836078

Chapters:00:00 Family Foundations 10:00 Joining the business 16:38 Eating crodoughs! 22:00 Extended family business 27:26 The Book

In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Jewish content creator and mum of 3, Chaya of London, for a fun and heartfelt conversation!

From her life in London and LA to her Chabad upbringing Chaya talks about the key moments in her life.

We cover everything from religious marital pressures to building her Jewish home with her kids. This episode will have you feeling proud and inspired!

→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Partnered with Jewish News: https://www.instagram.com/jewishnews/

→ Find Chaya: https://www.instagram.com/chayaoflondon/

→ Shop the Jewellery: https://www.instagram.com/ellayaofficial/

Sponsors:

→ Menachems Kosher Butcher: https://www.instagram.com/menachems_glatt_butchers/https://menachems.co.uk/

→ Phone and Learn https://www.phoneandlearn.org/https://www.instagram.com/phoneandlearn/

→ Special thanks to Balagan for their AMAZING food! Find their restaurant in Borehamwood and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balaganuk/.

Pop into their store and say “What the Falafel” at checkout to get 10% off! https://www.balaganborehamwood.co.uk/

In the most powerful episode to date, Jodie Brandman sits down with Ofir Amir, Co-founder, producer, and survivor of the Nova Festival.

Before October 7th, Ofir was building an incredible community alongside music festivals, all promoting connection and kindness at the core.

At 6.29am on October 7th, everything changed.

Fleeing from the Nova massacre, Ofir was shot by terrorists and had to watch one of his best friends die next to him, all the while trying to protect his pregnant wife at home who hiding in a bomb shelter.

Ofir shows us what it means to be resilient. He has gone on to create the Nova Exhibition (which is in London until June 15th), and the Tribe of Nova, an entire community supporting survivors and their families.

This episode needs to be watched by everyone.

A massive thank you to Ofir for sharing his story.

Please donate to The Tribe of Nova to help continue his incredible work: http://bit.ly/4eUFnRt

→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Partnered with The Jewish News: https://www.instagram.com/jewishnews

→ https://novaexhibition.com/london-exhibition

→ https://www.tribeofnova.com/

In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Romy Kosher for a food filled chat!

From discussing how Romy went Kosher in Israel to what excites her about kosher London restaurants, you do NOT want to watch this when you’re hungry!!

We also find out all about Romy’s life supporting families with dementia, and her plans for travelling the world eating!

→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Find Jodie: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Find Romy:

https://www.instagram.com/romykosher/

Dementia care:

→ https://mindkeepers.co.uk/Sponsors:Discover:

This episode is sponsored by:

→ Datekin - https://datekin.co.uk/

→ Kosher Kingdom - 7 Russell Gardens, Golders Green Rd, London NW11 9NN

→ Special thanks to Balagan for their AMAZING food! Find their restaurant in Borehamwood and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balaganuk/.

Pop into their store and say “What the Falafel” at checkout to get 10% off! https://www.balaganborehamwood.co.uk/

Chapters:

00:00 Eating & Best Restaurants

03:10 Sponsor: Datekin

03:44 Getting started

14:00 Home life

18:10 Travel

21:40 Going kosher

27:48 Food delivery

35:40 Going to Israel

35:57 Sponsor: Kosher Kingdom

39:30 Content creation

43:43 Dementia

51:12 Social Media

In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with writer, comedian and author, Max Olesker.

In this laugh-out-loud conversation, Max shares how falling in love led to an Orthodox Jewish conversion complete with moving into a religious family's home in Hendon and a bris at the age of 36!

We cover his gruelling journey with the Beth Din, his pro-wrestling and comedic career, and his brand NEW book aptly titled “Making The Cut: An Unorthodox Love Story”.

→ What The Falafel Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Find Max Olesker: https://www.instagram.com/maxolesker/

Sponsor:

→ Special thanks to Balagan for their AMAZING food! Find their restaurant in Borehamwood and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balaganuk/.

Pop into their store and say “What the Falafel” at checkout to get 10% off! https://www.balaganborehamwood.co.uk/

In this hilarious episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Jewish comedian and content creator Candy Gigi for a whole hour of laughter!

We cover everything from feeling like a misfit in school, to auditioning for West End shows and spitting out vegetables during a live comedy performance.

This one you do NOT want to miss!

→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Find Candy Gigi:

https://www.instagram.com/candy_gigi/?hl=en

Sponsor:

→ Special thanks to Balagan for their AMAZING food! Find their restaurant in Borehamwood and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balaganuk/.

Pop into their store and say “What the Falafel” at checkout to get 10% off! https://www.balaganborehamwood.co.uk/

In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Cat Young from Balagan to chat about everything from going frum to starting a kosher restaurant!

Cat had no idea she was going to be a podcast guest until about 3 minutes before filming when she was put on the sofa with a mic!

Hear how she threw away her skinny jeans in favour of a sheitel and how her husband was bundled off to Yeshiva before setting up multiple restaurants.

It’s a great episode, make sure you check it out, subscribe, and go visit Balagan (https://www.balaganborehamwood.co.uk/)!

Just say you saw this episode and they’ll give you 10% off the bill.

→ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Jodie: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ Special thanks to Balagan for their AMAZING food! Find their restaurant in Borehamwood and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balaganuk/.

In this episode of What The Falafel, Jodie Brandman sits down with Karen Cinnamon, founder of Smashing The Glass and Your Jewish Life.

We cover everything from how and why she set up her incredible businesses (from wedding blogs to Jewish Joy Journals), why rituals and values are so important, and why she believes inclusivity has been the deal breaker in her work.

Karen is so passionate about everyone being themselves and living an authentic life, from wedding decor to everyday food choices, and Jewish rituals they may or may not choose to take on.

🎧Tune in for massive amounts of Jewish pride!

→ Podcast Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/wtfalafelpodcast/

→ Host: https://www.instagram.com/jodiebrandman/

→ In collaboration with:

https://www.instagram.com/joiceglobal/

→ Your Jewish Life:

https://www.instagram.com/yourjewishlife/

→ Your Jewish Life:

https://yourjewishlife.co/

→ Smashing The Glass:

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/

→ Jewish self- care prompts:

https://luxejewishlife.com/selfcare

→ Jewish Joy Journals:

https://luxejewishlife.com/shop/ - Use code WTF18 for 18% off

Sponsor:

Israel Blessing:

https://www.israelblessing.com/

code: WTF15 https://www.instagram.com/israel_blessing

→ Special thanks to Balagan for their AMAZING food! Find their restaurant in Borehamwood and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balaganuk/.

Pop into their store and say “What the Falafel” at checkout to get 10% off! https://www.balaganborehamwood.co.uk/

Chapters:00:00 Intro 4:00 Exiting Fight Mode 7:00 Rituals + Wedding 11:07 Smashing the glass 27:00 Being Jewish 33:50 Food 38:47 Sponsor40:00 Family 48:00 Jewish Joy and values 1:00:00 Interfaith marriage 01:09:00 What’s Next?