A note from Yael and Yonatan: Based on listener feedback, we're moving from a weekly news roundup to monthly, in-depth conversations with the business leaders, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs shaping Israel's economic future.

For our first episode in the new format, Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner Levy are joined by Dan Senor, host of Call Me Back and co-author of Start-Up Nation which revolutionized the world’s respect for Israel. Nearly two decades after the book's publication, Israel's tech sector is stronger than ever, yet the country's global brand faces unprecedented challenges. What does this mean for Israel’s reputation, innovation and the world’s reliance on it? 

Purchase Dan’s books, Start-up Nation and The Genius of Israel.

In this episode:

- How Start-Up Nation changed Israel's image

More Ark Media:

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

CREDITS

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

The WYNDEX had another strong week, rising 5.11% and widening its year-to-date lead over both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Lemonade led the pack with an 11.1% gain, followed by JFrog, SentinelOne, Monday.com, and Check Point, all up more than 5%. But beneath the green, Yonatan and Yael warn that the same forces lifting some stocks, AI efficiency, layoffs, and stronger margins, may be creating real pressure in Israel’s tech labor market.

🔎 Our Long Play today:

Yonatan and Yael unpack why Pakistan has suddenly taken center stage in the negotiations to end the war in Iran. They review how Pakistan became the only Muslim-majority state to develop a nuclear bomb, using classified information smuggled by a Pakistani U.N. scientist. With ties to Iran, and Saudi Arabia and China, Pakistan is playing a pivotal peacemaker role, but questions remain if this is a one-off moment, or a sign Pakistan is a new diplomatic player, and also if a new order means Israel can extend its economic and political relevance east beyond the Gulf region.

In this episode:

- Numbers of the Week

- The WYNDEX

- Big Short #1: Wix layoffs and the AI pressure on Israeli tech

- Big Short #2: Israel’s billion-dollar AI infrastructure bet

- Long Play: Why Pakistan suddenly matters to Israel

- Words of the Week

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security. 

CREDITS:

Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY

Interim Executive Producer - BETH PEARLMAN

Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN

Community Manager - AVA WEINER

Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO

Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

The WYNDEX jumped 8.93% this week and is now up 16.7% year-to-date, beating both the S&P and NASDAQ. Palo Alto Networks and Nova led the gains, as investors rewarded AI infrastructure and cyber strength. But Wix’s 34% drop showed the other side of the AI trade: Wall Street is punishing companies and software it fears AI could jeopardize. 

🔎 Our Long Play today:

Yonatan and Yael unpack whether the next U.S. military aid deal with Israel could be the last. Unlike in the 1980s, now the amount of aid is a small share of Israel’s economy and a tiny line item for Washington. The bigger questions are: How can Israel move from an aid-based relationship to a strategic partnership built around defense, technology, infrastructure, and shared security interests? And how do the two countries retain and improve a special relationship through investment, business and cultural ties.

In this episode:

00:56 - Numbers of the Week

04:20 - The WYNDEX

09:03 - Big Short #1: AI21 Labs and the brutal AI efficiency wave

11:58 - Big Short #2: Taiwan’s Silicon Dome and what Israel should learn

15:23 - Long Play: Is this the last U.S. aid deal for Israel?

32:31 - Words of the Week

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security. 

CREDITS:

Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY

Interim Executive Producer - BETH PEARLMAN

Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN

Community Manager - AVA WEINER

Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO

Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

The WYNDEX rose 2.95% this week and is now up more than 10% year-to-date, continuing its strong run and outperforming both the S&P and NASDAQ. Most of the index finished in the green, led by Tower Semiconductor and Fiverr, as investors rewarded AI positioning, semiconductor strength, and renewed confidence in Israeli tech. But Check Point’s sharp drop stood out, raising questions about whether Wall Street is sending a company-specific message or pointing to broader pressure in Israeli cyber.

🔎 Our Long Play today:

Dr. Ariel Sobelman, senior advisor to the head of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Agency, joins Yonatan and Yael to explain where Israel fits in the global AI race. He argues that AI leadership is no longer just about startups or applications, but about infrastructure: data centers, semiconductors, and energy. For Israel, the opportunity is to become a trusted AI and technology outpost and testing ground for the U.S. and its allies, powered by its dense mix of R&D, chip talent, manufacturing know-how, and security alignment. 

In this episode:

00:09 - Numbers of the Week

03:08 - The WYNDEX

07:29 - Big Short #1: Israel’s data center real estate rush

09:51 - Big Short #2: The drone interceptor challenge

12:20 - Long Play: Israel’s place in the US-China AI race

32:16 - Words of the Week

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security. 

CREDITS:

Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY

Interim Executive Producer - BETH PEARLMAN

Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN

Community Manager - AVA WEINER

Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO

Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION

Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

The WYNdex rose 1.1%, outperforming the S&P but trailing a strong Nasdaq. Markets are cautious ahead of major tech earnings and geopolitical uncertainty around Iran. Standouts include Mobileye (+10% on strong earnings), SolarEdge (+25% on energy demand tailwinds), and Wix (+5.4%). No major losers; the index is up ~10% year-to-date. 

🔎 Our Long Play today:

Rakefet Russak-Aminoach, Managing Partner at Team8, a global venture fund and BNY board member, highlights Israeli entrepreneur and tech resilience even during war, driven by military-honed adaptability, technical talent, and a risk-taking mindset. She describes Team8’s hands-on unique investment and build model and her shift from banking to fintech. She gives her perspective on AI as both a threat and opportunity.

In this episode:

00:00 – Numbers of the Week 

03:50 – The WYNDEX 

06:05 – Big Short #1: Increased Kazakhstan-Israel cooperation 

10:00 – Big Short #2: New US pact protecting Malacca Strait

13:00 – Long Play:  Israeli entrepreneur and tech resilience even during war

36:50 – Words of the Week

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

The WYNDEX rose 6.76% this week, beating the S&P and just trailing the NASDAQ. Nearly all names finished in the green, led by strong gains in fintech and tech. The move reflects a broader market rally driven by ceasefire momentum and a shift toward “peace optionality,” with capital rotating out of defense and into growth…for now.

🔎 Our Long Play today:

For decades, the Strait of Hormuz has been viewed as Iran’s ultimate geopolitical weapon. But what if it’s actually its greatest vulnerability? Iran faces a harsh reality: over 90% of its oil exports and critical imports move through Hormuz. With its economy already under strain, the very leverage it threatens to use may accelerate its own collapse. But the biggest question is who will “blink” first under the economic pressure – Iran or the U.S.?

In this episode:

00:00 – Numbers of the Week

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

The WYNDEX fell 1.7%, lagging the S&P and NASDAQ, which rose on ceasefire optimism. The split is clear: defense and deep tech names climbed, while SaaS stocks dropped sharply. Wix fell over 20%, with Lemonade and Monday also down—signaling growing pressure from AI disruption.

🔎 Our Long Play today:

Israel’s shekel just hit its strongest level against the dollar this century. While a stronger currency lowers inflation and boosts purchasing power, it’s also squeezing exporters, raising labor costs, and adding pressure to an already fragile tech sector in Israel. What looks like strength comes with economic implications that are good, bad and ugly.

In this episode:

00:00 - Numbers of the Week

03:54 - The WYNDEX

07:54 - Big Short #1: Wix, AI pressure, and the return of “SaaS-mageddon”

10:36 - Big Short #2: Ceasefire economics, energy flows, and regional normalization signals

12:30 - Long Play: The strong shekel—economic strength or structural risk?

27:27 - Words of the Week

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security. 

CREDITS:

Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY

Executive Producer - ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY

Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN

Community Manager - AVA WEINER

Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO AND PATRICIO SPADAVECCHIA

Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

🔎 Our Long Play today:

In this episode:

00:00 - Numbers of the Week

04:15 - The WYNDEX

07:42 - Big Short #1: Anthropic says its newest AI model is too dangerous for public release

10:51 - Big Short #2: Israel’s education budget is like “ throwing money into the fire. “

13:00 - Long Play: Iran’s Hormuz Gamble. Did they win or lose?

29:09 - Words of the Week

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security. 

CREDITS:

Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY

Executive Producer - ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY

Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN

Community Manager - AVA WEINER

Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO AND PATRICIO SPADAVECCHIA

Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION

Yael and Yonatan are taking the week off to celebrate Passover with their families. Wishing all of our subscribers a safe and happy holiday. 

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X 

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security. 

CREDITS:

Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY

Executive Producer - ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY

Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN

Community Manager - AVA WEINER

Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO

Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION

📈 Our WYNDEX (What’s Your Number Index) update for today:

🔎 Our Long Play today:

In this episode:

00:00 – Numbers of the Week

05:00 – The WYNDEX

08:18 – Big Short #1: U.S.–Iran talks begin in Islamabad

10:27 – Big Short #2: Qatar’s influence and regional recalibration

13:51 – Long Play: Breaking and rebuilding Iran’s economy

38:48 – Words of the Week

Find us on:

YouTube

Instagram

LinkedIn

Yael on X

Yonatan on X

Write to us here

New episodes drop on Wednesdays

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security. 

CREDITS:

Hosts - YONATAN ADIRI & YAEL WISSNER-LEVY

Executive Producer - ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY

Production Manager - BRITTANY COHEN

Community Manager - AVA WEINER

Sound and Video editing - MARTIN HUERGO AND PATRICIO SPADAVECCHIA

Music - MIDNIGHT GENERATION