Breaking the Narrative

This week, Jesse sits down with Simon Wolle, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, for an important conversation about the rise of antisemitism across the country.

Drawing on the findings of B’nai Brith’s Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, they discuss what the latest data reveals, the factors driving these trends, and the impact they’re having on Canadian Jewish communities. They also explore what governments, community organizations, and everyday Canadians can do to push back against hate and help build a safer future for everyone.

On this week’s episode, Jesse speaks with renowned dancer, singer, and social media activist Montana Tucker. Montana discusses what it meant to wear her now-iconic Grammys dress, adorned with a large yellow ribbon in honour of the hostages taken into Gaza on October 7, as well as the legacy of being the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. She also reflects on her journey from entertainment influencer to pro-Israel advocate and how using her platform for this work has enabled her to educate millions about antisemitism and Israel.

Watch Montana's documentary, The Children of October 7, available on Paramount+. Featuring interviews with young survivors of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, this powerful documentary shares their firsthand stories of resilience and trauma.

This week, Jesse sat down with Goldie Ghamari, an Iranian-Canadian activist and former MPP. Having immigrated to Canada from Iran as a child, Goldie has spent decades speaking out against the Iranian regime and the IRGC, drawing from her firsthand understanding of the regime’s tyranny.

She speaks with Jesse about the urgency of dismantling the IRGC, the future of Iran, and the Iranian people’s pursuit of freedom. They also discuss the growing problem of extremism in Canada and how rising anti-Western sentiment is creating a dangerous environment for democracy and Canadians alike.

This week, Jesse sat down with Toronto-based artist Taiga Bentley, Owner/Director of Olga Korper Gallery and Founder of the Reframe Arts Fellowship, an immersive arts and culture experience in Israel for Canadian professionals in the visual arts space, in partnership with StandWithUs Canada.

Jesse and Taiga discuss the connection between art and Judaism, how October 7th changed her worldview, and how it inspired her to share her Jewish pride and push back against antisemitism. Taiga also reflects on how, in the aftermath of that day, many in the art world were not welcoming toward pro-Israel perspectives, and how antisemitism has increasingly taken hold in creative communities.

Reframe Arts Fellowship: https://www.reframeartsfellowship.com/
Olga Korper Gallery: https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/

On this episode, Jesse sits down with Natasha Pein, co-founder and Senior Executive Leader of the Stop Antizionism Initiative (stopaz.org) and author of Unmasking Antizionist Tactics: A New Face of Old Hate. Through her work, Natasha examines antizionism as a contemporary manifestation of antisemitism through rigorous research, strategic analysis, and actionable education.

Jesse and Natasha break down what antizionism is, where it came from, and why it has become increasingly socially acceptable today. They also discuss how it impacts student life on campus and what an effective response to it actually requires from institutions.