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The Schmooze Podcast

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The Schmooze Podcast

Explore intriguing conversations with fascinating guests on various topics. Dive deep into the world of podcasts.

“Theater tells stories in a way that nothing else can.”

One of the most thoughtful parts of our conversation with the women behind @chailifeproductions The Last Yiddish Speaker was hearing them explain why live theatre still matters in a world dominated by algorithms, outrage, and endless scrolling.

This wasn’t just a conversation about a play.

It became a conversation about storytelling, identity, community, and the uniquely human experience of sitting together and hearing a story unfold live in front of you.

Such a fun Schmooze.

🎙️ Now streaming on Spotify & YouTube.

link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #JewishTheatre #Storytelling #Calgary #YYCArts #JewishCommunity

“Theater tells stories in a way that nothing else can.”

One of the most thoughtful parts of our conversation with the women behind @chailifeproductions The Last Yiddish Speaker was hearing them explain why live theatre still matters in a world dominated by algorithms, outrage, and endless scrolling.

This wasn’t just a conversation about a play.

It became a conversation about storytelling, identity, community, and the uniquely human experience of sitting together and hearing a story unfold live in front of you.

Such a fun Schmooze.

🎙️ Now streaming on Spotify & YouTube.

link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #JewishTheatre #Storytelling #Calgary #YYCArts #JewishCommunity

Jewish theatre in Calgary disappeared for nearly four decades.

Now it’s back.

Today’s Schmooze with @chailifeproductions Zelda Dean, Laura Schuler, and Tracy Smith became a conversation about much more than a play.

It became a conversation about:
🎭 storytelling
✡️ identity
🕯️ visibility
🤝 community
and why culture matters during difficult times.

One of our favourite episodes yet.

🎙️ Now streaming on Spotify & YouTube.

#TheSchmooze #JewishTheatre #Calgary #YYCArts #JewishCommunity #TheLastYiddishSpeaker

Jewish theatre in Calgary disappeared for nearly four decades.

Now it’s back.

Today’s Schmooze with @chailifeproductions Zelda Dean, Laura Schuler, and Tracy Smith became a conversation about much more than a play.

It became a conversation about:
🎭 storytelling
✡️ identity
��🕯️ visibility
🤝 community
and why culture matters during difficult times.

One of our favourite episodes yet.

🎙️ Now streaming on Spotify & YouTube.

#TheSchmooze #JewishTheatre #Calgary #YYCArts #JewishCommunity #TheLastYiddishSpeaker

For nearly 40 years, Jewish theatre disappeared from Calgary.

Now it’s back.

Our conversation with the women behind @chailifeproductions and The Last Yiddish Speaker became something much bigger than a discussion about a play.

It became a conversation about:
🎭 storytelling
✡️ Jewish identity
🕯️ visibility
🤝 community
and why culture matters during difficult times.

One of the most thoughtful Schmoozes we’ve recorded.

Featuring Zelda Dean, Laura Schuler & Tracy Smith.

🎙️ New episode tomorrow at 6 AM on Spotify & YouTube.

#TheSchmooze #JewishTheatre #Calgary #YYCArts #JewishCommunity #TheLastYiddishSpeaker

For nearly 40 years, Jewish theatre disappeared from Calgary.

Now it’s back.

Our conversation with the women behind @chailifeproductions and The Last Yiddish Speaker became something much bigger than a discussion about a play.

It became a conversation about:
🎭 storytelling
✡️ Jewish identity
🕯️ visibility
🤝 community
and why culture matters during difficult times.

One of the most thoughtful Schmoozes we’ve recorded.

Featuring Zelda Dean, Laura Schuler & Tracy Smith.

🎙️ New episode tomorrow at 6 AM on Spotify & YouTube.

#TheSchmooze #JewishTheatre #Calgary #YYCArts #JewishCommunity #TheLastYiddishSpeaker

For an entire generation of Blue Jays fans, this wasn’t just a catch.

It was @kpillar11 . ⚾️

Our conversation with Kevin went far beyond baseball — into pressure, identity, resilience, family, and life after the game.

One of our favourite episodes yet.

🎙️ Episode 24 now streaming on Spotify & YouTube.

Link in bio

For an entire generation of Blue Jays fans, this wasn’t just a catch.

It was @kpillar11 . ⚾️

Our conversation with Kevin went far beyond baseball — into pressure, identity, resilience, family, and life after the game.

One of our favourite episodes yet.

🎙️ Episode 24 now streaming on Spotify & YouTube.

Link in bio

Some weeks, the news cycle feels heavier than usual.

In this first edition of The Schmooze Between…, Don & Jared sit down without a guest and simply talk through the stories, contradictions, frustrations, and emotions surrounding a difficult week in the news.

From Ben-Gvir and the flotilla controversy to Thomas Massie, political extremism, media narratives, radicalization, and the growing feeling that the world is losing nuance, this is a conversation about trying to process it all honestly.

This is a different kind of Schmooze episode.
More conversational.
More immediate.
More human.

🎙️ Now streaming on YouTube & Spotify.

Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Podcast #Israel #Jewish #CurrentEvents

Some weeks, the news cycle feels heavier than usual.

In this first edition of The Schmooze Between…, Don & Jared sit down without a guest and simply talk through the stories, contradictions, frustrations, and emotions surrounding a difficult week in the news.

From Ben-Gvir and the flotilla controversy to Thomas Massie, political extremism, media narratives, radicalization, and the growing feeling that the world is losing nuance, this is a conversation about trying to process it all honestly.

This is a different kind of Schmooze episode.
More conversational.
More immediate.
More human.

🎙️ Now streaming on YouTube & Spotify.

Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Podcast #Israel #Jewish #CurrentEvents

For a lot of people, Jewish identity was once just a quiet part of life.

Not a headline.
Not a political statement.
Just part of who you were.

One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation with @kpillar11 was hearing him reflect on growing up simply as “a ballplayer who happened to be Jewish.”

There’s something powerful in that.

Not every Jewish story has to begin with conflict.

Sometimes it begins with baseball, family, pressure, resilience, and trying to become the best version of yourself.

That matters too.

Be sure to get your tickets to see him live at the @calgaryjcc Sports Gala on May 28!

🎙️ Episode 24 with Kevin Pillar is now streaming on Spotify and YouTube.

Link in Bio

For a lot of people, Jewish identity was once just a quiet part of life.

Not a headline.
Not a political statement.
Just part of who you were.

One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation with @kpillar11 was hearing him reflect on growing up simply as “a ballplayer who happened to be Jewish.”

There’s something powerful in that.

Not every Jewish story has to begin with conflict.

Sometimes it begins with baseball, family, pressure, resilience, and trying to become the best version of yourself.

That matters too.

Be sure to get your tickets to see him live at the @calgaryjcc Sports Gala on May 28!

🎙️ Episode 24 with Kevin Pillar is now streaming on Spotify and YouTube.

Link in Bio

“The greatest hitters fail 70% of the time.

Our superpower is not accepting failure…It’s redefining success.”

What started as a conversation about baseball became something much bigger.

In this episode, @kpillar11 reflects on pressure, identity, resilience, family, and what it means to carry expectations in public life.

There’s something powerful about hearing Jewish stories that aren’t framed around tragedy or politics alone, but around excellence, humanity, struggle, growth, and purpose.

That matters too.

🎙️ Episode 24: Schmooze with Kevin Pillar is now live.

Link in Bio

“The greatest hitters fail 70% of the time.

Our superpower is not accepting failure…It’s redefining success.”

What started as a conversation about baseball became something much bigger.

In this episode, @kpillar11 reflects on pressure, identity, resilience, family, and what it means to carry expectations in public life.

There’s something powerful about hearing Jewish stories that aren’t framed around tragedy or politics alone, but around excellence, humanity, struggle, growth, and purpose.

That matters too.

🎙️ Episode 24: Schmooze with Kevin Pillar is now live.

Link in Bio

You knew @kpillar11 the baseball player.

Tomorrow, we introduce you to the person.

🎙️ New Schmooze episode tomorrow streaming from 6:00 AM!

Link in Bio

You knew @kpillar11 the baseball player.

Tomorrow, we introduce you to the person.

🎙️ New Schmooze episode tomorrow streaming from 6:00 AM!

Link in Bio

“In here, life is beautiful…”

Two weeks ago, @donschapira didn’t present to a classroom.

He presented the @heretotell_fhs Holocaust education program from @calgary_jewish_federation to the @frontrowcalgary cast of Cabaret.

And something different happened in that room.

They didn’t just learn history.
They recognized it.

Not the headlines. Not the outcome.

The pattern.

How a society shifts slowly.
How pressure builds quietly.
How people adjust… without realizing it.

That’s what Cabaret captures.

Not the collapse.

The moment before.

He stayed to watch rehearsal after.

This cast gets it.

Not just the lines. Not just the music.

The tension.

The hesitation.

The silence.

This is going to be one heck of a show.

If you want to feel what we're talking about, go see it.

📍 Pumphouse Theatres, Calgary
🗓 May 15–30, 2026
🎟 Link in bio

Read the full piece on Substack. Link in bio.

“In here, life is beautiful…”

Two weeks ago, @donschapira didn’t present to a classroom.

He presented the @heretotell_fhs Holocaust education program from @calgary_jewish_federation to the @frontrowcalgary cast of Cabaret.

And something different happened in that room.

They didn’t just learn history.
They recognized it.

Not the headlines. Not the outcome.

The pattern.

How a society shifts slowly.
How pressure builds quietly.
How people adjust… without realizing it.

That’s what Cabaret captures.

Not the collapse.

The moment before.

He stayed to watch rehearsal after.

This cast gets it.

Not just the lines. Not just the music.

The tension.

The hesitation.

The silence.

This is going to be one heck of a show.

If you want to feel what we're talking about, go see it.

📍 Pumphouse Theatres, Calgary
🗓 May 15–30, 2026
🎟 Link in bio

Read the full piece on Substack. Link in bio.

“The modern Nakba narrative often presents Palestinians as passive victims of history rather than active participants within it. But agency matters.”

In a new essay for The Schmooze Substack, @donschapira explores how the Nakba narrative evolved over time, how language shapes historical memory, and why removing agency from conflict may ultimately undermine the very humanity it seeks to defend.

This is not an argument against Palestinian suffering.

It is an argument for historical complexity, accountability, and the importance of seeing people as participants in history rather than merely symbols within it.

Read the full article on The Schmooze Substack - Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Nakba #Israel #MiddleEast #History #Politics #Substack

“The modern Nakba narrative often presents Palestinians as passive victims of history rather than active participants within it. But agency matters.”

In a new essay for The Schmooze Substack, @donschapira explores how the Nakba narrative evolved over time, how language shapes historical memory, and why removing agency from conflict may ultimately undermine the very humanity it seeks to defend.

This is not an argument against Palestinian suffering.

It is an argument for historical complexity, accountability, and the importance of seeing people as participants in history rather than merely symbols within it.

Read the full article on The Schmooze Substack - Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Nakba #Israel #MiddleEast #History #Politics #Substack

One of the things that stayed with me after our conversation with representatives from Sharaka was how often hatred survives through distance.

Distance allows people to become symbols instead of human beings.

The more we spoke about coexistence, conversation, and human connection, the more I realized how desperately the world needs spaces where people are still willing to sit together and truly listen to one another.

On May 17, @calgary_jewish_federation is inviting us all to have the opportunity to hear directly from young Arab and Jewish voices working to build relationships across one of the world’s most complicated regions.

Not because everyone will agree.

But because conversations like these matter.

Register @ jewishcalgary.com

Check out the substack: Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Israel #MiddleEast #Peace #Calgary

One of the things that stayed with me after our conversation with representatives from Sharaka was how often hatred survives through distance.

Distance allows people to become symbols instead of human beings.

The more we spoke about coexistence, conversation, and human connection, the more I realized how desperately the world needs spaces where people are still willing to sit together and truly listen to one another.

On May 17, @calgary_jewish_federation is inviting us all to have the opportunity to hear directly from young Arab and Jewish voices working to build relationships across one of the world’s most complicated regions.

Not because everyone will agree.

But because conversations like these matter.

Register @ jewishcalgary.com

Check out the substack: Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Israel #MiddleEast #Peace #Calgary

Morris Dancyger z"l survived history and spent a lifetime ensuring others would never forget it.

Today @donschapira wrote about his passing, the importance of Holocaust education, and the responsibility we now carry as the survivor generation leaves us.

Their stories must not end with them.

Link in bio.

Morris Dancyger z"l survived history and spent a lifetime ensuring others would never forget it.

Today @donschapira wrote about his passing, the importance of Holocaust education, and the responsibility we now carry as the survivor generation leaves us.

Their stories must not end with them.

Link in bio.

“Before the Abraham Accords, Israel was the Zionist entity. After the Abraham Accords… it was Israel.”

One of the most fascinating moments from our conversation with representatives from Sharaka about coexistence, perception, and the changing Middle East.

Full episode now streaming on Spotify and YouTube.

Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Israel #MiddleEast

“Before the Abraham Accords, Israel was the Zionist entity. After the Abraham Accords… it was Israel.”

One of the most fascinating moments from our conversation with representatives from Sharaka about coexistence, perception, and the changing Middle East.

Full episode now streaming on Spotify and YouTube.

Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Israel #MiddleEast

🎙️ THE FIRST EVER SCHMOOZE LIVE.

We’re honoured to welcome @kinsellawarren to Calgary for a live conversation about his bestselling new book:

📘 The Hidden Hand

A discussion about media, influence, propaganda, and the modern information war.

📚 Book signing included
☕ Light beverages + snacks
🎟️ FREE EVENT

📍 Beth Tzedec Congregation
📅 Sunday, June 7
🕙 10:00 AM

Space is limited.

Be in the room.

#TheSchmooze #WarrenKinsella #TheHiddenHand #Calgary #JewishCalgary #LivePodcast #PodcastEvent #BookSigning

🎙️ THE FIRST EVER SCHMOOZE LIVE.

We’re honoured to welcome @kinsellawarren to Calgary for a live conversation about his bestselling new book:

📘 The Hidden Hand

A discussion about media, influence, propaganda, and the modern information war.

📚 Book signing included
☕ Light beverages + snacks
🎟️ FREE EVENT

📍 Beth Tzedec Congregation
📅 Sunday, June 7
🕙 10:00 AM

Space is limited.

Be in the room.

#TheSchmooze #WarrenKinsella #TheHiddenHand #Calgary #JewishCalgary #LivePodcast #PodcastEvent #BookSigning

She expected hostility.

Instead, she heard:

“We’ve been waiting to have peace with Arabs for a long time.”

One of the most powerful moments from our conversation with representatives from Sharaka discussing coexistence, normalization, and the changing Middle East.

Full episode now streaming on Spotify and YouTube.

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Israel #MiddleEast #Peace

She expected hostility.

Instead, she heard:

“We’ve been waiting to have peace with Arabs for a long time.”

One of the most powerful moments from our conversation with representatives from Sharaka discussing coexistence, normalization, and the changing Middle East.

Full episode now streaming on Spotify and YouTube.

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Israel #MiddleEast #Peace

The Middle East is changing.

This week on The Schmooze, Rachel Brynien and Fatma Alharbi from @sharakango join us for a conversation about:

• The Abraham Accords
• Arab-Israeli coexistence
• October 7
• Antisemitism in the West
• And why peace may be more possible than people think

One of our most eye-opening episodes yet.

Now streaming everywhere.

Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Peace #Israel #Podcast #MiddleEast

The Middle East is changing.

This week on The Schmooze, Rachel Brynien and Fatma Alharbi from @sharakango join us for a conversation about:

• The Abraham Accords
• Arab-Israeli coexistence
• October 7
• Antisemitism in the West
• And why peace may be more possible than people think

One of our most eye-opening episodes yet.

Now streaming everywhere.

Link in Bio

#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Peace #Israel #Podcast #MiddleEast

Most people think they don’t have influence.

That change only happens somewhere “out there,” by someone else, in rooms they’ll never enter.

But one of the most important points @michael_westcott made on The Schmooze was this:

You have more power than you realize.

Not because you need to become an activist overnight.
Not because you need to dedicate your life to politics.

But because participation matters.

This clip is about the difference between watching what happens… and deciding to step into it.

If you’ve been feeling like something in Canada feels off, and wondering what you can actually do about it, this is a practical place to start:

👉 @thealliescanada

🎙️ Full Schmooze episode now live.

Most people think they don’t have influence.

That change only happens somewhere “out there,” by someone else, in rooms they’ll never enter.

But one of the most important points @michael_westcott made on The Schmooze was this:

You have more power than you realize.

Not because you need to become an activist overnight.
Not because you need to dedicate your life to politics.

But because participation matters.

This clip is about the difference between watching what happens… and deciding to step into it.

If you’ve been feeling like something in Canada feels off, and wondering what you can actually do about it, this is a practical place to start:

👉 @thealliescanada

🎙️ Full Schmooze episode now live.

Most of what we say sounds like this:

“This is just what happened.”

But in that moment, something shifts.

We move from participating… to observing.

@donschapira wrote a Substack piece after our conversation with @michael_westcott about that exact idea:

👉 the difference between something happening to you, and deciding to take part in what happens next.

If you’ve been feeling like something is off, but haven’t quite been able to put words to it, this might resonate.

🔗 Link in bio

🎙️ Full Schmooze episode is live

Most of what we say sounds like this:

“This is just what happened.”

But in that moment, something shifts.

We move from participating… to observing.

@donschapira wrote a Substack piece after our conversation with @michael_westcott about that exact idea:

👉 the difference between something happening to you, and deciding to take part in what happens next.

If you’ve been feeling like something is off, but haven’t quite been able to put words to it, this might resonate.

🔗 Link in bio

🎙️ Full Schmooze episode is live

“Your silence creates space…”

That line stayed with me.

We spend a lot of time reacting. Posting. Talking.
But very little time actually engaging in ways that move anything.

This conversation with @michael_westcott is about that gap.

If you’ve been feeling like something is off, but haven’t known what to do about it, this is a place to start:

👉 @thealliescanada
👉 theallies.ca

Simple steps. Real impact. Your voice matters more than you think.

🎙️ Full episode of The Schmooze is live - Link in bio

“Your silence creates space…”

That line stayed with me.

We spend a lot of time reacting. Posting. Talking.
But very little time actually engaging in ways that move anything.

This conversation with @michael_westcott is about that gap.

If you’ve been feeling like something is off, but haven’t known what to do about it, this is a place to start:

👉 @thealliescanada
👉 theallies.ca

Simple steps. Real impact. Your voice matters more than you think.

🎙️ Full episode of The Schmooze is live - Link in bio

Not every fire is meant to divide.
Some are meant to bring us together.

Tonight, across communities, fires are being lit.

Not just as a tradition,
but as a reminder.

Of light in darkness.
Of warmth in difficult times.
Of people coming together, even when the world feels… a little fractured.

At The Schmooze, that’s what we’re about too.

Creating space.
Bringing people in.
Keeping the conversation going.

🔥 Chag Lag BaOmer Sameach
🎙️ From The Schmooze

#LagBaOmer #TheSchmooze #JewishCommunity #YYC #Connection #ConversationMatters

Not every fire is meant to divide.
Some are meant to bring us together.

Tonight, across communities, fires are being lit.

Not just as a tradition,
but as a reminder.

Of light in darkness.
Of warmth in difficult times.
Of people coming together, even when the world feels… a little fractured.

At The Schmooze, that’s what we’re about too.

Creating space.
Bringing people in.
Keeping the conversation going.

🔥 Chag Lag BaOmer Sameach
🎙️ From The Schmooze

#LagBaOmer #TheSchmooze #JewishCommunity #YYC #Connection #ConversationMatters

Something feels… off in the feed.
You’re not imagining it.

Information is moving faster than ever.
Certainty is louder than ever.
And somehow… truth is harder to find.

So we tried something different.

This is our May the 4th post.
But it’s also what The Schmooze is really about.

Not louder takes.
Better conversations.

🎙️ In a very noisy galaxy… conversation still matters.

#MayTheFourth #TheSchmooze #Podcast #Misinformation #ConversationMatters #YYC #JewishVoices

Something feels… off in the feed.
You’re not imagining it.

Information is moving faster than ever.
Certainty is louder than ever.
And somehow… truth is harder to find.

So we tried something different.

This is our May the 4th post.
But it’s also what The Schmooze is really about.

Not louder takes.
Better conversations.

🎙️ In a very noisy galaxy… conversation still matters.

#MayTheFourth #TheSchmooze #Podcast #Misinformation #ConversationMatters #YYC #JewishVoices

Something in Canada feels… off.

Most people see it.
Few people say it out loud.

In this episode of The Schmooze, we sit down with @michael_westcott , founder of @thealliescanada

We talk about:

• Why so many Canadians feel like the country is shifting
• Why social media isn’t real engagement
• And what actually happens when people stop staying silent

30,000 Canadians are already stepping up.

Not arguing.
Not posting.
Actually doing something.

This conversation is different.

🎙️ Watch or listen now - Link in Bio

Something in Canada feels… off.

Most people see it.
Few people say it out loud.

In this episode of The Schmooze, we sit down with @michael_westcott , founder of @thealliescanada

We talk about:

• Why so many Canadians feel like the country is shifting
• Why social media isn’t real engagement
• And what actually happens when people stop staying silent

30,000 Canadians are already stepping up.

Not arguing.
Not posting.
Actually doing something.

This conversation is different.

🎙️ Watch or listen now - Link in Bio

This past Wednesday morning I woke up discouraged.

Another headline. Another senselessnact of violence. Another moment where you stop and think:

Is anyone else seeing what’s happening?

Then we sat down with Michael Westcott
And everything shifted.

This isn’t just a conversation about antisemitism.

It’s about something bigger.

👉 Why so many Canadians feel like something is off
👉 Why social media isn’t real engagement
👉 And what actually happens when people decide to act

30,000 Canadians already have.

The question is—what happens when more do?

🎙️ New episode of The Schmooze drops tomorrow.

This past Wednesday morning I woke up discouraged.

Another headline. Another senselessnact of violence. Another moment where you stop and think:

Is anyone else seeing what’s happening?

Then we sat down with Michael Westcott
And everything shifted.

This isn’t just a conversation about antisemitism.

It’s about something bigger.

👉 Why so many Canadians feel like something is off
👉 Why social media isn’t real engagement
👉 And what actually happens when people decide to act

30,000 Canadians already have.

The question is—what happens when more do?

🎙️ New episode of The Schmooze drops tomorrow.

Mazal tov to @chaitherepod! and the team at Alberta Jewish News on the launch of their new podcast and platform.

It’s genuinely exciting to see more spaces emerging for Jewish storytelling and conversation here in Alberta. When we launched The Schmooze, it was with a simple belief: that our community needed a place to talk. Not just to share updates or highlight events, but to sit together in conversation, to listen, and to be heard.

It’s meaningful to see that same instinct taking shape in new ways. It speaks to something real. There is a growing appetite in our community for connection, for dialogue, and for voices that reflect the breadth of who we are.

Each platform will bring something different, and that matters.

Chai There! is carving out a space rooted in culture, celebration, and accessibility. There is real value in that.

Culture is often the entry point into identity, and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for people across the spectrum of connection to Jewish life is important work.

The Schmooze was built with a different intention. One that leans into conversation not just as a way to connect, but as a way to explore, to question, and to better understand ourselves and each other.

Our community does not need fewer voices. It needs more.

More perspectives.
More approaches.
More people willing to step forward and contribute to the conversation in their own way.

All of it has a place.

We are proud of what The Schmooze has become, and we are equally encouraged to see others stepping into the space. It means the conversation is growing.

And that is something our community needs.

Mazal tov to @chaitherepod! and the team at Alberta Jewish News on the launch of their new podcast and platform.

It’s genuinely exciting to see more spaces emerging for Jewish storytelling and conversation here in Alberta. When we launched The Schmooze, it was with a simple belief: that our community needed a place to talk. Not just to share updates or highlight events, but to sit together in conversation, to listen, and to be heard.

It’s meaningful to see that same instinct taking shape in new ways. It speaks to something real. There is a growing appetite in our community for connection, for dialogue, and for voices that reflect the breadth of who we are.

Each platform will bring something different, and that matters.

Chai There! is carving out a space rooted in culture, celebration, and accessibility. There is real value in that.

Culture is often the entry point into identity, and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for people across the spectrum of connection to Jewish life is important work.

The Schmooze was built with a different intention. One that leans into conversation not just as a way to connect, but as a way to explore, to question, and to better understand ourselves and each other.

Our community does not need fewer voices. It needs more.

More perspectives.
More approaches.
More people willing to step forward and contribute to the conversation in their own way.

All of it has a place.

We are proud of what The Schmooze has become, and we are equally encouraged to see others stepping into the space. It means the conversation is growing.

And that is something our community needs.

Tonight, across the country, people are sitting down for Shabbat dinner.

There’s no script.
No agenda.

Just conversation.

Sometimes it’s politics.
Sometimes it’s religion.
Sometimes it’s about our kids, our experiences, or just what we do for a living.

It’s not perfect.
It’s not planned.

It’s just… real.

And in that, something meaningful happens.

Thank you @michellematheryyc and @kim.kitai for founding this amazing initiative!

🎧 Full episode: [link in bio]

Tonight, across the country, people are sitting down for Shabbat dinner.

There’s no script.
No agenda.

Just conversation.

Sometimes it’s politics.
Sometimes it’s religion.
Sometimes it’s about our kids, our experiences, or just what we do for a living.

It’s not perfect.
It’s not planned.

It’s just… real.

And in that, something meaningful happens.

Thank you @michellematheryyc and @kim.kitai for founding this amazing initiative!

🎧 Full episode: [link in bio]

This is how it started.

Not with a strategy.
Not with a plan.

Just a conversation… in a kitchen between @michellematheryyc and @kim.kitai

An idea.
A moment.
And someone who decided to make it happen.

That’s how Bridges YYC began.

🎧 Full episode: [link in bio]

This is how it started.

Not with a strategy.
Not with a plan.

Just a conversation… in a kitchen between @michellematheryyc and @kim.kitai

An idea.
A moment.
And someone who decided to make it happen.

That’s how Bridges YYC began.

🎧 Full episode: [link in bio]

You can’t hate someone you’ve shared a table with.

In this episode of The Schmooze, we sat down with @michellematheryyc and @kim.kitai from Bridges-YYC.com — an initiative bringing people together in the simplest way possible:

A dinner table.

Not to debate.
Not to argue.

But to connect.

Because most people don’t hate…
they just don’t know.

And when that changes — everything changes.

🎧 Listen & ▶️ Watch Now!

Links in bio

You can’t hate someone you’ve shared a table with.

In this episode of The Schmooze, we sat down with @michellematheryyc and @kim.kitai from Bridges-YYC.com — an initiative bringing people together in the simplest way possible:

A dinner table.

Not to debate.
Not to argue.

But to connect.

Because most people don’t hate…
they just don’t know.

And when that changes — everything changes.

🎧 Listen & ▶️ Watch Now!

Links in bio

There’s a difference between talking about connection…
and actually experiencing it.

This is what it looks like when people sit at the same table.
Different backgrounds. Different stories. One conversation.

And something changes.

Tomorrow on The Schmooze, we’re sitting down with Michelle Mather and Kim Kitai from Bridges YYC — an initiative bringing people together in a way that actually works.

Not through debate.
Not through headlines.

Through dinner.

🎧 Episode drops tomorrow.

There’s a difference between talking about connection…
and actually experiencing it.

This is what it looks like when people sit at the same table.
Different backgrounds. Different stories. One conversation.

And something changes.

Tomorrow on The Schmooze, we’re sitting down with Michelle Mather and Kim Kitai from Bridges YYC — an initiative bringing people together in a way that actually works.

Not through debate.
Not through headlines.

Through dinner.

🎧 Episode drops tomorrow.

Today is Yom Ha'atzmaut.

A day about independence.
But also about identity.

About what it means to be a people that has endured, adapted, and remained.

This piece isn’t about arguing narratives.
It’s about something deeper:

the difference between knowing about Jews and truly knowing them.

Check out our new Substack.

Link in bio

Today is Yom Ha'atzmaut.

A day about independence.
But also about identity.

About what it means to be a people that has endured, adapted, and remained.

This piece isn’t about arguing narratives.
It’s about something deeper:

the difference between knowing about Jews and truly knowing them.

Check out our new Substack.

Link in bio

“I didn’t fly halfway across the world to be told no.”

They kept pushing @noyleyb away.

He kept coming back.

From Calgary… to the IDF.

This moment changed everything.

🎧 Full episode out now

Link in bio

“I didn’t fly halfway across the world to be told no.”

They kept pushing @noyleyb away.

He kept coming back.

From Calgary… to the IDF.

This moment changed everything.

🎧 Full episode out now

Link in bio

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