War is Stupid: An Anti-War Podcast About War

Orli Matlow sits down with Emmy winner Poh Si Teng, director of the documentary American Doctor, in theatres now. The film follows three physicians who volunteer at besieged hospitals in Gaza, and spread the word about what they saw—which their tax dollars paid for. Poh discusses the process of filming with a Gaza-based crew under blockade, the cut scene she still thinks about, and how everyone can fight for the living, wherever they are. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Find a screening near you at AmericanDoctorFilm.com Follow on Instagram: American Doctor Watermelon Pictures Poh Si Teng Dr. Mark Perlmutter Dr. Feroze Sidhwa Dr. Thaer Ahmad Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with comedian Mika Stein for the War is Stupid High Holidays special, diving deep into Jewish philosophy and how to adapt to synagogues with guitars. Mika reflects on his experiences in Yeshiva and the Jewish non-profit world, being Black and Jewish, and how criticizing Israel more than America is like “hating your dad’s mistress.” They cover everything from the Jewish Labor Bund’s principle of doikayt (“hereness”) to the legacy of HBO’s Entourage. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Mika: Instagram TikTok   Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack   00:00 - Teaser: Zionism and Jewish Guilt 01:28 - Introduction to Mika Stein 01:54 - The Jewish Day School-to-Standup Comedian Pipeline 04:00 - Mika's family history and work in Jewish non-profits 5:26 - Rodeph, "human shields," and House of the Dragon 10:04 - Jewish identity outside of the modern nation-state of Israel 11:03 - Jewish hookup culture around the world 15:45 - Mika's background and frat era 1 6:39 - Exploring anti-Zionism 18:04 - Doikayt and the Jewish Labor Bund 21:07 - Mika's Zeyde 23:43 - The Texan Jewish Experience 26:05 - Political Power and the USS Abraham Lincoln 28:41 - The High Holidays and Mayor Zohran Mamdani 33:48 - Anti-LGTBQ+ hate crime in Jerusalem 34:27 - Becoming disillusioned on a middle school trip to Israel 36:27 - Mika's joruney to comedy through Entourage and Jon Stewart's Elmopalooza 42:28 - Being Black and Jewish and embracing multicultural families 45:12 - Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Joshua Heschel, and coalition building 49:40 - Modern antisemitism and the importance of being a good hang

Orli Matlow sits down for Rafael Jesús Gonzalez, the first poet to appear on the show and the first Poet Laureate of Berkeley, California. Professor Gonzalez talks about his experiences in the Flower Power Revolution during the Vietnam War, organizing against nuclear weapons during the Reagan era, and building Dr. Martin Luther King's Beloved Community working towards healing. Professor Gonzalez reads two poems about the horrors of war, and explains how activism “must be deeply, deeply grounded in love and it must be informed by joy.” Follow Professor Gonzalez: Blog Learn more about the Earth-Justice-Peace flag Learn more about Dr. King's philosophy of the Beloved Community Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with Palestinian political thinker, strategist, and writer Hamze Awawde for a powerful conversation about complexity and complicity. Hamze dives deep into the “peace-industrial complex” and its priorities, how many “Israeli-Palestinian dialogue” events are scripted, and how “settler violence” is a euphemism for “state violence.” He encourages people to reflect on the last three years and to speak up, because in his words, “what are you going to lose? The ship is sinking anyway. So what are we trying to protect by staying stubborn about certain attitudes in this world?”  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Hamze: Substack Instagram Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with pacifist Presbyterian pastor Ben Daniel, author of Grace Over Guns, which brings a proudly Christian perspective to pursuing peace in a militarized world. They discuss military violence’s dismal record in achieving peace, and stories of successful non-violent resistance in Costa Rica, Estonia, and The Bible. Ben discusses his experiences presiding over funerals, responding to the inevitable “What about World War II?” question, and finding inspiration in the anti-imperialist activism of Jesus.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Learn more about the Peace Church movement at the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship website. For more on conscientious objection, visit the Center on Conscience and War. Follow Ben: Website Instagram Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with actor, writer, and producer Nick Pearl and in the spirit of The Sound of Music, the conversation starts with music and ends with fleeing Nazis. They explore what being Jewish means outside of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt™ and Nick’s experience going from having antisemitic high school bullies to receiving online d**th threats from Zionist Jews. They discuss his day with Ice T on Law and Order, the history of Jews in professional wrestling, and life in the Sultanate of Greater Mamdanistan. Nick goes deep into his grandparents’ stories of surviving the Holocaust and achieving their American Dream. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Follow Nick: Instagram Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with clinical psychologist and academic Dr. Alice LoCicero to discuss what war does to the mind and spirit, whether experienced on the ground or through a screen. Dr. LoCicero explores whether moral injury is a medical issue or societal issue, pursuing systemic change as a course of treatment, and her work in Sri Lanka during their Civil War. They also talk The Odyssey, debating Odysseus’s DSM diagnosis.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Dr. LoCicero: Substack Website To learn more about moral injury: Dr. Jonathan Shay in Oral History Review  National Center for PTSD Journal of Traumatic Stress Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with Dr. Ambrogio A. Caiani, senior lecturer in modern European history at the University of Kent and author of the new book Flirting with Evil: The Catholic Church in the Age of Total War and Globalisation. They discuss the Vatican’s allies during World War II (hint: they weren’t The Allies), what they knew during the Holocaust, and when did they know it. Dr. Caiani shares the moving stories of the modern saints who *did* save lives, the dangers of “Worship of the State,” and the political significance of Pope Leo XIV, the first reigning American monarch.  Recorded before England beat France, securing third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. For more: Visit Dr. Caiani's website Buy books here Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with foreign affairs correspondent Ashley Gate, who lectures at Columbia University on AI and drones, for the episode with the most “oh my god”s yet. They discuss the terrifying ways Artificial Intelligence is used in Gaza, Iran, and by men on the subway, and how war has evolved from using horses to employing “killer robots.” Ashley explains whether or not “autonomous weapons” are really autonomous, the need for regulation, and how accountability *isn’t* impossible.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Ashley: LinkedIn Twitter Foreign Exchanges Substack Report on Marvel and the Military  Report: The Crowding Out Effect of U.S.-Israeli Militarization Follow the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots: Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with organizer and creator Jean-Paul Fartre for a conversation that’s more political philosophy than flatulence. Professor Fartre reveals the connection between dating apps and the post-9/11 War on Terror, because they're even worse than we thought. He shares his experiences teaching in San Quentin State Prison, and the differences between socialist organizing in The Philippines and the United States. They talk dialectics, how discussing American military dominance can help fight antisemitism, and JP makes the most enthusiastic case for revolutionary optimism yet.  Recorded while Trump’s Memorandum of Understanding with Iran was technically still Memorandum of Understanding-ing.  Get involved with No Casino in Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Website Instagram Get involved with No Brooklyn Jail: Website Instagram Follow Jean-Paul Fartre: Instagram TikTok Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.

Orli Matlow sits down with political scientist Bill Hartung, a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and standup comedian. They discuss his latest book, The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. Bill shares what the anti-war movement can learn from the anti-apartheid movement, the Luddites, and the 2026 NBA Champion New York Knicks, and how community can beat Silicon Valley. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Bill: Substack YouTube Follow Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft: Website Instagram TikTok Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, an organization that trains and mobilizes rabbis and cantors and their communities to bring a moral voice to protecting and advancing human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories. They discuss Truah’s decision to host Mayor Zohran Mamdani at their gala rather than declare him “an enemy of the Jewish people” (like a certain chair of UJA Federation did), and how that rhetoric does not help the Jewish community. Rabbi Jacobs shares her vision for a New York Jewish Parade to replace the Israel Day Parade, reflects on T'ruah’s work defending immigrants, and reveals her favorite niche tractate of Talmud.  Note: Recorded BC (Before Championship). Knicks in 5! Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow T'ruah: Website Instagram YouTube Bluesky Facebook Substack Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with British Jewish historian, writer, and musician Joseph Finlay, who passionately argues against her claim from the Amsterdam episode that “London is like NYC for goyim.” They explore the rich Jewish history of London, which was one of socialism and anarchism up until Thatcherism. They discuss the anti-fascist resistance of the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, which was recently co-opted by the Zionist Right in response to a protest against West Bank settlement sales. They talk about British Jewish heroes like Oliver!’s Lionel Bart and British Jewish villains like Lord Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks—and the contradictions of a “Rabbi Lord.” Joseph breaks down philo-semitism, a phenomenon that endangers Jews while mainstream institutions cheer it on. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Joseph:  Torat Albion Newsletter  Bluesky Website Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Orli Matlow sits down with Italian American comedian Ron Placone, whose show Anti-Fascist Pasta Night is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. They discuss the true history of fighting fascism with food, covering everything from Mussolini to Heated Rivalry. Ron opens up about his political awakening during the Iraq War, the multiplicity of Italian American identity, and shares his pro tips for surviving a run at the biggest arts festival on the planet.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Ron: Website Instagram Substack Podcast YouTube Watch Left At Wall: Tubi YouTube Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with British Jewish filmmaker Gillian Mosely, whose latest film Planet Israel explores Israeli society during and after October 7th. She investigates how right-wing Religious Zionism and settler ideology came to dominate Israel, with its roots in the work of Bibi’s dad’s boss Ze’ev Jabotinsky and Brooklyn-born convicted felon Rabbi Meir Kahane. They discuss what we owe our ancestors, interviewing people in Gaza, and the British Jewish experience—including Orli (figuratively) bombing in Camden cabarets. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Watch Planet Israel on Kinema Follow Planet Israel: Website Instagram Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with Common Defense organizer Michael Carter and member Susan O’Neill, who served as an Operating Room Nurse in Vietnam. They discuss organizing veterans against forever wars, authoritarianism and VA privatization, and what Supporting The Troops actually looks like, with shoutouts to Stephen Sondheim and Bruce Springsteen along the way. They talk the realities that lead people to join the military, the militarization of society, and finding hope in people—and birds.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Follow Common Defense:  Instagram YouTube Website Follow Susan: Buy Don't Mean Nothing on Amazon Website Follow Michael: Instagram Substack Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with comedian Gabe Pacheco, who might soon be subpoenaed by the federal government for joining the same aid mission to Cuba as Hasan Piker. They talk about Cuba’s history and present, whether Che Guevara shirts are as popular there as they are at liberal arts colleges, and why we need to bring the name Smedley back.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Follow Gabe: Instagram YouTube Halal Cartels Podcast Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with Mattan Berner-Kadish, an advocate for civil rights in Israel since his parents sued the country when he was four years old. Mattan talks about his work in the Occupied West Bank, bearing witness to extreme Israeli settler and military violence, including the killing of his close friend and fellow football fan Awdah Hathahleen. They talk nepo babies in the IDF, ICC evidence on Israeli Tinder, and how American Jews are the most progressive in the world (complimentary). Mattan talks about his new nonprofit From Here Forward, and makes the case that Naftali Bennett is not the Great Hope to save lives in Palestine and Israel—American primary voters are.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Donate to From Here Forward Follow Mattan: Instagram TikTok Substack Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Host Orli Matlow welcomes Irish comedian and newly minted American citizen, Katie Boyle. Katie teaches Orli about iconic figures in Irish history including Michael Collins, the pagan goddess Bridgid, and Crazy Bob. They talk the cool anti-war Pope Louis XIV and the real purpose of religion, plus Katie covers gun control and abortion rights—and doing standup in places that don’t have either. They also cover The Troubles, The Great Famine, and the lessons that today’s empires can learn from Britain losing theirs. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Watch Katie’s specials: Terapy  I'll Do It Myself Follow Katie: Instagram TikTok YouTube Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok YouTube Website

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Alex Willick, who was featured in the recent New Yorker article “At Synagogues, Tensions Are Boiling Over" by Eyal Press. A director at the New Israel Fund, he was invited to talk to the congregation about a recent trip to The Land, but the invitation was rescinded when he planned on speaking about settler violence in the West Bank. He shares the story that was banned from the bimah, and they discuss just how extreme this Israeli government truly is, its roots in the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, and what our responsibilities are as people who care about human rights.    Read The New Yorker piece here. Learn more about the New Israel Fund here. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Briana Gervat, author of There Will Come Soft Rains: A Journey Along the Western Front. Briana hiked for 36 days through France and Belgium, tracing the path of World War I, a devastating war that changed the world for the absolute worst (with the exceptions of Winnie the Pooh and Pilates).  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Briana: Instagram Amazon Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Host Orli Matlow sits down with multimedia artist and 2025 Jonathan Larson Grant recipent Fouad Dakwar to celebrate the release of the concept album for his semi-autobiographical musical Fouad of Nazareth, out now! Fouad talks the Palestinian Christian immigrant theatre kid experience, covering everything from his family's Nakba story to which role he played in a summer camp production of Spring Awakening. They talk the "fairy tale" of the two-state solution, the Golden Age of Teen Angst musicals, and the universality of Fiddler on the Roof.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Listen to Fouad of Nazareth on Spotify and Apple Music. Follow Fouad: Instagram Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is running as a Democrat to represent the March Madness champions of Michigan in the United States Senate. Abdul talks Iran and Lebanon, Israel and Temple Israel, and what a foreign policy that prioritizes the sanctity of human life would look like—as both a doctor and a politician. They discuss his favorite part of the Passover Seder, how Jews and Muslims can best unite against white supremacists, and the storied history of Detroit pizza. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Abdul: Website Instagram TikTok Facebook Twitter Bluesky YouTube Follow Orli: YouTube Instagram TikTok Website

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Dutch-Jewish activist and community organizer Simcha Zijlstra to talk about the three pillars of Jewish life in Europe: The Shoah, antisemitism, and Israel-Palestine (and sometimes football hooliganism). Simcha shares his journey discovering his Jewish heritage, challenging Zionist "fairy tales," and reestablishing joyful Jewish community in Amsterdam, complete with gremsjelies—matzah-based fruit latkes. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Follow Simcha on Instagram Read The Jewish Manifesto Follow Orli: YouTube Instagram TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with Noa Wolf, Niv Likwornik, and Dalia Rubinstein, organizers for peace and justice in Israel-Palestine with Friends of Standing Together. The great conversation ranges explores everything from their activist origin stories to the existence of Amish Halal Farms. They discuss growing up in Israel and France, the best way to fight against all forms of hate (hint: it’s not bombs), and the importance of picnics and putting the social in social movements. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Links: Friends of Standing Together NYC on Instagram The Long Answer Podcast Standing Together Website

Host Orli Matlow welcomes a humor writer, performer, and intrepid nerd culture anthropologist Justin Avery Smith, whose solo show Revenge of the Soy Boy is coming to the NYC Fringe Festival. Justin explores the real wars that inspired Star Wars (which is now being used to promote real wars), what George Lucas was trying to warn us about, and how the Jedi are actually the corporate Democrats of the galaxy. Justin also introduces Orli to the world of Star Trek, which she’s been accidentally representing since she broke her finger in high school. Humanity—and alienkind—have the capacity to do better.  Get tickets to Revenge of the Soy Boy here. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Justin: Instagram TikTok Twitter Website Follow Orli: YouTube Instagram TikTok Website

It’s the War is Stupid St. Patrick’s Day Special! Host Orli Matlow welcomes Mary Houlihan, an Irish American comedian with the gift of gab. They talk about her family’s history, the historical connection between Ireland and Palestine, and what Irish American families fight about if it’s not about Israel. They also discuss Tucker Carlson, art school, and Mary’s upcoming mission to Cuba, bringing medical aid and solar panels behind the blockade. Donate to the humanitarian and reporting project here.   Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.   Follow Mary: YouTube Instagram TikTok Patreon   Follow Orli: YouTube Instagram TikTok

Orli Matlow sits down with organizer Liza Behrendt, who is working to get “cool bank” Capital One not to renew their loan to Elbit Systems, Israel’s #1 weapons manufacturer (and NOT a beloved member of the Jewish community). Liza shares her journey going from Birthright to BDS, the Eject Elbit campaign’s wins so far, and the power Jennifer Garner has in this moment. They also discuss the 2008 Gaza War, the 2023-2026 Gaza War, the 2025 Iran War, and the 2026 Iran War. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Learn more about Eject Elbit and BDS Boston. Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Substack

Host Orli Matlow sits down with educator and content creator Dr. Victoria Alexander-Thompson to talk the contradictions within America’s #1 export: Freedom. Victoria goes deep into the history of slavery in America, enslaved people’s resistance, and what’s missing from textbooks and “Hamilton.” She also explains where and how to find hope, and they send a message to people in the year 2317— the year when we will be further away from the legal discrimination of Black people, then we are close to it. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Follow Victoria: Instagram TikTok Substack YouTube   Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Substack

Host Orli Matlow welcomes comedian Emily Baker for a delightfully riff-heavy episode about Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II and The Thirty Years War. They talk Habsburgmaxxing and Mar-A-Lago Face, Queen Charlotte’s yassification of King George III, and the common misconception that Les Miserables is about the French Revolution. Emily tells the story of Princess Caraboo—the original Rachel Dolezal—and they commiserate over shtetl boobs and the influence of Silicon Valley.  Oh, and Les Mis actually PREDATES the Paris Commune. War is Stupid regrets this error!  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Follow Emily: Instagram Follow Orli: Website Instagram TikTok

In this episode of War Is Stupid: An Anti-War Podcast About War, Orli Matlow interviews Mara Kronenfeld, the executive director of UNRWA USA, discussing the history and mission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. They discuss the challenges faced by Palestinian refugees and the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza—where Israeli authorities are banning the import of paper and pens. They explore the misconceptions surrounding UNRWA's educational curriculum, the reports of employees’ involvement in the October 7th attacks, and the “marathon of misery” that has been the last 28 months. Mara shares personal stories from visiting Gaza, how being the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor informs her work, and her thoughts on the “Board of Peace” for Palestine that has zero Palestinians. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Visit UNRWA USA's website Donate Follow Orli: Website Instagram TikTok

Orli Matlow sits down with Hailey McAfee and Rosie Glen-Lambert, the team behind And Her Children, currently running at the SoHo Playhouse. Adapted from Bertolt Brecht’s iconic anti-war play Mother Courage and Her Children, their version trades the battlefields of the Thirty Year’s War for the present-day National Rifle Association. They talk about guns in schools and in Minneapolis, Brecht’s legacy, and today’s conservative girlbosses from Karoline Leavitt to the Green M&M. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.   Get tickets to "And Her Children"   Follow The Attic Collective: Website Instagram Facebook   Follow Hailey: Website Instagram   Follow Rosie: Website  Instagram   Follow Orli: Website Instagram TikTok

Orli Matlow sits down with Marcos Descalzi and Cate Carrejo, the Founder and Communications Director of We Believe In Deep Canvassing, to learn all about the organizing tool that uses empathy to confront bias. Marcos and Cate give a master class on how to have actually productive conversations about politics, with sidebars that range from Moral Foundations Theory to Amy Adams’s filmography. They also teach Orli about life outside of New York City, and about finding hope in the recent Minnesota general strike and the Girl Scouts. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Follow We Believe In Deep Canvassing: Website Instagram TikTok Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn    Follow Orli: Website Instagram TikTok

Orli Matlow sits down with Zak Witus, Director of Young Leadership and Education at the New Israel Fund, to talk about his activism, which recently caught the attention of the authorities at Ben Gurion Airport. They discuss the fight for equality and justice in the midwest and the West Bank, where Zak was assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a night raid.  Zak speaks about his friend, the late human rights activist Awdah Hathaleen, who was brutally murdered on camera by settler Yinon Levi, who still walks free. ​​To support Umm Al Khair, donate at RememberingAwdah.com or here. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Donate to support the human rights activists who were banned from Israel. Apply to the NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship, an opportunity to spend 10 months in Israel/Palestine working on the frontlines of progressive social change. Applications due January 30th. Follow Zak: Instagram Substack Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with Congressional candidate Chuck Park, who is running to represent the people of Queens and not the profits of Lockheed Martin. Chuck shares his experiences serving as a diplomat under Obama—and quitting so he could criticize Trump. Recorded before Trump bombed Venezuela without Congressional approval, Chuck conveniently talked about supporting legislation that ensures that no president can unilaterally do just that. He also talks about the issues facing Queens from ICE raids to Mets trades, and where to eat along the 7 train line.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Chuck: Instagram TikTok Website   Donate to the campaign: ActBlue

Orli Matlow sits down with Jenny Chan, director of Pacific Atrocities Education, whose public history projects increase awareness of the crimes committed in the Asia-Pacific Theater of World War II. The atrocities were so atrocious that a literal Nazi wrote home that the Imperial Japanese Army was going too far with what is now known as the Rape of Nanking. Jenny exposes Imperial Japan’s war crimes including Unit 731 (the “Disneyland of human experimentation”), cannibalism, “comfort women,” and how the atomic bombings and the CIA helped them get away with it all. Jenny also shares what she learned from her grandma, inspiring stories of resistance and survival, and how World War II still affects politics in Asia today.    Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.    Follow Pacific Atrocities Education:  Website Instagram YouTube  Contribute   Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with comedian and activist Davidson Boswell, fresh out of spending 24 hours in jail for disrupting the Metropolitan Opera. Davidson shares how and why the Carmen counter-programming went down, and how the war on Venezuela is actually about Cuba. They riff on everything from the American Civil War to Canadian wildfires, and challenge the myth that things have to get worse and be as bad as they are now. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Davidson: Instagram TikTok YouTube Substack Patreon    Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website   Help lives in Gaza by making a matched gift to World Food Program USA

Orli Matlow speaks with Australian Jewish writer and organiser Em Hilton about the recent anti-Semitic terror attack in Australia and its profound impact on the Jewish community. They discuss the acts of heroism amidst the tragedy, growing up Jewish in Australia and Canada, and building safety through solidarity—united against Iberian ham. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Read Em's piece in +972 Magazine Donate to the United Support Fund For The Victims and Families of the Sydney Terror Attack   Follow Em: Instagram Na'amod UK Follow Orli: I TikTok Website

Orli Matlow sits down with Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green, co-founders of Standing Together, a grassroots movement fighting for peace, equality and social justice in Israel-Palestine. They discuss what the fight looks like, what peace looks like, and how the issues won’t be solved by simply getting rid of Netanyahu. Sally and Alon-Lee also share their origin stories, riff on a joke from Alon-Lee’s wedding, and share advice for everyone fighting fascism around the world.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.  Listen to The Long Answer podcast. Follow Standing Together: Website Donate Instagram TikTok Follow Sally: Instagram Follow Alon-Lee: Instagram TikTok Follow Friends of Standing Together local chapters

Orli Matlow sits down with Andrew Facini, Communications Director at The Council on Strategic Risks, to learn all about tactical nuclear weapons and armageddon. Andrew walks us through the consequences of a nuclear blast, whether or not bombing Iran this past summer saved the world, and why the US has lost its appetite for regime change. They talk about the new movie A House of Dynamite, and Andrew makes the case for optimism, bringing some much-needed holiday cheer.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.    Follow Andrew: BlueSky Nolan Center Report: The Consequences of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Use Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Orli Matlow welcomes comedian Ethan Stanislawski to talk about growing up as the son of a Jewish history professor, the grandson of a Liberal Zionist political icon, and the next door neighbor of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (It turns out that the Upper West Side is not, in fact, the utopia from Nora Ephron movies). They talk Holocaust museums in public schools, studying abroad in Berlin, the Six Day War, and how borders are made up—but families are real.  Check out Ethan’s show Jew, Interrupted in LA and Toronto. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Ethan: Instagram TikTok Linktree Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Orli Matlow welcomes Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson, Executive Director of Partners for Progressive Israel, for a conversation with as many sidebars as a page of Talmud. They talk about the old-timey colonizers who set the systems up that haunt us to this day, and the role of a rabbi in facilitating the trauma and spiritual work that needs to be done in a time of genocide. They also talk movies, Moomins, and Orli reveals herself to be a nepo baby descended from the Vilna Gaon.  Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective Resources: Guide for Discussing Genocide Report with Alliance for Middle East Peace UNRWA Demystified: A Guide for Complex Conversations Partners for Progressive Israel Instagram PPI Website  Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Activist and journalist Sam Stein joins host Orli Matlow to talk about his experiences living in the West Bank: first as a student blasting “America, F*** Yeah!” through Israeli checkpoints, and then as a protective presence activist deterring violent Jewish extremists from attacking his Palestinian friends.  Sam speaks about his friend, the late human rights activist Awdah Hathaleen, who was brutally murdered on camera by settler Yinon Levi, who still walks free. ​​To support Umm Al Khair, donate at RememberingAwdah.com or here. Follow Tariq Hathaleen and Ahmad Hathaleen on Instagram.   Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective.    Follow Sam: Instagram Substack Patreon Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website

Host Orli Matlow welcomes comedian, screenwriter, and certified Film Nerd Greg Roque to talk war movies, from All Quiet On The Western Front to Amy Schumer’s upcoming October 7th rom-com (yes, that is a real thing). Greg shares the wisdom of Grand Theft Auto IV, his journey converting to Judaism, and whether or not becoming a father has changed his opinion of Winston Churchill. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Greg: Instagram Website Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

It's Election Day in New York City, an election that has become about Israel and Palestine despite being for New York City! Host Orli Matlow welcomes comedian Atheer Yacoub to talk Zohran Mamdani (who really just wants to talk about buses), throwback Islamophobia, BDS, her childhood in Ramallah and Alabama, and chocolate. Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Atheer: Denied Entry Full Comedy Special Instagram TikTok Patreon   Follow Orli: Instagram Tiktok Website Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Michael Greenberg, founder of Climate Defiance, to talk about the need for, well, climate defiance. They explore his journey to activism, the concept of ecocide, the power of heckling, and the fact that you don't need to be good at science to join the fight for a livable planet.  Theme music and editing by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Climate Defiance: Website TikTok Instagram Twitter Facebook Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website Donate to food banks: FeedingAmerica.org Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Dr. Nicholas Wright to talk about his new book Warhead: How The Brain Shapes War and War Shapes The Brain. Dr. Wright draws on his experiences in the operating room and at the Pentagon to posit that the brain is wired for conflict, yet we are somehow not doomed as a species. The fascinating conversation covers the past (Winston Churchill wasn’t always Winston Churchill), the present (The Russo-Ukrainian War is still going on, even it’s only on the front pages in Kyiv), and the future (yes, AI is coming. In fact, it’s already here). Theme music by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Dr. Wright: Buy “Warhead” Website X   Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Website Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow welcomes comedian Nour Hadidi to talk two of the most devastating forces on earth: the military-industrial complex and Toronto sports. They discuss watching the hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas, and how it feels when the world begins to catch up to what you've been saying for years. Nour reflects on growing up in Jordan, her experience joining the Global March to Gaza last June, and the joys of FaceTiming on the toilet. They cover the universal nightmares of dating and IBS, and pitch a better use for $33.77 billion dollars than war. Theme music and editing by This Revolution Production Collective. Follow Nour: Instagram Comedians 4 Palestine YouTube TikTok The Nour Hadidi Podcast Website Follow Orli: Instagram  TikTok Website Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow welcomes the World’s Most Moral Podcast Guest, Daniel Maté, composer, lyricist, and co-host of Bad Habara: The World’s Most Moral Podcast. They talk politics in musical theatre and musical theatre in politics, from the pogroms of Fiddler on the Roof to Irving Berlin’s bloodlust in 1943’s This is The Army to the hate crime that is Miss Saigon. They go back to 1918 with public domain tunes and cover more recent musicals including Slam Frank. Spoiler alert for Ragtime—we can never go back to before.    Recorded October 8th, before the ceasefire in Gaza.   Theme music and editing by This Revolution Production Collective.   Follow Daniel: https://www.instagram.com/danielbmate/  https://www.youtube.com/@danielmatemusic  https://www.youtube.com/@LyricsToGoShow  danielmate.com  https://www.walkwithdaniel.com    Follow Bad Hasbara: https://www.instagram.com/badhasbara/  https://www.youtube.com/@Badhasbara  https://www.patreon.com/badhasbara    Follow Orli: https://www.instagram.com/orli.matlow/  https://www.tiktok.com/@hiremeimfunny   Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/ A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

War is Stupid: An Anti-War Podcast About War celebrates its first ever gender reveal—which is what true freedom is all about! Marcela Onyango (they/them) joins host Orli Matlow (she/her) in a riff-heavy episode to talk about everything from chattel slavery to wage slavery to "Young Sheldon." Marcela shares their journey going from democratic socialist to anarchist, and from "Sex and the City" fan to emphatically anti-girlboss. Together they uncover the meaning of life: do trivia, get drunk, sing karaoke. Correction: Obama didn't send the National Guard to Ferguson, Missouri in 2014—it was Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.    Follow Marcela: Marcela's Instagram Feel The News Instagram Feel The News Substack Feel The News YouTube Follow Orli: Orli's Instagram Orli's TikTok Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy  Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath  A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

It's the first ever War is Stupid holiday special...and the holiday is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement! Host Orli Matlow sits down with Rabbi Andrue Kahn, Executive Director of the American Council for Judaism, to talk about the connection between Jewish values and anti-war activism, from biblical times to today. Rabbi Andy shares his journey to the rabbinate, his experiences getting arrested for civil disobedience, and his take on Netflix's hot rabbi show. Follow Andy: https://www.instagram.com/rabbiandykahn/ https://www.rabbiandruekahn.com/ Follow The American Council for Judaism: https://www.instagram.com/americancouncilforjudaism https://acjna.org/ Follow Orli: https://www.instagram.com/orli.matlow/  https://www.tiktok.com/@hiremeimfunny  https://substack.com/@warisstupid  Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy  Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah  Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath  A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/ A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow sits down with the incredibly cool teen Iddo Elam, who served prison time for refusing to serve in the Israeli military. They talk about Iddo’s journey as a conscientious objector, which includes putting on tefillin for the first time ever in military prison—and also Hannah Einbinder’s acceptance speech at the Emmys. Iddo provides encouragement to everyone around the world living under fascist vibes, making the case for its inevitable collapse.    Follow Iddo: https://www.instagram.com/iddo_elam/  https://x.com/iddoelam  Support The Peace Partnership through the Center for Advancement of Peace Initiatives: https://capi.org.il/the-peace-partnership/  https://www.israelgives.org/amuta/580500429    Learn more and donate to the Refuser Solidarity Network: https://www.refuser.org/    Follow Orli: https://www.instagram.com/orli.matlow/  https://www.tiktok.com/@hiremeimfunny    Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza:    Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy     Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah     Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath     A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza:  https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/   A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter:  https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow sits down with former Marine Lyle Jeremy Rubin, author of the memoir Pain is Weakness Leaving The Body: A Marine's Unbecoming, to talk everything from Afghanistan to The Music Man. Lyle opens up about his politics going into the military and his politics after, the accountability crisis in American politics (George W. Bush is not a cutie patootie!), and the theatricality of war and military culture. They cover such radical ideas as gun control, being thoughtful, and having empathy. Lyle's book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/pain-is-weakness-leaving-the-body-a-marine-s-unbecoming-lyle-jeremy-rubin/39a2d54c496323ab Bang-Bang Podcast: https://substack.com/@bangbangthepod  Follow Orli: https://www.instagram.com/orli.matlow/ https://www.tiktok.com/@hiremeimfunny  Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy  Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah  Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath  A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/ A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Jess Salomon (The Tonight Show, The Hague) for a wide-ranging conversation that includes the war crimes lawyer to comedian pipeline, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Rwandan genocide, Zionist crashouts, and the future of the Jewish story. Follow Jess: https://www.instagram.com/jess_salomon/  https://salomonsays.substack.com/ Follow Orli: https://www.instagram.com/orli.matlow/ https://www.tiktok.com/@hiremeimfunny Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza:  Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy    Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah    Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath    A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza:  https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/    A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter:  https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow sits down with comedian and host of The Vanquished podcast Freddy G to talk men, masculinity, and militarism. The wide-ranging conversation includes tea on Sigmund Freud (a man), wrestling (drag shows for straight men), Alexander the Great (a man…and a nepo baby), Kurt Vonnegut (a man), Barbie (a doll/woman), Taylor Swift (a woman) and Travis Kelce (a man), the pro-war candidacy of John Kerry (a man), the pro-war presidency of Joe Biden (a man) and the pro-war candidacy of Kamala Harris (a woman). Correction: Beau Biden served in Iraq during the Iraq War, not the Gulf War. War is Stupid regrets this error!   Follow Freddy G: https://www.instagram.com/orangefreddyg https://www.tiktok.com/@orangefreddyg Listen to The Vanquished: https://www.patreon.com/TheVanquished  https://www.instagram.com/vanquished_pod  https://www.tiktok.com/@vanquishedpod Follow Orli: https://www.instagram.com/orli.matlow/  https://www.tiktok.com/@hiremeimfunny Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza:  Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy  Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah  Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath  A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza:  https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter:  https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Host Orli Matlow sits down with Tamar Glezerman, co-founder of Israelis For Peace, to debunk the myth that war frees hostages—a myth that is promptly disproven by the numbers. They talk Israelis For Peace's work in New York and its hecklers, reflect on the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, spill tea about the Netanyahu crime family, and provide practical ways to help people in Gaza right now. Follow Tamar: https://www.instagram.com/tamar_glezerman/  https://x.com/TamarGlezerman Follow Israelis For Peace:  https://www.instagram.com/israelisforpeacenyc/  https://x.com/israelispeaceny  https://linktr.ee/israelisforpeacenyc  Follow Orli: https://www.instagram.com/orli.matlow/  https://www.tiktok.com/@hiremeimfunny Personal Fundraisers from Friends of Friends in Gaza: •     Support Saher and Salwa: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-saher-and-salwa-in-gaza     Support Shahed and Abdullah’s family in Gaza: https://gofund.me/c0e35076 Support Khitam’s family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-khader-and-his-family-survive-after-war Support Yousef's Legacy Fund: http://givebutter.com/7P5GCX  •    Support Majdy's family farm: http://givebutter.com/majdy  •    Support Salah's family farm: http://givebutter.com/salah  •    Support Moath's family & education initiative: http://givebutter.com/moaath  •    Support Reham’s family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-appeal-help-evacuate-and-support-my-family  •    Support Baby Eileen and her parents: https://chuffed.org/project/135402-gaza-emergency-milk-diapers-meds-needed-for-newborn-baby-eileen  •    Support the Ahel Family:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-ahel-family-survive  A Couple Known and Vetted NGOs: A new NGO founded by doctors buying formula for babies and offering vital nutrition and education to children in Gaza: •    https://www.thechildrensvillagegaza.org/  A small NGO providing sanitary needs and shelter: •    https://www.cleanshelter.org/

Comedian Orli Matlow sits down with Danaka Katovich, National Co-Director of CODEPINK: Women For Peace.  They break down the myth that war liberates women, covering Gaza, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Danaka shares her personal journey to activism, her experience heckling Joe Biden, and what the world could look like if America didn't spend a trillion dollars on weapons—with a cameo from the fighter jets of the Chicago Air and Water Show.  Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians: https://www.map.org.uk/ Follow Danaka: Twitter Substack Follow CODEPINK: Instagram TikTok  Substack Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Substack

Comedian Orli Matlow explores how the military is romanticized and sexualized, with a diversion ranking the Magic Mike Cinematic Universe. She is then joined by comedian and IDF dropout Penina Beede, whose solo show Slack Off: Losing My Pants In The Israeli Army is running this summer in New York City. Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians: https://www.map.org.uk/ Learn more about A Land For All: https://www.2s1h.org/en  Follow Orli: Instagram TikTok Substack Follow Penina: Instagram TikTok Slack Off show website Subscribe and listen to War is Stupid: An Anti-War Podcast About War wherever you get your podcasts: https://tr.ee/dO-DwZeNFc

Comedian Orli Matlow tackles the myth that launched a thousand Oscars: that World War 2 was a humanitarian war waged humanitarianly for humanitarian reasons. The way we talk about World War 2 comes more from Steven Spielberg than from soldiers and survivors.   Further reading: "The Destruction of the European Jews" by Raul Hilberg "The Good War" by Studs Terkel "Looking For The Good War: American Amnesia and the Violent Pursuit of Happiness" by Elizabeth D. Samet  "Passionate Declarations: Essays on War and Justice" by Howard Zinn "Armageddon in Retrospect" and "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

Comedian Orli Matlow breaks down the myth that "war benefits the people" by exploring World War I—that time approximately 40 million people died because a bunch of cousins wanted to flex.  Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack

Welcome to War is Stupid: An Anti-War Podcast About War. It's the ultimate true crime podcast, taking murder and killing to its largest possible scale. In this short intro episode, we meet host Orli Matlow and also the military-industrial complex.  Follow Orli: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Website Follow War is Stupid: Instagram Substack