What Gives? The Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Dan Smokler: Reinventing the Old for an Innovative Future

Episode 39 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Daniel Smokler, Chief Innovation Officer of the Office of Innovation, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about how the philosophy of l'chadaysh et ha'yashan, renewing the old, informs his practice of innovation, how his family history of philanthropy influences his own journey, the changes in rabbinical leadership, and the delayed awakening that could come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

David Bernstein: The Threat of Illiberalism

Episode 38 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. David Bernstein, Founder and CEO of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about the threat of illiberalism facing the Jewish community and the United States at large. They discuss what kind of America the Jewish community should be striving to live in and how that can be achieved. 

Eli Paley: Opening Our Communities to the Haredi Sector

Episode 37 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Businessman and social activist Eli Paley, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about strategies for opening our communities to the Haredi sector.

Ari Wallach: The long-term goal of a vibrant Jewish future

Episode 36 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Ari Wallach, Founder and Executive Director of Longpath Labs, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about the case for presenting a positive vision of the future. We discussed the long-term goal of a vibrant and meaningful Jewish future, and spoke about working backwards to determine what steps are necessary to get there

Yohanan Plesner: Democracy in Israel

Episode 35 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Yohanan Plesner, President of the Israel Democracy Institute, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about the consequences of the new Israeli government’s judicial reform initiatives, how today’s issues compare to existential threats of Israel’s past, and Yohanan's hopes and aspirations for the future of Israeli democracy.

Carly Maisel: Shining a Light on Antisemitism

Episode 34 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Carly Maisel, Global CEO of The Kirsh Foundation, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about Shine a Light on Antisemitism, a new initiative that she is spearheading. They speak about offering a new take on an intractable problem, partnering among funders, and how to get competitive organizations to work together.

Einat Wilf: Reclaiming Zionism

In Episode 33 of "What Gives," author and former Knesset member Einat Wilf talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about why so many people in the world misunderstand Israel and Zionism.

Eric K. Ward: Staying in the Room Together

Episode 32 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Eric K. Ward, a nationally recognized expert on authoritarian movements, hate groups and preserving inclusive democracy, talks to JFN's Andres Spokoiny about the importance of fostering respectful and open debate.

Bret Stephens: Fostering Jewish Conversations

Episode 31 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

New York Times columnist and Sapir Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens talks with JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny about the importance and limits of civil debate and making room for a diversity of opinion in a time of polarization and echo chambers.

Jonathan Goodman & Shawna Goodman Sone

Episode 30 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Brother and sister Jonathan Goodman and Shawna Goodman Sone (a JFN board member), of the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, talk about growing up in a philanthropic family, Jewish summer camp, and their shared funding interests.