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On June 25, NATO leaders agreed at their annual summit on a goal of spending five percent of their gross domestic product on defense, more than doubling the old two-percent target. It's unclear how many members will actually reach this goal. Even the target relies on some creative accounting: of the five percent, only 3.5 percent is pledged to what officials call “pure” defense spending, with the remainder going to security and defense-related “critical infrastructure.” Ahead of the NATO summit, The New Yorker published “Collective Punishment: Why is Donald Trump upending America's commitment to NATO?” a story by contributing writer Joshua Yaffa, the author of the 2021 Orwell Prize-winning book “Between Two Fires: Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin's Russia.” In his new article, Yaffa describes how the looming threats of Russian aggression and American withdrawal are pressuring European leaders to reassess their approach to NATO and their broader defense strategies. He joined this episode of The Naked Pravda to discuss the story.Как поддержать нашу редакцию — даже если вы в России и вам очень страшно
Donation Link: Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donateIn this episode of Words That Burn, I take a closer look at "Door on the Road," by Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha. The poem opens with the aftermath of an explosion in a refugee camp, where a fallen door becomes a grave marker for a young man whose only remaining connection to his past is a worn key — the key to his family's lost home in Yaffa.As I unpack the powerful imagery in Abu Toha's work, I explore how everyday objects like doors and keys become symbolic vessels for profound loss, memory, and hope in the context of forced displacement. I also delve into the historical significance of Yaffa, a once-thriving Palestinian city now largely inaccessible to its original inhabitants, and how the city's erasure is mirrored in the poem's narrative.Throughout the episode, I draw connections between the poem and Abu Toha's 2024 poetry collection Forest of Noise, a body of work that documents life in Gaza through stark, evocative imagery and deeply personal narratives. I discuss how the collection uses poetry as a means of bearing witness to everyday atrocities and preserving cultural memory amidst conflict.00:00 The Poem01:14 Introduction to Words That Burn Podcast01:26 Support for Palestine02:52 Mosab Abu Toha: A Witness Poet06:27 Analyzing 'Door on the Road'08:02 The Symbolism of the Door14:02 The Key to Yaffa22:10 The Tragic Reality of Palestinian Life27:11 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionFollow Mosab Abu TohaFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokFollow the podcast on BlueskyThe Music In This Week's Episode:'Echoes' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President & CEO Gale Nelson Speaks With Alex Arteaga-Gomez & Aime Ferrer, Partners With Grossman, Roth, Yaffa, Cohen
Yaffa Judah reflects on growing up between worlds—navigating her Indian and English heritage, attending Ashkenazi schools while rooted in Bene Israel culture, and marrying into a Moroccan Jewish family. Yaffa shares how music, memory, and food have shaped her identity and how she's working to create inclusive Jewish spaces for others.Our GuestYaffa Judah is a community organiser, creative and educator passionate about celebrating Jewish diversity and creating spaces where all Jews feel they belong.Key TopicsMixed Heritage: How growing up with Indian and English Jewish heritage shaped Yaffa's understanding of what it means to be Jewish.Jew-ish in Ashkenazi Spaces: Yaffa reflects on being “an ethnic minority within an ethnic minority” and the experience of feeling othered.Celebrating Difference: From leading inclusive student events at university to sharing Bene Israel traditions today, Yaffa is actively widening the circle.Beyond the Norm: Yaffa explores how labels like “Sephardi” are sometimes used as a catch-all that doesn't reflect the whole picture.Your GuideShort definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:Bene Israel - One of the oldest Jewish communities in IndiaSelichot - Prayers recited during holidays with variations between communitiesMinhag “Everyone should feel welcome—even if they're just Jew-ish”- A custom or tradition in Jewish practiceAdani - community originally from Aden, Yemen, known for their unique pronunciation and liturgical styleWant to learn more?Explore earlier episodes on Jewish identity and inclusion:S2E1: Diverse Jewish Stories with Yaacov YadgarS2E4: Classical Sephardi Culture with Daniel Jonas - to follow soonReferences & ResourcesGate of Mercy Synagogue – the oldest synagogue in Mumbai, built in 1796JDC Entwine – A global service organisation where Yaffa led intercultural eventsIllustrated Guide to a Jew in India by Solomon Devika – A fun visual storytelling project about Indian Jewish historyFind us elsewhere, here!Show creditsHost / Producer: Eylan EzekielPost-production: Communicating for ImpactArtwork: Emily TheodoreMusic: Aleksafor utransndr KarabanovSound effects: Serge Quadrado Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Drawing from life's experiences, Jess Yaffa has a keen ability to transform personal experiences into relatable anthems. Her debut album, Thoughts That Keep Me Up at Night, released on April 4, 2025, showcases her commitment to authentic storytelling. Collaborating with Grammy-winning producer Scott Jacoby, known for his work with Coldplay and John Legend, Yaffa delivers a collection of songs that are both polished and deeply personal. Beyond her music, Yaffa emphasizes the importance of sharing real experiences. She believes that "our real experiences and stories are more powerful than anything that could be made up—my role is to share them so we can hear, feel, and relate." This philosophy permeates her work, making her a compelling voice in the contemporary music scene. Jess has a clear artistic vision for herself and looks forward to continuing to connect with audiences through her honest and heartfelt music. Thoughts That Keep Me Up at Night is available to stream wherever you stream your favorite music. Jess recently stopped by Thunderlove Studio and this is our conversation with her. LINKS Jess on IG Jess on YouTube Jess on Spotify
Tuck chats with Palestinian activist Yaffa (they/she) about their experiences with last year's student encampments, their belief in collectivism, and their journey to mononymity. Listen to the full episode on Patreon to hear what Yaffa learned about gender from Palestinian elders, among other topics. Find Yaffa @yaffasutopia across platforms, and at themasgd.org and merajpublishing.com. ~ Senior Producer: Ozzy Llinas Goodman Logo: Ira M. LeighMusic: Breakmaster CylinderAdditional Music: Blue Dot Sessions
Judaism gives us the tools to hold both joy and pain simultaneously. Few understand this better than Rabba Yaffa Epstein, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence, who tragically lost her nephew, Yakir Hexter z”l, while fighting in Gaza one year ago. Yakir was much more than a soldier—he was a brilliant Torah student, a talented artist, an athlete, and a bartender with his own signature cocktail. In this week's episode of Adapting, Rabba Yaffa shares Torah in Yakir's memory, drawing wisdom from Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avot and from Yakir himself, emphasizing the responsibility we all have as spectators to step in and make a difference. Rabba Yaffa juxtaposes her grief with welcoming a beautiful baby girl named in Yakir's honor within the same week, reminding us that we can find light and inspiration even in the darkest of times. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show's executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Nada is a Palestinian-American author, teacher and mother. She was six years old when her mother kidnapped her from Kuwait, at the time when Iraq invaded Kuwait. They went to the United States where her uncle lived in Rhode Island. She did not yet realize that it was not a holiday but they were going to stay. Her debut book All Water Has a Perfect Memory is a memoir that takes readers from the author's ancestral origins- the coast of Yaffa, Palestine, to her birthplace of Kuwait, eventually landing on the shores of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. The narrative confronts generations of silence and, ultimately, revelation with an imaginative blend of folklore and history that explores the relationship between our bodies, ancestors, and the Earth. The work explores the way the author is intertwined with her maternal line while reuniting with her father after a 30-year separation.Voices once hidden in the waters of our bodies are amplified and released to forever alter the landscape, breaking cycles and seeding an audacious hope interconnected to lands past and present.https://jadedibispress.com/product/all-water-has-perfect-memory-by-nada-samih-rotondo/Connect to Stories from Palestine on social media, sign up for the newsletter, read more about traveling to Palestine and if you can, please support the podcast on Ko-fi. All the links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/storiesfrompalestineSupport the podcast with a donation: https://ko-fi.com/storiesfrompalestine
Jane's relationship with her ex and co-parent is the most challenging relationship in her life—and it's a permanent one. She wants to know how to shift her heart from hatred to neutrality. Jessica leads her on a journey within in this very vulnerable reading.
It's that time of year—the solar eclipse is upon us! This powerful moment invites us to address justice in the world as well as personal evolution and authenticity. Tune in for Jessica's read on this week in the stars.
In an emotionally toxic relationship dynamic with her husband, Sophie wants to explore her own participation. Her cis white male partner is emotionally domineering; is she bolstering the very white supremacy culture that she wishes to dismantle by enabling his behavior? Is their marriage salvageable? Jessica offers constructive steps for moving beyond the cycle of harm.
This week's astrology is likely to trigger your relationships! Venus forms a square to Pluto at the start of the week, triggering intense emotions and fixations. With four stimulating transits to Mercury, there's just going to be a lot of opinions and stories circulating.
A listener with a ton of fire energy in her chart wonders why those energies don't seem to heat up in social situations. She struggles with authenticity, often feels too exposed, and wonders how to better show up as herself with friends and family. Jessica reveals her to herself in fresh ways.
A week of oppositions means that you'd better watch out for relationship drama! The Lunar Eclipse in Pisces on the 17th is an opportunity for big growth, but there are several pitfalls to be weary of. Tune in for an essential episode of Ghost! Learn more about the Gaza Scholarship Initiative https://www.centeraap.org/gaza-scholarship-fund-for-displaced-students/ And get tickets to the film screening at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/they-were-promised-the-sea-with-director-kathy-wazana-tickets-1001073837797
Megan gets psychic downloads, and sometimes it's a bit scary, while others she worries about being a know-it-all. How do you respect spiritual boundaries and honor this energetic gift while staying grounded? Tune in, and find out! Learn more about the Gaza Scholarship Initiative https://www.centeraap.org/gaza-scholarship-fund-for-displaced-students/ And get tickets to the film screening at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/they-were-promised-the-sea-with-director-kathy-wazana-tickets-1001073837797
Jessica gets you ready for next week's Lunar Eclipse in Pisces and discusses the three supportive transits happening this week - and how to make the most of them! Learn more about the Gaza Scholarship Initiative https://www.centeraap.org/gaza-scholarship-fund-for-displaced-students/ And get tickets to the film screening at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/they-were-promised-the-sea-with-director-kathy-wazana-tickets-1001073837797
Coco Baby feels haunted by a persisting sense of inadequacy in life, career, and her own role in society. She often leans on her addictions when the feelings arise, so she joins Jessica to explore how she can foster a sense of self, independent of unhealthy coping mechanisms.
On the 1st Pluto moves back into Capricorn for the last time for another 250 years! On the 2nd, there will be a consequential New Moon in Virgo, overlapping with a Mars square to Neptune and a trine between Chiron and Mercury. By the end of the week, things get bumpy with a Mercury square to Uranus and Sun opposition to Saturn. Jessica explains what to expect and how to make the most of it!
Where is the line between being tuned to signs and being delulu? How do you prepare for outer planet transit without spiraling? If a planet is in fall or detriment, does that mean you can't reach alignment? Will aligning with your North Nodes purpose actually lead to the end of your life? Tune in to this week's episode where Jessica answers so many questions!
Mercury Retrograde ends this week! Plus Venus trines Uranus, opposes Neptune and trines Pluto in a week that will test your values and your relationships - but also give you the tools to work with them.
When so many transits are happening all at once, how does one parse through all the different energies and identify what's what? A listener joins Jessica to investigate numerous transits and the impact they're having individually and in concert.
The astrology of this week is all over the place, and you're likely to be feeling it! Uranus is at the center of several transit, including the Full Moon in Aquarius. This is an episode you don't want to miss!
From the time she could first form her own opinions, Layla has had problems feeling accepted by her family. She wonders if her family isn't healthy for her or if she's just blaming them for her problems? Jessica delves into the dynamics and sheds some light on the guilty strings that surround familial love.
Big shifts are happening this week as we approach an exact Jupiter square to Saturn as well as an expansive Mars conjunction to Jupiter and a frustrating Mars square to Saturn. This is a time for confronting frustrations and making choices.
Everything points to this being Dylan's Saturn Return... or does it? A listener feels like her Saturn Return is already coming in hard, even though it hasn't begun yet. Jessica takes a comprehensive look at Dylan's birth chart, as they explore the complexity of the other transits at play.
On August 4th, Mercury goes Retrograde until the 28th, *and* we have a New Moon in Leo. We have two supportive transits later in the week, and we're also feeling the effects of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars due to transits that will be exact next week. Tune in for your weekly dose of astrology for real life.
Beverly is on a solid self-care journey, buuut when it comes to parental figures, she still sometimes gets triggered into old patterns and defensive behaviors. She and Jessica explore what she can do to move into a new chapter with these kinds of relationships.
This week Venus gives a little & takes a little! We have a supportive trine from Venus to Chiron and then she forms a stirring square to Uranus. Tune into this short & sweet horoscope, exclusively on Ghost!
What does it mean when a single tarot card surfaces in almost all of your readings? A listener is constantly pulling the Hierophant card, and it's gotten weird! Jessica helps her to figure out what it means.
Get ready for a transformational week! Pluto features heavily in the powerful Full Moon in Capricorn on the 21st and in a challenging opposition to the Sun, but luckily, we have supportive transits all week long to help us through.
After a tough breakup with an air-heavy partner, Rahul joins Jessica to talk about their dating future. Should they avoid air signs in romance? Are they relying too much on astrology for guidance & instruction when it comes to dating? Jessica gets nuanced and gently guides Rahul away from Sun signs and towards transits.
Unpredictable, aggressive, and challenging astrology kicks off the week, but luckily the transits get more supportive as the week progresses. Tune in to another week with Jessica on Ghost!
A listener seeks fulfillment in relationships but often finds themself in the same old patterns dictated by gendered cultural norms. They desperately want to break their patterns and unlearn normative conditioning around love and self-worth, but they just aren't sure where to begin. Jessica offers a starting place and a new perspective.
Venus forms a sextile to Uranus, trine to Neptune, and an opposition to Pluto in this very Venusian week! Plus, Jessica unpacks more of the big-picture astrology of our times.
Stevie has been struggling with active, functional addiction for 15 years. Her drinking has never brought her to rock bottom; in fact, she has a successful career, friends, and family that love her. But the problem is... she just can't love herself.
With a super emotional New Moon in Cancer on the 6th, you can trust that this week is meant to kick up some big feelings and growth! This week we also have a Mercury opposition to Pluto and Venus square to Chiron, both provoking challenges and creating opportunities for major transformation. Plus, Jessica discusses what to expect from Neptune in Aries and how to make the most of the final months of Neptune in Pisces.
Happy Pride! A Trans man joins Jessica to talk about sex. While he's transitioned happily, he hasn't yet been able to fully embody his own sexuality. He and Jessica discuss what it means to be a sexual person in a body: from dysphoria, disconnection, experimentation, porn, prudishness, kink, and more. Register for Joy in the Time of Apocalypse a live conversation with Jessica Lanyadoo, adrienne maree brown, Sonya Renee Taylor on July 20th here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joy-in-the-time-of-apocalypse-a-live-conversation-on-being-deeply-known-in-times-of-crisis-tickets-929773446407?aff=oddtdtcreator
This week is so Mercury! It trines Saturn, squares Chiron, and sextiles Uranus. Expect things to be busy, and get the cheat codes for how to make the most of them on this week's Ghost. Register for Joy in the Time of Apocalypse a live conversation with Jessica Lanyadoo, adrienne maree brown, Sonya Renee Taylor on July 20th here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joy-in-the-time-of-apocalypse-a-live-conversation-on-being-deeply-known-in-times-of-crisis-tickets-929773446407?aff=oddtdtcreator
A mom of two young kids oscillates between the confidence of providing a happy, safe childhood for them and private despair at the world in which she is raising them. She and Jessica discuss how to get grounded and give her children peace and stability when dealing with anxiety and fear about the future.
The June 21st Full Moon in Capricorn is the first of two Full Moons in Capricorn this summer - and this one is confusing. We also have three squares to Neptune - from Venus, Mercury, and the Sun - kicking up exhaustion, anxiety and the need to slow down and touch grass.
A woman in a healthy and happy relationship is struggling to know if waiting for that perfect feeling of a perfect love exists, or is it just a fantasy? Jessica has a frank discussion about love, intimacy, and reality in this romantic episode of Ghost.
There's a pressure cooker of energy this week with squares to Saturn from the Sun and Mercury, as well as a Mars square to Pluto. There are also supportive transits to help you leverage opportunities and navigate challenges.
In her 40s and living with her parents again after a traumatic experience, a listener finds herself returning to the family-triggered emotional states she thought she'd left in her teenage years. Jessica upacks the potential of small steps and moderation in support of big progress.
The New Moon in Gemini, plus a solid helping of supportive transits, will make this week an exceptional one for manifestation and working on core survival issues! Saturn will make it's presence felt by week's end, kicking up consequences and a much-needed confrontation with reality. Come for the astrology, stay for the life advice!
"Alice" and her husband have shaped their lives and family around community activism. They've given so much and experienced so much reward as a result. But, Alice is ready for a change and needs some restorative time to recharge and recalibrate. She wants to focus on herself and her family. She joins Jessica to explore what that looks like and what next steps she can take to start reshaping her life around her own needs.
Aggressive Mars meets up with Chiron in Aries, raising tempers and challenging egos. Also, Mercury and Uranus meet up, creating opportunities for a change in perspective. Tune in for this week's horoscope.
How do you connect what's happening in the world of astrology with what's happening in the world of your personal chart? What is the Jupiter return really all about? What do you do when you're “supposed to" have a good experience of a transit, but that's not your experience? Can you actually prepare for a difficult transit? Tune in to find out the answer to these questions on this week's Ghost reading!
Full Moon feelings are running high, the Sun is shining, and Venus is blessing us with the chance to better align with love, kindness, and our values. It's a week of supportive transits for a change! Tap in and tune up.
Sebh joins Jessica to discuss the major spiritual blocks that keep showing up—just as their successes begin to truly bloom. They explore the impact of spiritual entities as well as spiritual and psychological coping mechanisms in this heartfelt reading.
This very Taurian week has two disruptive conjunctions to Uranus and a triggering square between Mercury and Pluto. There's a lot to navigate, and Jessica gives you strategies to do just that on this week's episode of Ghost!