Jonny Gould's Jewish State

Find more of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his Substack.

Our Young Podcaster of the Year series is presented in partnership with Dangoor Education.

This is now the fourth year of the competition, and each year I’m
reminded of one of the most valuable resources we have – the next generation.

I visit schools to meet young people with curiosity, enthusiasm,
and a willingness to ask the questions that adults sometimes are inhibited to ask.

Just as importantly, they’re supported by parents and teachers who encourage them to explore the world around them.

This episode features our latest winners, two outstanding Year 6
pupils from Independent Jewish Day School in Hendon, north London: 10-year-old Talya Sacks-Goldstein and 11-year-old Amalie White.

Talya and Amalie impressed me with their intelligence, confidence, and thoughtful approach to interviewing. As winners, they earned the opportunity to co-host an episode with me – and they certainly made the
most of it.

Together, they secured time with an exceptional guest: Ambassador
Daniel Taub.

Born in London, Daniel is an Israeli diplomat, international
lawyer, author, and accomplished public speaker. He served as Israel’s
Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2015, helping to strengthen diplomatic, technological, and trade relations between the two countries. He has also played significant roles in international legal affairs and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Educated at Oxford and Harvard, Daniel has written extensively on
diplomacy, Jewish thought, and the art of constructive disagreement. Few people are better placed to offer insights into international relations and the challenges facing today’s world.

The Young Podcaster of the Year programme, supported by Dangoor
Education, aims to encourage young people to think seriously about journalism, to show that thoughtful reporting and careful research still
matter.

Have a word with your headteacher and put them in touch with us if you want to take part next year.

This Talya Sacks-Goldstein and Amalie White as with Ambassador Daniel Taub.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and writings on Substack.

Help support Jonny with a monthly chai latte at buy me a coffee.

My guests today are Michael and Lisa Marlowe, the parents of Jake Marlowe, who was murdered at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023.

Playing it back brings tears to my eyes as a parent.

Jake was a 26-year-old British-Israeli musician and security guard. Known to many as the bassist for the hardcore band Desolated, he had toured the world before building a life in Israel.

On the morning Hamas terrorists attacked the festival, Jake was working as part of the security team. Witness accounts say he spent his final moments helping others escape to safety. He died as he lived — looking after other people.

When I met Michael and Lisa, they had already spent hours recounting the worst day of their lives to journalists from around the world. Michael had just completed an especially emotional interview and needed a moment to compose himself. In the brief time we had together, I was able to offer my condolences and a hug before speaking with Lisa, who courageously continued the conversation.

It takes extraordinary strength to relive such loss in public. I hope these conversations offer something meaningful — a chance to honour Jake’s memory, to ensure his story is heard, and perhaps, in some small way, to contribute to the tribute he deserves.

Of course, no interview can lessen the pain of losing a son. Some losses are simply carried forever.

You’ll first hear a short conversation with Michael Marlowe, followed by my fuller interview with Lisa.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet. May the memory of Jake Marlowe be a blessing.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and writings on ⁠Substack⁠.

Help support Jonny with a monthly chai latte at ⁠buy me a coffee.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. Support his efforts by buying him a coffee here.

Our guest today is Almog Meir Jan — one of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.

Almog was taken from where he hid in woods near the Nova Music Festival, where hundreds of young people were either murdered or abducted.

For months, his mother Orit campaigned tirelessly around the world for his release. I interviewed her on TalkTV back in November 2023, and I remember telling her then that I believed her son would come home.

Today, I have the privilege of sitting opposite Almog himself — here in London — alive, free, and ready to tell his story. Tragically, just hours before Almog was rescued and reunited with his family, his father died, never getting the chance to see his son return home.

We’ll talk about October 7, the terror of captivity inside Gaza, the moment of rescue, what kept hope alive, and what he wants the world to understand now about the hostages still being held.

This is a remarkable conversation — and one I’ll never forget.

Jonny Gould is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his ⁠Substack⁠ channel. Support his efforts by ⁠buying him a coffee here⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find all of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. You can support him by buying a coffee here.

With thanks to the Anglo-Israel Association and ELNET UK, it was a pleasure to hear Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus. A former international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, where he served for 24 years as a combat commander, military diplomat and strategic communications officer, Conricus is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, specialising in Middle East security and regional affairs.

As he often points out, he now speaks as an independent voice rather than on behalf of the Israeli government or military.

In this concise briefing, Conricus gives a sobering yet at times cautiously hopeful assessment of the region.

Gaza, despite the terrible bloodshed and the sacrifices being made by IDF forces, remains bleak and unresolved.

On Lebanon, he noted signs that the weakening of Hezbollah may be allowing some Lebanese voices to express a very different attitude towards Israel.

On Iran, he suggested there are still grounds for cautious optimism that internal pressure could eventually bring change.

He also addressed the alarming worldwide surge in antisemitism since October 7th, which he described as having grown far beyond what many imagined possible.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find all of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his Substack.

Before we start today’s episode, a quick note: our guest, Tomer Zadik from Tel Aviv and an Israeli Navy veteran, was just 23 when his life changed forever. He survived the horrific attack at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023 — a day meant for music and celebration that instead became a tragedy, claiming more than 270 lives and injuring thousands.

Tomer’s story is one of survival, courage, and endurance in the face of unimaginable chaos. He faced moments most of us can barely imagine, and his experience at Nova has shaped him in profound ways — a story that spans trauma, resilience, and the human instinct to carry on."

"For those in London, you can witness the impact of that day at the Nova Exhibition, from May 20th through July 2026. Titled ‘06:29 AM — The Moment Music Stood Still,’ the exhibition recreates the festival environment and memorializes those who were lost, offering visitors a powerful space to reflect and remember.

In today’s episode, Tomer shares his personal account of survival at Nova Festival — the moments of fear, courage, and resilience that defined that day. Stay with us as we hear his story firsthand."

Help Jonny make these episodes by buying him a coffee.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices