Ask Haviv Anything
Haviv Rettig Gur
"Ask Haviv Anything" is a podcast about history, a podcast you, dear listener, will help to shape and direct, focusing not just on what I want to talk about but on what you want to learn and discuss. Nothing is off limits. We're going to talk about big and painful things, and also beautiful and fascinating things, wars and identities and painful history. And also more light-hearted things. Humor matters, especially when facing tough subjects.
Join me on this journey.
A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur
Join me on this journey.
A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur
Episodes
Mentioned books
9 snips
Mar 28, 2026 • 43min
102: Freedom under missile fire, the Passover story, with Rabbi David Stav
Rabbi David Stav, Israeli rabbi and public intellectual known for making Jewish life accessible, reflects on the Seder’s paradox of slavery and freedom. He explores freedom as an inner moral choice, stories of resilience under threat, and how remembering slavery teaches proper use of liberty. Short, reflective, and grounded in real-world moments of courage and vulnerability.
30 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 1h 5min
101: Will Trump finish the job in Iran? With Prof. Dan Schueftan
Dan Schueftan, Israeli academic and strategist on Middle Eastern security, returns to unpack Iran’s regional role and the stakes of a possible deal. They discuss Iran’s use of proxies and martyrdom ideology. Conversation covers threats to the Strait of Hormuz, Israel’s escalation-for-deterrence approach, whether Iran can be broken without occupation, and how Western will and policy choices shape the outcome.
Mar 22, 2026 • 48min
100: They escaped Europe — then parachuted back in, with Matti Friedman
Matti Friedman, journalist and author focused on modern Jewish history and the Middle East, tells the story of Jewish parachutists in 1944. He discusses their risky WWII missions, the tension between British and Zionist aims, Hannah Senesh’s path and capture, and how storytelling and symbolism shaped their legacy.
34 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 39min
Episode 99: Are we winning?
A deep look at Iran’s decapitated leadership and the shock to its military and economy. Discussion of a shift from missile battles to targeting energy infrastructure and refineries. Analysis of Iran’s fragmented local command structure and crowd-sourced intelligence from civilians. Examination of internet blackouts, shadow fleets, and whether endurance or collapse will decide the conflict.
13 snips
Mar 15, 2026 • 1h 16min
Episode 98: What Israel’s founding fathers knew about terrorism, with Dr. Bruce Hoffman
Dr. Bruce Hoffman, an Oxford-trained scholar of terrorism and counterterrorism, guides a tour through Mandate-era violence and strategy. The conversation covers the Irgun and Lehi campaigns, the King David Hotel bombing, and the moral puzzles of insurgency versus terrorism. It also draws sharp parallels to modern information warfare, Menachem Begin’s narrative tactics, and Israel’s recent failures in the information battle.
21 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 57min
Episode 97: Can America and Israel finish the job? A conversation with John Spencer.
John Spencer, a national security and urban warfare analyst, offers sharp analysis rooted in combat and teaching experience. He breaks down tactical moves in the Gulf, U.S. and Israeli targeting aims, and how ambiguity and deception shape strategy. He also examines Iran’s escalation gambit and whether the U.S. has the political will to follow through.
25 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 57min
Episode 96: The first war Israel fought in English, with Yaakov Katz
Yaakov Katz, military analyst and bestselling author with deep expertise in Middle East security, breaks down the “first Israeli war fought in English.” He discusses U.S. testing of cutting-edge weapons, Israel’s air-power doctrine versus missile defense strain, deteriorating Iranian legitimacy, and how the campaign signals resolve to China and reshapes regional strategy.
36 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 1h 6min
Episode 95: The idea that broke the Middle East, with Dr. Micah Goodman
Dr. Micah Goodman, Israeli philosopher and bestselling author who teaches at Hebrew University, discusses ideological roots of modern Islamism and the politics of blame. He examines why some regimes hollowed out while others thrive. They explore how Israel combined fierce individualism with tribal solidarity, and whether recent conflict could discredit pan‑Islamist narratives.
73 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 37min
Episode 94: America's war, not Israel's
Missile sirens and sheltering families set the scene for a discussion about two strategic chessboards: a regional Middle East contest and a wider U.S.–China confrontation. The conversation traces China’s build-up in Iran, its naval and weapons threats, and how American strikes aim to dismantle those capabilities. It frames recent violence as part of a larger U.S. campaign rather than a purely local conflict.
50 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 2h 7min
Episode 93: How to win Iran's forever war
A fast-paced deep dive into Iran's mukawama ideology and how martyrdom became a strategic virtue. Traces the mix of Marx, Mao, Shiite thought and guerrilla tactics that shaped groups from Hamas to Hezbollah. Explores why bombing fails, how regional networks are built and how Iran's younger generation is pushing back. Outlines strategies to choke funding, expose hypocrisy and empower life-affirming protest.
