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
Feb 22, 2026 • 17min
Episode 92: Why does Israel hate UNRWA?
A crisp breakdown of why Israel opposes UNRWA and the three-layered critique driving that stance. Discussion covers allegations of some staff involvement in October 7 and claims about Hamas ties among Gaza personnel. Details include accusations of militants using UNRWA facilities and concerns about radicalizing curricula. The thread concludes with a focus on UNRWA's unique, inherited refugee mandate and its political implications.
18 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 1h 1min
Episode 91: Is the Iran war about China? A conversation with Melissa Chen
Melissa Chen, managing director at Strategy Risks and former journalist on China and geopolitics, explains China’s hidden role in propping up Iran. She discusses Chinese tech exports that enable repression, Beijing’s strategic use of information operations, and how data and platforms reshape modern conflict. Short, urgent, and provocative insights into China’s expanding influence.
9 snips
Feb 15, 2026 • 16min
Episode 90: Is it "fascist" to believe a state can belong to a specific people?
A rapid dive into whether a state tied to a particular people is inherently authoritarian. Short takes on self-determination versus civic models of democracy. Contrasts one-state proposals with practical problems like deep distrust, historical trauma, and economic imbalance. Argues two separate states may better deliver autonomy, security, and workable governance.
Feb 12, 2026 • 15min
Episode 89: Who benefits from continuing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
A short dive into which actors gain from keeping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict alive. Discussion of regional powers leveraging the dispute for influence. Contrast between external sway over Palestinians and Israel’s internal strength. Examination of zero-sum mindsets on both extremes and how mutual fear drives escalation. Focus on how ordinary people’s sense of threat sustains conflict.
8 snips
Feb 7, 2026 • 55min
Episode 88: America's "24% problem" with young antisemitism, with Jonah Platt
Jonah Platt, actor, singer, and Jewish advocate who hosts Being Jewish, discusses rising antisemitism among young people and a pushback of unapologetic Jewish pride. He explores how families and communities can intentionally build engagement. They examine Hollywood's erasure of Jewish identity and the cultural revival in music, books, and youth-led initiatives.
9 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 21min
Episode 87: How can you support a better Palestinian future?
A concise interrogation of how outsiders should address Israelis to support a better Palestinian future. Discussion of why current advocacy misses Israeli psychology and political realities. Exploration of coercive nonviolent strategies modeled on King and the idea of Palestinian mutual recognition. Notes on spoilers like Hamas and the need for cultural change to shift perceptions.
56 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 1h 12min
Episode 86: Alliances and rivalries in a new Middle East, with Dan Schueftan
Dan Schueftan, Israeli security analyst and strategist, offers sharp analysis of shifting Middle East alliances and rising Turkish influence. He discusses Saudi recalibration, the strategic stakes of Syria, and how Turkey’s regional moves could threaten Israeli interests across multiple theaters. He also stresses Israel’s surprising strategic strengths amid these transformations.
20 snips
Jan 31, 2026 • 59min
Episode 85: How knowing your story makes you invincible, with Noam Weissman
Noam Weissman, executive VP of Open Dor Media and educational psychologist, builds engaging Israel and Jewish history curriculum. He outlines alarming gaps in knowledge and different teaching approaches. He argues for honest, complex education that creates confidence. He highlights digital outreach, schools and youth programs as ways to scale learning.
6 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 48min
Episode 84: Why soldiers wept when Ran came home, lessons from Tu Bishvat
A reflection on why reclaiming a fallen soldier’s remains stirred a nation and what dignified burial means in Jewish life. A reframe of Tu Bishvat as a deep theological meditation on hidden life, inner light, and human responsibility. Explorations of Rashi, Sfat Emet, Kabbalah, Rambam, and Nachmanides on fall, free will, and spiritual repair. Themes of stewardship, mortality, and chesed shelemet recur throughout.
12 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 49min
Episode 83: From ideology to narcotics, Hezbollah's business model, with Matt Levitt
Matthew Levitt, a counterterrorism expert who directed Treasury intelligence on illicit finance, exposes Hezbollah's shift from regional militia to global criminal network. He maps narcotics routes, diaspora facilitators, and free-trade zone abuses. Short, sharp takes explore how financial pressures, Iran ties, and covert logistics power its recovery and the risks facing Lebanon.
