As a surreal time in history with confluent sources of rage towards Jews enveloping so many western countries a NYC mayoral race turning into a global media war with nyc home to one of the biggest Jewish populations in the world, yet the biggest hit series in streaming right now is “Nobody Wants This” about an orthodox Rabbi falling in love with a non Jewish woman .. it’s as if the world has gone mad literally - so Jonah Platt Broadway actor, singer, musician, writer, producer, director, lyricist, composer, podcaster “Being Jewish With Jonah Platt” is the perfect guest to explore this extraordinary time in Jewish and global history ..

From an early age, Judaism, entertainment, and the arts have been the corner stones of Jonah Platt’s life. Raised in Los Angeles by award-winning producer Marc Platt and Jewish philanthropist Julie Platt, Jonah grew up with a deep sense of Jewish identity, creativity, and advocacy. Whether performing for his family or attending Jewish day schools and summer camps, he was immersed in his heritage, which set the stage for his future path. Jonah attended the University of Pennsylvania before kicking off a career as a television writer. This eventually led to a lengthy career as a Broadway actor.

He soon became known for his performance as Fiyero in Wicked on Broadway, Horst in Neil Patrick Harris’ Coupled, Woof in Hair at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Kristen Bell, and acting in the Oscar-nominated Being the Ricardos, among many other roles.

A pivotal career and life-changing moment came for Jonah in 2023 after the devastating Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians.

Jonah saw how polarized the conversation around Jewish identity had become, particularly in Hollywood and the media. Determined to make a difference, he started speaking out publicly and using his platform to reshape perceptions, and began speaking publicly.

This eventually led him to start his most meaningful project yet—his podcast, Being Jewish with Jonah Platt.

The podcast explores the rich spectrum of Jewish identity. It has featured prominent guests like Congressman Ritchie Torres, Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, Emmy winner Patricia Heaton, Tony nominee Josh Gad, Oscar winner Marlee Matlin, and CNN’s Van Jones.

Jonah is producing his first feature film, The Mensch, in which he will co-star alongside Ginnifer Goodwin. He is also a sought-after singer and musician, an award-winning vocal arranger, a director of improv and theater, and is currently co-writing the musical adaptation of Lois Lowry’s best-selling novel The Giver.

Jonah is highly sought after by the media and professional speaking opportunities nationally and internationally.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

Life is like the ocean. It can be calm or still, and rough or rigid, but in the end, it is always beautiful.”
Gerry Lopez

We’ve all been there: Exhausted by one of life’s waves, or maybe it’s turned into a rip. We struggle to keep afloat. Crippled by the fear of the unknown. Hesitant to dive in.
Author of 🌊🌊Wisdom from the Ocean, Robert Kenn found many parallels between living his life and what he has learned from the most powerful place of all – the ocean.

Robert has interviewed surfers across Australia, from Curl Curl to Maroubra, to write this beautiful book that contains real and relatable strategies that helped these surfers shift from merely surviving to thriving in life.🌊🌊

Each chapter is based on a conversation Robert had with a different surfer. Whether it’s relationship dilemmas, mental health struggles or making major life decisions, the book imparts the wisdom these surfers have learnt from the sea that they can apply to life.

Loved my interview with this wise authentic author capturing the essence of lessons learnt including

🌊Don’t drown battling: When faced with a challenge, don’t panic - consider a change in direction, go with the flow whilst waiting for help.

🌊Mastery and fear: Never create excuses saying you’re learning to master something first. Own your fears and mistakes and enjoy the art of trying, failing and trying again.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

TAMMY KANAT

Fibre Artist with

Sidra Moshinsky

Director and CEO of the Jewish Museum of Australia

Well I know this next guest very well she’s my talented sister and artist Tammy Kanat

I’ve watched her dedicate herself to evolving her craft and blossoming into a fibre artist whose beautiful pieces adorn many homes including mine!

Tammy is a Melbourne-based fibre artist whose practice is driven by curiosity, intuition, and a deep sense of experimentation. Her work unfolds as an evolving narrative, shaped by colour, movement, and emotion. Using custom hand-formed copper looms, including her signature circular frames, Kanat pushes beyond the traditional boundaries of tapestry, creating intricate compositions that move fluidly between geometric and organic forms. Her style is deeply contemplative, drawing from her internal world and guided by a rhythmic, meditative process.

I’d also like to welcome Sidra Moshinsky Director and CEO of the Jewish Museum of Australia where Tammy’s latest exhibition Circle of Her is featured.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

Kieron A. Bryan is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and writer who transformed a 25-year prison sentence into a foundation for success.

During his time in prison, Kieron read over 250 non-fiction books across history, philosophy, economics, and science. He earned a first-class Business degree, organised motivational events, invited charities inside, delivered speeches, and created programmes to help others use their time constructively. He also learned forex trading, studied every book on blockchain available before 2021, and wrote a children’s book teaching chess — later becoming the first author in the world to sell its characters as NFTs.

Since his release, Kieron has completed a Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, spoken at universities, charities, and the House of Lords, and built a diverse portfolio of ventures. These include a consultancy business, a record label, an events company, and a nursery business, as well as inventing eco-technology through his Step Green project. He also founded the WhatBox Think Tank and continues to expand his business ecosystem, now employing a growing team.

Looking ahead, Kieron will begin his PhD next year, focusing on how AI and blockchain can be harnessed to tackle recidivism. His story is proof that rebellion is not about breaking systems but excelling within them, turning barriers into stepping stones for innovation and leadership.

delivered a workshop I first wrote during my 16-year sentence - Best Way to ride an Ostrich. It detailed the practical steps, transformative realisations, key concepts, and paradigm shifts that shaped my mentality, aided my evolution, and laid the foundation for my transition.

What once existed only as hope and strategy is now a reality I can share with others.

From surviving to thriving - this journey continues.

Thank you to everyone

You have an incredible story tell our listeners about your journey

making education in prison more valuable than dead-end jobs with no future. About giving people inside real options. Real hope.

Change starts with the conversations that matter.

Reimagining Further

Education's Role in Justice

I've been privileged to contribute to a UCL Grand Challenge of Justice & Equality research project exploring how

Further Education (FE) colleges can play a transformative role in supporting people leaving prison and others in the justice system.

Through a series of co-creation workshops, we brought together organisations across education, criminal justice, and the third sector-

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

POPPY KING

Poppy King was just 19 years old she started her own lipstick company in Melbourne Australia where she was born.

Frustrated with the lipsticks on the market none of which spoke to her modern vintage sensibility she was looking for something chic and more like the 1940s idea of lipstick, rich and matte. She was also looking for a different kind of marketing when it came to lip, lipsticks where each shade told a story. After finding a factory to produce her dream lipsticks, putting together a business plan and finding an investor, her first lipsticks that she released where a collection of seven shades named after each of the Seven Deadly Sins under the brand name Poppy.

Her story and her lipsticks garnered huge attention in Australia and even internationally before the days of the internet, she was able to go viral through her unique approach to everything she had done. Within a year she was selling in stores such as Barneys New York, Harvey Nichols, Space NK and more.

In 2002 exactly a decade after launching her brand name and company was sold to Estee Lauder Corporation and she was relocated to New York City to take up a Vice Presidential role within the organization to bring her unique ideas to their brands.

With the success of that she decided to leave her role at Lipstick Queen so she would be free to take on more projects and innovations in lip and other categories for both her own ventures and in collaboration with others. After a global pandemic when masks were mandatory she took time out to use her lipsticks to paint and sculpt with and her first show as a lipstick artist launched in 2023!

Now she’s back in business and not a moment too soon as the beauty world is on fire with new channels via social media for the type of magical innovation that has always been Poppy’s specialty. She will be launching her latestcreations under her own brand Poppy King as well as some exciting special projects taking lip color into the 21 stcentury with each lipstick telling a story and igniting the imagination

Poppy has been known to say that her business idol is none other than Willy Wonka himself and that she has modeled her career on being the Willy Wonka of lipsticks

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

Alex Ryvchin is co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the author of two internationally acclaimed books of history and politics including

The 7 Deadly Sins

“Alex Ryvchin has made a significant contribution to the field of antisemitism studies. In a very readable narrative, he uses seven of the most powerful stereotypes about Jews to encompass the history of Jew hatred and in doing so lends perspective to what’s happening now. At this moment in history when antisemitism has found new life around the world, this is a timely and important work.”

— Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director

His advocacy and writing has seen him recognised as Australian of the Year for 2024 by The Australian newspaper, as one of 25 global Jewish visionaries by The Jerusalem Post and ranked 38th in the Daily Telegraph’s Power 100 for 2024. He is the recipient of the 2025 B’nai B’rith Human Rights Award."

This is just the tip of the iceberg as a wave of unprecedented antisemitism sweeps our globe Alex has become a voice of reason holding up a mirror to reflect the 600 p c rise in anti semetic incidents globally

As the world spins in a terrifying spiral of vitriol fear and rising Jew hatred Alex discusses faith hope the myths that drive the hate and preparing the next generation of Jews and non Jews to thrive and survive together.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

Madeleine West

Actor Mother of 7 Advocate Abuse survivor

Former Neighbours star Madeleine West is embracing her newborn seventh child, several years after splitting from her ex Shannon Bennett father to her beautiful brood of six .. well she thought it was menopause turned out to be a baby at 47 !

Mother of 7, advocate, survivor and ambassador for the newly created Cntrl Shift organisation she’s on a mission to protect children educate organisations parents and childcare authorities . As a victim of abuse herself she’s raw and determined.

Her tenacity is particularly remarkable in light of the trauma she has recently experienced again. She courageously sought to hold her abuser accountable after disclosing childhood abuse in 2023, which led to a landmark court decision. This particularly difficult period of her life has given her a new sense of direction.

With recent disturbing reports of child abuse in dozens of childcare centres across Melbourne it’s triggering and distressing but Mad is determined to fight and use her anger as fuel for change

So I’m are thrilled to welcome this passionate powerful woman to Wil podcast

Childcare centres that egregiously fail to meet minimum standards will still have a month’s grace period to resolve their problems before the government steps in to strip them of taxpayer funding, under new laws proposed by the Albanese government.

The rules were introduced to federal parliament on Wednesday following a spate of sexual abuse allegations levelled against Victorian childcare worker Joshua Brown, claims of children being mistreated in NSW, and earlier incidents in Queensland. Is this finally the beginning of action ?

Madeleine West is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Her abuser, Peter Vincent White, was her next-door neighbour in rural Victoria. West was just four years old and it continued until she was 11.

In 2022, decades on from the crime, West proved instrumental in the case against White. On the morning of June 13, the actor was fitted with a wire and confronted White.

In 2023, White pleaded guilty to 33 offences and was handed a 15-year prison sentence for the sexual abuse of seven children.

She now wants the parents of other children who have faced unimaginable trauma to feel educated about what trauma feels like. This is her story, in her own words.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

We're thrilled to launch the Rickshaw Run Himalaya & World Literacy Foundation campaign an epic fundraising journey where daring adventurers will race across India to raise critical funds for children's literacy.

2,800 km. One tiny tuk-tuk. Through Himalayan Mountain passes, desert storms, and rugged valleys. Our race team is braving it all, not just for the thrill, but for something far more powerful. The true destination? A world where every child can read.

While the race kicks off this August, FUNDRAISING STARTS NOW, and we're calling on our global community to help build momentum leading up to the race.

Meet our two fundraising adventurers:

Russ and Pendar, who are on a mission to raise $20,000 to support book access and literacy initiatives in India and other WLF projects. Their bios are now live on the donation page, go check them out.

As they journey across India, they'll be sharing real-time glimpses of their adventure, and trust us, you'll want to follow every step. Once the dust settles, we'll be sitting down with them for a special post-race episode of the Beyond Words podcast, where they'll reflect on the highs, challenges, and heart behind it all.

4 Join the race in the link of our bio.

The Kublai Kai Society was born when three gents decided to do the impossible and drive an auto-rickshaw across the entire country of India.

Seeking to continue the adventure, the fellas formed the Kublai Kai Society with the goal to keep pushing themselves mentally, physically and culturally to achieve a better understanding of the amazing people, food and places that make up the planet we call home.

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you."

— Anthony Bourdain

Raising Money for Charity

Donate Today!

It’s not just about the adventure, the team is also raising money for

Cool Earth and The World Literacy Foundation.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850