LIVE FROM PHILLY! Jewish & Native actress Sarah Podemski & activist Lani Anpo (Live from The Weitzman Museum in Philadelphia)

Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Jonah Platt

Faith And Spirituality, Cultural Exploration, Religion & Spirituality, Jewish Experience, Faith Conversations, Jewish Heritage, Society & Culture, Jonah Platt, Non-jewish Allies, Jewish Identity, Being Jewish, Diversity Of Judaism, Jewish Culture, Personal Journeys, Jewish Athletes, Celebrity Interviews, Art And Judaism Sports, Judaism, Jewish Food And Politics

4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2025

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

BEING JEWISH goes live! In our first ever East Coast live pod at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, Jonah Platt welcomes two unique voices, Sarah Podemski and Lani Anpo, who share insights into their dual heritage as both Jewish and First Nation/Native American. Sarah is a Canadian actress, best known for her supporting role as Rita in the hit FX television series Reservation Dogs. Lani is a multi-tribal Native American Jewish advocate and educator, who uses her social media platform to champion the rights of hers and other marginalized groups.

Their conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the significance of Jewish and Native cultural practices, the challenges of acceptance within respective communities, and the similarities between the two indigenous groups. Sarah and Lani share personal stories about their mixed heritage and the impact on their identities, both facing and overcoming external skepticism. The episode also delves into historical contexts such as the impact of blood quantum laws and the diaspora experience, and examines how these factors shape both modern-day struggles and triumphs.

Sarah and Lani offer thoughtful reflections on the importance of community engagement, cultural preservation, and the struggle for sovereignty, especially for Native American and First Nation tribes. This episode is a powerful testament to the resilience and rich cultural histories of these two unique communities.

Topics covered include:

Family Histories and Personal Journeys
Challenges of Mixed Heritage
Parallels Between Jewish and Native Cultures
Support Systems and Resilience
Navigating Trauma Together
Exploring Israeli Identity
Indigeneity and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Native American Reparations
Jewish and Native American Cultural Exchange
Native American History Month

This episode was produced with and recorded live at the Weitzman National

Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.

Learn more about The Weitzman at https://theweitzman.org

and follow @weitzmanmuseum on Instagram, X, Facebook, and

YouTube.

Mentioned In The Episode:

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beingjewishpodcast@gmail.com

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Shalom, Kavarim, Banot, and welcome to another very special episode of the world's number one Jewish podcast.
0:08.1	I have to ask for a small favor.
0:10.4	As an independent show, we don't have a massive marketing machine behind us.
0:14.6	Our growth is purely organic, fueled by dedicated viewers and listeners like you.
0:19.5	So if you would be so kind, please take 30 seconds,
0:24.0	head over to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, find this show, and leave me a five-star rating and a short
0:30.0	written review. I love seeing all of your thoughtful and generous feedback. Some of it has even
0:35.0	made it onto the show and may again. And as of this recording,
0:38.7	we are just eight ratings away from hitting 500 on Apple. Crossing that threshold would be a huge
0:44.3	milestone for us. It's a small mitzv on your part, but it really is the fuel that allows us to
0:50.0	keep these amazing conversations going. So thank you in advance.
0:55.9	Unless you don't leave a rating,
0:57.4	in which case you're a butthead.
0:58.5	A quick note.
1:01.6	After recording the live podcast that you're about to hear,
1:04.9	no fewer than a dozen audience members reminded me that I forgot to say weekly shout out to Courtney.
1:07.9	So weekly shout out to Courtney.
1:10.2	Love you, babe. Now, enjoy the episode.
1:12.9	What is it inside that people get so offended? By your mere existence? I had a lot of skepticism
1:19.2	about claiming my Jewish side. Give it a second. The trauma's going to pop right back up.
1:24.5	A very stupid producer I once worked with said, I've seen your mother, you're not Jewish.
1:28.3	You know, I've been called a Drifter, hold I'm not a real Jew.
	...

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