apprehension

Is that how you do a drumroll?

HALO!

Hello Hear listeners it's Mishi.

and it has been a while.

As many of you know, 12 years ago we had an ambitious dream to create an Israeli version of this American life.

So how did you feel when you heard that there was this Israeli copycat?

I felt fine about it actually, I felt flattered.

I don't know if you remember this, but the first time we met, I was kind of star-struck and really excited and I walked into your office and do you remember what happened?

I told you remember, I said to you, like, oh, are you the Israelis who are ripping off our show?

And is that how you felt that we were the Israelis that were ripping off your show?

Well, it isn't a question of how I feel. That's just a statement of fact. You are the Israelis who are ripping off our show.

We were one of the very first podcasts in Israel. And frankly, no one really understood what we were up to.

Want proof? Our first episode had a whopping 11 downloads.

But since then, things have thankfully picked up.

Exactly 10 years ago this week, during Chanukah of 2012, we became a prime-time national radio show on Galait Sal, the Army Radio.

And from there, the show took off.

A year later, and somewhat counterintuitively, we decided to start an English language show as well.

Or in other words, the American version of the Israeli version of this American life.

Hey, and welcome to the very first English episode of Sipul-Israeli, or Israel's story.

Amishiharman, hi-hi, and well, maybe the simplest way of introducing it.

We did and still do this because we believe that the Israel people love and the Israel people hate are both imaginary places.

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