In this lively, fast-paced episode, Ari and Matan Peleg, Zionist activist, author, and outspoken Israel advocate, trade questions and challenge assumptions in a dynamic conversation about Zionism and Jewish identity.The conversation mov...

In this emotional episode, we reflect on the life of Josh Boone, his philosophy of service, his sacrifice, and why he embraced the role of the “sheepdog”: the moral duty to protect others.Ari shares his experience of Josh’s loss, the ef...

Imagine a man who witnessed the 1979 Islamic Revolution from inside Iran, spent nearly 28 years advising multiple U.S. Secretaries of Defense, and later waded through chest-deep sewage in a bombed-out Baghdad basement to rescue the most importa...

 In this episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari speaks with Moshe Glick about the role of deep faith in Hashem during moments of profound challenge, and the antisemitic attack that forced him to step in and defend a fellow Jew. Moshe...

In this week's episode:Ari breaks down the critical details of Maduro’s capture and what it reveals about Israel’s strategic value to the U.S.Then we look at Iran. Is it really on a knife-edge? Shaun shares his alternative perspective a...

Shaun and Ari debate Israel’s historic recognition of Somaliland and what it means for regional politics. They examine the challenges of lawlessness among the Negev Bedouin community and discuss potential solutions. The episode also takes a clo...

In this episode, Shaun and Ari discuss the latest political maneuvering in the Knesset, where new proposals increasingly resemble political theatre, focused more on positioning and avoiding blame than on taking responsibility for the failures o...

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari welcomes Aron Schoenfeld — a passionate Zionist, dedicated volunteer, and IDF reservist who made Aliyah during the height of COVID with his wife and children.Aron shares the formative experien...

In this powerful and personal episode of Boots on the Ground, host Ari Kalker sits down with Josh Boone, the “sheep dog from Idaho”  whose journey has taken him from being the only Jewish kid in his high school in Boise to ...

In this episode, Ari sits down with Rabbi Ben Packer for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about the critical role of the farms in Judea and Samaria in strengthening both security and prosperity throughout the region. Together, they exp...

For decades, Israel’s supporters have invested enormous effort into hasbarah, the attempt to “explain” Israel to the world. Yet time and again, this strategy achieves the opposite of what it intends. In this episode, Shaun and Ari explore why t...

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, host Ari Kalker sits down with Haim Brenner for a hard-hitting conversation on the failures of political leadership and the cost of indecision in Israel’s current security crisis.With the Rafiah t...

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, host Ari Kalker is joined by Lt. Col. (Res.) Maurice Hirsch, former Military Advocate General of Judea and Samaria, for a discussion on the ongoing scandal surrounding Israel’s Military Advocate General.<...

In this special episode of Boots on the Ground, recorded from afar with Shaun still on reserve duty and Ari travelling in the U.S., we unpack the growing talk of new elections in Israel. What scenarios could actually trigger them? From the ongo...

Host Ari Kalker sits down with Brigadier General (Res.) Danny Van Buren, founder of Nikra’im LaDegel (“Called to the Flag”), for a powerful and deeply inspiring conversation on free speech, democracy, and service — and what they mean for Israel...

Hope fills the air as hostages finally return home and families are reunited in scenes of profound relief and joy. Across Israel, there is a sense of celebration, songs, tears, and gratitude after months of anguish. Yet even as the ceasefire br...

In this episode, we break down the latest developments on Israel’s borders with Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. We also dive into the recent meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump,what it means, the possible outcomes, and how it...

Ari sits down with Master Sergeant (Res.) Haim Brenner to explore the realities of life as a combat soldier in the IDF and how military service shapes the professional and personal paths of young Israelis. They dive into the ongoing challenges ...

Ari sits down with Yoni Glatt to share the moving story of Aryeh Adventures, a camp founded in memory of Yoni’s uncle, who was tragically murdered in the 9/11 attacks.The camp’s mission is to make inclusion a lived reality by bringing toget...

In this powerful episode, Ari sits down with Colonel Hezi Nehama, a legendary IDF commander whose service began in Sayeret Matkal, the army’s most elite unit. From his early days in Israel’s top special forces to commanding positions across the...

Ari and Shaun pull no punches in dissecting the gap between Israel’s brave soldiers, who continue to dominate tactically on the battlefield in Gaza, and the failures of senior military brass and political leaders, who squander these victories a...

In this uplifting episode, Ari speaks with Etan and Malkie about a unique and powerful way of supporting Israeli soldiers in the field: Beef jerky!. Far beyond a simple food item, these packages offer true nourishment for both body and soul, pr...

In this heartfelt episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari and Shaun reflect on their ongoing reserve duty, moving between borders and battlefronts. They speak openly about the physical and emotional toll, the moments of fear and pride, and the deep...

Ari sits down with Marc Rosenberg, Vice President of Diaspora Partnerships at Nefesh B’Nefesh, for a powerful conversation about Aliyah during one of the most challenging and rapidly changing periods in Israel’s history.They explore the...

Shaun and Ari dive into one of the most contentious debates in Israeli society: the ultra-Orthodox draft. But this isn’t just about military service—it's about the deeper fractures shaping the country. What role should the Haredi community play...