Unpacking Israeli History, a chart-topping podcast from UNPACKED, a division of OpenDor Media, is expanding its offering to address the growing demand for balanced, in-depth exploration of Israel’s complex history.
Known for offering fresh, nuanced takes on Israel’s most captivating and at times controversial events, Unpacking Israeli History has experienced remarkable growth, particularly over the past year. Downloads have skyrocketed and the podcast has already surpassed 1.5 million downloads in 2024, signalling the need and a desire for more content that takes a balanced approach to understanding Israel’s history and current reality. Hosted by OpenDor Media EVP Noam Weissman, it regularly ranks as the #1 trending Jewish podcast, engaging listeners from diverse backgrounds, crossing religious and political lines.
As part of this expansion, Unpacking Israeli History will shift to an ‘always-on’ model, increasing its output from seasonal to non-stop weekly episodes. The podcast will also be available in video format on a dedicated YouTube channel to cater for more diverse media consumption needs. Plans are also underway for a roadshow, where fans will have the opportunity to attend live recordings, starting in several US cities early next year.
In a critical shift for the podcast itself, Unpacking Israeli History will now also include topics that are more directly relevant to the present day, incorporating interviews with journalists, laypeople and subject matter experts. The season begins with a 3-part mini-series about October 7th, examining the lead up to the day, the day of, and the aftermath. Future episodes will also tackle difficult questions like, Is Zionism a colonialist project? Is Israel an apartheid state? Are the settlements the obstacle to peace?
Says Rivky Stern, Head of Podcasts at OpenDor Media, “Since October 7, we have witnessed first-hand the immense need for this type of content, with people across the political and religious spectrum reaching out and expressing their gratitude for a platform that enables them to engage with Israel’s past and present in an authentic and intellectually honest manner. As we broaden our platform and activities, we aim to be the place for more people to learn, and engage with Israel’s history and context in a meaningful way.”
Andrew Savage, Chief Executive Officer of OpenDor Media shares, “The immense popularity and success of Unpacking Israeli History demonstrates that many people across the world are interested in understanding Israel’s rich and often complicated history as a means to making sense of the current moment. Our goal with this expansion of the podcast is to both expand our audience and offer even more opportunities for people to explore and engage with Israel’s history.”
