One of the saddest chapters in Jewish history was the assassination of Gedaliah, the first Governor of Judea as a Babylonian province. The story told in the book of Kings is the first recorded Jewish assassination. The assassination which led to the end of the Jewish community in Judea for a few decades, is marked each year with the Fast of Gedalia…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon sits down with RJ Burr, a third-generation oil and gas industry expert. They delve into the complexities of the oil market, the impact of inflation on the cost of essential goods, and the critical role of small, independent oil companies in U.S. production. Burr shares insights on the industry's resilience during downt…

Rosh Hashanah marks the anniversary of the creation of Adama and Eve, the first people and the ancestors of all humans today. The creation of Adam and Eve is described in detail at the beginning of the Torah. Why did G-d create Adam and Eve? How were they created? What did they do once they were created? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon talks with Zalman Pollack about the impact of fully committing to one's passion. Pollack, a wedding singer, recounts his journey from childhood dreams of joining the Miami Boys Choir to performing professionally. He emphasizes the perseverance needed to succeed in music, sharing how early auditions and family influence…

Torah study has been central to Jewish life throughout our long history. Yet historically, Torah was primarily studied by men, with women having limited opportunities to study Torah. Starting in the early 20th century, women have had increasingly more opportunities to study Torah and an increasing number of women have become Torah scholars. A fasci…

In this episode, host Aaron Gordon sits down with Barbara Weaver Smith, founder of The Whale Hunters and author of "Whale Hunting: How to Land Big Sales and Transform Your Company." Barbara shares her journey from an academic career, where she rose to the rank of Dean, to becoming a successful entrepreneur. She discusses the importance of self-beli…

Rabbi Yehudah Lowe of Prague, better known as Maharal was one of the greatest rabbis, scholars, philosophers, Kabbalists and statesmen in Jewish history. He served as the rabbi of Prague in the 16th Century but his influence spread far and wide and is still felt today. Perhaps, the Maharal is best known for the controversial legend about his creati…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon speaks with Michael Stawicki, a prolific author from Poland. Michael discusses the critical role of setting achievable daily goals to build lasting habits and debunks the 21-day myth, pointing to research suggesting 66 days. He attributes the failure of New Year's resolutions to a lack of self-awareness. Michael shares…

The Torah instructs us that when judging the actions of others, we should always judge them favorably assuming the best motive and intent. This can be difficult at times especially when the intent is clearly negative or the actions particularly harmful. How can we realistically follow the command to always judge others favorably? A fascinating clas…

In this episode of "Keep Hustling," Aaron Gordon speaks with Lenny Wood, the podcast’s first international guest, about his career journey from retail to becoming a successful business owner. Lenny delves into his early experiences working at a video game store and a hardware chain in the UK, which helped shape his social and professional skills. H…

Central to Judaism is the belief that there will come a time when the world with its challenges and problems as we know it will end and we will enter a new era without evil, struggling and challenges. There will be an individual who will lead us to this period called Moshiach - the anointed one. A fascinating discussion about the Jewish belief in t…

In this episode of Keep Hustling, Aaron Gordon chats with Dr. James Taylor, a chiropractor and former aspiring professional rugby player. James shares his unique journey from a baseball-loving kid in Minnesota to a chiropractor for a professional rugby team in Dallas. He discusses his family's blue-collar background, his father's unfinished journey…

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the holiest site in Judaism. However, on the Temple Mount sit the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, Muslim shrines, marking the sites importance to Islam. Since Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967, Jews have been able to go to the Temple Mount under limited conditions. Are Jews supposed to be going up to t…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon talks with Caroline Hershey to discuss her extraordinary journey of motherhood and perseverance. Caroline shares the challenges she faced when her twins were born three months premature, weighing just a pound each and their subsequent four-month NICU stay. She talks about the realities of raising twins, especially in a…

The Synagogue revolves around the Siddur, the prayer book, a book that can be quite think filled with readings and prayers. Who wrote it? How was it written? Why are there some many different prayer books? A fascinating discussion about the history of the Siddur, the Jewish prayer book, how it developed over 2500 years and how it is structured toda…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon talks with entrepreneur Justin Gerena about his unconventional career trajectory. Justin shares his decision to avoid the corporate grind by starting his own business with his partner in 2004, embracing a remote-first approach long before it became popular. They discuss the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, h…

One of the most persistent and dangerous anti-Semitic accusations against Jews has been the blood libel. While it came in various forms, it included the claim that Jews participated in slaughtering non-Jews for ritual purposes. Despite the absurdity and offensiveness of the claim, blood libels, led to countless arrests, torture, sham-trials and mas…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon sits down with Iraq War veteran Joe Soel. Joe shares the profound impact of his military service, detailing three pivotal moments from his deployment that shaped his life and continue to affect him. He reflects on his motivations, inspired by his Vietnam veteran father and his journey from a traditional Methodist upbri…

It is important to plan ahead and write a will while one is young and healthy to ensure their wishes are fulfilled after their death. For Jews, it's important that our wills not only conform with local laws that will ensure that the wishes of the deceased are carried out. We must also ensure that our wills conform with Jewish laws and values so tha…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon and guest Aryeh Kunstler dive into the essence of hustle culture and personal passion. Aryeh, a revered musician and content creator, shares his journey from a stable salary to prioritizing his dreams in the music industry. He narrates the meticulous two-year process of releasing a song, underscoring the importance of …

When Jews lived in the Land of Israel and our religious judicial system was in force, we had 6 cities of refuge for someone who killed a person unintentionally (manslaughter). The killer would flee to a city of refuge and be safe there from any relatives of the victim wanting to avenge the murder. A fascinating discussion about the Cities of Refuge…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon chats with Kristin Scanlon about her transformative journey from a corporate job to a fulfilling career in real estate. Kristin reflects on her upbringing and the influence of her father's work ethic, highlighting her early jobs and determination for financial independence. A pivotal moment occurs when a negative perfo…

Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) teaches that prior to creating our own universe, G-d creates a previous universe called Tohu (Chaos). The universe of Tohu could not survive and therefore crashed. Our universe called Tikkun was then created on top of the broken shards of Tohu leaving us humans with the job of cleaning up the shards of Tohu in our univer…

On this episode, Aaron Gordon talks with guest Zach Weiner about his career paths, pivots, and personal life. They discuss how Zach shifted his focus from work to family and how people's productivity changes as they age. Zach shares advice from his father and Tom Brady about staying positive and persistent. He talks about how his first business tri…

Jewish Aramaic was an ancient language spoken by most Jews for well over 1,000 years. Aramaic is used in Tanach (Jewish Scriptures) and many important Jewish works including the Babylonian Talmud, Jerusalem Talmud, Midrash Rabba and Zohar. A fascinating discussion about the forgotten language of Aramaic that is so central to our history and teachin…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon welcomes Baruch Shemtov, a media personality who transitioned to the world of finance. They delve into Baruch's journey from television to pursuing an MBA, highlighting the pivotal moment he decided to leave his TV job for further education. Baruch discusses the emotional connection he forged with TV viewers, the chall…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon speaks with Brian Ahearn, an author and expert on ethical influence. They delve into the significance of honesty and transparency in sales, the ethical use of influence, and the psychology behind persuasion. Ahearn shares his journey from the insurance industry to becoming an entrepreneur, highlighting the importance o…

Many people believe is paranormal forces that can be invoked or tapped into to discover otherwise unknown information and advise or to manipulate the forces of nature. Many people reject that paranormal forces exist and claim such beliefs to be primitive. What does Judaism say about magic and paranormal forces? Do we believe they are true? Do they …

Strife and divisiveness have challenged humans since the earliest of time. As long as we've had communities we've had divisiveness between people and as long as we've had nations we've had divisiveness between nations. What is the cause for this human tendency of fighting with each other? How can we counter it? A fascinating discussion about the hu…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon welcomes magician Shlomo Levinger. The discussion delves into Shlomo's journey in magic, from early shows to a career-defining performance for Mike Trout and other MLB superstars. He stresses building a brand, ongoing hustle, and creating a supportive team. Shlomo shares insights on balancing work and personal life, em…

One of the worst tragedies that befell our people was the ant-Jewish pogroms during the Khmelnytsky uprising in Poland and Ukraine in 1648-1649. The Khmelnitsky Pogroms, known to Jews as Gzayrois Tach Vetat decimated Jewish communities across Eastern Europe and was one of the most cataclysmic events in the history of Eastern European Jewry. Learn t…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon talks with Jake Burhans, who shares his journey inspired by "Rich Dad Poor Dad" to pursue real estate and wealth creation. Initially driven by a desire for wealth, Jake's focus shifted to helping others start their entrepreneurial journeys and build a real estate community. Key topics include the importance of blind fa…

According to our tradition, the Erev Rav (Mixed Multitude) were a group of non-Jews who accompanied Israel out of Egypt and caused problems for them during their travels through the desert.. Why were they? Why did they join Israel when they left Egypt? What happened to them? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zalman-g…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon interviews insurance executive Lisa Lounsbury. They delve into Lisa's career journey, highlighting the impact of self-belief and mentorship.. Lisa shares her diverse experiences, from a childhood in horseback riding to becoming the CEO of a major insurance organization in Syracuse, New York. The conversation covers the…

One of the most important works in Judaism is the Shulchan Aruch, often called the Code of Jewish Law. Since the Shulchan Aruch was printed in the 16th century it has become the primary source for Jewish law. What is unique about the Shulchan Aruch? Why is it so important to Jewish law? A fascinating discussion about the Shulchan Aruch, how it was …

In this episode, Aaron Gordon chats with Ana Lacher, a seasoned manager in the hospitality industry. Ana recounts her career journey from working on the restaurant floor to managing events, highlighting each role's mental shifts and challenges. She shares a pivotal moment in her career where she made a significant impact and discusses the importanc…

The Jewish family has been one of the key pillars of Judaism. Jews retained and valued the nuclear family unit along with the extended family even when many around them lost it. A fascinating discussion about the role of family in Judaism and particularly, the role of fathers. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zalman…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon explores the journey of guest Mark Metzler, highlighting their discussion on perseverance, hard work, and achieving success through dedication. Mark's determination to succeed in real estate, despite incurring credit card debt and facing initial challenges, showcases his unwavering commitment to his chosen path. The ep…

Jews have been persecuted for most of our 3,000 year history. Some Jews responded to anti-Jewish persecution by attempting to assimilate or follow the dictates of those who hate them. Most Jews have responded by displaying pride in their Judaism and in their identity. A fascinating discussion about Jewish pride and its importance as part of a respo…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon and Nick Klingensmith delve into the transformative power of goal setting and resilience. Nick shares his journey, marked by physical challenges like running marathons with a broken foot, battling cancer, and overcoming personal adversities such as alcoholism and depression. A pivotal turning point occurred on July 12,…

The Torah has various rules and laws for owning slaves. Throughout the early part of Jewish history, Jews owned slaves. Does Judaism allow for slavery? Is it ever okay for one human to own another? Since the Era of Enlightenment and particularly since the end of the Civil War in the United States, slavery has been viewed as a horrible institution a…

In this episode, host Aaron Gordon invites Maverick Pitchford, an up and coming star in the insurance industry, to share his journey, challenges, and the motivational forces behind his career decisions. Maverick discusses his transition from working at a regional bank to founding his own independent insurance brokerage, an idea fueled by a desire t…

For the first 2,000 years or so of Judaism, Jews were mostly agrarian farmers. Many of the commandments of the Torah involve farming and agriculture particularly in the land of Israel. There are rules about how and when to plant and harvest, tithes, gifts for the poor and gifts for G-d. Most Jews left farming about 1,300 years ago but there have be…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon speaks with guest David Meltzer, a prominent figure who delves into the intricate balance between personal drive and well-being. David emphasizes that hustling isn't merely about relentless work but enjoying the persistent pursuit of personal potential. David Meltzer introduces the concept of aligning hustle with core …

When someone is wronged, it is human nature to feel resentment towards the person who wronged them. Is it okay to feel resentment? Can we do something to express that resentment? Or should we just turn the other cheek? A fascinating discussion about the Jewish view of resentment. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zal…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon and guest Samantha Lacher dive into the intricacies of integrating acquired businesses and establishing new departments within their organization. They highlight the expansion of their marketing and PR work, the role of mentorship, and cultural fit in hiring. Samantha shares a personal anecdote about overcoming a misse…

One of the most amazing events in Jewish history was the miraculous fall of Sennacherib and his massive armies at the gates of Jerusalem. This story is told in detail three times in Tanach (more than any other event) and mentioned countless times as well. A class about this incredible Passover miracle. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.s…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon talks with Taylor Garcia about his unwavering commitment to music and the personal transformations that have culminated in his current fulfilling life of family and a family business. Dedication drove Taylor to spend countless hours honing his drumming in his garage, aspiring to a professional music career—a dream that…

The Haggadah, the book that we use for our Passover Seder is one of the oldest and probably the most widely used Jewish book. It has been printed thousands of times with thousands of commentaries. A fascinating discussion about the Haggadah, it's history and how we got the Haggadah that we use today. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spo…

In this episode, Aaron Gordon and Zoli Honig explore Zoli's journey as a serial entrepreneur. From an early age, Zoli believed in working hard and hustling to achieve his goals, a mindset that led him to self-teach IT skills and start his first business while in high school. Despite losing his savings from a frozen yogurt venture called, Zoli views…