In this season finale of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, Michael reflects on his time in Israel during the ongoing Hamas-Israel War and the 12-Day Israel-Iran War in June 2025.

He opens up about:

- Experiencing Israel during conflict

- Visiting the Nova site

- The resilience of Israel’s LGBTQ+ community

- Feeling safer in Israel than in New York

- The emotional and mental toll of war

- Navigating Jewish and queer identity in crisis

- The power of community support

This episode is personal, honest, and hopeful. It’s about grief, gratitude, resilience — and the belief that peace is still possible.

Thank you for being part of this season.

Most people think activists and “influencers” fit into neat little boxes. Amy Albertson does not.

In this episode of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, Amy Albertson — a Chinese-Jewish creator and longtime Israel advocate — sits down with Michael Valdes to talk about identity, online hate, and what it means to stay loud when the world wants you quiet.

We get into:

• Growing up Chinese & Jewish in Northern California

• Experiencing antisemitism on campus — and starting an Israel group at Portland State

• Making Aliyah and living in Israel for 6 years

• Why October 7 reignited her voice online

• The difference between “pro-Palestine” activism and outright antisemitism

• Why Israel felt healing after the attacks — and why rally energy matters

• The mental health cost of being publicly Jewish right now

This is a real conversation — messy, honest, and needed.

Follow Amy: @theamyalbertson (IG / TikTok / X)

Many Jewish creators know the reality: speak about Israel or antisemitism online, and you risk being banned, shadow-banned, or erased.

In this episode of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, Michael sits down with Max Rotenberg, a young Canadian-Jewish creator, who shares what happened after he built a TikTok following of 8,000+ by educating viewers on Jewish history, Zionism, and antisemitism — only to have his platform removed overnight.

We discuss:

- The rise of antisemitism on social media

- How TikTok and Instagram moderate Jewish content

- The research behind his videos (JSTOR, Britannica, verified sources)

- The mental toll of being banned

- Being openly Jewish, Zionist, and queer online

- The tension within LGBTQ spaces

This isn’t about victimhood. It’s about refusing to disappear.

As antisemitism rises and digital platforms shape public opinion, Jewish voices matter more than ever. Max is rebuilding — and speaking louder.

Follow Max:

Twitter/X: @lilbuddymax

Instagram: @maxr.lmao

Most people picture librarians as quiet and reserved — until you meet Eytan Kessler.

In this episode of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, Michael sits down with Eytan, who shares what it means to be a gay Jewish librarian navigating faith, identity, and activism in a time of rising antisemitism. From his Long Island roots to his connection with Israel, he reflects on how books, history, and community shaped his voice — and why he refuses to let misinformation go unchallenged.

We discuss:

- Highlighting Jewish resistance stories

- Confronting harmful Holocaust narratives in publishing

- Why supporting Jewish and Zionist authors matters

- The rise of antisemitism in media and online spaces

- Navigating social media as a queer Jewish advocate

- The emotional toll of online hate

- How the Israel–Gaza war reshaped his activism

Eitan speaks candidly about stepping back for mental health, standing firm in his values, and using literature as a form of resistance.

This episode is for educators, activists, readers, and anyone who believes storytelling shapes culture. Because protecting Jewish history — and amplifying authentic voices — isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Follow Eytan: @sleepy_librarian_

*This episode was filmed before the October 7th Attacks in Israel*

In Part 2 of this conversation, The Modern Maccabee and Michael dive even deeper.

Topics include:

- The purpose behind Stop The Squad

- Why India and Israel share historic parallels

- Antisemitism within progressive politics

- BLM leadership controversy and Jewish–Black relations

- Iranian freedom movements

- Social media propaganda

- Jewish humor as a survival tool

- Sacha Baron Cohen and cultural resistance

This episode is about unity, accountability, and unapologetic Jewish identity.

🎧 Listen to Part 1 for the full context.

Follow The Modern Maccabee: @TheModernMaccabee

*This episode was filmed before the October 7th Attacks in Israel*

In this episode of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, Michael sits down with UK-based Jewish activist The Modern Maccabee for a two-part, powerful and wide-ranging conversation on antisemitism, politics, Zionism, and Jewish identity in the modern West.

Part 1 explores:

- Growing up Jewish between Israel and the UK

- The rise of antisemitism in progressive spaces

- Jeremy Corbyn and what happened to the UK Labour Party

- The Squad and political extremism in America

- Jewish identity, white privilege narratives, and critical race theory

- Why Richie Torres represents something different

- Why Jewish political engagement matters more than ever

This conversation is nuanced, unfiltered, and necessary.

🎧 Listen to Part 2 for:

India–Israel relations, Stop The Squad, BLM controversy, humor as survival, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s cultural impact.

Follow The Modern Maccabee: @TheModernMaccabee

In this heartfelt episode of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, join host Michael Valdes as he welcomes professional dancer and choreographer Alexandra Light for an insightful conversation. Alexandra shares her journey from growing up in Washington, D.C., to becoming a principal dancer at the Texas Ballet Theater, exploring her Jewish heritage, and navigating the intricacies of an interfaith marriage. Dive into her experiences in the performing arts and dance world, the impact of the October 7th attacks and global rise in antisemitism, and her transition into choreography. This episode is a testament to resilience, cultural identity, and the power of storytelling through dance. Tune in for an inspiring dialogue that bridges personal history with artistic expression.

*This episode was filmed before the October 7th Attacks in Israel*

In this episode of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, host Michael Valdes engages in a lively conversation with Jay Hoffman of Sephardic Soul, exploring themes of LGBTQ+ representation within Jewish culture, personal journeys through secular and Orthodox Judaism, and the unique experience of being a gay man studying in Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. The discussion touches on cultural shocks, identity, and the importance of representation in the Jewish space.