Is antisemitism the music industry's open secret?
Scooter Braun, the man behind icons such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and pre-Nazi Kanye West, joins Jonah for a conversation about his journey of taking the Nova Music Festival Exhibition outside of Israel and showing it to the world. Braun connects his family’s Holocaust story to his decision to become one of the only voices in the music industry to speak up after October 7th. To him, a music festival is an untouchable sacred place. After visiting Israel to meet the Nova survivors, he saw peace-seeking kids whose stories had to be told.
Braun talks about turning Nova into an immersive exhibition in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and London, and why he sees that work as “hand-to-hand combat” in a world consumed by social media. He also tells stories of how seeing the exhibit has actually opened minds. He explains why he’d rather call Jew-hatred racism, and how words like “antisemitism” and “Zionist” are masks for racism.
Braun also reflects on raising proud Jewish children by passing down his grandparents’ Holocaust survival stories. His work, both professional and personal, is guided by the Nova survivors’ message: “We will dance again.”
MONOLOGUE: Jonah argues that we could be entering a Jewish Golden Age, and tells us why unity – or JEWnity – is how we’ll get there.
MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
00:24:15 – Antisemitism as Racism
Scooter explains why he thinks “antisemitism” can alienate Jews from other minority experiences, and why calling Jew-hatred “racism” creates more common ground.
00:28:45 – Speaking Up After October 7
Scooter opens up about feeling like the “wrong person” to speak publicly, then realizing that too few people with platforms were standing up for the Nova victims.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-895318
00:36:30 – The Nova Exhibit
Scooter describes using business meetings to bring artists and executives through the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, where figures like Ryan Tedder, Usher, and Jermaine Dupri were deeply moved.
00:43:15 – Palestinians and Israelis Finding Common Ground at Nova
Scooter recalls private events with Palestinian and pro-Palestinian visitors, including a Palestinian friend in a keffiyeh being embraced by an Israeli inside the exhibit.
Israeli and Palestinian Men Embrace at the Nova Exhibit
00:51:15 – In-Person Conversations Change Minds
Scooter argues that online outrage cannot build understanding, and that real change happens through one-on-one conversations, friendships, and small tables.
01:04:15 – “We Will Dance Again”: The Nova Survivors’ Message of Hope
Scooter explains why the Nova survivors’ slogan means more to him than defiance alone: tell people what happened, then choose life, joy, and dancing again.
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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Production Interns: Tatum Rosenblatt, Eden Waldman, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt
