Welcome to Passages Pulse Episode 41 (Part 2) — recorded in Jerusalem with a breathtaking view of the Old City from the roof of the Austrian Hospice. In this second half of our on-location “hot seat” conversation, Josiah McGee is joined again by Olivia Layne to tackle the next round of difficult, emotionally charged, and often misunderstood questions about Israel — especially those facing Gen Z in today’s digital media landscape.

This episode dives deeper into the moral, geopolitical, and theological arguments surrounding Israel, while also addressing viral claims, misinformation, and how Christians can think clearly and compassionately about an incredibly complex conflict.

In this episode, we cover:

-Why it matters for Gen Z — and Christians — to support Israel

-The moral vs. geopolitical case for U.S. support of Israel

-Does Israel “drag” the United States into war?

-How to think logically and compassionately about genocide claims

-What war really looks like in the modern Middle East

-Empathy, suffering, and truth in the fog of war

-Does “those who bless Israel will be blessed” apply today?

-Is the Israel of the Bible the same as the Israel of today?

-How to spot credible sources in an age of social media and AI misinformation

Recommended books, podcasts, and resources for learning about Israel:

Honest Reporting: https://honestreporting.com/

Local Sources of Israel News: Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, etc..

Israel by Daniel Gordis: https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Concise-History-Nation-Reborn/dp/0062368745

Israel Unpacked Podcast

Olivia’s Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HL9B5NWf9t1MDF6OE5PXODmLD9YdlEiWZiFUtfxsxFs/edit?usp=sharing

Disclaimer: Individual views are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages. Want to learn more about Passages?

Visit www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.

In this special episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah McGee is joined by Janatan Sayeh, Iran Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for an urgent conversation as historic protests erupt across Iran amid a sweeping internet blackout.

What’s really happening inside Iran right now? Are these protests different from past uprisings — and could this moment finally lead to regime change?

Drawing on both deep policy expertise and lived experience growing up in Tehran, Janatan offers rare insight into the ideology of Iran’s Islamic Republic, the brutality of its response to dissent, and why Iranians are increasingly risking everything to take to the streets.

We unpack:

🔥 What triggered the current wave of protests — and why they’re not just “economic”

📵 How the regime’s internet blackout is obscuring the true scale of violence

⚖️ The Islamic Republic’s ideology, from the 1979 revolution to today’s human rights abuses

🧕 Why women, minorities, and young people are at the forefront of resistance

🩸 What we know (and don’t) about casualties, executions, and the regime’s crackdown

🌍 The role of international pressure — and why Iranians are calling for outside support

🔮 What could come next if the regime collapses: military rule, monarchy, or reform?

Disclaimer: Individual views expressed in this episode are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages.

Want to learn more about Passages? Visit www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.

Welcome to Passages Pulse Episode 40 — recorded in Jerusalem with a stunning view of the Old City from the roof of the Austrian Hospice. With Sebastian away welcoming a new baby, Olivia Layne joins Josiah McGee for a “hot seat” conversation tackling some of the most common (and most controversial) questions about Israel that show up online and around the dinner table.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series recorded on location in Israel.

In this episode, we cover:

-Was Israel created because of the Holocaust?

-Did Europeans “gift” the land to the Jews?

-Are Israelis (and Jews) all white and European?

-What is a “Palestinian”? Race, religion, ethnicity, or identity?

-Is Israel an apartheid state?

Mentioned / Related Resources

https://youtu.be/y3H3scdcJvg

Disclaimer: Individual views are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages. Want to learn more about Passages?

Visit www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.