The Frieda Vizel Podcast

Link to video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/aeVekOqP7-Y

The tables have turned! The wonderful, renowned Orthodox Jewish podcaster Dovid Bashevkin, host of 18forty, who interviewed me for his podcast, returned the favor and joined me for a candid conversation about the inside-outside perspectives. He inside, I outside, together we have an interest in the same thing from different angles.

Bashevkin is one of the most thoughtful voices in the Orthodox Jewish world, for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, doubt, Shabbos, Jewish identity, community, America, Israel, assimilation, spirituality, and what it means to build a meaningful Jewish life in 2026.
What makes this conversation especially interesting to me is that Dovid and I approach many of the same questions from different locations. He speaks from deep inside Orthodox communal life; I often speak from the margins, or from outside looking in. And yet we share a fascination with how people search for meaning, belonging, transcendence, and authenticity.

Links:
• Dovid Bashevkin on Twitter/X: [@DBashIdeas](https://x.com/DBashIdeas?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
• 18Forty podcast: [18Forty](https://18forty.org/podcasts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
• My appearance on his podcast: [My conversation with Dovid Bashevkin on 18Forty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEaI-Paltfc&t=1s&utm_source=chatgpt.com)

We talked about:
• why he created the 18Forty podcast
• the “institutional scaffolding” of modern Jewish life
• why younger Jews are restless even inside successful communities
• Shabbos as both beautiful and difficult
• assimilation, identity, and the pressure to “earn” love
• celebrity culture and existential longing
• the future of American Orthodoxy
• why so many young Orthodox Jews are drawn to Israel
• cultural translation between Jewish worlds
• gum as contraband in Hasidic childhoods 😭

Thank you to all channel members, subscribers, viewers, and commenters who make these conversations possible.
Frieda

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video link to this interview: https://youtu.be/fV8LeAiQQe8

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Yossi David, a leading researcher in social biases, migration trauma, and media influence. We delve into how leaving insular communities mirrors migration challenges, the impact of fiction and AI on perception, and the importance of trust and skepticism in society today.

Key topics discussed:
-The psychological challenges faced by individuals leaving ultra-Orthodox communities, compared to immigration trauma 
-Language barriers and cultural transitions when integrating into secular society
-The influence of fiction, media, and AI technologies on shaping perceptions and biases
-Trust in science versus authority and the role of scientific methodology in building credibility
-The importance of a society that balances trust and skepticism for healthy self-correction
-Strategies for raising awareness about fiction, misinformation, and fake content
-Personal experiences of transition, identity, and resilience amid societal change
-The role of education in developing critical thinking from a young age
-The significance of physical challenges and community support in personal transformation

Research that inspired this conversation:
📄 “The Search for Meaning and Belonging After Leaving a High-Cost Religion” PDF: https://app.luminpdf.com/viewer/698b43ca5896b082df3e537b Journal link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10508619.2025.2553407#abstract Former

Haredi? Consider participating in Yossi’s current research: 
📝 2026 Annual Survey for Former Haredi Individuals https://bgupsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_elMDRXhMsMVr23c Follow me: Instagram / X / TikTok: @FriedaVizel

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/vUl5DjWhCBk
Lovina's personal story: https://youtu.be/GHF0lQS2CHs

Former Swartzentruber Amish teacher Lovina Zook takes us inside the world of Amish education, sharing detailed insights into what a typical school day looks like in one of America's most closed communities. From the one-room schoolhouse structure to the daily routines, strict dress codes, and teaching methods, Lovina offers a rare glimpse into this traditional education system.

Lovina speaks with genuine enthusiasm about her experiences as both a student and teacher in the Amish school system, which she describes as the highlight of her teenage years. She explains the challenges of 5 a.m. mornings, preparing breakfast and lunches for siblings, and the deep bonds formed in the close-knit classroom environment.

This video is for anyone interested in closed subcultures, sociology, and understanding how traditional communities maintain their way of life through education. Lovina's firsthand account provides an authentic look at the simplicity, discipline, and community connection that define Amish schooling.

Follow Lovina Zook:
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lovina_zook
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovina_zook/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovina_zook
🌐 Website & Cookbook: https://socialsbylovina.com/

More of my Amish content:
📺 Interview with Martha Ross: https://youtu.be/teadpfXWCO4
📺 Academic perspective with Steven Nolt: https://youtu.be/5OnDYM2jymk
📺 Ex-Amish man on tour: https://youtube.com/shorts/x_qOijQpPnY
📺 Hasidic and Amish together: https://youtu.be/fAp1QPGNb5w

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Link to the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/GHF0lQS2CHs

Lovina Zook, a former Swartzentruber Amish woman who left her community at age 18 with only $24 to her name. Lovina shares her compelling story of growing up in one of the strictest Amish settlements, without electricity, running water, or any exposure to technology, where she raised her 12 younger siblings as the oldest girl.

She opens up about the difficult decision to leave her family and community behind to pursue a different life, and the challenges of adapting to the modern world. Today, Lovina has built a following of millions, sharing authentic Amish cooking and baking recipes while educating people about her former way of life. Her story is one of courage, sacrifice, and resilience.

Follow Lovina Zook: 
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lovina_zook 
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovina_zook/ 
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovina_zook 
🌐 Website & Cookbook: https://socialsbylovina.com/

More of my Amish content: 
📺 Interview with Martha Ross: https://youtu.be/teadpfXWCO4 
📺 Academic perspective with Steven Nolt: https://youtu.be/5OnDYM2jymk 📺 Ex-Amish man on tour: https://youtube.com/shorts/x_qOijQpPnY 
📺 Hasidic and Amish together: https://youtu.be/fAp1QPGNb5w

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

video link: 

I feel I am completely incoherent here but also raw in a way I felt I wanted to share anyway. I’ve organized my thoughts in many videos in ways that I think (hope) is clear and accessible. Here’s where you see a bit of the me behind the analysis. The personal and analytical as I sit and reflect and process a story that I think is exceptional and beautiful and imperfect and problematic but also to me, so very precious.

Meanwhile, to all of you who celebrate mother's day - wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.