3 Big Changes at Ark Media

0:00 [upbeat music] Hi, I'm Dan Senor. And I'm Ilan Ben-Atar. We're the co-founders of Arc Media. Today, Dan and I are here to announce three big changes coming to Arc Media that we think our community is really going to love. First, we're expanding our current membership into something that includes so much more.

0:21 We're calling it Arc Plus, our new upgraded membership program. We're also welcoming an incredible new podcast to the network. And lastly, we just launched our new product we're calling The Fold. It's a new way for our community to connect with each other. Both of these products will help fulfill our mission to become a town square for Jewish people everywhere.

0:43 When we first launched Call Me Back in 2020, it wasn't at all a show about Jewish life or Israel. But then October 7 happened, and everything changed overnight. We were trying to help people understand something that, to be quite honest, we were trying to understand ourselves. That day didn't just reshape Israel, it reshaped the entire Jewish world.

1:05 People were looking for a trusted voice, and they found it in Call Me Back. It became the go-to destination for millions who were trying to understand Israel's seven-front war and the wave of antisemitism that followed. And the Jewish diaspora turned to the podcast. We realized the need went well beyond Call Me Back, and our mission became clear: to build a trusted, forward-looking media company for Jews all over the world.

1:32 Which brings us to today, and to what's actually changing. First off, our Inside Call Me Back subscription is evolving into a new expanded subscription, Arc Plus. Arc Plus gives you exclusive content as well as ad-free listening across every Arc Media show. That means more conversations and insight with all of our Arc Media contributors, including our newest contributors, Michal Biton and Lauren Iso. The Call Me Back release schedule is shifting, too.

2:01 Monday's episode stays put, but our second episode, which used to go out on Thursday, now drops for our Arc Plus members on Wednesday, two days early, before everyone else gets it on Friday. And for Arc Plus members, our Ask Me Anything episode keeps going out every Friday as usual. Most importantly, though, the price isn't changing.

2:21 Arc Plus is still $8 a month or $80 a year, but you're getting a lot more with your membership. We're also happy to welcome Chosen People Problems to the network, formerly known as Ask a Jew. It's hosted by two of our favorite people, Yael Bartur and Chaya Laya Safran. If you come to Call Me Back for serious in-depth coverage, Chosen People Problems is where you'll go when you need a laugh.

2:46 They also cover Israel and Jewish life, but they're just a lot less buttoned up, and there is a lot more laughing involved. Let's take a listen. [upbeat music] Hi, welcome to Ask a Jew, where a secular, sinful Israeli speaks to her holy religious friend. I'm Yael, here with Chaya Laya, we're the Jimmy Kimmel and Brendan Carr of Judaism.

3:06 My ultimate crush in this war remains General Dan Kane. I'm just putting that out to the universe. Okay, but if Hitler wanted to meet with you, you wouldn't go? I mean... [laughs] It depend- I thought you were gonna say, "Depends, depends what year." And I'm screaming at my kids under my... I'm like, "You are embarrassing Hashem right now. Because of you, there's antisemitism."

3:27 Wait, there's a second part to the Seder after the food? [laughs] Did we ever get a verdict on those nipple piercings? Was that a thing? [laughs] Sorry for those listening and editing this. It's gonna get worse from here, by the way. This should actually be the intro. Chosen People Problems. We're like Amit and Adam, but more so. Please tune in, or Dan Senor will be mad at us.

3:50 So yeah, that's why they hate my podcast. [laughs] Yeah, I get it. Clearly, Yael and Chaya Laya don't filter themselves. Most people are careful about what they say when talking about Israel and Jewish life, but Yael and Chaya Laya just say it like it is. And that's what we love about them. Their show wouldn't be half as good if they had anyone standing over their shoulder telling them what is safe to say. That's true for all of our shows, and that independence is what makes Arc Media different.

4:18 Because there's never been more coverage of Israel in the Jewish world, and I don't think there's ever been less of it you can actually trust. We are not sponsored by a government, and we are not an advocacy group. We're independent. We are only accountable to our listeners. So when you become a member of Arc Plus, you're not just getting exclusive content.

4:37 You're supporting honest conversations about Israel and the Jewish world that we all depend on. And those conversations don't have to end when the episode does. When we speak with listeners, you tell us that you want a place to ask for advice, offer what you know, and meet people you would never otherwise cross paths with.

4:55 A place where we can explore Jewish life in full, from the hardest questions to the things that bring us joy. So we built it. It's a new private community called The Fold. We designed The Fold around three things: helping each other, thinking together, and enjoying Jewish life together. And the range is important.

5:15 Israel and geopolitics will be part of The Fold, so will Jewish history, religion, books, food, family, work, culture, and the questions that don't fit neatly anywhere. You might take an idea from one of our podcasts and explore it further. You might ask for advice about something happening on your college campus, recommend a book, swap a Shabbat recipe, or just post something that made you smile.

5:38 You'll hear from people you would never otherwise cross paths with. Someone in Sydney, Atlanta, Kansas City, Jerusalem, or perhaps right around the corner. People with different backgrounds and points of view, and real knowledge and experience to share. We'll get things started with live weekly events, opportunities to engage with Arc contributors, and new ways to go deeper on what you hear across our shows. Then, members will take it from there.

6:05 That's what makes The Fold different. Arc listeners are already deeply engaged. Now you can find one another, and everyone can contribute. You can disagree. We just ask that you show up in good faith. The Fold is for you if you care more about understanding than winning. And we'll stay active moderating it so things don't go off the rails. The result should feel like Jewish life itself.

6:28 It needs to hold the hard things we are all dealing with. It can also hold a serious argument, a practical question, a new friendship, and a very good joke. You may first walk in because of something you heard on one of our podcasts, but we hope you keep coming back because of the people you meet and the community we build together. So bottom line.

6:48 Bottom line, Arc Plus, The Fold, and Chosen People Problems are available now. If you're already a subscriber, keep an eye on your inbox. We're sending an email that walks you through everything new you now have access to. And if you're joining us for the first time, it's easy. Arc Plus and The Fold are available on arcmedia.org.

7:08 And you can find Chosen People Problems wherever you get your podcasts. None of this would have happened without our Inside Call Me Back members and our Call Me Back listeners. Every question sent in, every episode shared with a friend, that's what got us here. If there's anything we've learned in the past few years, it's that despite being spread out all over the world, we are one people, and we need a town square.

7:32 We hope you'll come build it with us, and we'll see you on Arc Plus and in The Fold. [upbeat music]