3 Big Changes at Ark Media

Dan Senor (0:04)

Hi, I'm Dan Senor.

Ilan Benatar (0:05)

And I'm Ilan Benatar. We're the co-founders of Ark Media.

Today, Dan and I are here to announce three big changes coming to Ark Media that we think our community is really going to love.

Dan Senor (0:16)

First, we're expanding our current membership into something that includes so much more. We're calling it Ark Plus, our new upgraded membership program. We're also welcoming an incredible new podcast to the network.

Ilan Benatar (0:29)

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.

Dan Senor (0:43)

When we first launched Call Me Back in 2020, it wasn't at all a show about Jewish life or Israel.

Ilan Benatar (0:49)

But then October 7 happened and everything changed overnight.

Dan Senor (0:53)

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.

Ilan Benatar (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 anti-Semitism that followed.

Dan Senor (1:19)

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, which brings us to today, into what's actually changing.

Ilan Benatar (1:36)

First off, our Inside Call Me Back subscription is evolving into a new expanded subscription, Ark Plus. Ark Plus gives you exclusive content as well as ad-free listening across every Ark Media show.

That means more conversations and insight with all of our Ark Media contributors, including our newest contributors, Michal Bitton and Lauren Aiso.

Dan Senor (1:58)

The Call Me Back release schedule is shifting too. Monday's episode stays put, but our second episode, which used to go out on Thursday, now drops for Ark Plus members on Wednesday, two days early before everyone else gets it on Friday. And for Ark Plus members, our Ask Me Anything episode keeps going out every Friday, as usual.

Ilan Benatar (2:18)

Most importantly, though, the price isn't changing. Ark Plus is still $8 a month, or $80 a year, but you're getting a lot more with your membership.

Dan Senor (2:27)

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, Ya'el Bartur and Chaya Lea Suffren. 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. 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.

Ya'el Bartur (2:57)

Hi, welcome to Ask a Jew, where a secular sinful Israeli speaks to her holy religious friend. I'm Ya'el, here with Chaya Lea. We're the Jimmy Kimmel and Brendan Carr of Judaism. My ultimate crush in this war remains General Dan Cain. I'm just putting that out to the universe. Okay, but if Hitler wanted to meet with you, you wouldn't go?

Chaya Lea Suffren (3:16)

I mean, it depends.

Ya'el Bartur (3:17)

I thought you were gonna say depends what year?

Chaya Lea Suffren (3:20)

And I'm screaming at my kids under my, I'm like, you are embarrassing Hashem right now. Because of you, there's anti-Semitism.

Ya'el Bartur (3:27)

Wait, there's a second part to the seder after the food? Did we ever get a verdict on those nipple piercings? Was that a thing?

Chaya Lea Suffren (3:35)

Sorry for those listening and editing this.

Ya'el Bartur (3:37)

It's gonna get worse from here, by the way.

Chaya Lea Suffren (3:39)

This should actually be the intro. Chosen People Problems, we're like Amit and Adav, but more so.

Ya'el Bartur (3:45)

Please tune in, or Dan Senor will be mad at us.

Chaya Lea Suffren (3:50)

So yeah, that's why they hate my podcast. Yeah, I get it.

Ilan Benatar (3:54)

Clearly, Yael and Chayalea don't filter themselves. Most people are careful about what they say when talking about Israel and Jewish life, but Yael and Chayalea just say like it is.

Dan Senor (4:05)

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.

Ilan Benatar (4:12)

That's true for all of our shows, and that independence is what makes Ark Media different. Because there's never been more coverage of Israel and the Jewish world, and I don't think there's ever been less of it you can actually trust.