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Episode 25: Mishy Harman, host of the popular 'Israel Story' podcast
His show has millions of downloads from around the world. Here's the story behind the hit series.
Ira Glass single-handedly invented a radio genre with his audio documentary series "This American Life." Now in its 25th year, the show has more than 5 million weekly listeners.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. When Mishy Harman, a Jerusalem native, first heard "This American Life," he knew the format was ripe for adaptation. And so he launched "Israel Story." The podcast has grown from a hobby between a few friends to a production that now includes 16 people – including musicians and editors. It boasts listeners from 194 countries and has upwards of 2 million downloads a year.
The show recently kicked off its fifth season with stories from Israel including a mysterious clock heist that went unsolved for a quarter-of-a-century and nationwide protests over cottage cheese.
Any culture is best explained by the stories people tell about it. Mishy Harman and his team are doing just that. We had a great conversation with Harman about the cross-country road trip that inspired his popular show, what his goals are for the future, and the story behind a circumcision that involved a luxury yacht, a private jet, and international intrigue befitting a James Bond movie.
Further reading: Check out our profile of Mishy Harman
The 'Israel Story' team met their podcasting muse, 'This American Life' host Ira Glass (center in black sweater). (Photo: Courtesy Mishy Harman)
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