Why do you believe THAT?

In this interview, I sit down with Theodore "Teddy" Schneiderman on what it means to be Jewish, and what the Jewish people teach about the meaning of life, the character of Jesus, and the significance of a religious identity.Schneiderman is a Junior at the George Washington University studying Political Science and Judaic Studies. Originally hailing from the suburbs of Los Angeles, Teddy has been involved in Jewish life for as long as he can remember. Schneiderman is the President and former Recruitment Director of AEPi (Jewish Frat) at GW, the Former Regional Godol [Guh-dohl] (President) of Pacific Western Region BBYO, and the Head Counselor at Jewish Sleepaway Camp, Camp Alonim, in Simi Valley, CA. 

Hannah Douglas sits down with Aarushi Garg for a thoughtful conversation exploring the many dimensions of Hinduism. From the beliefs that ground her faith to its deities, core texts, and central tenets, Aarushi walks listeners through both the sociological and the spiritual aspects of Hindu practice.A practicing Hindu, Aarushi lived in India for 10 years before moving to the United States. She is now a third-year student at UT Austin with a deep commitment to civic engagement, public service, and global security. With experience in policy research, cybersecurity, and international development, she focuses her academic work on how technology shapes geopolitics and national security. Fluent in six languages, Aarushi currently serves as the Newsletter Chair for the Texas Journal of International Affairs, the Service Chair for Women in Global Affairs, a Texas Cybersecurity Clinic Fellow, and an Undergraduate Research Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security.

William He is a freshman majoring in Government and a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Texas at Austin. At 16-years-old, William became the Founder & CEO of Dream for America, a national youth movement dedicated to identifying, educating, & empowering students to promote liberal values. Powered by 19,000 grassroots donors, a 1,500 person volunteer network spanning all 50 states, and a social media presence with over 750,000 followers and nearly a billion impressions -- Dream for America is the fastest-growing liberal youth activist organization in the country. DFA also recently hosted its inaugural national conference, featuring messages from Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Mark Kelly, and dozens of other elected officials and industry leaders. William was the youngest organization leader at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. William has since been interviewed by over five-dozen podcasts, newspapers, & cable shows, has been quoted in news outlets including POLITICO & the Associated Press, and was also the subject of a documentary by DW News on the future of youth in politics.  In 2023, William briefly served as a U.S. Senate Page for Sen. John Cornyn, representing his home state of Texas. William also served as senior class president and chaired his hometown’s youth advisory council and served on other local advisory committees. 

This week, Hannah interviews Barri Seitz, a UT student who is heavily involved with the Zionist movement. Barri has served as the Chair of Jewish National Fund’s High School and College Summits at national conventions, as well as the Co-Chair of Texas Hillel’s Israel Block Party. She co-founded Longhorn Students for Israel at UT Austin and has firsthand experience fighting Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism on- and off- campuses.  

We're joined by Jadd Hashem, a Palestinian-American student at UT Austin and Vice President of Atidna International- a grassroots initiative uniting Palestinians, Arabs, Jews, and Israelis as one family: cousins, not enemies. Founded at UT in 2022, Atidna has already grown to 15+ chapters nationwide, creating spaces for dialogue and peace events across communities.Tune in to hear Jadd's story, his work building bridges, and what's next for Atidna.

Raised under the influence of generations of strong Serbian women, Nina, a first-generation American, is emerging as a rising political leader in Texas. In this episode, she reflects on balancing cultural expectations with women’s natural instincts and tendencies and shares her perspective on the vital role women can play in shaping modern politics.

In this episode of Why Do You Believe THAT?, I sit down with Zach Lacy, a Christian philosophy student at the University of Texas at Austin. We talk about how studying the great philosophers led him back to deism and ultimately to Christianity, and what it’s like to defend his faith in the classroom. Our conversation also explores the decline of the liberal arts in America’s capitalistic education system—and how this loss affects both the mind and the soul.