Ira's Everything Bagel

This week, Ira spoke with Ilan Stavans, editor (along with Josh Lambert) of How Yiddish Changed America and How America Changed Yiddish. In this haimish episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Ilan talks about the reasons why, although vulnerable, Yiddish has managed to survive in the world; the role that language played in assimilation in America; why Yiddish is many things, including a museum, a memory, and a language with no fixed address; how it became part of American culture and what has been sacrificed along the way; why it is a mirror to understanding ourselves; the man who saved Yiddish-language books and the importance of the Yiddish Book Center; Yiddish as a metaphor; why it’s always on the verge of disappearing, yet a symbol of survival; and the most surprising thing he found in his research.

This week, Ira spoke with Deviant Ollam, a physical penetration specialist (breaking into buildings, gated communities, & “impenetrable” server rooms). In this unlocked episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Dev talks about his journey to the world of checking security for companies and organizations; how his business role is to get caught; how insecure we really are; the role of locks in society, in some cases symbolically sending a message that “this isn’t your place” and, in other cases, actually providing a layer of security; why low-tech is sometimes the way to go for security; the difference between being secure and feeling secure; and the most effective and low-cost item you can use to provide security in your hotel room.

This week, Ira spoke with Rob Barnett, author of Next Job, Best Job: A Headhunter’s 11 Strategies to Get Hired Now. In this recruiting episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Rob talks about his media background; how he turned to a career in headhunting because of a phone call; tips to make yourself marketable, including being yourself; the realization that life is short and it’s time to aim for the north star; realizing you can’t be everything in your resume, but you can customize in your cover letter; why it’s important to squeeze out the emotion; and the most important thing to do before an interview.