logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
27m 36s

What Matters Now to Eurovision mega-fan ...

The Times of Israel
About this episode

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Eurovision mega-fan Tal Dahan, straight from Basel.

Dahan is a volunteer reporter with the Hebrew-language EuroMix website, which has been the number one source for Israelis about the Eurovision for decades.

This year marks Israel's 47th time participating in the Eurovision, a song contest that was established 69 years ago to unite Europe through music.

We are recording just after the first semi-final and ahead of Israel's participation in the second semi-final on Thursday night. It is expected that Israel's candidate, Yuval Raphael, will make it to the finals on Saturday night with her song, "New Day Will Rise."

Dahan talks about the betting favorites going into Saturday's final and also discusses the politics of the competition.

And so this week, we ask Tal Dahan, what matters now.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Nov 19
What Matters Now to Prof. Asher Cohen: Academic boycott of Israel is 'catastrophic'
<p>Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host <strong><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">Amanda Borschel-Dan</a></strong> speaking with the past president of The Heb ... Show More
38m 14s
Nov 12
What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: The case for pardoning Netanyahu
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. BBC director-general Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, the chief execu ... Show More
40m 41s
Nov 5
What Matters Now to Jordan Hoffman: The new Hollywood buddy film, 'Nuremberg'
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman. The duo beta-tests their soon-to-be-launched podcast series — so new it does not yet hav ... Show More
41m 3s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 13
Day 769 - Trump pushes to end Netanyahu trial with 'free Bibi' letter
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. President Isaac Herzog announced Wednesday that US Pre ... Show More
24m 45s
Nov 12
Day 768 - Knesset debates death penalty for terrorists
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Political correspondent Sam Sokol and tech editor Sharon Wrobel join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Prime Minister Ben ... Show More
21m 10s
Nov 11
Day 767 - IDF preps for 'days of fighting' in Lebanon
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian and Jewish world reporter Zev Stub join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. In an indi ... Show More
28m 35s
Aug 31
Day 695 - On the ground in Gaza City
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. The government's weekly cabinet meeting was he ... Show More
17m 53s
Sep 11
Day 706 - Did PM keep Trump in the dark over attack on Hamas in Qatar?
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Was the United States aware of Israel's plans to conduct an ... Show More
25m 58s
Oct 5
Day 730 - Cautious optimism for Trump peace plan ahead of Cairo talks
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Intensive negotiations to potentially finalize the Tru ... Show More
17m 17s
Aug 27
Day 691 - Cabinet ignores Hamas deal as Trump plans postwar Gaza
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Political correspondent Tal Schneider and health editor Diana Bletter join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Schneider discu ... Show More
17m 24s
Oct 21
Day 746 - Vance flies in to help keep Trump's Gaza plan moving
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. With the body of hostage Tal Haimi returned to Is ... Show More
20m 43s