{"podcast":{"title":"Shalom From Tel Aviv with Paul Maleary & Nigel Lithman KC","slug":"shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133","podcast_index_feed_id":7884133,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6a18c72069630795d8cfed98","website_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1780008583659-82ddc57d-16ec-4dcf-a744-385dc4f98d63.jpeg","author":"Paul Maleary","episode_count":8,"summary":"Shalom From Tel Aviv What happens when a retired detective and a former Crown Court Judge look past the headlines and dive straight into the beating heart of Israel? You get Shalom From Tel Aviv . Join lifelong friends Paul Maleary (a straight-talking, 30-year veteran detective) and Nigel Lithman KC (a razor-sharp retired Judge and King's Counsel) as they bring their unique legal, investigative, and deeply human perspectives to the table. This isn't your standard current affairs podcast. As seasoned raconteurs, Paul and Nigel aren't afraid to tackle the complex, sensitive, and heavy-hitting issues that others shy away from. But they do it with a twist. Grounded in their deep affection for the region, they explore the side of Israel that the mainstream media often misses: a vibrant, all-embracing society that offers incredible opportunities to people from all walks of life, faiths, and backgrounds. Expect a masterclass in storytelling, sharp banter, and a healthy dose of wit. Alongside the grit of major discussions, the duo serves up fascinating, lesser-known, and downright funny facts about the country’s history, culture, and daily life. Pull up a chair for an unfiltered, enlighte…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-12T18:19:05.677013+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133"},"episode":{"title":"A Nice Day For A Wedding","slug":"a-nice-day-for-a-wedding","published_at":"2026-06-25T16:08:20+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133/a-nice-day-for-a-wedding","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133","url":"https://shows.acast.com/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc/episodes/a-nice-day-for-a-wedding","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6a18c72069630795d8cfed98/e/6a3d527589bd8728406e594a/media.mp3","summary":"Overview In this episode, Paul Maleary sits down with retired judge and barrister HHJ Nigel Lithman KC to discuss Lithman’s personal background, legal career, and his life after making Aliyah (moving to Israel). The conversation spans political commentary on both UK and Israeli leadership, cultural observations of Israeli society, and reflections on Jewish traditions . Key Discussion Points Nigel Lithman’s Legal Career: Lithman reflects on what motivated him to enter the law, noting that after a somewhat lazy academic start and family upheavals, he pursued an external London law degree . He explains that while Jewish cultural roots often emphasize fairness, his motivation to become a judge later in life was driven by a desire to introduce kindness, equality, and decency into the courtroom . He highlights a 40-year career that included participating in roughly 100 murder trials before taking Silk (becoming a QC) in 1997. Political Commentary (UK & US): Lithman offers sharp criticisms of former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recalling a personal anecdote from the Old Bailey where he found Starmer to be a \"non-entity\" focused strictly on his future career He critiques Starmer’s leadership, U-turns, cabinet choices (mentioning David Lammy), and unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state while hostages were still held . He also briefly addresses potential political directions under Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch, and comments on Donald Trump's shifting, unpredictable stances regarding Israel and Iran. Life and Culture in Israel: Echoing a phrase from a local barista, Lithman repeatedly notes that \"Israel is complicated\" but praises its vibrant economy, pointing out that the shekel remains highly resilient. He describes Israel as a massive cultural melting pot com…","meta_description":"Overview In this episode, Paul Maleary sits down with retired judge and barrister HHJ Nigel Lithman KC to discuss Lithman’s personal background, legal car…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3459,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133/episodes/a-nice-day-for-a-wedding/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133/a-nice-day-for-a-wedding.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}