Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

[00:00:00] Jonah Platt: There's a lot weighing on the hearts and minds of American Jews today. The ongoing trauma of October 7th, the seven front war in Israel, the hostages, the plight of Palestinian civilians, and the explosion of anti Jewish hate around the world. And if we didn't have enough to deal with, it's an election year.

[00:00:19] Jonah Platt: Over the past few months, I have engaged with thousands of Jews on social media from all over the political spectrum. But the one common refrain I hear from both sides is, I don't understand how other Jews can be so insane as to vote for When it comes to voting, people make judgment calls based on their own priorities, their perceptions of the candidates, and how they wish to use their vote.

[00:00:45] Jonah Platt: All of those are valid, and we should be able to maintain respect and unity as a community, despite our different ideas. So, I want to lay out what I'm hearing as the arguments for both sides of this election. Might not be all of them, but it's a lot of them. And hopefully by [00:01:00] the end, we can understand, validate, and embrace each other a bit more.

[00:01:05] Jonah Platt: Full disclosure, I am intending to vote for Harris, but right now, I'm hoping to make as strong a case as I can for both candidates. Let's start with the case for Kamala. One of the most common arguments in favor of Kamala Harris is that she is not Donald Trump, a man whose character is seen by many to be at odds with the values we as Jews are taught to honor.

[00:01:27] Jonah Platt: He has openly mocked or insulted nearly every race of people, women, the disabled, and yes, Jews, who according to him, hate their own religion and need to have their heads examined if they don't want to vote for him. Trump's preference for isolationism makes the world less safe for everyone. A world without America as an international watchdog is a world where anti Western authoritarians are emboldened to fill that vacuum.

[00:01:52] Jonah Platt: It is fair to assume that a Trump administration would cut back on support for Ukraine, empowering Russia to achieve its ambitions there [00:02:00] and elsewhere. Speaking of Russia, it is literally spending millions of dollars on shell companies, fake personas, and social media content to help Trump get elected, according to the Department of Justice, which most would consider a red flag.

[00:02:15] Jonah Platt: He has repeatedly used anti Jewish dog whistles, googled his use of the coded word globalist as a starter, and he's openly befriended known Jew haters. He also recently said Israel would not exist in two years without him, which even pro Trump Israelis were insulted by. Although a Trump administration would undoubtedly allow Israel more free reign, is more free reign for Bibi Netanyahu's government actually a good thing?

[00:02:40] Jonah Platt: Intelligent minds can and do disagree on this. Trump openly idolizes and fraternizes with authoritarian leaders like Putin, Kim Jong un, and Viktor Orban, whose aspirations and views on human rights are totally at odds with Western values. He will still not admit that he lost the 2020 election, nor take [00:03:00] responsibility for his role in the attack on Congress of January 6th.

[00:03:04] Jonah Platt: Many people fear that women's reproductive rights, gay marriage rights, voting rights, and other freedoms we enjoy now will be attacked under a Trump presidency. And last, here's a short list of some of the people who worked with him in his first term who now oppose him. His then Vice President, two of his Secretaries of Defense, his Chief of Staff, his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, his National Security Advisor, his Communications Director, his Deputy Press Secretary, and his Director of Strategic Communications.

[00:03:36] Jonah Platt: For many, all this is enough to not vote for Trump, regardless of who the other candidate is. But there are arguments for Harris as well. Her past record does not indicate a person who is anti Jewish or anti Israel. Her first piece of legislation as a senator was a bill against anti Semitism. As vice president, she had a mezuzah on the door of her official residence and hosted more Jewish events there [00:04:00] than anyone before her.

[00:04:01] Jonah Platt: She and her husband were in an integral part of creating America's first ever national plan to combat anti semitism. Which clearly ain't working so great right now, but they poured a lot of money, resources, and effort into trying to help the Jewish people. And if there's one thing that lets you know a government's priorities, it's where it spends its money.

[00:04:20] Jonah Platt: Her husband, Doug Emhoff, would be the first Jew to live in the White House. Emhoff is committed to using his platform for the benefit of the Jewish people. The possibilities with a Jewish voice in the White House should not be underestimated. Harris has said very clearly on numerous occasions that Hamas are terrorists that must be removed from power, that they committed horrible atrocities and sexual violence and began this war on October 7th, and that America's commitment to Israel will never waver.

[00:04:51] Jonah Platt: She's also met with hostage families and October 7th survivors, taking great care to engage with them deeply from a place of genuine compassion. [00:05:00] Now remember, I didn't say all of that to convince you who to vote for, only to illuminate the legitimate reasons why intelligent, well meaning American Jews might decide to vote for Kamala Harris.

[00:05:12] Jonah Platt: Now, the case for Donald Trump. First and foremost, his administration has a proven track record of meaningful action in support of Israel. Recognizing the Golan Heights, moving the embassy to Jerusalem, cutting funding to UNRWA, and of course, the crowning achievement of his presidency, really, the Abraham Accords.

[00:05:33] Jonah Platt: These accomplishments are indisputable. The Accords were the brainchild of Jason Greenblatt, his Jewish lawyer of many decades, and his son in law, Jared Kushner, a Jew who married Trump's oldest daughter, Ivanka, in an Orthodox Jewish ceremony after she converted to Judaism with one of the most well respected rabbis in the country.

[00:05:52] Jonah Platt: In order for Israel to be truly secure, It must be allowed to defeat Hamas. As the insightful British journalist Douglas Murray put it, [00:06:00] Wars don't end in compromises, as our Western values would have us hope. Wars end when someone wins and someone loses. It is undoubtedly true that a Trump administration, unencumbered by the voices of restraint on the left, would give Israel more freedom to operate in its pursuit of victory.

[00:06:19] Jonah Platt: The response to anti Israel college encampments was undoubtedly stronger and swifter in red states, so it's safe to assume a Trump administration would take a harder line against that form of Jew hatred in the future. This is in line with his 2019 executive order that made Title VI of the Civil Rights Act apply to acts of hate against Jews.

[00:06:38] Jonah Platt: There's also the case to be made against Harris. She famously chose not to attend Netanyahu's speech before Congress, which many felt was a terrible affront. She has officials in her administration who have historically sought appeasement with Iran. And she has the endorsement of all the members of the squad except Rashida Tlaib.

[00:06:58] Jonah Platt: From sanctions to delays [00:07:00] of arms sales to the infamous don't go into Rafa directive, there has been plenty for Jews to criticize in the Biden administration's handling of the war. These reasons and others are also why many Israelis believe that a Trump administration would be more friendly towards the Jewish state.

[00:07:15] Jonah Platt: Many feel threatened by Harris's appeals to the left of her base, which necessitates the inclusion of phrases like, how Israel wages its war matters, which, although of course true, also insinuates that Israel is not waging its war properly, which is precisely what Hamas wants everyone to believe, so centrally rewarding their tactics.

[00:07:37] Jonah Platt: In regards to the Rafah offensive, Harris famously declared she had studied the maps and deemed it an impossibility that Israel could safely evacuate civilians from the area. Israel was not only able to do so, but they also rescued and recovered numerous hostages and engaged in battle with thousands of Hamas militants hiding there.

[00:07:57] Jonah Platt: Her mad dash to the election has left her big on [00:08:00] platitudes and short on policies, failing that, although understandable, makes some uneasy and distrustful. Mel, the office of vice president is very limited in its powers. Many view her as having been ineffectual or too uninvolved in affairs of the Jewish community, especially in light of this year's explosion of anti Jewish hate.

[00:08:20] Jonah Platt: Many believe that a Harris administration will be a continuation of the worst aspects of the Biden administration's policies towards Jews, with less of the support. If you were already a conservative Jew before this election, this one should be easy for you. If you're a liberal Jew, this one should There's never been a more difficult time.

[00:08:40] Jonah Platt: Jews, historically, have voted overwhelmingly Democrat and have been an enormous presence in the push for rights for all other marginalized groups. Now, many feel abandoned by the left that they long supported, yet also out of sync with the priorities of the right, leaving them feeling politically homeless, as so many have told me.

[00:08:58] Jonah Platt: The calculus of this [00:09:00] election is so complex. It really comes down to each person's individual priorities. And I think that's something we must learn to honor in each other. The beauty of democracy is that no one can tell you how to use your vote. You can vote based on a single issue, out of self interest, utilitarianism, and we shouldn't need to judge each other for making the choice we each feel is best for us.

[00:09:23] Jonah Platt: Remember, right off the bat, tens of millions of us disagree on who to vote for every single time out. So the expectation that every person with whom you share a commonality is going to vote the same as you is simply not based in reality. We are different people, equally as in charge of our own lives and making our own decisions.

[00:09:42] Jonah Platt: Just because someone's lived experience and priorities impel them to use their vote in a way that may be different from yours, does not make them stupid or crazy. The only thing that's crazy, honestly, is expecting that every Jew should agree with you. Disagreeing is a long standing Jewish tradition, and we [00:10:00] must remember to embrace all that binds us together.

[00:10:04] Jonah Platt: That we are one strong Jewish community who will outlast any politician or political party, as long as we respect and love each other through our disagreements. If I've made a case for anything today, I hope it's that. This is the second episode of Being Jewish with me, Jonah Platt. Today, I get

[00:10:52] Jonah Platt: the chance to dig deep with someone who has become one of The Jewish voices of our generation and this moment, a [00:11:00] singer, actress, and dancer who has used her tremendous platform to educate and empower millions of people all over the world. I mean, there are little girls dressing up like her for Purim.

[00:11:10] Jonah Platt: She's that iconic. She's brave. She's bold. She's beautiful. And I'm proud to call her a friend. Welcome, Montana Tucker. Yay!

[00:11:19] Montana Tucker: That intro is amazing. Yeah, you know, I try. That was great. Thank

[00:11:23] Jonah Platt: you. That's, I mean, it's all true. Thank you. Very happy to have you here. Thank you. You were born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida.

[00:11:29] Jonah Platt: Yes. And then moved to L. A., which is like the reverse Jewish commute, right? I

[00:11:33] Montana Tucker: know, I know. Well, you know what? I'll still always consider Boca home. I have a place there. Um, L. A. 's always mostly for work. Yeah, I've built some incredible, of course, relationships and friendships out here, but I feel like I'll always consider you.

[00:11:45] Montana Tucker: Florida home.

[00:11:46] Jonah Platt: And what are some of your earliest Jewish memories?

[00:11:48] Montana Tucker: Oh, okay. So I grew up, of course, going to Hebrew school. Um, I grew up with Holocaust survivor grandparents.

[00:11:55] Jonah Platt: Which we'll get into a lot more later.

[00:11:58] Montana Tucker: So being Jewish was just [00:12:00] always a part of my life and Boca Raton, Florida is a predominantly Jewish area.

[00:12:03] Jonah Platt: My grandparents used to have a place there. We would go for Passover and stuff on the holidays. It's funny, out in

[00:12:09] Montana Tucker: L. A. I feel like either people don't know Boca or their grandparents live there. There's like, no in between. Um, but yeah, so a lot of grandparents live in Boca, it's great. Um, but yeah, I grew up there my whole life, and being Jewish was just truly always a part of everything that I, I knew.

[00:12:25] Montana Tucker: Um, I feel like, not that I was in a bubble, but Boca kind of is a, And it's a predominantly Jewish strong community. Yeah, strong community. So, um, when I kind of came out to LA more for work, I think I started in LA really seeing like a lot of Different communities learning more about antisemitism and stuff that I didn't really experience that much as a child because of the area that I grew up in.

[00:12:48] Jonah Platt: Sure.

[00:12:49] Montana Tucker: I mean we always had all the holidays, went to Temple, went to Hebrew school.

[00:12:52] Jonah Platt: Did you like Hebrew school or did you hate Hebrew school? You know what,

[00:12:54] Montana Tucker: I did. I knew you were going to say that. I actually did. I just had a feeling. I actually did. And I have like very fond memories. My Zadie. [00:13:00] Who passed away four years ago.

[00:13:01] Montana Tucker: He would always love to like attend my Hebrew school classes and we have videos of him like coming there and he would love to pick me up and, and be in on like the singing classes that they would do when I was really young. So I have like very fond memories of Hebrew school.

[00:13:14] Jonah Platt: That's very sweet. What about you?

[00:13:16] Jonah Platt: So I went to Jewish day school. Okay. So I was in Hebrew school all day long from, you know, Mommy and me to eighth grade and it really Fluctuated for me really sort of depended on who the teacher was and when I had like strong good teachers In command of the Jewish subjects. I enjoyed them and I liked you know, we had like Jewish we had like Hebrew choir I like that stuff and I loved Doing holiday stuff and holiday assemblies or whatever but like especially once we got into middle school Some of these some of my teachers weren't great It was sort of like in an age where it's like if you were Israeli, they let you be a teacher Even if you had like no teaching credentials whatsoever So there were some less than great teachers and I we also had to pray every day [00:14:00] And once you became bar mitzvahed, you had to wear tefillin and tallit every day.

[00:14:04] Jonah Platt: And I, I didn't like when it was forced on me. And so I rebelled pretty hard. I got, I graduated with about 30 detentions.

[00:14:12] Montana Tucker: I would love to see little Jonah in, in, in school.

[00:14:15] Jonah Platt: People are shocked now. Like who knew me then that I'm like doing a Jewish podcast. Like that guy ended up doing the Jewish podcast.

[00:14:20] Montana Tucker: I love it.

[00:14:21] Montana Tucker: You know what? I think a lot of people also. So it's like a random fun fact. I actually don't think I've ever said this out loud, but growing up, I had a very strong lisp. Really? And I would talk like this. It's cute. And I had a lazy tongue. And I went to speech therapy. And now I basically speak for a living, which is crazy because I don't think anyone would have ever imagined that.

[00:14:42] Montana Tucker: I

[00:14:42] Jonah Platt: love that. Talking about you did all the holidays. I've read your favorite is Hanukkah. Is that still true? Yes, it

[00:14:46] Montana Tucker: is.

[00:14:47] Jonah Platt: What, why do you love so much about Hanukkah?

[00:14:48] Montana Tucker: I think just growing up as a kid, I just always loved getting the eight gifts. I don't really get eight gifts anymore.

[00:14:53] Jonah Platt: No?

[00:14:53] Montana Tucker: You know? Mom, what's up?

[00:14:54] Montana Tucker: It's kind of upsetting. Yeah, Mom. Um, eight gifts for Hanukkah. Um, what's your [00:15:00] favorite?

[00:15:02] Jonah Platt: I, I kinda like Rosh Hashanah, honestly. Rosh Hashanah's great, too. You know, it's like, I feel somewhat spiritual. It feels like, you know, like you're beginning a new year. I like my family always gets together. Yeah. But it's not like so heavy.

[00:15:16] Jonah Platt: Yeah, like you were saying, it's sort of like one of the lighter ones. Right. It's like more joyous and celebratory.

[00:15:20] Montana Tucker: Yeah, and I like Rosh Hashanah, too, because you always I always go around the table and say what we want our New Year's resolution. Yeah, that's true. What we want for the new year and reflect on the year before.

[00:15:30] Montana Tucker: This, this year is going to be very important.

[00:15:32] Jonah Platt: What, uh, what are your Rosh Hashanah resolutions or wishes for this year?

[00:15:36] Montana Tucker: Um, I feel like I have so many this year. Obviously this year was an extremely hard year for everyone. And I think. Some changes made, not enough changes made. I think we kind of get hard on ourselves that we should be doing more.

[00:15:51] Montana Tucker: What more can we do? Um, I

[00:15:54] Jonah Platt: don't think that's true for everyone. Certainly for you.

[00:15:56] Montana Tucker: I just, I feel like that's why everyone's like, you're working so hard and you're [00:16:00] traveling so much. You're doing so much. Like, aren't you exhausted? And yes, I'm exhausted. But at the same time, it's like, this is the most important thing.

[00:16:06] Montana Tucker: we could ever do in our lives right now is to speak up and stand up. So that's why I'm doing literally as much as I can and going everywhere I can, because I feel like I have to, I feel like there's no other option. And I'm trying to do as much as I can because I'm hoping the craziness is done soon. And, you know, we can focus on continuing to uplift each other and, and move forward in a positive, peaceful way.

[00:16:28] Montana Tucker: But. So I'm trying to do as much as I can right now. I mean,

[00:16:31] Jonah Platt: it's like every day you're, you've got a video, you're in Israel, you're, you're doing a speech somewhere else. It's like crazy. You're, I mean, you were telling me before we started shooting your, your travel schedule is insane.

[00:16:40] Montana Tucker: It's, it's insane. But truly what keeps me going is knowing how important this is.

[00:16:44] Montana Tucker: And also knowing that like, there are people literally on the front lines. There are people that are literally missing their family members. There are people who are literally hostage and now having to adjust to a new life. So if they can handle that, I can handle this. It's like

[00:16:57] Jonah Platt: mamba mentality right there.

[00:16:59] Montana Tucker: You gotta, you [00:17:00] gotta just keep going. You gotta.

[00:17:01] Jonah Platt: I love that. So sort of back to the beginning. Career wise, you're writing music, you're recording singles. You're getting movie placements. You're dancing for big artists. Also, you hosted something called the Streamy Purpose Awards. I have an amazing research assistant named Samantha.

[00:17:16] Jonah Platt: And

[00:17:18] Montana Tucker: she's

[00:17:18] Jonah Platt: great. But she wrote, she wrote it as the Steamy Purpose Awards. And I was like, what is this? Oh my gosh.

[00:17:25] Montana Tucker: Definitely the opposite of whatever that would be.

[00:17:28] Jonah Platt: It felt like a left turn. So

[00:17:31] Montana Tucker: you're doing

[00:17:31] Jonah Platt: all this stuff and then you start making, you know, these videos. I mean, what was there? Was it an explosion of popularity?

[00:17:37] Jonah Platt: Was it a slow ramp? Like, what was that experience?

[00:17:40] Montana Tucker: Yeah, I kind of, kind of got thrown into the social media in a way that I never really expected. Um, her name is Lele Pons. She's a very big, like, um, on social media singer, actress. And she saw a video of me in dance class. She's like, I want to hire her for one of my YouTubes.

[00:17:55] Montana Tucker: She hired me a few times. And then after she's like, can you teach me a dance? So I taught her a dance. [00:18:00] Uh, we posted it online next day. It gets like 10 million views. And I'm like, this is crazy. Like what is happening? So her and I became this little dancing duo on social media. We would do all these little dance videos together.

[00:18:12] Montana Tucker: And then I got into the social media world and it kind of just started going crazy. And then from there I started collaborating With all different, um, creators with different artists, like Jason Derulo, when it would labels would have new songs that would come out, they'd hire me to do like a dance video to the, to the artist song.

[00:18:28] Montana Tucker: And just, you know, just kind of started growing like really like crazy and the brand deals and all these things that started coming in. Um, so before that I was singing and acting and everything, but I kind of put that on the. Backward because social media was taking over in a way that really, I truly never expected.

[00:18:44] Montana Tucker: And then from there, with my different collaborations, you know, I really wanted to inspire people also through my dance and music and what I was putting out. So I would collaborate with people of all walks of life. So it would be like, you know, a little six year old to the old gays who are in their eighties and they're fabulous and incredible.

[00:18:59] Montana Tucker: Or [00:19:00] Terry Crews or Paula Abdul or Sierra or, you know, JLo and just it kind of, it kind of just took off in this really special way, but I would do anti bullying dance videos. I would do dance videos about body image. So I'd always also try to have a message behind my videos. So that was way before really like my activism that I'm doing now.

[00:19:18] Jonah Platt: So you mentioned This 2022, you know, there's this documentary that's gonna come out before that. Were you doing a lot of speaking about being Jewish?

[00:19:27] Montana Tucker: No, I mean I not by choice or anything I just you know, my I grew my social media on dance and music like I just personally never thought of Doing anything until I did my Holocaust educational series, but it wasn't like I was trying to hide it by any means whatsoever it was just I didn't even like think to use my platform for that, for that way.

[00:19:49] Montana Tucker: It was just, it was just kind of going and it was, yeah, it was, it was, it was work and I was just dancing and singing and acting and that's kind of what I was doing. But, and also like, my name is Montana Tucker. I know [00:20:00] it's not the most Jewish sounding name, which I hate even saying that, but I say that because I know it's just stating the obvious.

[00:20:05] Montana Tucker: But I think that's also when people ask me, like, Oh, have you ever experienced antisemitism before? I truly like, can't say I have only when it comes to like my name or the way I look. And I think that's, it's, I think it's offensive when people say you're, you're Jewish, you don't look Jewish or your name is Montana Tucker.

[00:20:24] Montana Tucker: That's not a Jewish name. And like, to me, that's. anti semitic because what does being Jewish look like? What does being Jewish sound like? Many, many, many different things and many, many different ways, you know? So, um, I think people just didn't know that I was Jewish until I had to like throw it in their face.

[00:20:41] Jonah Platt: That is like, you know, one of the main reasons this podcast exists to show people how different Jews can look and feel and sound. And

[00:20:48] Montana Tucker: it's so important. I'm so happy you're doing this because It, it's crazy the, the misconceptions and the, uh, stereotypes that are out there.

[00:20:57] Jonah Platt: Okay. So, um, then we get to [00:21:00] 2022 and you make this multi part docuseries for social media called How to Never Forget.

[00:21:06] Jonah Platt: So let's start with the grandparents who have inspired this project you've already spoken about. Um, what can you tell us about your relationship with them and about who they were?

[00:21:15] Montana Tucker: Oh, my grandparents. We're an R because my grandma is still alive. Fabulous. Um, my grandma Lili is 96. Amazing. Uh, she unfortunately is suffering Alzheimer's disease of 16 years, but she's the most amazing, amazing lady, and she survived Auschwitz.

[00:21:32] Montana Tucker: My Zady, uh, passed away four years ago at 97. Wow. He was the most incredible man, and I always, like, every time I talk to him, thing I do. I always mention I'm obsessed with, um, obsessed with my grandparents and I wear all his jewelry. So this is his bracelet that I never take off. This is his ring that I don't take off.

[00:21:50] Montana Tucker: This is his wedding band. Um, so he's always a part of me. He had very cool jewelry. Um, yes, looking good. And so he's always a part, always a part of me and [00:22:00] anyone that knew, knew me, knew my grandparents. I was obsessed with them and had the most special relationship, especially with my Zadie. Um, so when he passed, it was obviously very, very, very difficult, of course, for my mom as well.

[00:22:11] Montana Tucker: Um, and when he, when he passed, I, I rewatched the Shoah Foundation testimonials of both my grandparents. Wow. You know, I watched them a lot as a child, but watching them as an adult, you feel it completely differently. And of course, after he passes too, to rewatch his stories is. It's just, um, yeah, it's, it's, I can't even put it into words.

[00:22:31] Montana Tucker: Like when you re how you, when you rewatch it, I still, when I, even if I've seen it 10 times already, when you rewatch it, you pick up on different things and you just like, can't even, you still can't even believe also how relevant their stories are to today is, is even crazier. The parallels, but I rewatched their stories and then I was like, okay, like I got to do something with these.

[00:22:52] Montana Tucker: Like I have to do something. I just don't know what exactly. And. My mom and I never went to Poland, never went to Auschwitz, and my grandparents never wanted to go [00:23:00] back, but they always spoke about the Holocaust. They would, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Like my Zadie would wear pins that said, never forget, never again, and survivor every day.

[00:23:07] Montana Tucker: He would speak at all the schools in Florida. Um, they were, my Zadie would talk to literally any person he would meet and tell them that he's a Holocaust survivor and share his story. Like he was, he was, very adamant about never again and making sure people heard his stories. My grandparents are actually from Hungary and Romania.

[00:23:23] Montana Tucker: My grandma's from Hungary. My Zadie was from Romania. And, um,

[00:23:27] Jonah Platt: where did they meet?

[00:23:28] Montana Tucker: They met in New York, actually,

[00:23:30] Jonah Platt: after like a dance,

[00:23:31] Montana Tucker: I believe. I think I'm telling the story right. But they met my grandma was there with another guy. And my Zadie went up to my grandma and said, like, You're going to be my wife one day, or something like that.

[00:23:43] Montana Tucker: You hear so many

[00:23:43] Jonah Platt: stories like that from that era. I know. So I think if he wanted to, he would.

[00:23:47] Montana Tucker: Okay. Um, but, and then yeah, the rest is history. But, um, but yeah, so I knew we wanted to do something with them. Wasn't sure what, and then we talked to a bunch of people and we said, Hey, like, let's go on this trip.

[00:23:59] Montana Tucker: Let's go. And [00:24:00] at first we were just going to go to visit. And then we said, Hey, I have millions of people that could be impacted by these stories. My falling at the time was Literally only Gen Z,

[00:24:10] Jonah Platt: right?

[00:24:10] Montana Tucker: You know, we said, Hey, Holocaust education isn't forced to being taught in every state in the U S let alone around the world.

[00:24:16] Montana Tucker: They're genuinely, these people don't even know about the Holocaust. So we ended up filming this docuseries, uh, did it in 10 parts, made it solely for social media. Each episode was a minute and a half to two and a half minutes. Easy to digest, easy to share. And, um, we went, we filmed it. And at the time, like, obviously, you know, anti Semitism has just always existed, but at the time it wasn't, there wasn't anything that like triggered me to go besides my Zadie passing and me wanting to film this.

[00:24:44] Montana Tucker: We ended up editing it, always planned to release it, release it, uh, leading up to Kristallnacht and coincidentally the same time was Kanye West, all the crazy stuff with Kanye. And it was just the weirdest timing of it all. And my mom always says like my Zadies. With me and that [00:25:00] moment was like, okay, this is he's got his

[00:25:01] Jonah Platt: hand and this

[00:25:02] Montana Tucker: is why this is why we're doing this And I I didn't think like I didn't wasn't nervous about posting it because I was nervous about the hate I was getting or I would get I was nervous about posting it because I'm like people follow me to see me dance and be Happy and smile and be bright and vibrant and the series is very dark and heavy and sad And I'm crying and it's not what they're used to seeing of me So I was like, I think it's just not gonna do well because people don't want to see that That's what I was worried about.

[00:25:28] Montana Tucker: But I was like, you know what? If it impacts one person, great. Like we just wanted to impact people. So however way it can impact. Great. And then it ended up taking off in this way that I don't, I don't think I really expected, honestly. Um, and then it just, it took off. And then I started going out to schools to speak.

[00:25:43] Montana Tucker: And I went to the white house to have a sit down with Doug Emhoff. And we just spoke about my experience at Auschwitz and he actually went right after me. And we spoke about his experience and I hosted Israel 75th anniversary. Um, Kamala and Doug were, were guests and, and, and her SOG, and I, I was the host of [00:26:00] the event, which is a really beautiful event.

[00:26:01] Montana Tucker: So this is all before October 7th. Right. Yeah. And then it just kind of started slowly but surely, like becoming a huge part of what I do and what I stand for, of course. And then obviously everything changed after the 7th.

[00:26:15] Jonah Platt: Right. So, so clearly the response from the Jewish community was, you know, Overwhelmingly supportive.

[00:26:20] Jonah Platt: What about from your non jewish followers?

[00:26:21] Montana Tucker: You know, it's interesting like I definitely got some hate like oh Your grandparents should have died like we're not gonna stop until you do or like I can't believe you're jewish Or of course, you're a jew and you're making this about you. Like I don't know how I was thinking about it I'm in it.

[00:26:35] Montana Tucker: But like how is this about me? Um, whatever so I got those type of comments, but nothing was as bad as When I started like full on Israel, uh, that was a whole other, a whole other form of hate. Of

[00:26:46] Jonah Platt: course. Did you, did you hear like positive? Oh yeah. I heard from, from, from,

[00:26:51] Montana Tucker: from not cause they didn't know.

[00:26:52] Montana Tucker: Like, and it was really educational. And I think the way that the series was made is it wasn't like, it wasn't so, um, forceful. [00:27:00] Like I think it was really personal to me. So I think people also felt like they could relate to it in a way. Um, there's that

[00:27:06] Jonah Platt: authenticity. Yes,

[00:27:07] Montana Tucker: exactly. Like it wasn't, You know, I think with a lot of holocaust education, especially for the younger generation, you know, a lot of it's in black and white or they're hearing from survivors who you can't understand their accents, unfortunately, or they're, they're, they're getting older and it's hard to, to connect with them and speak to them.

[00:27:23] Montana Tucker: I mean, I say to everyone, if you have the opportunity to sit down with a holocaust survivor, you are the luckiest person in the world and you better. Stop everything you're doing and listen. But you know, for them, it's somebody that they knew from not that world. So to come in as somebody that they followed on Tik TOK for my dancing videos to then see me talk about the Holocaust, they were like a little bit more connected to it in a way.

[00:27:44] Montana Tucker: So the connection from the Jewish community, the non Jewish, like a lot of the non Jewish community was, was honestly overall very positive. Of course I got, of course I got the hate, but the hate I get now is on a, is, is completely different.

[00:27:57] Jonah Platt: I think a lot of people don't. Like a lot of people [00:28:00] think everyone who's not Jewish like hates the Jews and it's just so not the case

[00:28:03] Montana Tucker: And that's like also what I try to portray in a lot of my content recently I don't know if you if you've noticed but I go out in public and I do these videos in public because not only Do they end up being powerful, amazing videos that get viewed millions of times, which is great.

[00:28:17] Montana Tucker: And we're thankful for that. The in person conversations that I have with people or whoever I bring in to collaborate with me on the video, they're so powerful that you actually connect with these people. Most of them, you'd be so shocked. Don't even know what's going on. Right. And I think, yes, all we hear in the media and the news is how everyone's against us and how you'll get canceled if you speak out for Israel or if you're for the Jews, you're going to get canceled.

[00:28:40] Montana Tucker: Like, it's not that. Like, and I think that, yes, a lot of it is, but I think we need to show that people just genuinely don't know. And we end up having powerful conversations and then they go home and then they research and then they talk to their friends and their family. And I think we need to just keep encouraging more conversation.

[00:28:56] Montana Tucker: Couldn't agree more. And I think that's what's. Lacking, [00:29:00] unfortunately, is I think people are feeling just like they have to choose a side or they have to be so angry or so Negative, but uh, I think when you educate you actually speak and I think that's kind of what happened with my series It was really educational, but also really personal that people felt it in a different way

[00:29:15] Jonah Platt: Totally when so I got the opportunity to help produce a video that you and rudy rockman were in and at ucla And I was struck by how many of those college students and this was at the height of these You Encampments, anti Israel protests, they were like, dude, I don't know, I'm trying to get to science class.

[00:29:31] Jonah Platt: Exactly. You know what I mean?

[00:29:32] Montana Tucker: But they don't, so the thing is that they don't know. And then what happens is you see a TikTok video that has 10 million views about how terrible Israel is and how terrible Jews are. So somebody who doesn't know anything is coming across this video. And they see that this is a popular video.

[00:29:50] Montana Tucker: Wow, look at how many comments, look how many views, look how many likes. Oh my gosh. And then they start seeing more of that. They're going to think that's true. And then they're going to want to create their own video to it because [00:30:00] it's trending and because it's popular. And I think that's what's in the cycle.

[00:30:04] Montana Tucker: Yes. Yes.

[00:30:05] Jonah Platt: So October 7th, obviously a big turning point for all Jews and certainly in your advocacy. Let's start with that day itself. Like what was that day for you?

[00:30:16] Montana Tucker: Oh, man It was just like something came over me that I was so incredibly sick to my stomach and like everything shut down for me Like I felt even guilty looking out my window and like enjoying my view knowing that this is going on um, I think I just kept replaying all my grandparents stories and Being like this is our modern day Holocaust.

[00:30:37] Jonah Platt: Yeah,

[00:30:38] Montana Tucker: there's there. I can't believe we're living through this Um, I remember just thinking like, I'm so thankful my grandma, like I never said that, but thankful my grandma has Alzheimer's and doesn't know what's going on right now, you know? Yeah. Because I can't imagine what she would think or if my Zadie was still alive, what he would think about what's, what just happened or what's going on.

[00:30:59] Montana Tucker: And it, it [00:31:00] took over for, I mean a whole week, I feel like I didn't leave my apartment. I think the first time I left was when I saw you and that's where we met the first time at the rally.

[00:31:06] Jonah Platt: Right. Right.

[00:31:07] Montana Tucker: For the one that Mayweather, Mayweather was there. That was the first time I like left. since, since it happened.

[00:31:14] Montana Tucker: And actually that rally was a turning point for me because I think I actually never really went to like these big rallies before. Now that I've been at a hundred. You're speaking at every rally. I've been at a hundred of them. They're amazing. Oh my gosh. But I think that was my first time and being around people that I know were also feeling exactly what I was feeling.

[00:31:32] Montana Tucker: But then also having, So much love and positivity. Like, you know, it's so interesting these rallies because everyone's hurting, but then everyone's so loving and inspirational and motivational. And I think that's just Jews in general. And Israelis that I've over time known so well, is that like, No matter what you just keep going and you keep pushing and they're so resilient.

[00:31:53] Montana Tucker: And I learned, I personally also learned that from my grandparents too, of they experienced, experienced such horror in their [00:32:00] life. You can't understand how they would even want to live after it. Right? My grandma saw her mother get beaten up and dragged to the gas chamber right in front of her, saw her family members get killed.

[00:32:08] Montana Tucker: what they had, my Zadie had to, uh, he, he had blonde hair and blue eyes. So he would get away with a lot of things in the camps and he was an electrician and he would make friends with like the guards. And one day the, like the guard would always tell him, like, you know, let him come back late or give him some extra food or whatever.

[00:32:25] Montana Tucker: And one day that guard got sick or something like that and couldn't, and couldn't, um, you Tell my Zadie that he wasn't going to be that working. So my Zadie walked in late and for punishment, they made him sleep in a coffin with nails in the front and back. So if he leaned forward or back, he would get stabbed for a whole night.

[00:32:41] Montana Tucker: So I just like heard those types of stories my whole life. And I don't think I didn't even realize how, how. Crazy, what was going to even happen after the seventh, but just knowing what happened on that specific day, seeing the videos come in, I think that just triggers something inside of me. I don't know if it's like [00:33:00] generational drama or what it, what it could be, but I just knew that like, this was now, this is this, I have to do, I have to do everything I can.

[00:33:08] Montana Tucker: And you know, I, I, knew I had this following. I knew again, still even, you know, unless you follow my stuff every single day, like maybe people didn't see my Holocaust series that were still following me for dance. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know what it was, but I, I didn't even like think twice.

[00:33:24] Montana Tucker: Like this was now becoming, so I didn't post anything else besides anything about Israel for a full two weeks. Like I didn't post not even one thing I missed out on brand deals. Like I said, no to everything. I wouldn't post anything else on my social for like two to three weeks. Um, and then I was like struggling with it.

[00:33:39] Montana Tucker: Like, I didn't know how to. Dance and be happy because I was so upset and this is such a serious matter. How could I just like post a happy dance video? And then I remember I did and I got messages from people saying, thank you so much for this video because I've been so upset and so depressed that coming across this One minute dance just took [00:34:00] my mind off of everything going on in the world.

[00:34:02] Montana Tucker: Um, so I said, you know what? I have to keep sprinkling this in there to, to keep it going. But I mean, I wanted to get to Israel as soon as possible. I literally wanted to fly on the next flight, like the next day. Um, how

[00:34:13] Jonah Platt: many times have you been there now since I've been, I've been

[00:34:15] Montana Tucker: twice since, and now I'm going three times in the next three months.

[00:34:18] Jonah Platt: So,

[00:34:18] Montana Tucker: uh, yeah, it's good. So It's, and I'd be there more if I could, honestly, I really, I really would. I, I, I think about it all the time. That's why I like, I've been posting a lot about making Aliyah, like. It's not just like a post, like it's something that I, I do think about, but at the same time, I know there's so much work to be done here.

[00:34:35] Montana Tucker: I feel like I, I don't go, I need you. I sound like, I think there's way more work that I need to do here, uh, before I do that. But I think eventually in my life, like I just love it so much and, and you know, everyone gets nervous about me going and I'm like, I literally feel safer there and more at home.

[00:34:49] Jonah Platt: Yeah. There. Just crazy to say. Nobody giving you shit for being Jewish over there. Literally. Yeah.

[00:34:55] Montana Tucker: You know, here, like, I don't get nervous. It's more of my mom, honestly, that is nervous. [00:35:00] Yeah, of course. You know, I wear my jewelry all the time. You're like, you know, there, you don't even have to think about that.

[00:35:04] Montana Tucker: Like I said, like everyone's wearing it. The flag is waving everywhere. You know what I mean? And, and then like the last time I went there, I remember like, just cause you hear all the, the, the misconceptions and the propaganda about, you know, how Israel is a apartheid and all these things. And you go there and you're at the beach and you see, you know, All different types of people just coexisting.

[00:35:25] Jonah Platt: You get off the plane for five seconds. Yeah, it's

[00:35:28] Montana Tucker: it's it's crazy as colorful

[00:35:29] Jonah Platt: as can be

[00:35:30] Montana Tucker: seriously, so um Yeah, I mean my whole world's I know went off topic but my whole world's really changed since the seventh and like i've never been been prouder to be jewish and never and and Before if people maybe would question if I was jewish by not my name or my looks like that's why I want to make Sure everything I wear now You can't miss it.

[00:35:49] Montana Tucker: I love it. You know, or if you go to my page, you're gonna know You

[00:35:52] Jonah Platt: I, I want to commend you for a second because what you're, what you do is not for everyone and it's not easy [00:36:00] and the way that you do it, it's, it's never about you. The way you've lifted up hostage voices and family, hostage family voices and survivors and you're always platforming others and amplifying others and it's just really, you know, I admire you so much for that.

[00:36:18] Montana Tucker: Thank you so much for saying that. And I feel like. We have to I mean all these things like i'm i'm so grateful when when people say thank you to me But truly it's like I can't think i'm doing anything else. Like I can't even imagine Just going about my days still doing my dance videos every day singing videos brandy Like that to me like I I can't even imagine that being my reality right now.

[00:36:40] Montana Tucker: Like truly I can't I

[00:36:42] Jonah Platt: mean people are all often Well, you know if if this were the holocaust, what would you do? It's like we we know now I've been saying this to

[00:36:49] Montana Tucker: everyone lately You That's why it upsets me. I'm, I'm sorry if this is controversial, but if a Jew is not speaking out or not doing something, because every Jew around the world should [00:37:00] be united in this right now and standing up in whatever way that is, however they can do it, but they need to, like, it doesn't make sense to me when, when Jews are not united in this, in the, in the one main cause right now.

[00:37:15] Jonah Platt: I call it an all hands on deck moment. I feel like wherever you are, whatever it is you do, whatever you're involved with, we need everybody doing the thing that they do.

[00:37:24] Montana Tucker: Exactly. Not everybody's going to

[00:37:26] Jonah Platt: be Montana Tucker, but they can be, You know a parent at a school who's speaking out when they see something that's anti jewish That's all it is talking to a friend who's has the wrong idea about something whatever it is.

[00:37:37] Jonah Platt: That's literally

[00:37:37] Montana Tucker: all it is That's what I literally at all my events. I try to preach this because it's it's truly Not about you don't have to just post on social media. You don't have to just do what I do But you have to do something. Yeah, you have to do something. This is the time that everyone needs to stand up

[00:37:51] Jonah Platt: So if your advocacy had like one thesis statement like the core your core mission We've touched on a lot sort of a lot of different [00:38:00] aspects of it.

[00:38:00] Jonah Platt: Like what do you say? It's like the essence

[00:38:03] Montana Tucker: I think something that Kind of feel like there's a lot, but I think something that I've been trying to do from the beginning is really personalize and humanize These stories and these people that's why it was really important to me when I went back in December for the first time Not my first time to Israel but first time since October and I really tried to meet with as many people and hear their stories and share their stories because I think It doesn't matter what you believe about the conflict.

[00:38:28] Montana Tucker: It doesn't matter what religion you are, what race you are. Like you can't help but feel for a crying mother or feel for a girl who was at Nova that got shot and saw her boyfriend get killed right in front of her. Like you can't, you can't, I don't care, unless you're just an evil human being, like you can't not feel for that person or not hear them out.

[00:38:45] Montana Tucker: And I think that is what's missing in all of this is like people are losing the humanity of it. Um, so from the beginning I've been really trying to just humanize everyone. Um, I think also something that I did, you know, it [00:39:00] maybe wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but I know it meant a lot to the survivors and to the community and actually reached a whole different audience that I think instead of the echo chamber was I did a Nova dance video.

[00:39:09] Jonah Platt: Right.

[00:39:09] Montana Tucker: Um, and that was actually like the first real time that I was able to blend my worlds since the seventh. Um, because I, I had a hard time. I was like, okay, I have my dancing, my singing, my acting, and then I have my activism. Mm-Hmm. , how do I blunt, how do I bring those together right now? Because what I'm advocating for is so serious and so intense and hard and sad and depressing, honestly.

[00:39:32] Montana Tucker: Yeah. Yeah. So it was, I was having a hard time and then I realized people went to the Nova Festival to dance. Yeah. The whole thing is we can dance again. I, I reached out to a bunch of survivors. I reached out to an Israeli dance company who lost. Three of their members at Nova, and I got everyone that they wanted to do it.

[00:39:51] Montana Tucker: Everyone was on board and thankful that we were going to do something like this. Yeah. We went to the Nova site where we didn't dance, of course, on the memorial anywhere near [00:40:00] it, but away from where people were running. I had Moran, Stella, you and I, who I don't know if you, if you know her, she's awesome.

[00:40:05] Montana Tucker: amazing. She is, um, she went to the Nova festival to sell her jewelry and then she got shot and kidnapped for 54 days into Gaza. Um, I've become actually good friends with her. I love her so much. Um, but she was there with me during this Nova video in a bunch of survivors and it was a really powerful video, but it's, it was filmed like a music video in a sense.

[00:40:25] Montana Tucker: And, um, but that video reached a whole different audience. of it reached the dance community. It reached the music community because people thought it was just a dance video at first. And then all of a sudden it hits you of what, what you're really here for to watch. And people wrote me and messaged me in the comments saying, I never saw it this way.

[00:40:43] Montana Tucker: Thank you. Wow. I can't believe this happened at a music festival, you know, so it really, it really got to people in a different way. So, um, I think from the beginning, I, and what, with my advocacy, I'm just really trying to get the message through and personalize and relate. I want, I want everyone to be able to come to my page and [00:41:00] relate to one of my videos.

[00:41:01] Montana Tucker: In some way, shape, and form.

[00:41:04] Jonah Platt: I think you're doing an amazing job of that. There's something for everybody. Thank you. I hope.

[00:41:09] Montana Tucker: And I just, again, I want peace. I want to bring everyone together. And that's also a message that I'm trying to portray. I think there's so much separation in this world and so much hate.

[00:41:20] Montana Tucker: And we all need to, if we united, the world would be way better. And we need to all unite against racism. The evil.

[00:41:26] Jonah Platt: Totally.

[00:41:27] Montana Tucker: Yes.

[00:41:28] Jonah Platt: Um, what are, what are some exciting highlights on the horizon for you? I know you got a lot on your plate.

[00:41:32] Montana Tucker: Oh gosh. I have so much on. Just give me a couple

[00:41:34] Jonah Platt: highlights.

[00:41:35] Montana Tucker: I didn't say it's exciting, but something that I'm, um, really looking forward for the world to see.

[00:41:40] Montana Tucker: Um, I'm actually flying to Israel to film a documentary, um, about the kids of October 7th. Um

[00:41:46] Jonah Platt: What do you mean? The, the, the, like, children who are survivors, who were involved? Yes.

[00:41:50] Montana Tucker: So, it's children's, children who were either taken hostage, who either had to see their parents get killed right in front of them.

[00:41:57] Montana Tucker: Um Um, we're [00:42:00] face to face with Hamas where they're shot like, I mean, there's their stories are just you can't even, you can't even understand they're 10 years old, 12 years old, um, terrible, just terrible stories. So it's going to be very, very difficult to film, but I think probably the most important thing I've done.

[00:42:15] Jonah Platt: Wow.

[00:42:16] Montana Tucker: Um, because I think. They're also, for some reason, kids on, on either side are always being brought up in, in the conflict. And I feel like people haven't really heard from, from the kid victims that much. Um, so this is really important and I'm, I'm honored that I was asked to do it because I know this is a big responsibility and a big, a big, like, task, honestly, and, and I'm, I'm grateful that I was asked to do it because this is so important.

[00:42:45] Montana Tucker: And, um, so I'm leaving in a few days to go film that.

[00:42:47] Jonah Platt: Wow.

[00:42:48] Montana Tucker: Um, I have this movie that I'm going to be working on called The Mench. I don't know if you've heard of that one. Yeah,

[00:42:53] Jonah Platt: so The Mench is a movie that I am producing and also acting in, that Montana is going to be playing a [00:43:00] very comedic role in is, is like, as comedy stuff, something you've done before.

[00:43:05] Jonah Platt: I just, we thought of you right away for this part. I

[00:43:06] Montana Tucker: love it. You know, I actually have never done comedy, so this is really exciting. And I mean, it's something for me that I feel like even this past year, I feel like I've been, and in general with my career, it's always taken me on these like random paths and I've kind of been thrown into situations that.

[00:43:21] Montana Tucker: I never would have maybe thought I would be in before and then I do it and I'm like, wow, like this is, this is now what I want to do right now. This is a new lane that I want to explore. So I'm really, really excited for it. I mean, music, dancing, acting has always been like, they have been my three top priority passions.

[00:43:37] Montana Tucker: And of course now my activism is fully taking over. Um, but to do a movie, about being Jewish also. And the mention, do you know my dog is named Menchie?

[00:43:47] Jonah Platt: I did not know that. My dog is named Menchie because he is

[00:43:49] Montana Tucker: such a mensch. So the title, when I saw the title too, I was like, Okay, this is meant

[00:43:54] Jonah Platt: to be.

[00:43:55] Jonah Platt: Beshert. Um, okay, so we're gonna just wrap it up here. We're gonna, uh, [00:44:00] deal with some questions and comments from our fans on our Instagram. Alright. Who saw that you were gonna be the guest and left us some stuff which you can do every week with whoever we got coming on. Okay, here's a question from Little Miss Kramer.

[00:44:11] Jonah Platt: How has the dance community reacted to you taking on a larger Jewish advocacy role?

[00:44:16] Montana Tucker: Honestly, not, not so well. It's been upsetting actually. A few, a few people that I've collaborated with for years. Won't collaborate with me anymore and they flat out have told me that they not like in a mean way, but they just said You know, I'm sorry, but we you know, we can't get into that world and you know, we we can't really touch on that So we're gonna have to stop working together and dancing together in the meantime And it's just interesting because I like I've never asked them to post anything about Israel I've never asked them to like them to share my that those types of videos.

[00:44:51] Montana Tucker: We just dance together Which means, we know what that means.

[00:44:55] Jonah Platt: And I think something that, like, non Jewish folks of that [00:45:00] ilk don't understand is how intrinsic a connection to Israel is for the majority of Jewish people. That it's not like, it's not some, like, political decision you decided to make a couple months ago, like, Others have made to be against israel, right?

[00:45:15] Jonah Platt: It's part of your identity. It's natural It's like of course you would be a supporter of israel. You're a jewish person.

[00:45:20] Montana Tucker: Exactly. And that's what I I don't it feels like

[00:45:24] Jonah Platt: anti jewish exactly Yeah,

[00:45:25] Montana Tucker: and I feel like also if people really dive into my content They will see that all i'm doing is trying to unite everybody and bring everyone together,

[00:45:31] Jonah Platt: right?

[00:45:32] Jonah Platt: There's nothing inflammatory. You're not trying to be polarizing. No I've never said

[00:45:36] Montana Tucker: one negative thing about palestinian people ever and I never would

[00:45:40] Jonah Platt: right

[00:45:40] Montana Tucker: That's just, I mean, it's just not what I'm about and what I'm standing for. I would love everybody to be together. That would be the dream.

[00:45:48] Jonah Platt: I saw you posted yesterday with that Israeli Palestinian boy band.

[00:45:52] Montana Tucker: Exactly. I mean, they're the prime example of everything that I stand for. That's why when I found out about them, I was so excited to meet with them [00:46:00] because I think it's incredible. And they actually formed this band way before October 7th. So it's, it's really interesting to, it was interesting to speak with them and literally sat down with two Palestinian young men and they were sharing their version of everything.

[00:46:14] Montana Tucker: And we were talking, we had beautiful conversations. And I think that's what also needs to happen. And unfortunately it doesn't happen, but I think if anyone really sat there and looked at my content, they would, they would really realize what my message is. And it's not, it's not to be pro Israel, anti Palestine against the Palestinian people at all whatsoever.

[00:46:34] Montana Tucker: It's, it's about how do we bridge the gap? How do we all come together during this time? But also, the antisemitism needs to stop.

[00:46:41] Jonah Platt: Yeah.

[00:46:41] Montana Tucker: It, like, they need to realize this is a real thing that is happening right now. Yeah. It's not, it's not just made up, and it's affecting me, it's affecting everyone. You know, and also, like, we talked about the hate that I did not really get from the Holocaust series, but I'm sure you understand the hate that comes with, with posting now is insane.

[00:46:58] Montana Tucker: Anything you post now. Any, [00:47:00] it's insane. I mean, death threats every single day, multiple times a day. It's insane. You know, they say stuff about my mom, about my grandma, about my family, about my, you know, it's it's crazy So it's not it's not the easiest thing, but it doesn't matter because it's it's necessary.

[00:47:14] Montana Tucker: It's necessary

[00:47:15] Jonah Platt: Yeah, you gotta do what you gotta do. Of course. No matter what haters gonna hate, you know Sean's lost it asks. What's your favorite jewish deli in boca?

[00:47:24] Montana Tucker: Ooh favorite. Uh, there's a place called two j's I just feel like it's like the og, like Jewish Jelly

[00:47:30] Jonah Platt: two Js two Js

[00:47:31] Montana Tucker: two J-T-O-O-J-A-Y-S. Oh, two Js

[00:47:33] Jonah Platt: two J.

[00:47:34] Jonah Platt: Okay.

[00:47:34] Montana Tucker: Two js and my zady love two js, like two js.

[00:47:38] Jonah Platt: It's classic. Um, here's a question from some random person named Courtney Ann Platt, whoever that is. Who

[00:47:43] Montana Tucker: is that? I wonder who that is.

[00:47:45] Jonah Platt: Um, she's writes, yay, Montana number one. You're a total babe. Not a question, just a statement. And number two. Two. I'm coming

[00:47:52] Montana Tucker: from her.

[00:47:52] Montana Tucker: Are you kidding?

[00:47:55] Jonah Platt: She's the ultimate. She's a smoke show. She's the

[00:47:56] Montana Tucker: ultimate.

[00:47:57] Jonah Platt: Um, and two, you do so many fun dance [00:48:00] collaborations. Who has been one of your favorites and why?

[00:48:02] Montana Tucker: Ooh, that's a good question.

[00:48:03] Jonah Platt: She, if you don't know my wife, is a dancer. She's so talented,

[00:48:07] Montana Tucker: beautiful, amazing. Yes. Thank

[00:48:10] Jonah Platt: you.

[00:48:12] Montana Tucker: My favorite dance collab.

[00:48:13] Montana Tucker: I think one that was really fun, or two that were really fun were Terry Crews. That was super fun because Terry is like a huge muscular strong guy and we filmed our video on Hollywood Boulevard, which for me, I filmed there all the time. And as you know, Hollywood Boulevard is like, you know, it's an interesting crowd of people that are there.

[00:48:32] Montana Tucker: And he was so nervous to film on Hollywood Boulevard.

[00:48:36] Jonah Platt: Just because of like, because of the craziness. The griminess.

[00:48:39] Montana Tucker: Yes. And I was, I just thought that was funny because he's so, like, no, who's going to mess with Terry Crews? Like, he's so huge. Um, so that was a funny one. And just, he was such a nice guy.

[00:48:49] Montana Tucker: Really, really sweet. Really down to earth. Um, and then Lance Bass. I love Lance. Love, love, love Lance. And he's been a huge supporter, by the way. Amazing. Um, so I'm really [00:49:00] grateful. He's, he's, he's really special, but we got to do a few videos together and that was fun. I mean, growing up on NSYNC, like, to be able to do a video with Lance for us.

[00:49:08] Montana Tucker: That's pretty cool. Was, was amazing. Insane. Um, Florida girl. Oh yeah, no, it was, it was like, I like when I was dancing with him, we were like doing the, the bye bye bye dance. And we're doing, um, the, it's going to be me dance. I'm like, is this happening right now? Um, and then what would I, the other one, I mean, I do a lot of videos with kids and those, those ones are always so special to me because I'm like, how are you six years old and so talented.

[00:49:34] Montana Tucker: Um, and these kids are just so good and so talented and so cute. So those are my, my fun ones.

[00:49:40] Jonah Platt: And just to finish my wife's comment, finally, number three, thanks for being a bad ass Jew that is loud and proud about who she is.

[00:49:46] Montana Tucker: She's amazing. Can I just like have her around me all the time? No, so much. It's, it's, you know, again, When I get people always saying, thank you, I'm really grateful.

[00:49:58] Montana Tucker: But at the same time, it's like, [00:50:00] I feel like we're all doing our part in a different way. And I think we just all need to keep uplifting each other and keep inspiring each other. So hearing that really does mean a lot to me because, because of all the negativity it comes with, it's really nice to hear.

[00:50:13] Montana Tucker: That there are people who appreciate it, that are maybe getting inspired by it, that it's maybe making them want to speak out. And that's all I, that's all I want to do.

[00:50:20] Jonah Platt: No doubt that that is what's happening. Montana, thank you so much for being here. This was so great. Oh my

[00:50:26] Montana Tucker: god.

[00:50:27] Jonah Platt: It's all right. We're gonna, we're totally using that by the

[00:50:29] Montana Tucker: way.

[00:50:29] Montana Tucker: Of course. We did it. We did it. Yay. Thank you.