hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 417: Putting the Brakes on Bullying with Samantha Sosnik and guest Sami Steigman on hmTv
Ep 417: Putting the Brakes on Bullying
In this powerful episode of Putting the Brakes on Bullying, host Samantha Sosnik sits down with Holocaust survivor, educator, and motivational speaker Sami Steigmann for a conversation that connects history, courage, and the urgent need for upstanders today.
Sami shares how a life marked by persecution, displacement, and survival shaped his mission to turn pain into purpose. From speaking with second graders to confronting Holocaust denial, he explains why bullying always starts with words, why silence empowers harm, and why young people must be taught early to think critically and stand up for others.
The episode explores the stages that led to the Holocaust, the danger of indoctrination, and the difference between being a bystander and an upstander. Sami offers practical guidance for students on how to respond safely to bullying, emphasizes the importance of truth, and reminds us that knowledge without action changes nothing.
He also discusses a recent controversy over his school speaking engagements and how community support reaffirmed the importance of survivor voices in education.
This episode is a call to courage, empathy, and responsibility. As Sami says, if you reach even one person, you’ve made a difference.
Produced by the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County on hmTv.