Chai on Life

This episode originally aired on March 24, 2025 — but it's still just as relevant today! I am so excited about today’s guest because it is Chanie Apfelbaum of Busy in Brooklyn.If you are not already familiar, Chanie is a food writer and photographer who has a really unique way of blending traditional Jewish foods with modern flavors. She started her blog, Busy in Brooklyn, in 2011 so it’s been giving us delicious recipe ideas for all occasions for nearly 15 years now. She is also the author of two cookbooks, Millennial Kosher and Totally Kosher where you can get even more recipe ideas from Chanie as well as tons of tips about cooking, how to stock your kitchen, plan a meal and more.As we all know, Pesach is a stressful time on the Jewish calendar, but the more I get into making and hosting Pesach, the more I’m determined to take the stress out of the process. This episode with Chanie will do that for you. It’s genuinely fun. I felt lighter and excited after recording it and had that same feeling after listening through again and editing it. It just got me actually excited to cook for Pesach and feeling blessed for the opportunity to do so versus overburdened with chores. In the episode, we talk a bit about:-Chanie’s background and how her spirituality has evolved over the years especially throughout various challenges she has gone through-Then, about halfway through, the ideas start FLOWING when it comes to easy foods you can make this Pesach mainly out of fruits, vegetables nuts and seeds and it is both mouth-watering and easier than you think.-She also shares tips that can help you in the kitchen and streamline your cooking experience.-We go through how to plan a meal — whether it’s seder night or a third day lunch and it’s just so awesome to see how her brain works in that way.Her ideas are simplified yet do not skimp on the flavor. In fact, they are bursting with flavor and because so many of the ingredients are just fruits and vegetables or repurposing something you have, you will be saving tons of money not having to buy all the processed pantry products and too many extras because as we all know Pesach can get really expensive really quickly.To help you out further, I made a companion document where I typed up all the ideas for easy access — view it here!Wishing all of you a beautiful Pesach.

Batya Kahan, founder of Batya's Kitchen and author of Pesach Secrets, is a kosher catering pro who built a national Pesach delivery service. She talks about building her business, mastering freezing and reheating, planning menus without overwhelm, kitchen hacks for focus and efficiency, what to freeze versus make fresh, and ways to involve kids while keeping the holiday joyful.

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, I am speaking with Rebbetzin Rivky Slonim. Rivky is the Associate Director at the Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life at Binghamton University. An internationally known teacher, lecturer, and activist, she travels widely, addressing the intersection of traditional Jewish observance and contemporary life, with a special focus on Jewish women in Jewish law and life. She is the author of the book, Holy Intimacy: The Heart and Soul of Jewish Marriage and editor of Total Immersion: A Mikvah Anthology as well as Bread and Fire; Jewish Women find God in the Everyday. She is also the mother of nine children.Rivky is also someone very special to me. When I was just beginning my Jewish journey at Binghamton University, she was my personal teacher, role model and guide as I moved through the early stages of learning more about Judaism. I still remember the taste of her challah on Friday nights, the way she commanded a room of hundreds each week and how she really found love for every student that walked through her doors. When thinking about who to interview for a Pesach episode, she just felt like such a powerful choice. In this episode, we get into it and speak about:-How she ended up at Binghamton University on shlichus-How to reframe your mindset on Pesach so you don’t feel so overburdened and stressed out-What the true definition of freedom is according to the Rebbe and how that manifests in everyday life-Why the book of Shemos where we learn about Yetziyas Mitzrayim is such a feminine book of the Torah-How a woman who is so forward facing and such a doer can then become a receiver, or mekabel in marriage-A new approach if you’re not feeling so inspired by the mikvah experience, and how we can bring that mindset through all of the mitzvot we do-The difference between spirituality and having a relationship with Hashem-The most important thing to teach our children today…and soooo much more.As I said, Rivky is a powerhouse and this episode really delivers. I am so grateful she took the time to speak with us before Pesach and I hope this conversation gives you insights to bring with you throughout the holiday and beyond.

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, I am speaking with Gvira Milworm. Gvira is the CEO of Temech, a Jerusalem-based nonprofit dedicated to helping women from Israel’s Haredi community advance professionally while protecting and honoring Jewish values.Gvira was born in the Bronx and made aliya with her parents from Peoria, Illinois, and then was raised in Jerusalem’s Haredi center. She built a 25-year career as a trailblazing woman in technology across the government and private sectors, including 15 years in systems analysis and project management and over a decade as the founder of GMP Start, an international technology consulting business.She became the CEO of Temech in 2019 and in that role, is passionate about helping Jewish women build meaningful, sustainable careers without compromising their values. Also, she’s the mother of 11 children, so she’s running quite a crew at home as well.Gvira is a fascinating person and we had such a wonderful conversation. We speak about:-Her career and how she got to become the powerhouse leader that she is-How young girls today can become more assertive in asking for what they want and receiving it-What she did when life got honestly too overwhelming — how she got herself back and the routines and strategies she put in place to manage her big and beautiful life and make time for herself within that-How her relationship with Hashem has evolved over the years and how she connects now-The difference between resilience and strength-The power of imperfection…and so much more!To get in touch with Gvira, you can reach out at Gviram@temech.org.To learn more about what she does, visit Temech.org.

This episode originally aired on March 10, 2025 — but is just as relevant today! Hope you enjoy :)--Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, I am speaking with Rivka Lerner. Originally from Switzerland, she works as a software developer and coach as well as a kallah teacher, but her love is in teaching and discussing profound ideas with Jews from all walks of life. After teaching with her husband Rabbi Simi Lerner in London for a few years, Rivka came back to Israel long term, and is now an educator in Tel Aviv for the anglo community, as well as in Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya. Above all else, a mother to her awesome four boys.I love this episode so much. We are really going deep into Purim. While Jews have never really had it “easy” this is a particularly tough time for the Jewish people everywhere and it feels a bit strange to be focused on joy when there is so much devastation around us. We talk about that. We speak about what happiness really means, how you can redefine it for yourself and how you can truly feel it this Purim.We also speak really practically about what Purim can look like for you. Is it super overwhelming? Do you not really like it as much as you feel like you “should”? Do you feel like you’re missing out on that joy? We speak about ways you can access it and how you can transform your preparation and day even in just a few conversations that can be really life-changing.We talk about the megillah, parts of the megillah you may not have noticed before and intentions about the megillah that can change your experience while listening to it.At the end we speak about the comparison between Purim and Yom Kippur, or Yom HaKipppurim and what it really means that Yom Kippur is a day “like” Purim. There is so much depth in this episode, it is so rich with meaning and wisdom and profound takeaways and I am so excited for you to hear it and G-d willing for it to enrich your holiday this year in new ways.If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email me at ⁠alex@chaionlifemag.com⁠ or send me a DM @chaionlifemag. Thanks again, see you next week!

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal, and today I am speaking with Rebbetzin Lisa Babich all about Purim. Lisa is a Queens-raised New Yorker, full-time Rebbetzin, and licensed speech and language pathologist. She has been involved in Jewish education and outreach since the age of 19, teaching at TBY, EMETT Russian outreach, the Jewish Enrichment Center in the West Village, and now Fifth Avenue Synagogue alongside her husband, Rabbi Eli Babich who is the Rabbi there.She was also very vocal during the NYC mayoral election this past year when unfortunately, Mamdani was elected. Lisa was instrumental in trying to unite the Jewish people in prayer to attempt to stop his win yet even when he did, she did not let the news get her down. She is a strong advocate for the Jewish people and has really become a source of chizzuk, or strength for me, when it comes to the day-to-day issues we’re facing these days. Plus, the whole experience with Mamdani has eerie parallels to the Purim story. He really feels like a modern day Haman and I knew I wanted to speak with Lisa around this time to give us insight into how we can use this experience to connect even more to Purim and Hashem, as the ultimate goal.And she really delivered. She shares sooo much wisdom in this podcast episode and I’m so glad we talked it all through. In our conversation, we speak about:-How to see Hashem in this hidden world-What the lessons in the Torah can teach us about the times we’re living in now-How she’s already seeing Hashem’s Hand through Mamdani’s election and why she’s not scared-Why unity is one of the most important things we need to be focused on and how to work at it in your own life when you feel helpless-Her thoughts on if we should all be moving to Israel right now-How she personally connects more deeply to Hashem and how to work to make it more of a relationship vs just a give and take -What it means to be a strong Jewish woman...and so much more!Connect with Lisa on Instagram at @lisababich9 or via email at lisababich9@gmail.com.

Cathy Heller, author and podcaster who blends Jewish mysticism with mindfulness, speaks about expanding your capacity to receive. She explores becoming a vessel for abundance, reframing guilt around blessings, and practical daily practices like short meditations and morning meetings with God. She also discusses sharing Judaism proudly and handling negativity with compassion.

This episode originally aired on February 10, 2025 (but it's just as relevant today!) Enjoy the replay as we begin Tu B'Shevat tonight.--Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and if you're anything like me, Tu B’Shevat is kind of a holiday you acknowledge, but maybe gloss over on a deeper level. This year, I am putting a stop to it.Yehudit Refson (⁠@the_jerusalem_farmhouse⁠) is the director of grounds, arts and renovations at Neve Yerushalayim. She is an amazing person who has totally transformed Neve’s campus in the time since she moved over there. We actually did an ⁠interview⁠ nearly four years ago for the Chai on Life website which I am linking in the show notes where you can learn more about how and why she got into the entire gardening journey and how she transformed the earth into a space that was beautiful already, but now is bursting with plant and animal life.Now, the girls at Neve don’t just learn Torah inside the classroom, they really enhance their learning outside of it. Instead of just learning about shemitta, they’re living it with the plants around them. On Rosh Hashanah, they’re touching actual pomegranates and other simanim from their own garden. They’re doing tashlich in their own pond. They plant the arba minim for Sukkot. It’s really a full interactive experience that undoubtedly leaves you with so much more than you would get just from hearing about these things.In our conversation, we go even deeper:-She speaks about the land’s connection and parallels to women-The root word of land in Hebrew, adamah, and how the word itself shows our connection to the earth-We talk about the power of being in nature in regards to our five senses and the impact on our mental health as a result-We go deep into Shevat as I referenced and how the energy of this time is all about renewal-At the end, we discuss practical ways to live a cleaner, greener life and how to just jump into gardeningI left our conversation feeling really excited and invigorated to get started with something when it comes to gardening and actually being with the earth and I have a feeling you may feel the same way afterward. I love this episode so much and can’t wait for you to hear it.Resources:⁠How to make a Tu B'Shevat Seder⁠ via Aish.comFollow ⁠@the_jerusalem_farmhouse⁠ on Instagram

Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal, and today, I am speaking with Nilli Grutman. Nilli is a functional nutritionist who works with women to feel empowered and in control of their health.She has a degree in biochemistry and nutritional sciences and really looks at health from a macro approach to see the full picture of what her clients are dealing with. She helps them identify the root causes of hormonal imbalances and offers natural tools, evidence-based nutrition and sustainable practices to restore that hormonal balance in the body and nurture lasting self-care.In the episode we speak about:-What you should talk to your doctor about at your annual visit and what labs to ask for to get a better view of how you’re doing health-wise and hormonally as well as when to get them — she also shares a list that you can bring to your doctor which I’m including in the show notes-What inflammation actually is and how to understand its presence in your body-If everyone should be getting their hormones tested-What it means if it takes longer to get pregnant than you think it “should” — this was a super interesting conversation and honestly quite calming-The effect our reproductive health has on the rest of our bodies whether or not you are trying to conceive-The impact stress and anxiety have on the body and how we can begin to manage that-Nilli’s opinion on the role of a GLP-1 when it comes to weight and health management, plus what you must make sure you are doing if you are on one-How we can work to create a life of balance in an unbalanced world — and I say work intentionally because it is a process and one that is ever-changingFor Nilli's complete list of what to test for at your next doctor's appointment (as referenced in the episode), click here.If you want to work with Nilli, you can get in touch with her via nourisheddaily.com.

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, I’m speaking with Yael Sunshine Komer, a parenting coach and sleep consultant.Yael (Sunshine) Komer, M.A. in Child Development, helps families navigate sleep and behavior challenges with evidence-based tools and real-world understanding. With years of private practice experience, she brings science down to earth with warmth, humor, and practicality.Since I’m in the little kid stage of life, I love speaking about parenting because it’s so applicable and truly such an avodah every single day. There are endless topics to discuss, mindset shifts to tackle and personal work we’re doing daily to become the parents and people we want to be.In the episode, we speak about:-All things baby sleep and sleep training -Plus, we answer a ton of questions related to kids slightly older:--How do I calm myself down when my child is having a tantrum? --How can I regulate myself emotionally when my child needs that emotional regulation also? --How do I help them learn the skills to do so? --How can I be there for them and take care of the other things I need to do in that moment whether that’s taking care of a baby, making dinner, or answering a call? --How do I get to the root cause of an issue with a child and uncover what help they may need? --How can I relate more to my kids when it’s hard to connect? --How can I create intrinsic motivation in my kids? --How can I positively connect and utilize the time when things are calm?There is sooo much jam-packed in there and our conversation is filled with examples from both of our lives so you can really visualize a scenario and get tangible takeaways that apply to your own life. Yael is open to taking on new clients for either parenting help or sleep coaching so you can reach out to her at Yaelsunshine89@gmail.com.