hmTv at HMTC Podcasts

Send us Fan MailIn Part 2 of Habits of a Whole Heart, host Arnie Herz welcomes back Steven Hart, professor at Appalachian State University, to continue a timely conversation on the healing power of communication. Building on their first episode, Arnie and Steven explore what “structured listening” can look like, why the best conversations balance purpose with openness, and how everyday interactions can become powerful moments of meaning-making.Steven shares why he teaches communication as a full set of life skills, speaking, listening, reading, and writing, and how language helps expand perspective, deepen connection, and build community. The episode then pivots to one of today’s most polarizing challenges: climate change. Steven explains why the crisis is not a failure of information but a failure of conversation, and how “ordinary” climate conversations rooted in human emotion and shared well-being can depoliticize the issue and move people toward action without dehumanizing one another.A thoughtful, grounded episode about empathy, disagreement, and the kind of communication that keeps communities intact, even when opinions differ.Habits of a Whole Heart is part of the Humanity Matters series on hmTv. Follow and listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 407: Habits of a Whole Heart | Steven Hart, Part 1In this powerful Part 1 episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv’s Humanity Matters series, host Arnie Herz welcomes Steven Hart, professor at Appalachian State University and a world-class communication trainer and consultant.Steven shares the personal experiences that shaped his life’s work, including a difficult childhood marked by trauma in the wake of World War II’s long shadow. From a pivotal moment of being truly listened to by his mother, to a classroom realization that conversation can unlock insight and freedom, Steven explains how listening became the cornerstone of healing, meaning, and authentic connection.Together, Arnie and Steven explore what it really means to listen, why presence is increasingly rare in modern life, and how communication is not simply “sender and receiver,” but a co-created experience that can either deepen relationships or quietly fracture them.This episode lays the foundation for Part 2, where they will expand these ideas into the public sphere and the urgent work of bridging division through structured conversation and empathy.Follow hmTv on YouTube, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.Support the show

Send us Fan MailPodcast Description (Ep 406)In this heartfelt episode of Many Voices One Community, host Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews welcomes a truly inspiring guest and community leader, Andrea Nordquist, President and Founder of Blue Star Mothers NY 14.Andrea shares the powerful mission behind Blue Star Mothers, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans, active-duty service members, military families, and those who have lost loved ones in service. From honoring the fallen and helping mothers through the anxiety of deployments, to launching meaningful local initiatives like the Widows Brunch and the Our Community Salutes program recognizing high school seniors entering the military, Andrea offers a moving look into how compassion becomes action.This episode also highlights the emotional impact of their creative outreach projects, including the unforgettable Red Bow Initiative, which transforms remembrance wreath bows into holiday gifts for veterans, sparking moments of healing, gratitude, and human connection.A powerful conversation filled with patriotism, empathy, and community service, this is a must-watch episode honoring the families who serve alongside our military heroes.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 404 of Many Voices, One Community on hmTv, host Gaitley Stevenson-Matthews sits down with community leader Marisa Gambino, President of Logia Glen Cove, for a heartfelt conversation about immigration, identity, and the power of belonging. Marisa shares her journey from Italy to Long Island at nine and a half years old, the challenges of adapting to a new language and culture, and the pride her family felt in becoming American while holding tight to their Italian heritage.Together, they explore the mission and history of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America and Logia Glen Cove, including its roots in supporting immigrants and confronting discrimination. The episode also tackles stereotypes head-on through a candid discussion about prejudice encountered in the community and why speaking up matters. The conversation closes with uplifting examples of service and education, from scholarships and food drives to engaging students during Italian Heritage Month, plus a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility to stand against hate in all its forms.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Many Voices, One Community, host Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews sits down with Glen Cove’s new Chief of Police, Chris Ortiz, for an honest, uplifting conversation about leadership, community trust, and what it means to serve the town that raised you.Chief Ortiz shares his Glen Cove roots, his father’s immigrant expectations, and the surprising pivot that took him from considering a healthcare path to a career in law enforcement. Together, they reflect on the power of “the people are the police, and the police are the people,” and why relationship-based policing, daily presence in schools, and proactive youth engagement make a real difference. Chief Ortiz also discusses the department’s school programs, supporting residents in crisis, and his vision for the future, including smarter use of technology as Glen Cove grows.A thoughtful episode about service, listening, and keeping a diverse community safe, connected, and thriving.Support the show

Send us Fan MailPodcast Description – Ep 403 (Education in Motion on hmTv)Episode Title: Education in Motion: Teaching Holocaust History Through Human Stories Host: Zach Graulich Guest: Kelly FivesIn the premiere episode of Education in Motion on hmTv, host Zach Graulich, Assistant Director of Education at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center (HMTC), welcomes passionate educator and curriculum designer Kelly Fives for an inspiring conversation about the power of teaching history through story, empathy, and meaningful connection.Kelly shares her journey from aspiring journalist to English teacher, and how literature became her most powerful doorway into the past, especially when teaching students about the Holocaust, genocide, and moral decision-making. With years of experience teaching at the Churchill School and Dwight School in New York, Kelly offers a unique perspective on how educators can move beyond facts and dates and help students connect to history as lived human experience.Throughout the episode, Zach and Kelly explore:Why Holocaust education matters deeply in today’s worldHow educators can teach difficult history with sensitivity and purposeThe importance of resistance narratives and pre-war Jewish lifeStudent “aha moments” that reveal the lasting impact of this workThe growing challenge of Holocaust distortion and misinformationPractical advice for parents, teachers, and community members who want to bring this learning into schoolsKelly also reflects on her work with ConnectED, supporting educators across North America, and shares meaningful takeaways from her recent Yad Vashem International Seminar in Jerusalem, where educators from around the world gathered to learn and collaborate.This episode is a powerful reminder that the most effective education doesn’t start with numbers, it starts with names, stories, and humanity.Listen, learn, and join the movement for education that creates empathy, courage, and understanding. Find more episodes of hmTv at HMTCLI.org.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 402 of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Sherona Varulkar for a fascinating conversation that spans 2,200 years of Jewish history and lands right here on Long Island. Sherona shares the remarkable story of the Bene Israel community, tracing their origins from the Holy Land to the west coast of India, and explains how Jewish identity, tradition, and observance were preserved across centuries and continents.Sherona also tells her own journey, growing up in Bombay (Mumbai), building a life in Israel, and eventually settling in the Hamptons, where she runs a private acupuncture practice. Together, Bernie and Sherona explore the diversity of Indian Jewish communities, the importance of passing heritage to the next generation, and what it means to stay connected to your roots while living in the modern world.The conversation turns to the present moment, with a candid discussion about the rise of antisemitism in the United States, the role of education, critical thinking, and dialogue, and why staying silent is never the answer. Thoughtful, heartfelt, and occasionally funny, this episode is a reminder that “ordinary” heroes often carry extraordinary histories, and that the future depends on what we choose to do now.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Legacy Chronicles: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future, Donna Rosenblum, Director of Education at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, sits down with longtime HMTC docent and Second Generation Committee Chair Gail Kastenholz for a powerful conversation about memory, identity, and responsibility.Gail shares the remarkable story of her parents, Ralph and June Hecht, Holocaust survivors from Stanislaw, Poland, who escaped the ghetto and survived in hiding, then rebuilt their lives in a displaced persons camp before immigrating to Brooklyn. She reflects on what it means to grow up as a child of survivors, the silence many families lived with, and the moments that helped her understand loss, resilience, and the unique bond among “2Gs.”The conversation also explores Gail’s decades of Second Generation leadership, her work supporting survivors connected to HMTC, and her philosophy as an educator: tours that prioritize discussion, personal story, and the urgent lesson that words matter, choices matter, and history is not just the past, but a tool for living with courage and conscience today.Please like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn Ep 399 (Part 3) of The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv, host Richard Acritelli continues his powerful conversation with U.S. Army veteran Donna Zephyrin, tracing the closing chapters of her first Iraq tour and the rapid pivot into her second deployment. Donna recounts the move north to Garma, where daily threats, RPGs, and increasingly sophisticated IED tactics reshaped everything from convoy behavior to the basic rules of survival. She shares how quickly “helping civilians” became a security risk, the fear and uncertainty of chemical alarms and MOPP gear, and the realities of operating with a blended force of active duty, Reserve, and National Guard units that had to unify fast or fail.The episode then shifts to the emotional whiplash of coming home, including her decision to visit a fallen soldier’s family, the weight of carrying KIA bracelets, and the unexpected triggers of civilian life, fireworks, roadside debris, and even stoplights. From there, Donna walks listeners into her second deployment (October 2004–October 2005), describing a more organized war zone, better infrastructure, heavier armor, and life at Al-Asad, a Marine-run “hot spot” where incoming attacks were routine. She also reflects on the war’s expanding timeline, stop-loss extensions, and the unseen logistics of bringing equipment back, cleaning vehicles, restoring fleets, and re-entering garrison life. Part 3 ends with a clear bridge to Part 4, where Donna and Richard will explore her final period in uniform, returning to school, and how she honors veterans today.Support the show

Send us Fan MailPodcast Description (Ep 400 – Part 4): The Fog of War and Humanity | hmTv Host Richard Acritelli concludes his powerful four-part conversation with U.S. Army veteran Donna Zephrine in this milestone 400th episode of The Fog of War and Humanity.In Part 4, Donna reflects on returning home from back-to-back deployments to Iraq and the emotional transition of leaving active duty. She speaks candidly about post-deployment life on Long Island, the realities of unemployment during a difficult economy, and how PTSD followed her home after war. Donna also shares her determined journey into higher education, including the challenges and triumph of earning her degree in social work from Columbia University while balancing work, field placements, and disability accommodations.The episode highlights Donna’s continued resilience through community, veteran support networks, and healing outlets like running, journaling, cycling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She also offers heartfelt advice to fellow veterans: reach out, find someone you trust, and explore the support and therapies that fit your needs.A moving and inspiring close to an unforgettable series—honoring service, survival, and the strength it takes to keep going.Series: The Fog of War and Humanity (hmTv) Host: Richard Acritelli Guest: Donna Zephrine Episode: 400 (Part 4)Support the show