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Send us Fan MailEpisode 263 – The Fog of War and Humanity with Lt. Col. Chad Lennon (Part 3)In this candid conversation, host Richard Acritelli sits down once again with Lieutenant Colonel Chad Lennon, U.S. Marine Corps officer, attorney, and Suffolk County Legislator, to explore the challenges of returning home from combat and transitioning into civilian life.Lennon reflects on the surreal experience of stepping out of Afghanistan and into American normalcy—jet lagged, hyper-alert, and struggling to decompress. He shares honest stories of living out of a hotel, the cultural stigma around seeking help for PTSD, and how military habits shaped even simple family interactions.From his legal career and veterans’ advocacy to his unexpected entry into politics, Lennon opens up about the driving force behind his public service: honoring veterans, tackling human trafficking, addressing housing affordability, and fighting for his community. This episode offers a powerful look at resilience, leadership, and the lessons that carry from the battlefield to the halls of government.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 261 – The Fog of War and Humanity with Lt. Col. Chad Lennon (Part 1)In this powerful first conversation, host Richard Acritelli welcomes Lieutenant Colonel Chad Lennon, U.S. Marine Corps officer and Suffolk County Legislator, to share his journey from a small-town kid on Long Island to a leader shaped by 9/11 and a career of service.Lennon reflects on his childhood in Bayville, his love of sports, and the leadership lessons that carried him from the baseball diamond to the Marine Corps. He recounts his college years at Wagner, where he witnessed the September 11th attacks from Staten Island and felt the pull to serve his country. With candor, Lennon discusses construction work, education, and ultimately his decision to join the Marines as an officer.This episode offers a deeply personal look at how formative experiences, family influence, and national tragedy can chart the path toward military service. It sets the stage for Part 2, where Lennon details his deployment to Afghanistan.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful debut episode of Leadership and Lessons from the Holocaust, hosts Dr. Daniel Holtzman and Dr. Stephanie Weekes welcome historian Professor Michael Dobkowski of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. With nearly five decades of teaching Holocaust and genocide studies, Dobkowski reflects on the educators, leaders, and witnesses who shaped his career and how their legacies offer timeless lessons for today’s schools and communities.From Rabbi Joachim Prinz’s call to resist silence, to Dr. Janusz Korczak’s moral courage in the Warsaw Ghetto, to Emanuel Ringelblum’s secret archive of truth, Dobkowski shares stories that underscore the power of memory, moral responsibility, and authentic leadership. Together, they explore how educators can model integrity, inspire critical thinking, and guide the next generation toward a humane future.A conversation about history, hope, and the responsibility to act—reminding us that teaching the Holocaust is not only about the past, but about shaping leaders for tomorrow.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt episode of Raised by Survivors, host Bernie Furshpan speaks with singer, educator, and activist Ghazal Mizrahi about her family’s extraordinary journey of resilience. Ghazal shares how her mother escaped the Iranian Islamic Revolution and how her grandmother—a gifted singer—passed down the voice and strength that continue to guide her life.Together, they explore the role of music as a tool for healing and unity, from Persian family traditions to Ghazal’s powerful performance of Hatikva at Hostage Square in Israel. She also reflects on the lessons she carried from hearing Holocaust survivor Irving Roth as a child, and why keeping memory alive is inseparable from fighting today’s rise in antisemitism.A moving conversation about survival, heritage, and the power of using one’s voice to inspire hope and resilience.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this gripping third installment, host Richard Acritelli and journalist Bob Chartuk revisit some of the most haunting disasters tied to Long Island’s coast and beyond. Chartuk recounts his years as a public information officer with NOAA, where he became the spokesman during some of the nation’s darkest moments—the crash of TWA Flight 800, the tragic loss of John F. Kennedy Jr., and EgyptAir Flight 990.With rare behind-the-scenes insight, Chartuk reveals how crisis response unfolded, from sonar ships locating wreckage to government briefings under crushing media scrutiny. Along the way, he reflects on the balance between fact, sensitivity, and public truth when lives, families, and even nations are shaken.A sobering yet powerful conversation that connects local shores to global history.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this inspiring episode of Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Dr. Jerry Cammarata—educator, author, civic leader, and the first father in U.S. history to win paternity leave. Dr. Cammarata reflects on a remarkable career that has spanned service under multiple presidents and New York City mayors, leadership roles in education and health care, and authorship of The Future of the American Family and The Fun Book of Fatherhood.From his Catholic upbringing to his later conversion to Judaism, Cammarata shares a deeply personal journey shaped by mentors, faith, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening families. With humor and candor, he discusses the challenges facing parents and children today, the dangers of social media as a substitute parent, and why restoring the family unit is critical to the future of society.A conversation filled with wisdom, history, and a call to action for building stronger, more connected communities.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli sits down with veteran journalist, author, and public servant Bob Chartuk. A lifelong resident of Center Moriches, Bob shares stories of growing up in a tight-knit seaside community, a lifetime of surfing adventures, and a career spanning local journalism, government service, and historic preservation.From his father’s World War II experiences intercepting German Morse code and helping save the Queen Mary troopship, to his own decades of writing and civic leadership, Bob offers a window into Long Island’s past and present. Together, Rich and Bob connect community history, national events, and personal narratives that reveal how memory and service shape our humanity.Part one of a two-part conversation filled with storytelling, history, and lessons in resilience.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 256: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Bob Chartuk (Part 2) on hmTv:Podcast Description: In part two of their conversation, host Richard Acritelli and journalist–historian Bob Chartuk explore Long Island’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. From William Floyd’s restored Mastic estate to Tangier Smith’s Manor of St. George, they trace the battles, raids, and sacrifices that shaped the nation’s early struggle for independence.Chartuk recounts the daring raid of Colonel Benjamin Talmadge and his dragoons, the burning of British hay at Coram, the first-ever Purple Heart awarded by George Washington, and the heroism of General Nathaniel Woodhull. Along the way, they connect the past to present-day Long Island landmarks, where musket holes, cemeteries, and preserved estates still tell the story of freedom hard-won.A deep dive into Revolutionary War history—told right where it happened.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 254 – Influential Origins with Rory LancmanIn this episode of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel sits down with public servant and advocate Rory Lancman for a powerful conversation about service, leadership, and the urgent fight against rising antisemitism.From his early years in the National Guard to a distinguished career in the New York State Assembly, City Council, and beyond, Rory reflects on how his experiences shaped his drive to serve. He shares candid insights into today’s challenges on college campuses, the dangers of the BDS movement, and why Jews are often the “canary in the coal mine” for threats to democracy and individual rights.Despite the troubling rise in hate, Rory highlights the extraordinary wave of Jewish activism and solidarity since October 8th—lawyers, leaders, and ordinary people stepping up to confront antisemitism and defend democratic values.This is an honest, timely, and inspiring conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the enduring importance of speaking out.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of History Repeats on hmTv, host Liam Carballal sits down with historian and educator Richard Acritelli to reflect on the 24th anniversary of September 11th. Together they trace Osama bin Laden’s path from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the rise of al-Qaeda, exploring the events that led to the deadliest attack on American soil. With personal stories from Long Island classrooms, firehouses, and military service, Liam and Rich connect global history to local memory—showing how 9/11 reshaped America, exposed vulnerabilities, and left lasting lessons for a new generation. Support the show