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Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt episode of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan reconnects with his longtime friend Dr. Leslie Dreifus to explore the powerful legacy of growing up as the child of Holocaust survivors. From Brooklyn childhood memories and synagogue life to stories of resilience, family values, and assimilation, Leslie shares his parents’ remarkable journey of survival—escaping Nazi Germany just before the war and starting anew in America.Leslie’s father, once a young refugee sweeping floors in a Brooklyn bakery, went on to serve heroically as one of the famed Ritchie Boys, providing critical intelligence that helped win WWII. Decades later, Leslie retraced his family’s roots in Germany, encountering both the scars of history and the gestures of reconciliation that continue today.This conversation weaves together memory, heritage, humor, and moral lessons—reminding us that resilience, education, and kindness are stronger than hate, and that every family story is part of our shared human story.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 241: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and guest Samantha Sosnik on hmTvIn this powerful episode of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with advocate and podcaster Samantha Sosnik, creator of Putting the Brakes on Bullying. Samantha shares her deeply personal journey as the mother of a daughter with Williams syndrome and the challenges of raising a child with special needs while navigating the realities of exclusion and bullying.From her daughter Avery’s resilience to her younger daughter Tatum’s extraordinary empathy, Samantha offers moving insights into what it means to be an upstander, how to confront bullying, and why fostering kindness and inclusion is critical for every community. Together, Bernie and Samantha draw powerful parallels between lived adversity and the strength it creates — reminding us that true heroes are those who choose courage, empathy, and action.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 242: Unmasked, Unfiltered, Unapologetic with Bali Lerner and guest Sabrina Soffer on hmTvIn this powerful conversation, host Bali Lerner sits down with recent George Washington University graduate Sabrina Soffer, a rising voice in the fight against campus antisemitism and a key participant in the documentary Blind Spot. Sabrina shares her deeply personal story—her diverse Jewish roots, her leadership at GW, and her eye-opening experiences confronting hostility long before October 7th. From classroom bias to protests, to her unforgettable speech before 300,000 people at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C., Sabrina speaks unmasked, unfiltered, and unapologetic about identity, courage, and the responsibility to stand up.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp. 239: Ordinary Heroes with Wendy Tepper on hmTvIn this moving episode of Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Wendy Tepper of 3GNJ to explore the legacy of her grandfather, Holocaust survivor Oscar Cukierman, and her mission to carry his story forward. Wendy shares how her close bond with her grandfather shaped her life, how she discovered his survival through five concentration camps, and why she now works with 3G chapters nationwide to help other grandchildren of survivors become witnesses.Together, Bernie and Wendy reflect on resilience, memory, and the urgent responsibility of the third generation in a time of rising antisemitism. From classrooms in New Jersey to virtual talks across the country, Wendy’s work ensures that the voices of survivors live on—teaching tolerance, pride, and the power of testimony.Ordinary Heroes on hmTv highlights the extraordinary courage of ordinary people whose stories inspire action, empathy, and hope.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp. 240: Ordinary Heroes with Larry Russo on hmTvIn this powerful episode of Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan speaks with filmmaker Larry Russo about his acclaimed PBS documentary Trezoros: The Lost Jews of Kastoria. The film weaves rare pre-war archival footage, survivor testimonies, and family photographs to resurrect the vibrant Jewish community of Kastoria, Greece—nearly wiped out during the Holocaust.Russo shares his personal connection to the story, growing up as a Greek Jew in America, and his decades-long journey to bring the film to life. Together, he and Bernie discuss the 2,000-year history of Jews in Greece, the coexistence and betrayal that shaped wartime experiences, and the extraordinary acts of courage by those who risked their lives to save their neighbors.More than a documentary, Trezoros is a call to memory, empathy, and tolerance at a time when antisemitism and hate continue to rise.Watch the film at trezoros.comSupport the show

Send us Fan MailEp 238: Unmasked, Unfiltered, Unapologetic with Bali Lerner and guest Lenny Gold on hmTvIn this powerful episode, Bali Lerner sits down with Lenny Gold, executive producer of the documentary Blind Spot, to explore the rise of antisemitism on campuses and the courageous voices determined to confront it. From his personal journey rooted in family, loss, and connection to Israel, to his son’s experience standing up against bias in the classroom, Lenny shares the inspiration behind the film and the ripple effect it seeks to create. Together, they discuss the dangers of indifference, the responsibility to be upstanders, and the role of truth, music, and community in the fight against hate.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp. 237 – Raised by Survivors with Sophal EarIn this powerful episode of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Dr. Sophal Ear, Cambodian-American scholar, author, and survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. Together, they explore Sophal’s family’s extraordinary escape, the hidden heroes who made survival possible, and the intergenerational impact of genocide.The conversation weaves personal history with broader lessons—parallels between the Holocaust and Cambodia’s genocide, the dangers of authoritarianism, and the role of education and empathy in building resilience. Sophal also shares the story behind his acclaimed TED Talk, the importance of carrying his mother’s legacy forward, and his vision for how young people can transform inherited trauma into leadership and hope.This episode reminds us that “never again” is not just a phrase—it’s a call to action for every generation.👉 Listen now on hmTv and be inspired to choose humanity.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 236 — Ordinary Heroes with Lee HawkinsJournalist and author Lee Hawkins joins host Bernie Furshpan for a candid, no-fluff conversation about intergenerational trauma, resilience, and the power of telling the truth—even when it stings. Hawkins traces his family’s 400-year arc from slavery and Jim Crow to the “integration generation,” connects it with Holocaust memory, and shows how curiosity (not judgment) can heal what history tried to break.You’ll hear how Hawkins’ reporting—from his Pulitzer-finalist work on the Tulsa Race Massacre to his book I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free—opened a vault of documents, DNA, and hard-won wisdom. He and Bernie draw sharp parallels between Nazi persecution and American segregation, and argue for teaching Holocaust, slavery, and Jim Crow so young people can build empathy and backbone, not just opinions.In this episode:The “integration generation” and what it changed—and didn’tHow family archives and DNA can rewire a personal narrativeParallels between Jim Crow and the Holocaust’s machinery of hateWhy remembrance is a survival skill, not a history lessonTurning inherited pain into purpose, art, and community actionA preview of Hawkins’ next book, Murder at Mile 39Listen if: you want a clear-eyed, forward-looking take on overcoming trauma—and a practical blueprint for teaching it with compassion and spine.Call to action: Share this episode with an educator, a student, or anyone who thinks “it was a long time ago.” It wasn’t—and what we do next is on us.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 235 — Disrupting Hate with Bert BrodskySerial entrepreneur and philanthropist Bert Brodsky joins host Ken Schachter for a straight-talk masterclass on building things that actually help people. From scrappy bottle-return hustles to pioneering electronic claims, EVV timekeeping, and a top PBM, Bert maps a career spent fixing gnarly problems at the intersection of health care, policy, and tech. He recalls investing in early MRI, founding Mobile Health, scaling Sandata, and why reading the fine print (yes, the manual) is a superpower. On the philanthropic front, Bert opens up about starting the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, hands-on support for FIDF IMPACT! scholars, and steering a continuum-of-care senior campus—plus a candid look at antisemitism and how to keep humanity in the conversation. It’s pragmatic optimism with receipts—and a blueprint for young builders who want to ship real impact, not just slide decks.You’ll learn:How “read the manual” becomes a business edgeWhy telemedicine + AI will drive the next care revolutionThe origin story of EVV and its taxpayer impactWhat families really need in the Alzheimer’s journeyA no-nonsense approach to disrupting hate—person to personCall to action: Subscribe, share, and pass this episode to a problem-solver who’s ready to build.Support the show

Send us Fan MailHabits of a Whole Heart (Ep. 233, Part 2)In Part Two of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz continues his heartfelt dialogue with Rabbi Levi Paltiel about the inner essence of Judaism and the practical ways it transforms daily life.Together, they explore how mitzvot like tefillin and Shabbat can shift from feeling like obligations to becoming sources of freedom, energy, and deeper purpose. Rabbi Levi shares parables from Chassidic teachings and family stories—like the “horse and rider” metaphor—that illuminate the eternal struggle between the godly soul and the animal soul, and how even small steps of connection can unlock tremendous growth.As the High Holidays approach, Arnie and Rabbi Levi discuss what it means to awaken to your core essence, discover the soul beyond the mind, and embrace the truth that God never gives us a challenge we cannot handle.This powerful episode is a reminder that Judaism isn’t something imposed from the outside—it’s a gift waiting to be awakened from within, guiding us to live with wholeness, joy, and purpose.Support the show