hmTv at HMTC Podcasts

Send us Fan MailThe Fog of War and Humanity Episode 438 – Dennis Moran (Part 5) Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Dennis Moran | hmTvIn the concluding chapter of this powerful five-part conversation, Vietnam veteran Dennis Moran shares some of the most personal and lasting memories of his service. He recounts a devastating air-mobile operation in which several close friends were killed moments after landing, describing the chaos of combat, the responsibility of walking point, and the split-second decisions required simply to survive.Richard Acritelli guides the discussion beyond the battlefield as Dennis reflects on coming home at just 21 years old and facing the quieter, more complicated war that followed. He speaks openly about readjustment, survivor’s guilt, coping with memories, visiting fallen comrades, and the emotional impact of seeing their names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The conversation also highlights the lifelong bonds among veterans, his friendship with a wounded fellow soldier, and the healing power of family, work, and community.Dennis shares how he rebuilt his life, found love, raised children, and eventually worked in construction helping shape Long Island’s highways, while continuing to honor those who never returned. The episode closes with a heartfelt reflection on remembrance, service, and why telling these stories matters.A moving and human conclusion to a remarkable series about war, memory, resilience, and brotherhood.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Fog of War and Humanity Episode 437 – Dennis Moran (Part 4) Host: Richard Acritelli Guest: Dennis MoranIn Part 4 of this powerful series, Vietnam veteran Dennis Moran takes listeners deeper into his experiences during the Cambodian campaign of 1970. What begins as a recollection of a beautiful countryside quickly turns into a stark account of ambushes, unexploded bombs, airstrikes, and the constant uncertainty of jungle warfare. Dennis recounts being sent to destroy a massive live bomb, nights guarding artillery positions, accidental detonations, and the tense moment his platoon unknowingly allowed a suspected enemy collaborator to drive past their ambush site.The conversation also explores the realities behind famous Vietnam War films. Dennis shares how closely Platoon and Forrest Gump captured the weather, the chaos, and the emotional strain soldiers endured, from monsoons and disease to the daily routines of survival in swamps and rice paddies. He describes the logistics networks along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the impact of B-52 bombings, and the strange normalcy soldiers developed while carrying explosives, Claymore mines, and rations on long patrols.The episode becomes especially personal as Dennis recalls leaving Cambodia for R&R in Hawaii while learning his childhood friend had been catastrophically wounded in combat. The story culminates with his emotional visit to the Bronx VA Hospital after returning home, confronting the lasting human cost of the war.Part 4 is a vivid and unfiltered portrait of combat, friendship, and survival, showing that war is remembered not only in battles, but in moments, decisions, and lives permanently changed.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Fog of War and Humanity, Episode 436 (Dennis Moran Part 3)In Part 3 of this powerful conversation, host Richard Acritelli continues his discussion with Vietnam veteran Dennis Moran as the memories grow more intense and personal. Dennis recounts river patrols near the Cambodian border, helicopter insertions under fire, and the daily dangers of walking point through rice paddies, swampland, and hidden traps. He shares firsthand observations of allied forces, the harsh realities of survival in extreme heat without water, and the split-second decisions that determined who made it home.The episode also follows his unit’s movement into Cambodia during a large-scale operation, encounters with enemy soldiers, and the unexpected humanity he witnessed from civilians in remote villages. Through vivid storytelling, Dennis reflects on camaraderie, fear, endurance, and the lasting impact of war on the young soldiers who lived it.A candid and gripping chapter in his story, this episode offers listeners an unfiltered look at the uncertainty, brotherhood, and emotional weight carried by those who fought on the front lines of Vietnam.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Fog of War and Humanity – Episode 435 (Part 2) Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Dennis MoranIn Part 2 of this deeply personal conversation, Vietnam veteran Dennis Moran continues sharing his journey from Long Island teenager to infantry soldier in the jungles of South Vietnam. Dennis recalls the moment he learned he was being deployed just days after the moon landing, the emotional goodbye at home, and the long flight across the world toward an uncertain future.He describes his first shock stepping off the plane into the intense heat, smell, and reality of Vietnam, and the early days at Cam Ranh Bay and Cu Chi. Dennis speaks candidly about training, patrols, and life in the field, including months living off C-rations, night ambushes in flooded terrain, river operations with Navy patrol boats, and the responsibility of walking point for his unit.With honesty and quiet reflection, Dennis also discusses friendships, fear, homesickness, and the small moments of humanity that exist even in wartime. His memories offer listeners an unfiltered look at what young soldiers faced, how they coped, and how those experiences stayed with them long after they returned home.This episode is a powerful continuation of a local soldier’s story and a reminder that behind every war are very human lives.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 434 – The Fog of War and Humanity (Part 1) Host: Richard Acritelli Guest: Vietnam Veteran Dennis Moran Network: hmTv | Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau CountyIn Part 1 of this powerful conversation, host Richard Acritelli sits down with Vietnam veteran Dennis Moran to trace the road from a Long Island childhood to the doorstep of war. Dennis recalls growing up in St. James in a large, tight-knit family, playing sports, hunting in the woods, and living the classic 1960s American teenage life, all while the Vietnam conflict slowly crept into the background of everyday conversation.He shares the moment a teacher first pointed to Vietnam on a classroom map, receiving his draft notice in 1969, and the emotional reactions from family and community. Dennis also reflects on a generation surrounded by veterans from World War II and Korea, and how their quiet example shaped his sense of duty even as fear and uncertainty loomed.The episode follows his entry into the Army, basic training in the Deep South, culture shock, military discipline, and the strange mixture of humor and anxiety that defined preparation for combat. Through memorable stories about training exercises, friendships formed in uniform, and hard-earned lessons learned quickly, Dennis gives listeners a deeply human look at the young men sent to fight a complicated war.Part 1 sets the stage for his deployment, capturing the innocence, tension, and reality of leaving home and preparing to face Vietnam.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEpisode 433 Host: Gaitley Stevenson Mathews Guest: Lora CusumanoIn this uplifting episode, Gaitley Stevenson Mathews sits down with community leader Lora Cusumano, Chair of Beautification for the City of Glen Cove and the driving force behind the Visit Glen Cove & Sea Cliff initiative. From her early days as a competitive figure skater and child model commuting into Manhattan to her current role rolling up her sleeves for cleanups, plantings, and neighborhood revitalization, Lora’s story is one of turning energy into action.Lora shares how a simple concern about litter and safety on her own street grew into major roadway improvements, environmental programs, and community partnerships. She discusses organizing residents, working with local government, launching a regional website to support small businesses, and why collaboration between neighboring towns strengthens everyone.At its heart, this conversation is about civic pride, persistence, and the power of one person to inspire many. Lora offers practical encouragement for families and young people who want to make a difference: don’t wait for permission, just show up and help.A warm, hopeful episode about service, stewardship, and what happens when neighbors truly care for the place they call home.Support the show

Send us Fan MailPodcast Description — Episode 432: Many Voices One Community Host: Gaitley Stevenson Mathews Guest: Ben FarnanIn this heartfelt and deeply personal episode, Gaitley Stevenson Mathews sits down with longtime Glen Cove leader and Korean War veteran Ben Farnan, a man whose life mirrors nearly a century of American history and community service.At 96 years young, Ben reflects on growing up on Long Island’s North Shore, the immigrant journey of his Irish and Scottish parents, and the hard labor traditions that shaped his character long before he entered military service. He shares stories of working alongside his stonemason father, attending Glen Cove public schools, and making the life-defining decision to serve his country during the Korean War with an early integrated reconnaissance unit.The conversation traces Ben’s remarkable second chapter as well. After returning home and using the GI Bill to pursue higher education, he dedicated his life to public service, education, and civic leadership, eventually serving as Glen Cove’s Commissioner of Public Safety. Listeners will hear how his commitment to honoring others led him to spearhead the creation of the World War II memorial in Morgan Park, ensuring local heroes would never be forgotten.More than a history lesson, this episode is about legacy, responsibility, and what it truly means to be a citizen. Ben speaks candidly about faith, community, perseverance, and why bringing people together has always been his mission. His story reminds us that leadership does not come from titles but from action, and that one determined individual can shape the memory and spirit of an entire community.A moving conversation about service, gratitude, and the power of remembrance, this episode honors a life lived not for recognition, but for others.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp. 431 | The Israeli Bond (hmTv)What happens when your childhood is split between two countries, two cultures, and two identities?In this episode of The Israeli Bond, host Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with Jewish Agency emissary Maya Yaron to explore her life growing up in both Israel and Vancouver, Canada, and how those experiences shaped who she is today. Maya shares the emotional challenges of immigration at a young age, the struggle to fit in, rediscovering her Jewish identity in the diaspora, and the culture shock of returning to Israel as a teenager.The conversation also dives into her transformative service in the Israeli Air Force as an air traffic controller, where resilience, confidence, and work ethic were forged under pressure. Maya reflects on the real differences between Israeli directness and North American politeness, why Israeli society feels deeply connected despite its intensity, and what young families should understand when considering life in Israel.A thoughtful and personal discussion about belonging, identity, and growth, this episode offers listeners a meaningful look at the bridge between Israel and Jewish communities abroad, and why that connection still matters more than ever.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp. 430 | Unmasked. Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Host: Bali Lerner Guest: Rawan OsmanIn this powerful and deeply personal conversation, HMTC Executive Director Bali Lerner sits down with activist and speaker Rawan Osman, who describes herself as a “recovered anti-Semite.” Raised in Lebanon and educated in a cultural environment where hatred of Jews was normalized, Rawan shares the remarkable journey that led her to question everything she had been taught.From childhood indoctrination and media narratives to her first shocking encounter with Jewish life in Europe, Rawan recounts how exposure, education, and simple human kindness shattered decades of propaganda. She explains how fear, social pressure, and anti-normalization laws prevented dialogue in the Middle East, and how firsthand experiences forced her to confront misinformation she once accepted as truth.The discussion also explores modern antisemitism, the dangers of propaganda, the power of personal relationships, and the role education plays in shaping moral courage. Bali and Rawan connect the lessons of the Holocaust to today’s climate, emphasizing responsibility, empathy, and the importance of telling authentic stories in the age of social media.This episode is not about politics. It is about transformation, accountability, and hope. Above all, it asks a difficult but essential question: how does hatred take root, and how can ordinary people help stop it?A challenging, thought-provoking conversation about truth, identity, and the human capacity to change.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEp 429: The Past Has an AfterlifeIn this meaningful episode of The Past Has an Afterlife on hmTv, host Gilad Avrahami sits down with Linda Burghardt, scholar in residence at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, to explore the power of historical fiction in Holocaust education.Marking the HMTC Book Club’s 50th session, the conversation dives into why stories, not just facts, shape understanding. Linda shares how carefully chosen novels open emotional pathways into history, how literature helps readers grasp the human experience behind historical events, and why survival stories matter. She also reflects on her own family’s past, revealing how personal artifacts carry memory across generations.This episode examines how fiction builds empathy, sparks discussion, and helps readers navigate moral complexity while connecting the past to today’s world. A thoughtful look at how reading becomes remembrance, and how stories ensure history continues to live, teach, and guide.Support the show