
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Alive Again is available now. Search and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Kathy Preston was just a joyous little girl when the Holocaust tore through her golden childhood in Transylvania. In this unforgettable episode of Alive Again, Kathy recounts—in stunning detail—the moment her innocence ended, hiding in a barn as bayonets stabbed the straw just inches from her face. Miraculously, she survived. But this is more than a story of hiding and escape. Kathy’s story travels through persecution, displacement, and grief—but also healing, forgiveness, and the power of memory. She reflects on the woman who risked everything to save her life, on the trauma that shaped her worldview, and on the stubborn optimism that carries her forward. From being starved and hunted as a child, to building a joyful life with children and grandchildren, Kathy’s journey is a testament to resilience—and a reminder that surviving isn’t just about staying alive. It’s about choosing love over vengeance and passing that choice forward. And now, in her 80s, Kathy speaks to school children across the U.S. about the power of resistance, survival, and the importance of love over hate.
“There are less and less people alive from the period I am from,” she tells us, “and the more people die, the less availability there is to connect with the past. I speak for the people who can’t speak for themselves.”
Story producer: Nicholas Tecosky.
For more information about Kathy and her work and books, you can go to www.katipreston.com
Warning: This series contains graphic descriptions of trauma, violence, abuse, and other content that may not be suitable for certain listeners.
* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected]
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
4.8
747747 ratings
Alive Again is available now. Search and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Kathy Preston was just a joyous little girl when the Holocaust tore through her golden childhood in Transylvania. In this unforgettable episode of Alive Again, Kathy recounts—in stunning detail—the moment her innocence ended, hiding in a barn as bayonets stabbed the straw just inches from her face. Miraculously, she survived. But this is more than a story of hiding and escape. Kathy’s story travels through persecution, displacement, and grief—but also healing, forgiveness, and the power of memory. She reflects on the woman who risked everything to save her life, on the trauma that shaped her worldview, and on the stubborn optimism that carries her forward. From being starved and hunted as a child, to building a joyful life with children and grandchildren, Kathy’s journey is a testament to resilience—and a reminder that surviving isn’t just about staying alive. It’s about choosing love over vengeance and passing that choice forward. And now, in her 80s, Kathy speaks to school children across the U.S. about the power of resistance, survival, and the importance of love over hate.
“There are less and less people alive from the period I am from,” she tells us, “and the more people die, the less availability there is to connect with the past. I speak for the people who can’t speak for themselves.”
Story producer: Nicholas Tecosky.
For more information about Kathy and her work and books, you can go to www.katipreston.com
Warning: This series contains graphic descriptions of trauma, violence, abuse, and other content that may not be suitable for certain listeners.
* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected]
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1,476 Listeners
4,669 Listeners
4,490 Listeners
247 Listeners
7 Listeners
9 Listeners
350 Listeners
63 Listeners
1,336 Listeners
243 Listeners
141 Listeners
237 Listeners
1,549 Listeners
839 Listeners
531 Listeners
62 Listeners
763 Listeners
276 Listeners
156 Listeners
1,016 Listeners
504 Listeners
16 Listeners
190 Listeners
657 Listeners
704 Listeners
215 Listeners
454 Listeners
59 Listeners
149 Listeners
30 Listeners
268 Listeners
518 Listeners
428 Listeners
336 Listeners
106 Listeners