There are not enough therapists in America. And even when you can find one, it is hard to schedule an appointment. This is the case despite the fact that America also has a rising mental health crisis. More people are aware of their mental health needs, and more people are coming to need mental health support.

At the Ruderman Family Foundation, this is one of our tentpole issues, and we strive to facilitate changes in our communities that will provide better and healthier futures for those struggling with mental health.

That is why I’m so excited to be joined today by Phillip Schermer. Phillip is the founder of Project Healthy Minds,  a non-profit startup building the world’s first digital mental health marketplace to democratize access to life-changing services, partnering with public figures to de-stigmatize mental health, and creating the first national standards for businesses to better support employee mental health.

Phillip and Jay discuss AI in the therapy space, the social and economic barriers standing between people and quality mental health care, and the stunning power of celebrity honesty around mental health struggles.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00  Intro

1:27 World Mental Health Day highlights and Project Healthy Minds origin story

6:35 Project Healthy Minds vs Talkspace and Better Health

9:44 What happens when people don’t get mental health resources?

13:54 AI and mental health

18:52 Ambient threats to mental health 

22:52 Top-down attacks on mental health from government

28:37 Outro and Goodbye

For video episodes, watch on⁠ ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation⁠

Stay in touch:

X:⁠ @JayRuderman⁠ |⁠ @RudermanFdn⁠

LinkedIn:⁠ Jay Ruderman⁠ |⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠

Instagram:⁠ All About Change Podcast⁠ |⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠

To learn more about the podcast, visit⁠ https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/⁠

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.walmart.com/ip/Find-Your-Fight-Make-Your-Voice-Heard-for-the-Causes-That-Matter-Most-Hardcover-9781963827071/10817862336⁠

Tom Vozzo came to Homeboy Industries in a moment when they needed his skills. Around 2012, the organization was facing a financial crunch, and Tom stepped up from Homeboy volunteer to CEO steering the company to financial stability.

Working at Homeboy changed Tom as well. Writing in his book, ‘The Homeboy Way,’ Tom said that after years of working with the poor, forgotten, and demonized people of our society, he came to learn that he didn’t really know as much about life as he thought. Tom and the rest of the Homeboy team continue to support formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, helping them redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community. 

In doing so, they make a bold and critical statement: No life is disposable, no person is beneath society, no person cannot be better, and no person will not benefit from helping another person reach the potential of who they can be.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:31 The role of healing in the Homeboy Way

3:57 How people first choose to leave gang life

7:38 How has Homeboy Industries changed Tom?

14:47 Expanding the Homeboy influence across the globe

16:20 Pushing back on stigma against formerly gang-involved folks

19:33 Tom makes the case for why minimizing recidivism needs to be a bipartisan cause

22:32 Activism in and out of the workplace

24:14 Tom’s book: The Homeboy Way

28:38 Outro and Goodbye

For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation

Stay in touch:

X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn

LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation

Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation

To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠https://www.walmart.com/ip/Find-Your-Fight-Make-Your-Voice-Heard-for-the-Causes-That-Matter-Most-Hardcover-9781963827071/10817862336

Kaila Yu lived many lives before she decided to write a memoir. As an actress, musician, and import model, Kaila learned firsthand about all the ways it is challenging to be Asian American, particularly as a woman. But she didn’t write about that experience until seeing her fellow Asian Americans attacked and vilified in 2020.

Now a travel, food and culture writer, she has released a memoir titled Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty. In this book of essays, Kaila challenges the pressures Asian American women face to perform for the white male gaze and details some of the history surrounding that social pressure.

With Fetishized, Kaila is shining a bright light on a specific prejudice in our country and I am excited to amplify that light with our conversation today.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:31 How has Kaila’s memoir been received in the Asian American community?

2:52 A brief history of the fetishization of Asian women in America

11:43 Who was the intended audience for Kaila’s memoir?

15:23 Becoming an activist wasn’t part of Kaila’s plan

19:05 We are in a golden age for healthy Asian representation in American culture

21:42 The full scope of Kaila’s activism

25:48 Outro and Goodbye

For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation

Stay in touch:

X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn

LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation

Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation

To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠https://www.walmart.com/ip/Find-Your-Fight-Make-Your-Voice-Heard-for-the-Causes-That-Matter-Most-Hardcover-9781963827071/10817862336

For nearly two decades Jeffrey Marsh has been a representative and advocate for LGBTQ people of all stripes. Whether on Vine, Tik Tok or Instagram, Jeffrey has built success on simple videos helping straight and LGBTQ people attain a lasting sense of peace and self-compassion. 

Jeffrey is the first non-binary person  to sign a book deal with any “Big 5” publisher worldwide, and they have since written two books, “How to Be You: Stop Trying to Be Someone Else and Start Living Your Life” and “Take Your Own Advice: Learn to Trust Your Inner Voice and Start Helping Yourself.”

Jay and Jeffrey explore the anxiety in wanting to do right by other people, the different valences of Jeffrey’s advice to the LGBTQ community and much more.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:12 The physical feeling of anxiety

4:50 How should parents think about Jeffrey’s estrangement from their family

7:30 How has LGBTQ activism changed during Jeffrey’s career in activism

8:45 The hateful practice of demonizing other people

16:12 Internal vs external activism

19:29 The power in living a joyful life

23:31 Self-help when your trouble is caused by other people

24:59 Outro and goodbye

For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation

Stay in touch:

X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn

LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation

Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation

To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at https://www.walmart.com/ip/Find-Your-Fight-Make-Your-Voice-Heard-for-the-Causes-That-Matter-Most-Hardcover-9781963827071/10817862336

Alex Ryvchin is co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the author of internationally acclaimed books of history and politics, and a best-selling children’s author.

Over the past twelve years he has been a fierce advocate for the Australian Jewish community and Israel.

His advocacy and writing has seen him recognised as Australian of the Year for 2024 by The Australian newspaper, as one of 25 global Jewish visionaries by The Jerusalem Post and ranked 38th in the Daily Telegraph’s  Power 100 for 2024. He is the recipient of the 2025 B’nai B’rith Human Rights Award, and I’m so excited to have him on the show today.  

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:09 What are the unique needs of the Australian Jewish community?

3:57 How have Australia’s holocaust survivors been managing?

6:10 Recent attacks on Jewish Australians

9:57 Jewish Australia’s greatest allies

17:10 Jewish Australia’s biggest achievements

19:18 Alex’s career as a young leader

23:32 Alex’s family of refuseniks

25:12 Hope for the future of Australian Jewry

26:51 Outro and Goodbye

For video episodes, watch on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation⁠⁠⁠

Stay in touch:

X:⁠⁠⁠ @JayRuderman⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠ @RudermanFdn⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Jay Ruderman⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ All About Change Podcast⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about the podcast, visit⁠⁠⁠ https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/⁠⁠⁠

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"Bad Jews." It’s a label thrown around all too often, deepening divides and alienating those seeking connection. For actor, advocate, and podcaster Jonah Platt, it’s time to retire the term and focus on what actually strengthens the Jewish community: radical inclusivity.

In this episode, the host of the award-winning Being Jewish with Jonah Platt podcast joins Jay to discuss his journey from the stage to becoming a leading voice for Jewish pride. They dive into the complex history of Jews in Hollywood—exploring why authentic representation remains a struggle—and why "coloring outside the lines" is the best way to build modern Jewish institutions. Plus, Jonah breaks down his "Mosaic Shabbat" initiative and shares details on his upcoming film, The Mensch.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:33 Being Jewish with Jonah Platt’s successful first season

3:04 Are Jews in Hollywood comfortable being outwardly Jewish?

11:35 The value of accurate Jewish culture in TV and film

17:04 Why are Jews calling other Jews “Bad Jews”

21:38 Balancing making new Jewish projects and investing in classic Jewish institutions

25:18 Jonah’s next project, The Mensch

28:52 Goodbye and Outro 

For video episodes, watch on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation⁠⁠

Stay in touch:

X:⁠⁠ @JayRuderman⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ @RudermanFdn⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠⁠ Jay Ruderman⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠ All About Change Podcast⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠

To learn more about the podcast, visit⁠⁠ https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/⁠⁠

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

There is a notion that observant Jews don’t have a chance to be professional athletes. The notion that Shabbat is an impediment and a sheer lack of role models make it hard for young athletes to find their way to elite sport.

AJ Edelman is one of the trailblazing athletes working to change those conditions. Without any of the supports offered by the classic winter-olympic pipeline, he taught himself the dangerous art of skeleton from watching YouTube videos and went on to compete for Israel in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Since then, he has built out the Israeli bobsledding program, recruiting athletes and sponsors, and pushing his team to reach the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Jay and AJ discuss the challenging logistics of building an Olympic program from scratch, and the unique set of restrictions and responsibilities AJ feels as a chosen representative of the State of Israel.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:35 How AJ became a sled athlete and chose Skeleton and Bobsled

9:14 Has AJ always wanted to be an advocate for the Jewish people?

12:04 AJ loves to inspire the next generation

14:50 Activism as a national athlete

18:35 How do other athletes relate to AJ’s activism?

22:52 How do fans relate to AJ’s activism?

24:53 Campaigns to bar Israel from international athletic competition

29:27 What would making the 2026 Olympics mean to AJ and Israel

32:49 Outro and goodbye

For video episodes, watch on⁠ ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation⁠

Stay in touch:

X:⁠ @JayRuderman⁠ |⁠ @RudermanFdn⁠

LinkedIn:⁠ Jay Ruderman⁠ |⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠

Instagram:⁠ All About Change Podcast⁠ |⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠

To learn more about the podcast, visit⁠ https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/⁠

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Abraham Hamra knows the historic plight of the Jewish diaspora better than most. At six years old he was separated from much of his family, unsure if he’d ever see his grandparents again. 

He was among the last Jews left in Syria, and just a year after announcing Jews could leave Syria for the US, the Assad regime reversed course, and said the remaining Jews were stuck. Abraham and his family were trapped.

Eventually, the policy was reversed and Abraham was able to reconnect with his family in the US, and eventually with the rest of his extended family living in Israel.

Now, alongside a successful career as a lawyer, Abraham advocates for Israel on social media and on the streets of New York. He speaks widely about not letting Jews get bullied anymore, and he lives what he preaches. It’s time to hear some motivation from one of the strongest — and loudest — Jewish voices in America.

Abraham and Jay talk about how, in America, Abraham has grasped and now wields Jewish strength, how he teaches other Jews to do the same. Abraham shares about the support he has received from his professional colleagues, and the shocking lawsuit he has had to file to protect his reputation.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:19 How do Abraham’s colleagues feel about hist social media presence and activism?

3:31 Coming at anti-semitism from a Jewish-Arab POV

6:42 Abraham’s lawsuit against Al-Jazeera

13:47 Beit Debate

17:58 Goodbye and Outro

For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation

Stay in touch:

X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn

LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation

Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation

To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

[Episode Recorded on September 11, 2025]

Lizzy Savetsky is an influencer who has been a staple of pro-Israel social media since October 7th, 2023. 

Prior to October 7th, Lizzy had advocated for Israel alongside other causes, including supporting Jewish women who experienced miscarriages and sobriety, but after October 7th,  she turned her focus entirely to Israel advocacy. At first this change in content cost Lizzy tens of thousands of followers and management, only for her following to balloon with her strong commitment to her values.

Lizzy has experienced many costs and unseen benefits from sticking to her values and advocating for Israel. She and Jay discuss those changes in her life through the lens of “finding your no” in activism, a topic Jay writes about in his book Find Your Fight.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

For video episodes, watch on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation

Episode Chapters

Stay in touch:

X:⁠⁠ @JayRuderman⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ @RudermanFdn⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠⁠ Jay Ruderman⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠ All About Change Podcast⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠

To learn more about the podcast, visit⁠⁠ https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/⁠⁠

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Kerry Brodie is the founder and Executive Director of Emma’s Torch, a non-profit social enterprise that provides refugees with culinary training and employability, equity and empowerment training. Kerry came up with the idea for  Emma’s Torch while volunteering at a DC homeless shelter and made the connection between refugees looking for employment, and reports of understaffing in restaurants. 

Since its founding in 2016, Emma’s Torch has locations in New York City and recently opened in Washington D.C. and students of the culinary program have gone on to work all over in the restaurant industry. 

Kerry and Jay talk about America’s history as a nation of refugees and how the organization is managing the current backlash that refugees in America and other countries are facing.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

For video episodes, watch on⁠ ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation⁠

Stay in touch:

X:⁠ @JayRuderman⁠ |⁠ @RudermanFdn⁠

LinkedIn:⁠ Jay Ruderman⁠ |⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠

Instagram:⁠ All About Change Podcast⁠ |⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠

To learn more about the podcast, visit⁠ https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/⁠

Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.