(EDITOR NOTE – This episode was filmed on 04/02/25. During this time, Boaz Hepner was sleeping at UCLA hospital, during a 13 day hospitalization of his child. Running home to do this episode was surreal, though a welcome break)

"Resilient" is an award-winning documentary that explores the widespread PTSD in Israel following October 7th. Boaz speaks with 13 guests—including filmmaker Chava Floryn, participants of the film, and experts on trauma and resilience—to unpack its powerful message and the stories behind it.

*Correction: In this episode, it was incorrectly stated that Chava Floryn is not a filmmaker. In fact, Chava is an award-winning documentarian with over 100 short films to her name, including a TV pilot and three documentaries. Her most recent film, Resilient, has won 7 awards to date—5 for Best Picture, 1 for Best Musical Score, and 1 for Best Cinematography.

Boaz was joined by:

Soraya Deen – CEO, Muslim Women Speakers

Chava Floryn – Filmmaker, Author, Somatic Healer

Barbara Heller – Actor, Writer, Podcaster

Peter Himmelman – Musician. Author. Visual Artist

Maayan Hoffman – Executive Editor, ILTV News & Correspondent, The Media Line

Rabbi YY Jacobson – World Renowned Speaker

Rona Lalezary – Mindset Trainer and International Public Speaker

Micki Lavin-Pell – Marriage, Family, Sex and Trauma Therapist

Or Meir Ooliel – Musician and October 7 Survivor

Orli Peter – CEO, Israel Healing Initiative

Howard Rosenman – Producer

Gil Troy – Author of ''To Resist the Academic Intifada''

Tehran Von Ghasri – Comedian & Social Commentator

Timestamps:

0:02:46 – Guest Introductions Begin

0:17:05 – End of intros

0:18:06 – Boaz asks Chava: “Why did you go make a documentary after Oct 7?”

0:25:59 – Gil Troy gives historical context for Israel’s resilience

0:29:46 – Rabbi YY Jacobson on discussing trauma with children

0:34:13 – Gil chimes in

0:36:41 – Peter Himmelman on Jewish strength through humor and history

0:40:05 – Gil exits; Micki on healing through helping

0:43:48 – Peter and Orli Peter: “Is empathy love, or something else?”

0:49:18 – Boaz (as a nurse): “How do you stay empathetic without burning out?”

0:50:01 – Maayan & Chava on trauma programs from IDF and government

0:55:43 – Boaz to Or: “Do survivors like you feel seen by the system?” (+Chava, Maayan, Orli)

1:02:57 – Rona chimes in

1:04:24 – Or opens up about needing therapy

1:06:10 – Tehran chimes in

1:09:53 – Soraya chimes in

1:13:50 – BREAK

1:14:47 – Boaz to Soraya: “Why join a Jewish-centered conversation?”

1:21:23 – Tehran chimes in with Peter

1:27:00 – Maayan on her deep bonds with non-Jewish allies

1:30:55 – Boaz to Barb: “How do we process grief without imploding?”

1:39:41 – Micki chimes in

1:41:38 – Chava on a family visiting LA post-trauma

1:45:24 – Or recounts his October 7th survival story

1:56:14 – Tehran and Peter chime in

2:01:35 – Soraya chimes in

2:03:07 – Tehran to Soraya: messaging of love from Muslim allies

2:07:04 – Peter’s story about an Uber driver from India

2:09:00 – Rona on Mental Health Is Real

2:14:05 – Howard Rosenman speaks

2:19:40 – Final thoughts: “What gives you hope?”

2:29:25 – Boaz final thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.