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In this meaningful episode of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes Irv Miljoner, founder of the Second Generation Group of Long Island, for a powerful conversation about identity, legacy, responsibility, and the lasting impact of being raised by Holocaust survivors. 

Irv shares the story of how the 2G group was created through the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, giving children of survivors a place to gather, speak openly, and understand their shared experiences. He reflects on his parents’ journey from Poland, their life as immigrants in America, their years working in the garment industry, and the pride they felt in becoming U.S. citizens.

The conversation also explores Irv’s career with the U.S. Department of Labor, where he spent decades protecting vulnerable and exploited workers, including victims of wage theft and human trafficking. Bernie and Irv discuss how growing up with survivor parents shaped their courage, empathy, vigilance, and commitment to speaking out against injustice.

This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the second generation and a reminder that remembrance is not only about the past. It is a responsibility to educate, stay vigilant, and help build a more humane future.

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In this powerful episode of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes Rena Kesten for a moving conversation about her grandfather, Naum Markovich Sekunda, a Jewish colonel in the Soviet Army who helped lead forces into Berlin during the final days of World War II. 

Rena shares extraordinary family stories, photographs, and artifacts that reveal her grandfather’s journey from an orphanage in Ukraine to military school, and ultimately to the Battle of Berlin. She recounts how he helped save his family as the German invasion began, led soldiers out of danger during the chaos of war, and became one of several Jewish commanders involved in the Soviet advance into Berlin.

Together, Bernie and Rena reflect on the bravery of Jewish soldiers in the Soviet Army, the trauma endured by families fleeing the Nazis, the forgotten stories of Russian Jews during World War II, and the urgent need to teach history honestly to younger generations.

This episode honors a remarkable man whose courage, leadership, and survival stand as a reminder that ordinary people, when faced with extraordinary circumstances, can become true heroes.

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Podcast Description: Ep 576 Raised by Survivors with Bernie Furshpan and guest Fern Mehler on hmTv

In this episode of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes Fern Mehler for a heartfelt and deeply personal conversation about growing up as the child of two Holocaust survivors.

Fern shares powerful stories of her parents’ survival, including her father’s escape from the Krakow ghetto using false papers and her mother’s extraordinary ingenuity in Auschwitz. Together, Bernie and Fern reflect on what it meant to grow up in homes where, as Fern beautifully says, “inside the house, it was Eastern Europe; outside the house, it was America.” 

With warmth, humor, memory, and honesty, they discuss survivor family culture, Yiddish expressions, traditional foods, resilience, inherited trauma, and the responsibility of the second generation to keep these stories alive. The conversation also turns to the rise of antisemitism today and the urgent need to educate young people before hate and propaganda take deeper root.

This episode is a moving tribute to Holocaust survivors, the families they built, and the sacred duty of remembrance carried forward by their children and grandchildren.

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In Part 2 of Episode 575 of It’s All About the Children on hmTv, hosts Carin and Sami continue their powerful conversation with Jeff Schoep, a former leader in the neo-Nazi movement who now works to prevent radicalization and help people leave hate behind.

Jeff shares the deeply personal turning points that led him away from extremism, including meaningful encounters with people who had been harmed by the very ideology he once promoted. Together, Jeff and Sami Steigmann, Holocaust survivor, educator, actor, and motivational speaker, explore the power of words, the danger of assumptions, the need for critical thinking, and the importance of teaching young people to become upstanders rather than bystanders.

The conversation also addresses how adults, schools, parents, media, and leaders must do more to protect children from hate, misinformation, online radicalization, and emotional disconnection.

At its heart, this episode is about changing perspective, choosing humanity, and using dialogue, empathy, and courage to confront darkness with light. 

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In Part 1 of Episode 574 of It’s All About the Children on hmTv, hosts Carin and Sami welcome Jeff Schoep for a powerful conversation about children, belonging, radicalization, and the urgent need for human connection in a divided world.

Jeff Schoep, a former longtime leader in the neo-Nazi movement who now works to prevent extremism and help people leave hate groups, joins Holocaust survivor, educator, and motivational speaker Sami Steigmann for a deeply meaningful discussion about how young people can be shaped by fear, loneliness, trauma, ideology, and the search for identity.

Together, they explore why children and teens may be drawn toward extremist thinking, how hate often grows out of disconnection and fear, and why schools, families, media, and communities must do more to offer young people healthy belonging, purpose, and guidance.

This episode reminds us that children are not born to hate. They are shaped by what surrounds them. Through education, empathy, storytelling, and courageous dialogue, we can help them choose humanity over hate. 

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Ep 573: Putting the Brakes on Bullying with Samantha Sosnik and guest Ben Cohen on hmTv

In this episode of Putting the Brakes on Bullying on hmTv, host Samantha Sosnik welcomes Ben Cohen for a powerful conversation about cyberbullying, resilience, personal growth, and turning pain into purpose.

Ben shares the story of a traumatic college incident that was misrepresented online and quickly escalated into public shaming, cyberbullying, threats, and life-changing consequences. Rather than allowing the experience to define him negatively, Ben chose to rebuild his life with purpose, eventually becoming a certified life coach, motivational content creator, entrepreneur, and student at Florida Atlantic University.

Through his platform, Ben Chase Motivation, Ben now uses social media to inspire others, promote authenticity, challenge harmful online culture, and encourage young people to seek help, speak honestly, and grow through adversity. Samantha and Ben discuss the danger of online mob behavior, the importance of standing alone with courage, and how one act of kindness or one honest voice can make a real difference.

This episode is a reminder that bullying can deeply alter a person’s life, but healing, strength, and purpose are possible when pain is transformed into service to others. 

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In Part 2 of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz continues his heartfelt conversation with legendary actress, director, educator, and humanitarian Phylicia Rashad.

Building on Part 1’s reflections on stillness and inner wholeness, this episode explores legacy, leadership, parenting, collaboration, and community. Phylicia shares how her work as a director is rooted in openness, trust, and respect for every person’s creative contribution. She explains that directing is not about commanding others, but about holding a vision, honoring the playwright’s intention, and creating space for actors, designers, stage managers, and audiences to share ownership in the work.

The conversation also turns to Phylicia’s mother, Vivian Ayers, whose example of creativity, discipline, service, and education continues to influence generations. Phylicia reflects on raising her own children, including her daughter Condola, and the importance of listening to children, nurturing their curiosity, and creating environments where they can thrive.

Filmed at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, this episode becomes a moving meditation on what it means to live with purpose, to see the light in others, and to build a more whole society through compassion, collaboration, and responsibility.

A beautiful continuation of Part 1, this conversation reminds us that wholeness is not only found within ourselves, but also in how we care for one another. 

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In this powerful episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz welcomes legendary actress, educator, and humanitarian Phylicia Rashad for Part 1 of a deeply personal and reflective conversation about service, trust, heritage, stillness, and the inner journey toward wholeness.

Arnie and Phylicia look back on their four-decade friendship, beginning with their time in India and their shared connection to the PRASAD Project, where sight-restoring surgeries changed the lives of individuals, families, and entire communities. Phylicia reflects on the profound lesson her young daughter learned there: that true freedom can be found in service to others.

The conversation also explores Phylicia’s remarkable family legacy, especially the influence of her mother, Vivian Ayers, a poet, scholar, arts advocate, and visionary whose work touched education, NASA, and generations of young people. Phylicia shares stories of growing up in a home filled with creativity, inquiry, discipline, and love.

Filmed at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, the episode turns toward the deeper themes of humanity, moral courage, and the importance of stillness in a fractured world. Phylicia offers a moving reflection on meditation, inner silence, and the birthright of every person to discover the truth within themselves.

This episode is a beautiful meditation on giving, trust, legacy, and what it means to live with a whole heart. 

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Ep. 570 | Many Voices One Community with Gaitley Stevenson Mathews and Constanza “Connie” Pinilla on hmTv

In this inspiring episode of Many Voices One Community on hmTv, host Gaitley Stevenson Mathews welcomes Constanza “Connie” Pinilla, President of the North Shore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, attorney, realtor, community leader, and longtime advocate for connection across cultures.

Connie shares her powerful family story, beginning with her childhood in Colombia and her mother’s courageous journey to the United States as a single mother raising seven children. She reflects on the work ethic, discipline, faith, and generosity she learned from her mother, who was later honored with the Chamber’s first American Dream Award.

The conversation explores Connie’s role as a bridge between communities, her commitment to uplifting Hispanic businesses, and the Chamber’s broader mission to serve the full community through turkey drives, toy drives, backpack giveaways, food distribution, and partnerships with local organizations. Through stories of family, immigration, service, and shared purpose, Connie offers a beautiful reminder that when people come together around common goals, many voices truly become one community. 

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Ep. 569 | Many Voices One Community with Gaitley Stevenson Mathews and Jeanine DiMenna on hmTv

In this heartfelt episode of Many Voices One Community on hmTv, host Gaitley Stevenson Mathews welcomes Jeanine DiMenna, beloved Glen Cove chef, owner of Jeanine’s American Bistro, community supporter, and longtime friend to many across the North Shore.

Jeanine reflects on growing up in Glen Cove, overcoming childhood insecurity and a learning disability, and discovering her confidence, compassion, and purpose through the restaurant world. She shares how her early experiences in the kitchen gave her a sense of belonging, eventually leading to a 30-year career in hospitality, appearances in Zagat, and a memorable experience on Food Network’s Kitchen Casino.

The conversation also explores Jeanine’s deep commitment to community service, including her support of Nosh Delivers during the COVID pandemic and her belief that life is about caring, loving, and giving back. Through stories of family, faith, food, resilience, and kindness, Jeanine offers an inspiring reminder that sometimes our greatest challenges become the very gifts that allow us to serve others with a glad heart. 

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