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Ep. 568 | Many Voices One Community with Gaitley Stevenson Mathews and Howard Stillwagon on hmTv

In this powerful episode of Many Voices One Community on hmTv, host Gaitley Stevenson Mathews welcomes Howard “Howie” Stillwagon, Commander of VFW Post 347, Vietnam War veteran, community leader, and stained glass artist.

Howard reflects on growing up in the close-knit Orchard neighborhood of Glen Cove, his draft into the Army during the Vietnam War, his combat experience near the Cambodian border, and the physical and emotional wounds he carried home. He speaks candidly about being injured in Vietnam, returning home on Thanksgiving Day in 1969, and the long struggle many veterans faced in receiving proper recognition and care.

The conversation also highlights Howard’s continued service through the VFW, his deep love for community, and his creative life as a stained glass artist whose work has supported local causes and brought beauty into people’s homes. Through stories of war, resilience, service, art, and peace, this episode honors a man who has given deeply to his country and continues to give generously to his community. 

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Ep. 567 | Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and Carolyn Enger on hmTv

In this moving episode of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes international concert pianist Carolyn Enger for a powerful conversation about music, memory, identity, and the moral responsibility of sharing family history.

Carolyn discusses her deeply personal performance piece, Mischling Exposé, recently presented at Molloy University, which explores the Nazi classification of Mischling through live piano, film, testimony, and the stories of her father and godmother, both of whom were targeted under the Nuremberg Laws. She reflects on how music can carry emotional truth in ways words sometimes cannot, helping audiences connect with history on a profoundly human level.

Together, Bernie and Carolyn examine the false science of race, inherited trauma, Holocaust memory, the importance of empathy, and the power of art to erase the lines that divide us. Their conversation becomes a call to young people and all listeners to define their mission, stay aligned with their values, and use creativity, memory, and compassion to help heal the world. 

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In Episode 566 of The Israeli Bond on hmTv, host Gal Swisa Cohen welcomes Neta Moallem, an Israeli lawyer, former university international marketing director, and founder of Israel EduExpo, a new platform connecting North American students and families with academic opportunities in Israel.

Neta shares how the aftermath of October 7 revealed a surprising and powerful shift: more Jewish students from North America were expressing interest in studying in Israel, not less. She discusses the creation of face-to-face education roadshows, the value of meeting Israeli universities directly, and why many students and parents now see Israel as a place of identity, safety, belonging, and purpose.

Together, Gal and Neta explore the quality and affordability of Israeli higher education, the strength of Israeli campuses, and the deeper meaning behind choosing to study in Israel during challenging times. This conversation is about education, Zionism, resilience, and the growing desire among young Jews to experience Israel firsthand, beyond the headlines. 

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In this episode of Putting the Brakes on Bullying on hmTv, host Samantha Sosnik sits down with Bernie Furshpan for a candid and important conversation about narcissism, narcissistic behavior, and its connection to bullying. Samantha shares deeply personal reflections from her own upbringing, describing the lasting impact of growing up in a home marked by chaos, manipulation, intimidation, gaslighting, and emotional abuse.

Together, Samantha and Bernie explore the warning signs of narcissistic behavior, including love bombing, charm used as control, lack of accountability, emotional manipulation, isolation, rage, and the inability to show genuine empathy. They also discuss the difference between grandiose and covert narcissism, how victims can become trapped in unhealthy relationships, and why support from trusted friends, therapy, and personal courage can be essential steps toward breaking free.

This powerful episode reminds listeners that recognizing red flags early can help prevent deeper harm, and that no one deserves to live under fear, control, or emotional abuse. It is a conversation about awareness, healing, boundaries, and reclaiming your life from those who use intimidation as a weapon. 

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In Part 2 of this powerful Habits of a Whole Heart conversation on hmTv, host Arnie Herz continues his discussion with Ira Kohler, author of Once a Paratrooper: The Story of a Lone Soldier in the Gaza War. Ira recounts the harrowing events of October 7, 2023, when he and his fellow IDF paratroopers were transported by helicopter to the Gaza envelope and suddenly found themselves under attack.

Ira shares the extraordinary story of surviving a rocket strike and emergency helicopter landing, coming under terrorist gunfire, and then entering Kibbutz Be’eri to fight terrorists and help rescue families trapped in their homes. He reflects on the thin line between life and death, the meaning of courage under fire, and the profound responsibility of saving lives when every second matters.

The conversation also explores Ira’s grief over the loss of close friends, including Omer Neutra, Yair Vitan, and Amir Naim, and his commitment to preserving their legacies. Through his story, Ira offers a deeply moving reminder of service, sacrifice, Jewish resilience, purpose, and what it means to live for something greater than oneself. 

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In this milestone 50th episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz speaks with Ira Kohler, author of Once a Paratrooper, about his extraordinary journey from Long Island college life to serving as a lone soldier in the IDF. In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Ira reflects on the values, identity, and sense of purpose that led him to leave the comfort and familiarity of home to serve the Jewish people in Israel.

Ira shares how his upbringing, love for Israel, and deep connection to Jewish history shaped his decision to enlist. He discusses the meaning of having a Jewish homeland, the responsibility he felt as a young American Jew, and why serving in the IDF became a personal calling he could not ignore. The conversation explores courage, purpose, sacrifice, Jewish continuity, and the importance of telling personal stories that become part of a larger people’s memory.

This episode sets the stage for Part 2, where Ira and Arnie continue the conversation and delve into Ira’s experiences during October 7th and his service in Gaza. 

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In this episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz speaks with Professor Peter Decherney, award-winning documentary filmmaker, photographer, author, and Director of the Penn Global Documentary Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Together, they explore the power of photography and documentary filmmaking to reveal hidden stories, preserve memory, deepen human connection, and illuminate the beauty and complexity of communities often overlooked.

Peter discusses his work documenting Jewish communities in Ethiopia and Uganda, including his book Endless Exodus: The Jewish Experience in Ethiopia and his films about African Jewish communities, such as The Cave Synagogue and Days Between Rest. The conversation touches on listening without judgment, the role of students in global storytelling, the importance of authenticity in an age of AI, and how art can become a pathway toward empathy, truth, and a more whole-hearted humanity.

Learn more about Peter Decherney’s work and the Penn Global Documentary Institute at pennglobaldocs.org.

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In Episode 561 of The Butterfly Effect on hmTv, host Gilad Avrahami and co-host Bernie Furshpan explore conformity, the bandwagon effect, fear of missing out, and groupthink, examining how people are often pulled into beliefs, behaviors, movements, and social trends simply because others around them are doing the same.

Building on their previous discussion about critical mass, Gilad and Bernie discuss how small individual choices can grow into powerful collective behavior, for better or for worse. Through relatable examples, from restaurant lines and dance floors to social media activism, peer pressure, politics, and Nazi Germany, they examine why people conform, why critical thinking matters, and how quickly belonging can become more important than truth.

This episode challenges listeners, especially young people, to pause before joining the crowd, question what they are supporting, resist hate-driven groupthink, and remember that even small actions can create meaningful change. 

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In Episode 560 of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes Marlene Steiner, a dear friend and daughter of Holocaust survivors, for a deeply personal conversation about memory, survival, trauma, resilience, and joy.

Marlene shares her mother’s harrowing story of being forced from Rădăuți, Romania, and marched toward Ukraine, where families were torn apart and survival often came down to impossible choices. She also reflects on her father’s experience in a concentration camp, her own childhood in Romania, Israel, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, and the lasting impact of being raised by parents who carried both deep trauma and extraordinary strength.

Together, Bernie and Marlene explore intergenerational trauma, antisemitism, family values, immigrant life, food memories, Brooklyn childhoods, and the importance of choosing life, humor, kindness, and gratitude despite unimaginable pain. This episode is a powerful reminder that survivor families carry not only sorrow, but also resilience, love, and the responsibility to keep making the world better. 

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In Episode 559 of Raised by Survivors on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan welcomes Irene Dunkel Rivera, a retired educator, assistant principal, professor, and daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Irene shares how her parents’ experiences in Łódź, Warsaw, the ghettos, Auschwitz, Majdanek, and the Jewish Labor Bund shaped her understanding of justice, identity, memory, and human responsibility.

Together, Bernie and Irene reflect on what it means to be raised by survivors, the lasting impact of intergenerational trauma, and the urgent need to preserve family stories before they disappear. Their conversation explores education, antisemitism, social media, intolerance, and the importance of speaking directly to young people so they understand that the Holocaust was real, personal, and still deeply relevant.

This powerful episode is a reminder that silence is dangerous, education is essential, and every generation has a responsibility to stand against hate wherever it appears. 

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