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Ep 479: Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and guest Adam Mazo

In this episode of Ordinary Heroes on hmTv, host Bernie Furshpan speaks with filmmaker and educator Adam Mazo, co-founder of the Upstander Project, about the importance of standing up against injustice and the power of storytelling to inspire change.

Drawing from the lessons of the Holocaust and other historical injustices, Bernie and Adam explore the difference between bystanders and upstanders and why ordinary people have the ability and responsibility to act when they witness hate, bullying, or discrimination. Adam shares how the Upstander Project began, how documentary films such as Coexist and Dawnland illuminate hidden histories, and why film can be such a powerful tool for building empathy and awareness.

The conversation also reflects on the legacy of Holocaust survivors, the dangers of silence in the face of injustice, and practical ways educators, communities, and young people can cultivate courage, compassion, and responsibility.

At a time when the world often feels divided, this episode reminds us that even small acts of courage can make a meaningful difference. Becoming an upstander does not require extraordinary power. It simply requires the willingness to care for others and to speak up when something is not right.

Listen to this thoughtful and inspiring discussion about history, humanity, and the everyday choices that shape a more just and compassionate world.

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Ep. 478: Antisemitism and the United Nations and in Society with Dr. Suzanne Bleiberg-Sepperson and Jonathan Harounoff

In this compelling episode of Antisemitism and the United Nations and in Society on hmTv, host Dr. Suzanne Bleiberg-Sepperson speaks with Jonathan Harounoff, international spokesperson and senior communications advisor for Israel’s mission to the United Nations and author of Unveiled: Inside Iran’s Women Life Freedom Revolt.

Drawing on his unique background as a British-Iranian journalist with Israeli roots, Harounoff shares personal reflections on growing up between cultures, witnessing the persistence of antisemitism in Europe, and navigating today’s complex global political landscape. The conversation explores the surge of antisemitism on university campuses, the role of social media in shaping misinformation, and the challenges of confronting anti-Israel narratives in academic and diplomatic arenas.

Harounoff also offers a rare inside perspective on Israel’s engagement at the United Nations, explaining why maintaining a presence within the UN system remains strategically important despite ongoing criticism and political tensions.

The discussion concludes with an important message about the people of Iran, highlighting the distinction between the Iranian population and the Islamic Republic’s leadership. Through the stories behind his book, Harounoff emphasizes the courage of Iranian citizens, especially women, who continue to fight for freedom and reform.

This thought-provoking conversation sheds light on antisemitism, diplomacy, media narratives, and the human stories behind some of the most urgent issues shaping the Middle East today.

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Ep. 477: The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen and Omri Goshen

In this urgent and timely episode of The Israeli Bond on hmTv, host Gal Swisa Cohen speaks with Israeli security researcher and IDF reserve officer Omri Goshen to unpack the rapidly evolving war between Israel and Iran. Recorded just days after a coordinated U.S.–Israel military offensive against Iran, the conversation explores the dramatic shifts unfolding across the Middle East and what they mean for Israel, the United States, and the broader global order.

Gal and Omri examine the strategic reasoning behind the joint military campaign, launched amid long-standing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile program, and regional proxy networks. The offensive marks one of the most significant escalations in decades and has triggered retaliatory strikes across the region, intensifying fears of wider instability. 

Drawing on his work as a researcher at the David Institute for Security Policy, Omri offers insight into Israel’s evolving national security doctrine, the geopolitical interests of the United States, and the complex web of regional actors including Hezbollah, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. He also describes daily life in Israel during the conflict, where civilians navigate constant alarms and missile threats while maintaining a strong sense of national resilience.

The episode explores the broader implications of the war: shifting alliances, economic corridors connecting Asia and Europe, the potential for regime change in Iran, and the long-term security challenges facing Israel.

This conversation provides listeners with a deeper understanding of one of the most consequential geopolitical moments of our time and the human realities behind the headlines.

Listen as The Israeli Bond connects the events unfolding in Israel today with the global forces shaping tomorrow.

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In this powerful episode of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv, Zachary Graulich speaks with Janet Horvath, second-generation Holocaust survivor, acclaimed cellist, author, and educator, about her family’s extraordinary story of survival, silence, discovery, and legacy. Janet reflects on her parents’ lives in Budapest during the Holocaust, their survival against impossible odds, and the years of unspoken trauma that shaped her childhood.

She shares the remarkable journey that began with one simple question to her father about Leonard Bernstein and led to a decade-long search through archives, family history, and postwar records, ultimately resulting in her book The Cello Still Sings. Through music, memory, and courageous conversation, Janet explores how art helped survivors reclaim dignity and hope in the aftermath of devastation.

This moving conversation also highlights the responsibility of second-generation survivors to preserve memory, confront hatred, and engage new audiences in Holocaust education. With insight, grace, and emotional honesty, Janet offers a deeply personal and timely reminder that history must not only be remembered, but shared.

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Ep 475
Voices Illuminated with Judy Liman featuring Judy Umansky
hmTv – Humanity Matters Series

In this lively and engaging episode ofVoices Illuminated, host Judy Liman welcomes renowned Mahjong instructor Judy Umansky for a fascinating conversation about one of America’s most beloved and rapidly growing social games: American Mahjong.

Known as the “Mahjong Queen,” Umansky has taught thousands of students across Long Island and beyond, bringing both beginners and seasoned players into the vibrant world of this iconic tile game. Together, Liman and Umansky explore the origins of Mahjong, from its journey from China to the United States in the 1920s to the creation of standardized rules by the National Mahjong League in 1937.

Listeners will learn about the mechanics of the game, the meaning behind the famous Mahjong card released each year, and traditions such as the Charleston tile exchange. The conversation also touches on the game’s remarkable resurgence in popularity, fueled by social connection, post-pandemic community gatherings, and even celebrity players.

Umansky shares insights from her decades of teaching, offering helpful tips for beginners, strategies for experienced players, and a reminder that Mahjong is not just about winning. It is about friendship, patience, laughter, and the joy of gathering around the table.

Whether you are a lifelong player, a curious beginner, or simply someone interested in the cultural story behind this timeless game, this episode celebrates Mahjong as a tradition that continues to bring generations together.

Listen in and discover why the sound of clacking tiles and shared laughter continues to illuminate communities everywhere.

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Ep 474
Legacy Chronicles: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future
Host: Donna Rosenblum | Guest: Gilda Zirinsky
hmTv | Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

In this moving episode of Legacy Chronicles, Donna Rosenblum, Director of Education at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County, sits down with Holocaust survivor Gilda Zirinsky to explore the true meaning of legacy.

At 90 years old, Gilda continues to speak to students across Long Island, determined to ensure that history is remembered accurately and passed forward with integrity. She shares how her journey with HMTC began, what it feels like to tell her story to middle school students, and why kindness remains at the heart of her message.

Beyond recounting survival, Gilda reflects on her deep pride in becoming an American, her concern about rising antisemitism, and her urgency to combat misinformation with firsthand testimony. She also discusses writing her memoir after realizing she had no tangible heirlooms from her own grandparents—and why preserving stories is itself a powerful inheritance.

From boxing workouts at 90 to encouraging teenagers not to be afraid of the world, Gilda embodies resilience, gratitude, and moral clarity.

This episode is a reminder that legacy is not only about remembering the past. It is about how we live today, how we treat one another, and how we prepare the next generation to carry truth and kindness forward.

Listen, share, and join us in honoring the past while shaping a more compassionate future.

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Podcast Description – Ep 473
It’s All About the Children with Carin Bail & Sami Steigman
hmTv | Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of It’s All About the Children, co-host Carin Bail sits down with Holocaust survivor, educator, and motivational speaker Sami Steigman for an honest conversation about the next generation.

Together, they explore difficult but essential questions:

• Why is this generation projected not to surpass the previous one?
• How are words being weaponized in today’s culture?
• What does indoctrination look like in education?
• How can we teach children critical thinking instead of one-sided narratives?
• And how do we help young people build resilience in a world dominated by technology and polarization?

Sami shares his extraordinary journey, from surviving medical experimentation as a toddler during the Holocaust to serving in the Israeli Air Force and becoming an internationally recognized speaker. With remarkable optimism, he explains how he transforms trauma into purpose and why he refuses to let the past define him.

Carin brings her perspective as an educator and parent, raising urgent concerns about curriculum transparency, the erosion of critical thinking, and the emotional impact of constant digital exposure on children.

At its heart, this episode is about responsibility. If we want a more compassionate, informed, and resilient generation, we must model it. The conversation challenges listeners to rethink how we speak, how we teach, and how we guide young minds.

This is not just a discussion about history. It is a call to action for the future.

Subscribe to hmTv and join us as we continue meaningful conversations that put children first.

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hmTv | The Fog of War and Humanity Ep. 472
Rich Acritelli with guest Mai Pham (Part 3)

In the concluding episode of this three-part conversation, host Rich Acritelli continues his discussion with author Kwan Mai Pham about her memoir A Bridge from Saigon and the lifelong impact of fleeing Vietnam as a child refugee. Moving beyond her escape and early adjustment to America, Mai reflects on adolescence, education, and the quiet emotional weight she carried while trying to honor her parents’ sacrifices.

Mai explains how academic achievement became both stability and survival, eventually leading her into medicine and health policy. She discusses why caring for vulnerable communities felt natural to her, shaped by early experiences of displacement, uncertainty, and watching her family rebuild from nothing. The conversation also explores identity, belonging, and what it means to grow up between two cultures, neither fully American nor fully Vietnamese, yet connected to both.

The episode turns deeply personal as Mai describes writing her book as a path toward understanding her parents, especially her father’s trauma, and breaking years of silence around their shared past. She speaks about empathy, resilience, and how immigrant children often shoulder invisible emotional burdens even when they appear to be thriving.

Mai closes by sharing messages for younger generations navigating identity and for Vietnam veterans whose actions, she says, are still remembered with gratitude by many Vietnamese families. Part 3 brings the story full circle, showing how survival became purpose and how memory, once painful, can become a bridge between history and healing.

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hmTv | The Fog of War and Humanity Ep. 471
Rich Acritelli with guest Mai Pham (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this compelling conversation, host Rich Acritelli continues his interview with author Kwan Mai Pham, exploring the complex family history and emotional aftermath behind her memoir, A Bridge from Saigon. Mai reveals that her relatives were split across both sides of Vietnam’s conflict, with deep roots in the North as well as the South. She shares stunning details about family members who held positions within the Communist Party, alongside relatives on her father’s side who were persecuted as the revolution consolidated power.

Mai recounts how two of her grandfathers died under communist rule: one during an internal party purge in the late 1940s, and another who was imprisoned and ultimately died in jail after land confiscations and political retaliation swept through the North. She explains the sacred role teachers hold in Vietnamese culture, and how that reverence shaped even the way her grandfather was targeted.

The episode also explores the devastating reality of re-education camps after 1975. Mai describes an uncle who spent ten years in a camp, emerging deeply changed, and later being brought to the United States through the family reunification program. Rich and Mai discuss Vietnam’s gradual shift toward normalization with the U.S., the country’s rapid adaptation, and the dramatic transformation Mai witnessed on later visits, including the “newness” of modern banking and international travel in the late 1990s.

Mai also speaks candidly about identity and language: how overseas Vietnamese are viewed differently depending on who you encounter, how accents and vocabulary reveal your origins, and what it feels like to return to a homeland that has moved on, especially in a nation where most citizens are too young to remember Saigon or the war.

Finally, the conversation turns inward, focusing on the immigrant experience in America. Mai shares that her greatest challenge as a child refugee was loneliness, and that because she learned English quickly and without an accent, adults assumed she needed no support. She reflects on her parents’ extraordinary strength and sacrifice, her brothers’ drive and resilience, and the slow, painful journey toward finding closure, including a return trip to Vietnam that brought both healing and resurfaced trauma for her father.

Part 2 deepens the emotional and historical context of Mai’s story, setting the stage for Part 3, where the discussion will move into her education, professional path, and the long-term work of coping, resilience, and meaning-making.

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hmTv | The Fog of War and Humanity Ep. 470
Rich Acritelli with guest Mai Pham (Part 1)

In Episode 470 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Rich Acritelli welcomes author Kwan Mai Pham for a powerful and deeply human conversation about her memoir, A Bridge from Saigon. Mai begins by sharing one of her most vivid childhood memories: escaping South Vietnam at age seven aboard a cargo flight on April 20, 1975, just ten days before the fall of Saigon. She describes the chilling moment inside the aircraft as the hatch closed at dawn, marking her final image of her homeland.

Mai reflects on what it was like to grow up during wartime without fully understanding that a war was happening, protected by parents who worked in professional roles connected to the U.S. presence in Vietnam. She recounts later returning to Vietnam as an adult, including living in Saigon for a year in the late 1990s, and witnessing how the city transformed from a familiar, freewheeling place into a modern skyline of rapid development.

The episode also traces Mai’s first steps in America: arriving as the first Vietnamese refugee family in West Mount Airy, Philadelphia, and navigating school, language, and identity in a new world. She shares how her father, a former professor, quickly became a public school teacher and a community anchor for newly arriving refugee families, offering support that went far beyond the classroom.

Part 1 sets the foundation for a story about displacement and resilience, family and education, and what it means to live “between worlds.” It is an intimate start to a remarkable journey, and a preview of the deeper exploration to come in Part 2 as Rich and Mai dig further into the themes and experiences behind A Bridge from Saigon.

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