This episode comes from an intimate conversation with Yalla: the podcast of Jewish students, brought to you by the Union of Jewish Students of the UK.

By weaving together some threads of my childhood and the wisdom earned by my father’s passing, I talk about the profound human ache for connection and ways to build inner strength. There's some gentle wisdom here on how to become a sanctuary for those in emotional pain and how to keep your own heart open to receiving support.

I close with a few reflections on the landscape of grief and loss—words meant to serve as a steady light in the dark.

In 1987, receiving an HIV diagnosis felt like a definitive death sentence, as the pandemic was surging and life-saving medications like AZT were not yet available. After my own diagnosis that year, I carried the heavy burden of sharing this news with my parents during a time of immense fear and uncertainty.

Twenty years later, I gathered my friends and family in New York City to mark a major anniversary of survival—a milestone that once seemed impossible. During that celebration, I revisited my journey through storytelling and song to honor how far we had come.

In this segment, I share the intimate and difficult story of how I told my parents.

Twenty years after my HIV diagnosis in 1987, I invited my friends and family to a major anniversary celebration in New York City. During that event, I shared the story of my HIV journey through storytelling and song.

Now, decades later, reflecting back on that evening, I am sharing this recording in the hopes that we can all celebrate our personal milestones together.

This episode is about a communication technique I developed called BIRVAM. It is a six-step process involving reflective listening and supportive responses, which is particularly effective when you want to be helpful but are unsure of what to say. While the steps can be used in any order, the most critical component is "V" for Validation. Validating statements are healing statements. When someone receives a BIRVAM response, they feel heard, understood, and supported.

This technique was discussed during my 2020 interview with Michelle Herman, LCSW, for her podcast "Peace By Piece." 

How can we maintain a meaningful presence for young people, even when we may not have the answers to their most challenging questions?

Drawing on the tools outlined in my book, "How to Raise an Elegant Teen: The ABCs of Gen Z Parenting," I offer practical strategies to help parents, grandparents and guardians navigate the complexities of supporting todays' teens through life's various transitions. Additionally, this talk emphasizes the vital role of adult self-care.

Use this episode as validation of what is working in your relationship with your teen or as a survival guide for communicating with the "creature in your car." Let it remind you of what each of us wants most: the tender presence of a loving other and permission to be whomever we are becoming. 

Tissues required.

The lessons derived from the Civil Rights movement in the American south are highly relevant in context to today's political climate. Originally delivered at a Shabbat service in 2025, this talk outlines some of the movement's significant achievements. I examine key historical milestones, beginning with Rosa Parks' arrest in 1955 and the subsequent emergence of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the leader of a non-violent movement, along with the pivotal events that followed. And, of course, I throw in a few ideas about how to be enough!

This talk, originally entitled, "Things I Learn from People on Airplanes," explores the many different ways we can learn about the world from the places we visit to the people we meet along the way. 

It was recorded in the 2000s at the Conference on World Affairs on the campus of the University of Colorado. 

This episode provides a concise overview of the latest advancements in HIV/AIDS prevention. I offer this info to help bridge the current educational gap in comprehensive sexual health education, from middle school through medical school.

This talk covers HIV transmission and highlights current and emerging preventative strategies, including Viral Load (VL), Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Treatment as Prevention (TasP), and DoxyPEP.

This information is ideal for anyone interested in understanding the current scientific landscape of HIV/AIDS or who wishes to protect themselves and their friends.

Please note that this is an excerpt from a longer podcast, which explains the abrupt ending.

This talk, recorded in 2020 during a Zoom session at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, explores how we can extend mercy to others and grant ourselves permission to live without self-reproach. The inspiration came from a Penn State student who, after hearing me speak, tweeted the words: "Never leave a conversation until love walks in the room." It was also shaped by the insights my nephews shared with me while playing the video game "Overwatch," revealing some universal wisdom. I hope it gives you some comfort.

This episode is my response to a question from a teenager with a broken heart. She asked me how to be more comfortable looking at herself in the mirror. "I want to be pretty," she stated, "and I want to like what I see."  It was recorded at St. Mark's Church in NYC in 2004, celebrating the launch of my 2nd book, "My Invisible Kingdom: Letters from the Secret Lives of Teens."