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Some of the most powerful acts of service begin not with a business plan, but with a broken heart. For Sara Jacobs, the loss of her mother became the foundation for a life built on compassion, community, and the belief that healing often happens not when we turn inward, but when we turn outward.
Sara is a mother, Kabbalah teacher, and founder and executive director of Maman, a grassroots nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid and community support to individuals and families facing illness, crisis, and hardship across the U.S. and Israel. What began as a natural instinct to show up for others in her community has grown into a movement that has mobilized thousands of volunteers and touched countless lives. In this conversation, Sara and I reflect on our shared history, the spiritual foundations that shaped her, and the quiet, powerful ways that giving back can become its own form of healing.
In this episode, Sara shares:
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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
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What if the secret to a better day isn't what you do during it, but how you begin it?
Before the emails, the responsibilities, the endless to-do lists, and the demands of everyone around you, there is an opportunity to set the tone for the day ahead. And sometimes, just a few intentional minutes can make all the difference.
In this episode, we're exploring the magic of mornings and how simple rituals can help you feel more grounded, focused, energized, and intentional in the way you move through life.
Drawing from practices I've developed over the last decade, many born out of necessity during some of life's most challenging seasons, I'll share how mindfulness, gratitude, visualization, and small daily habits can help us build resilience, find clarity, and approach each day with greater purpose.
Whether you're a morning person or someone who hits snooze five times, this episode isn't about creating the perfect morning routine or adding more to your already full plate. It's about discovering what works for you and learning how to begin your day on your own terms.
Because how we start our mornings doesn't just shape our days. Over time, it shapes the way we experience our lives.
In this episode, I share:
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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
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Today’s episode is about something we all hope we never face—but so many women unfortunately do: breast cancer- Cancer is a word that can feel heavy, but my goal today is to arm you with the knowledge and information you need to have. Because the truth is the number one risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a woman. And whether you want to talk about it or not, this disease impacts 1 in 8 women. And as you will learn today, Jewish women are more likely to carry mutations that cause Breast cancer. So I invite you to listen to this episode all the way through. I promise—it won’t feel heavy or discouraging. Instead, it will leave you with the knowledge you want to have.
We are living in a time where knowledge is power. The more we understand about our bodies, our risks, and the resources available to us, the more empowered we become to take action, advocate for ourselves, and support the people around us.
Today’s episode is about leaning into that power—because with knowledge comes confidence, with community comes strength, and with both, comes hope.
A breast cancer diagnosis can feel like the ground has shifted beneath your feet — and navigating the medical world, the emotional weight, and the sheer volume of information can feel impossible to do alone. That is exactly why Sharsheret exists, and why this conversation with its CEO, Elana Silber, is one every woman needs to hear.
The information shared on this episode is for educational purposes only. Please consult a licensed medical professional for advice specific to your health.
In this episode, Elana shares:
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How does a person endure the unimaginable — and still choose joy? That is the question at the heart of this profoundly moving episode, and Ella Mandel's answer will stay with you long after you finish listening.
Ella Mandel is a Holocaust survivor, educator, and living witness to one of the darkest chapters in human history. Born in Poland in 1926, Ella was thirteen years old when the Germans arrived. Over the years that followed, she lost her entire family — her youngest sister, her father, her mother, and ultimately her older sister — to the Holocaust. She survived the Lodz Ghetto, Auschwitz, a German labor camp, and Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated in April 1945 at just eighteen years old, weighing barely sixty pounds. In 2025, nearly eighty years later, Ella was honored with the Award of Courage by Holocaust Museum LA alongside supermodel Cindy Crawford, with whom she collaborated on the Borrowed Spotlight campaign to raise awareness about antisemitism and keep these stories alive for future generations.
This episode is a rare and sacred gift. With Ella's permission, Rita has woven excerpts from her 1994 USC Shoah Foundation interview together with wisdom Ella shared in a personal conversation earlier this year — honoring both the depth of her story and the gift of her time.
In this episode, Ella shares:
This episode is dedicated to the memory of the eleven million lives lost during the Holocaust, six million of them Jewish, and to the survivors who carry the responsibility of bearing witness so that history is never forgotten.
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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
References:
Some doors to freedom are forced open — through sheer will, quiet defiance, and an unshakeable belief that a better life is possible. For Somaya Etemad, that belief was planted by a father who showed her the world, and it carried her through some of the most harrowing chapters a person can endure.
Somaya is an Iranian-American artist and architect whose life story unfolds like a film — one in which she is the hero. Born and raised in Mashhad, Iran, she endured the systematic oppression of the Islamic regime, an abusive forced marriage, and arrest in the aftermath of the Green Movement. At just 25 years old, she fled Iran with her dog, her architecture degree, and an unwavering belief that she deserved a free life. She arrived in Los Angeles in 2011, enrolled at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and has never looked back. Today, Somaya is a practicing architect and fine artist whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, most recently at the Contemporary Museum of Japan.
In this episode, Somaya shares:
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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
References:
As we welcome spring, let's also welcome fresh energy into our homes through what we choose to surround ourselves with. I truly believe our homes have the power to inspire us to live better lives—they can either hinder us or empower us.
A well-designed space doesn't just look beautiful—it invites us to feel better and in turn, do better. Whether we realize it or not, the spaces we spend time in are constantly shaping our emotional experience. And for me, whether it's my own home or one I'm designing for a client, the goal is always the same: to create a sense of release, a breath of fresh air at the end of a long day.
In this episode, I share insights from my work as an interior designer and the lessons I've learned about how our surroundings impact our daily lives, our mental health, and our ability to show up fully.
In this episode, I share:
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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
References:
Welcome to Episode 10—a milestone moment! Today I'm celebrating 10 episodes of Journey with Rita Podcast and reflecting on the incredible wisdom, courage, and resilience we've witnessed together.
Journey with Rita was established in 2020 as an online platform after I came across a quote by Brené Brown that truly resonated with me: "One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will become someone else's survival guide."
Having been a peer supporter to those fighting breast cancer, those words didn't just inspire me—they became my North Star. They gave me language to something I had been feeling but couldn't quite articulate: that our experiences, our struggles, our lessons can serve someone else. That our stories, when shared honestly, can become lifelines.
In this episode, I reflect on:
Lessons from Our First 10 Episodes:
Faith & Community: We explored how community holds us up when we can't hold ourselves, and how shared experiences help us grow through hardship, not just survive it.
Transformation & Authenticity: We learned that transformation begins with self-trust and the courage to release what no longer fits.
Mental Health Matters: Behind every polished success story is real work and real struggle—mental health can never take a backseat.
Rewriting Mom Guilt: We unpacked mom guilt and rewrote the narrative around it.
Gratitude as Discipline: We explored gratitude not as a cliché but as a daily practice that reshapes perspective.
Financial Resilience: We challenged the narrative that financial literacy belongs in someone else's hands and affirmed that women have the intelligence and vision to make confident financial decisions.
Designing an Intentional Life: We discussed manifesting dreams by aligning actions with values, not just checking boxes.
Integrity & Discipline: We heard how staying true to yourself—even when the industry rewards something else—creates meaningful success.
Resilience Isn't Magic: We were reminded that resilience isn't something we access when life falls apart—it's the ability to draw from strengths we've been building all along.
Key Message: Resilience is contagious. When we see someone else navigate hardship and come out stronger, it lights a path for our own resilience and growth. Our stories, when shared honestly, become lifelines for others.
What's Next: This is only the beginning. More conversations, more wisdom, more tools for building resilience together.
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✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast
The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
References:
What happens when the very thing that defines you—your ability to move—is threatened by a disease you can't control? How do you keep performing ten dances a night on tour when your legs go numb? How do you keep showing up when your body won't cooperate?
Meet Courtney Platt: world-class dancer, actress, choreographer, and powerful voice for living fully with multiple sclerosis. Courtney started her dance career as a New York Knicks City dancer, was a top four finalist on So You Think You Can Dance, and has danced and choreographed for some of the biggest stages and screen productions of the last decade.
But at the height of her career, at only 23 years old while on tour with So You Think You Can Dance, Courtney's legs went completely numb from the waist down. Doctors found plaque on her spinal cord and lesions on her brain. The diagnosis: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Instead of letting MS define her, Courtney transformed it into her mission—using her platform to advocate, educate, and inspire others living with autoimmune diseases. Today, she's not only a celebrated performer but a mother of three, a dance teacher, and a powerful reminder that resilience isn't about never falling—it's about refusing to stay down.
In this episode, Courtney shares:
Going numb from the waist down while performing 10 dances a night on tour
How she knew something was MS before doctors confirmed it
Dancing with completely numb legs because she refused to be taken off tour
The moment of clarity when diagnosis finally came—and the relief of knowing
Being pissed off and disappointed in her body after diagnosis
The frustration of wanting to push her baby out but needing a C-section
Learning to appreciate her body's gifts instead of taking movement for granted
Why giving yourself grace and compassion is essential
The guilt of needing rest when you're "supposed to" be hustling
Her husband's unwavering support: "Tell me you're not being lazy"
Why napping like a small child is non-negotiable now
Traveling with MS: Planning around energy levels and recovery time
The wheelchair at the airport and dealing with judgment from strangers
Teaching her kids about MS: the conversation she dreaded but handled beautifully
Why surrounding yourself with the right people is everything
Having a third baby through surrogacy—and why it was the right choice
Her body producing breast milk even though she didn't give birth to Gianna
The advice that made her angry: "Find a less stressful job"
✨Follow me on Instagram @JourneyWitRitaOrg
✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast
The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
References:
Follow Courtney Platt on Instagram
Connect with Rita @journeywithritaorg and @ritanaffasdesign
Visit www.journeywithrita.org for more episodes and resources
Some careers unfold quietly—and then there are careers built in rooms where the stakes are high, the conversations are charged, and the pressure is relentless. Today's episode is about what it takes to earn a seat at those tables and keep it.
Meet Lisa Daftari: award-winning investigative journalist, foreign policy analyst, and founder and editor-in-chief of the Foreign Desk, an independent global affairs platform focused on international security, human rights, and Middle East geopolitics. She's also the host of the highly acclaimed Foreign Podcast.
Lisa's expertise has taken her into some of the most influential rooms—briefing institutions like the United Nations and Congress, contributing exclusive reports for the Pentagon, and working closely with the White House during the rollout of the Abraham Accords. Her work has been recognized with the Medal of Valor, the Simon Wiesenthal Award, and the Champion of Freedom Award.
But this conversation isn't just about what Lisa does—it's about who she is, how she built resilience while navigating male-dominated spaces, and how she stays grounded while working in some of the most demanding fields in the world.
In this episode, Lisa shares:
The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only.
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✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast
The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
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What does it really take to rise after life knocks you down? Not once, but twice? I’ve spent the last few months inviting remarkable women to sit on this couch with me, to be raw, vulnerable, and honest about the challenges that shaped them. And I knew—if I’m asking my guests to go there, then I have to go there too. In this deeply personal episode, I'm flipping the script and sitting down with someone who has walked beside me through my darkest moments: my therapist of 10 years, Lesley Lasker.
Lesley Lasker is a licensed marriage and family therapist and parent education specialist who has been an anchor in my life, guiding me through breast cancer, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and the unraveling and rebuilding that came with both. Today, she interviews me about the hardest chapters of my life, the moments I haven't shared publicly, and the lessons that shaped who I am as a mother, wife, and woman.
This conversation is raw, vulnerable, and honest. We talk about the fear of telling a three-year-old about cancer, the devastation of not being able to hold my seven-month-old son, the shame of needing a wheelchair, and all of the lessons along the way- including the moment I realized the universe was forcing me to stop, breathe, and just be.
In this episode, I share:
The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment or therapy. If you are struggling with your mental health or are in crisis, please reach out to a professional for support. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7. Help is available, and you don’t have to go through it alone.
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✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast
The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice
References:
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