Life Dunk

In this episode of Live Dunk, Rabbi Miriam Berger and Abigail Morris explore Yom Kippur not simply as a day of fasting, repentance and judgement, but as an invitation to actively choose how we want to live.

From forgiveness and the Book of Life to recognising our blessings and showing up for our community, the conversation asks whether Yom Kippur can be less about waiting to be judged and more about taking responsibility for the life we create. In a year when being visibly Jewish can feel harder, simply being present can itself become an act of choosing life.

What happens when someone who has walked the same path simply says, "I understand"?

In this episode, Rabbi Miriam Berger is joined by Professor Nancy Pistrang, Professor of Clinical Psychology, to explore the transformative role of peer support. Drawing on groundbreaking research with women affected by gynaecological cancer, they discuss why shared experience can provide a unique kind of comfort, confidence and hope that professional support alone cannot always offer.

Together they reflect on empathy, active listening, the importance of bearing witness to one another's lives, and how meaningful relationships help people navigate illness, grief and life's many challenges. The conversation also offers a glimpse into Wellspring's vision for creating communities where people feel seen, supported and never have to face difficult journeys alone. 

In this thoughtful and surprisingly nuanced episode, Miriam explores one of Judaism's most debated contemporary questions with renowned Hebrew calligrapher and tattoo artist Gabriel Wolff.

Together, with Abigail Morris they unpack the biblical prohibition on tattoos, the history behind the verse in Leviticus, and why the conversation is far more complex than many people realise. From Holocaust memory and Jewish identity to ritual, grief, migration and personal transformation, this is a discussion about the stories we carry—both on our skin and within ourselves.

Rather than asking simply whether tattoos are permitted, the conversation explores why people seek permanent markers of life's defining moments, how Jewish ritual helps us navigate change, and whether ancient tradition and modern self-expression can coexist.

Whether you're deeply observant, proudly secular, tattooed, tattoo-curious, or simply interested in Jewish thought, this episode offers a compassionate and intellectually rich exploration of identity, memory and what it means to mark a life well lived.

What does it mean to tell the Pesach story in a year like this one?

In this special Life Dunk episode, Rabbi Miriam Berger and Abigail Morris are in conversation for a searching, timely discussion about fear, Jewish identity, the power of the Haggadah, and the role of the Seder in hard times. Together they reflect on antisemitism close to home, the pressure of competing narratives, the importance of difficult questions, and the challenge of seeing both our own vulnerability and the suffering of others. Along the way, they explore practical ways to make the Seder more meaningful, more honest, and more alive — not by getting through more pages, but by asking better questions around the table.

In this episode of Life Dunk  Rabbi Miriam Berger and psychologist Stuart Linke explore our complicated relationship with alcohol. Starting with the idea of Dry January, the conversation moves through health, habit, culture and faith: what alcohol does to our bodies and minds, how dependence can creep in unnoticed, and why counting our drinking can be so revealing. Rabbi Berger reflects on the central place of wine in Jewish ritual, from kiddush to Purim, alongside powerful rabbinic warnings about excess, while Stuart Link offers practical psychological insight into moderation, stress, addiction and wellbeing. Together they ask whether abstinence, moderation, or mindful ritual offers the healthiest path, and how community, accountability and marking time can support real change.