⚾ From College World Series Champion to Federal Prison — The Sam Favata Story

On this episode of LivingYosh, I sit down with Sam Favata for a raw conversation about extraordinary success, devastating mistakes, consequences, and rebuilding your life.

Sam was a member of Cal State Fullerton's 1979 College World Series championship team and was later drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. His professional baseball career took a devastating turn after he suffered a catastrophic head injury after being hit by a pitch.

Years later, Sam's life took another dramatic turn when he became involved in a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that ultimately led to federal prison.

But this conversation goes much deeper than the headlines.

We talk about:

⚾ Growing up and discovering baseball
🏆 Winning the 1979 College World Series
⚾ Being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers
💥 The devastating baseball injury that changed his life
💰 Success, money and losing control
⚠️ When Sam realized he had a serious problem
💔 What happened when family and people close to him walked away
🔒 Life inside federal prison
🙏 Accountability, regret and forgiveness
💪 Rebuilding after losing almost everything
🗣️ Sam's message to anyone heading down a dangerous path

This isn't a conversation about excusing the past. It's about confronting it.

Can someone be defined by the worst decisions they've ever made — or by what they choose to do afterward?

🎙️ SAM FAVATA SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: @sam.favata3
TikTok: @sam.favata3
Facebook: Sam Favata

👑 FOLLOW LIVINGYOSH

🌐 Website: LivingYosh.com
📸 Instagram: @livingyosh
▶️ YouTube: @LivingYosh

Subscribe to LivingYosh for more powerful conversations about resilience, adversity, faith, success, failure and the stories that shape who we become.

#SamFavata #LivingYosh #PonziScheme #CollegeWorldSeries #CalStateFullerton #Baseball #MilwaukeeBrewers #FederalPrison #PrisonStory #TrueStory #BaseballStory #Redemption #SecondChances #Podcast #InspirationalStories

DESCRIPTION

What can $1 a day really accomplish?

For Dr. Jonathan Donath, one simple moment before Maariv became the beginning of something much bigger.

Dr. Donath is a chiropractor and the founder of Daily Giving, an organization built around a simple but powerful idea: when thousands of people commit to giving just $1 every day, small acts of tzedakah can create an enormous collective impact.

In this episode of LivingYosh, Dr. Donath shares the story behind Daily Giving — from the idea that came to him while putting a dollar into a tzedakah box, to launching with just 46 people, to the persistence it took to keep growing the movement.

We talk about:

• Who Jonathan Donath was before becoming Dr. Donath
• Why he chose chiropractic care and a life of helping people
• The moment the idea for Daily Giving was born
• Why he refused to let a day pass without finding another giver
• Tzedakah, consistency and the power of giving every day
• Emunah and seeing Hashem along the journey
• Jewish unity and bringing people together through giving




This conversation isn't really about one dollar.

It's about what can happen when one small act of kindness becomes a daily habit — and thousands of people do it together.

Learn more and join Daily Giving:
https://dailygiving.org

🌐 LivingYosh: https://LivingYosh.com
📸 Instagram: @LivingYosh
▶️ YouTube: @LivingYosh

If this conversation inspires you, please LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE the episode. It helps LivingYosh continue bringing you meaningful conversations with people who are making a difference.

One dollar. One day at a time. One opportunity to make a difference.

#DrJonathanDonath #DailyGiving #LivingYosh #Tzedakah #JewishPodcast #JewishInspiration #Charity #GivingBack #Emunah #JewishCommunity #Podcast

🇮🇱 JARED FIRESTONE — THE JEWISH JET | LIVINGYOSH

What does it take to race headfirst down an icy track at incredible speeds — while proudly representing Israel on the world stage?

On this episode of LivingYosh, I sit down with Jared Firestone — “The Jewish Jet” — a 2026 Winter Olympian, skeleton racer, attorney, and proud representative of Israel.

Jared's journey is about much more than speed or sports.

We talk about growing up in South Florida, discovering skeleton, becoming an elite athlete, overcoming a serious health scare, narrowly missing his first opportunity at the Olympics, battling injuries, and ultimately achieving his dream of becoming an Olympian.



Jared shares what it means to compete internationally with the Magen David proudly displayed on his helmet, what representing Israel and the Jewish people means to him, and why continuing his Olympic journey became about something much bigger than himself.

In this conversation:







If Jared's story inspires you, please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE to help LivingYosh bring more inspirational conversations to more people.

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✡️ CONNECT WITH JARED FIRESTONE — THE JEWISH JET

🌐 Website: https://www.jewishjet.com/

🔗 Jared's Links & Social Media:
https://linktr.ee/jewishjet

📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jewishjet/

▶️ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@JewishJet

💼 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredfirestone1

Jared is also co-founder of Advancing Jewish Athletics, helping support and inspire Jewish athletes.

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🔥 FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE TO LIVINGYOSH

🌐 Website:
https://www.livingyosh.com/

▶️ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@LivingYosh

📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingyosh/

💙 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/livingyosh

🎵 TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@livingyosh

💼 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-markell

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LivingYosh — Real People. Real Struggles. Real Inspiration.

Do you have an inspirational story — or know someone who should be a guest on LivingYosh?

Comment below, tag them, or reach out to me. I'd love to hear their story.

👉 Subscribe to LivingYosh and join us for more conversations about resilience, faith, purpose, Jewish pride and people doing extraordinary things.

#JaredFirestone #JewishJet #LivingYosh #Israel #TeamIsrael #Olympics #WinterOlympics #Skeleton #JewishPride #October7 #JewishAthlete #IsraeliAthlete #Resilience #Inspiration

kelly Siegel: How to Become Harder Than Life | LivingYosh

What does it really take to turn adversity into strength?

In this special episode of LivingYosh, I sit down with Kelly Siegel — entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, CEO of National Technology Management, and host of the Harder Than Life podcast.

This conversation was personal for me.

During some of the hardest periods of my own life, people like Kelly were the people I needed to hear from — people who had been through adversity themselves and could honestly say, "I've been there, and you can keep going."

Kelly and I go deep into his journey: his childhood, how he got started, building a successful business, sobriety, fatherhood, fitness, personal growth, breaking generational cycles, and the mindset behind Harder Than Life.

But this isn't just a conversation about success.

We talk about healing.

We talk about what adversity does to you.









🔥 KELLY SIEGEL / HARDER THAN LIFE

Harder Than Life:
https://harderthanlife.com/

Harder Than Life Podcast:
https://harderthanlife.com/podcast

Kelly Siegel Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kelly.siegel.71/

Kelly Siegel LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/

Kelly Siegel TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71

Kelly Siegel Links:
https://linktr.ee/kellysiegel

National Technology Management:
https://www.trustntm.com/


📚 KELLY SIEGEL'S BOOK

Harder Than Life: Overcoming Poverty, Addiction, and Violence

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Harder-than-Life-Overcoming-Addiction/dp/1544539126/

Kelly also offers "50 Quotes to Conquer Life's Toughest Challenges" through:
https://harderthanlife.com/


🎙️ LIVINGYOSH

LivingYosh is about real conversations with people who have faced challenges, found strength and have something meaningful to give others.

LivingYosh Website:
https://livingyosh.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@LivingYosh

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingyosh/


🙏 JOIN THE LIVINGYOSH COMMUNITY

If this conversation gives you strength, please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE.

And if YOU have an inspirational story — or know somebody whose journey could inspire others — reach out to me.

Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.


#KellySiegel #HarderThanLife #LivingYosh #OvercomingAdversity #Resilience #Motivation #PersonalGrowth #Success #Entrepreneur #Sobriety #Mindset #Inspiration #Podcast

What happens when remembering history becomes more important than ever?

On this episode of LivingYosh, I sit down with Fabulous Flores, Holocaust historian and CEO of the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center (HAMEC).

Fabulous has dedicated her career to Holocaust education, preserving history, sharing the stories of survivors, and making sure the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.

In this meaningful conversation, we go beyond her title and get to know Fabulous the person.

We talk about whether she loved history as a child, the story behind her unforgettable name, her previous careers, her connection to Judaism, and what ultimately led her to devote her life to Holocaust education.

We also have an important conversation about October 7, the rise of antisemitism, and how those events have affected Fabulous personally and strengthened her passion for educating the next generation.

As the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline, who will carry their stories forward?

And what responsibility do all of us have to make sure the world truly understands what “Never Again” means?

We discuss:

• The story behind the name Fabulous Flores
• Her childhood and love of history
• Her career before becoming CEO
• Her connection to Judaism and the Jewish community
• Why she became passionate about Holocaust history
• Becoming CEO of HAMEC
• How October 7 affected her personally
• The rise of antisemitism
• Why Holocaust education matters today
• Preserving survivors' stories for future generations
• What young people need to learn from history
• And a fun LivingYosh Speed Round

❤️ SUPPORT THE HOLOCAUST AWARENESS MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER


HAMEC Official Website:
https://hamec.org/

DONATE TO HAMEC — Support Holocaust Education:
https://hamec.org/donate/

HAMEC Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/holocaust_awareness_museum?igsi=cDcyNW9kbHFhdDZt

HAMEC Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1VzVEsiCDq/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Your support helps preserve Holocaust history, educate future generations, and ensure that the stories and lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.

🎙️ FOLLOW LIVINGYOSH

LivingYosh Website:
https://livingyosh.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@LivingYosh

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingyosh/

LivingYosh — Real Stories. Real People. Real Inspiration.

If this conversation means something to you, please LIKE 👍, COMMENT 💬, SHARE ↗️ and SUBSCRIBE 🔔.



And most importantly, please consider supporting HAMEC and helping ensure that Holocaust education continues for generations to come:

❤️ DONATE HERE:
https://hamec.org/donate/

#FabulousFlores #Holocaust #HolocaustEducation #NeverForget #NeverAgain #October7 #Antisemitism #JewishHistory #Jewish #HAMEC #LivingYosh #HolocaustAwareness #Inspiration

What makes Israeli food so special? 🇮🇱🍽️

Today on LivingYosh, I sit down with Yehudah Jacobs — The Israeli Foodie, a kosher private chef, Israeli food expert, shuk tour guide, and culinary workshop host.

We go beyond the kitchen and get to know Yehudah’s story — from his taste buds as a kid and favorite family foods to becoming The Israeli Foodie and turning his passion for food into a career.

We talk about Israeli cuisine, the incredible experience of walking through Israel’s shuks, favorite restaurants, childhood food memories, kosher cooking, culinary workshops, what makes a great meal, and plenty of fun food debates.

And of course, we put Yehudah through the LivingYosh Speed Round!

🌐 FOLLOW & CONNECT WITH THE ISRAELI FOODIE

Website:
https://theisraelifoodie.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theisraelifoodie/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/theisraelifoodies/

🌟 FOLLOW LIVINGYOSH

Website:
https://livingyosh.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@LivingYosh

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingyosh/

LivingYosh is about real people, inspiring stories, passion, resilience, and refusing to give up on what matters to you.

If you enjoy the conversation, please SUBSCRIBE, 👍 LIKE, 💬 COMMENT and ↗️ SHARE this interview.

And if you or someone you know has an inspiring story or an incredible passion, reach out. I’m always looking for future LivingYosh guests.

#IsraeliFood #IsraeliFoodie #YehudahJacobs #KosherFood #IsraelFood #JewishFood #IsraeliCuisine #Shuk #KosherCooking #FoodTour #IsraelTravel #LivingYosh #Podcast #Inspiration

ewish magician and mentalist Shlomo Levinger joins LivingYosh for an unforgettable conversation—and performs an incredible magic trick that literally knocked me out of my seat!

Shlomo has amazed audiences worldwide with his street magic, card tricks and mind-blowing illusions. He has performed for professional athletes, celebrities and major sports teams while proudly representing his Jewish faith.

In this interview, Shlomo discusses:

✨ How he discovered his passion for magic
🃏 The practice behind his amazing card tricks
✡️ Why he believes Hashem gave him this special gift
😊 Using magic to bring happiness to people
🇮🇱 Bringing smiles to the Jewish community since October 7
🍎 Finding wonder and inspiration before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
🎩 Whether magic is more popular today than ever before

Watch until the end to see the incredible trick that completely caught me off guard!

Please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE to LivingYosh for more inspiring interviews with passionate people and meaningful stories.

CONNECT WITH SHLOMO LEVINGER

Website:
https://shlomolevinger.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ShlomoLevinger

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shlomolevinger/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/shlomo.levinger

X/Twitter:
https://twitter.com/shlomolevinger

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shlomo-levinger-968869a7

CONNECT WITH LIVINGYOSH

Website:
https://livingyosh.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@LivingYosh

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingyosh/

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@livingyosh

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/61578439271076

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-markell-a5987a413

Every person has a story. Every challenge can have meaning. Keep growing, keep believing and keep LivingYosh.

#ShlomoLevinger #JewishMagician #MagicTricks #Magician #Mentalist #StreetMagic #CardMagic #JewishInspiration #LivingYosh #JoshuaMarkell

What starts with one grill can become something much bigger. 🇮🇱🔥

Today on LivingYosh, I sit down with Elliot Auerbacher, founder of Grilling for Israel, for a meaningful conversation about his life, his connection to Israel, and how a mission to feed Israeli soldiers grew into something extraordinary.

We talk about the man behind the grill, what inspired Elliot to take action, the soldiers he has met along the way, the impact of October 7, and what it means to show our Chayalim that they are loved, appreciated, and never alone.

Elliot's story is a powerful reminder that you don't have to be able to do everything—you just have to be willing to do something.

🔥 GRILLING FOR ISRAEL
Grilling for Israel Website

🎙️ LIVINGYOSH
LivingYosh Website
LivingYosh YouTube
LivingYosh Instagram

Please subscribe, like, comment and share this interview. If you know someone with an inspirational story or someone who is truly passionate about what they do, reach out—I would love to hear their story.

#ElliotAuerbacher #GrillingForIsrael #IDF #IDFSoldiers #Israel #Chayalim #Jewish #JewishPodcast #LivingYosh #October7 #AmYisraelChai