Searching For Heroes With Benjamin Hall

"Freedom, it's priceless."

Eli Sharabi's life changed forever when he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. After nearly 500 days in captivity, Eli was freed this past February, and he returned home to the heartbreaking reality that his wife and two daughters had been killed. 

Almost nine months later, Eli shares his experience being held hostage, how he manages his grief, and what his family and friends have done to uplift him through life's darkest moments.  Eli also reflects on his memoir, Hostage, in which he shares his story of heartbreak, survival and strength.

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'Saved' is really what happens when the tunnel finally widens and a hand reaches through the dark and grabs you.” 

With his own life as a reference, Benjamin will explore a new theme: saved. Over the next few episodes, he will sit down with people who were pulled out from captivity and brought home, as well as the people who risk their lives to save people in these circumstances.

Benjamin will discuss life after being saved, how to cope with the memories, and create a path forward. He also reflects on his own journey of being saved and offers the encouragement that no matter what someone is experiencing, they will get stronger every day.

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“The scars of what I lost was proof of what I had gained.”

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Former NFL star and best-selling author Tim Green discusses his battle with progressive neurodegenerative disease (ALS) and how it transformed him not only physically but spiritually. 

Despite no longer being able to speak, Tim continues to write, work, and communicate using an AI-generated voice and eye-tracking. He shares how his diagnosis reframed his values and purpose, while strengthening his relationship with his family. 

Tim describes his message to the world as encouraging strength through adversity and cultivating faith to overcome obstacles. 

Stay connected with Tim on his podcast: Nothing Left Unsaid.

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What if you woke up and lost 20 years of memories, and had no recollection of your husband and child? In 1991, that nightmare became a reality for Anne Howell.

Author of All That I Forget Anne Howell retells the journey of rebuilding her life after being diagnosed with retrograde amnesia at 30 years old and waking up in the hospital with the belief that she was 9 years old again.  

 Anne details the moments where she had to rely on the stories from her loved ones to help piece together her forgotten life. Metaphorically, she woke up with ingredients to a recipe she couldn't remember and instead of giving up, she discovered a new taste for something just as sweet.

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Host of The Connectors Podcast Quinten Sheriff was raised in a sheltered environment in Zimbabwe. At a young age, he was given parameters for how and who he should be, until one day he decided he was ready to take ownership of his life and run away with his partner to live in his truth as a gay man in Southern Africa.

What Quinten believed to be a desire to escape was ultimately a commitment to expand and not be held captive to a life he did not want to live. Quinten's journey of personal liberation has inspired him to encourage people to embrace their authenticity.

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Host of The Connectors Podcast Quinten Sheriff was raised in a sheltered environment in Zimbabwe. At a young age, he was given parameters for how and who he should be, until one day he decided he was ready to take ownership of his life and run away with his partner to live in his truth as a gay man in Southern Africa.

What Quinten believed to be a desire to escape was ultimately a commitment to expand and not be held captive to a life he did not want to live. Quinten's journey of personal liberation has inspired him to encourage people to embrace their authenticity.

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Following several impactful conversations on the topics of rebirth and new beginnings, Benjamin reflects on what it means in his own life. After being severely injured in Ukraine and returning home, Benjamin's outlook on family, purpose, and resilience was reframed. He was allowed to re-experience life.  Although the journey was one of patience, grief, and immense discomfort, there was so much beauty in the reinvention.

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"If God didn't have a different plan and purpose for my life, I don't think I would be here today."

Author, speaker, and former Colombo Family Caporegime Michael Franzese details his experience with the mob and the epiphany that ultimately led him to turn a new chapter and step away from his life of crime.

Years later, Michael's life is dedicated to helping young people, who become entranced by the facade of glamour, fame, and power that the mob presents, see the dark reality of the business. He also shares how his faith and family were a guiding light in his rebirth.

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"It turned into this dark thing where I was using my pain as a party favor."

In 2018, Aaron Stark's story of rebirth captivated the nation when his TED Talk entitled "I Was Almost A School Shooter" went viral. 

Aaron details how his traumatic childhood introduced him to a life of self-destruction and low self-esteem. He joins Ben to share how the unconditional kindness of a friend ultimately gave him the courage to rebuild his life and become the man he always wanted to be. Now, as a mental health advocate, Aaron emphasizes the importance of extending compassion to those who need it. 

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