Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

This week, we do something a little different.

The host becomes the guest.

In a powerful role reversal, Yocheved Kim Rutenberg, founder of Sword of Iron, steps into the hosting seat to interview Brad Solomon.

What unfolds is raw, real, and deeply personal.

Brad shares his journey of travelling to Israel nine times since the beginning of the war, not just to witness, but to stand alongside its people and serve where it matters most. From volunteering on the ground to advocating for the voiceless, especially the animals, this is a story of identity, purpose, and action.

This isn’t just about travel.
It’s about connection.
It’s about answering a call.

Through stories of Shanti, soldier stops, and fully immersing into Israeli life, Brad reflects on what it truly means to show up. No rigid plans. No perfect itinerary. Just a willingness to go, to give, and to be present.

Because sometimes, the journey doesn’t begin when you arrive.

It begins the moment you book the flight.

Expect honesty.
Expect heart.
And yes, expect a few laughs along the way.

Tune in for a different kind of episode. One that reminds us that doing good often starts with simply showing up.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

In this deeply thoughtful and spiritually rich episode of The Do Good Podcast, I’m joined by Ella Ray, an energy healer from Israel whose story, work, and perspective sit at the intersection of healing, identity, resilience, spirituality, and inner transformation.

With roots that are both Colombian and Israeli, Ella brings a beautifully layered perspective to what it means to live between cultures, hold space for others, and navigate life through both intuition and emotional truth. What unfolds in this conversation is not simply a discussion about “energy healing” as a concept, but a much deeper exploration of what it means to feel, to heal, to regulate, and to come back to yourself in a world that often feels noisy, heavy, disconnected, and uncertain.

Throughout the episode, we explore what energy healing really is, beyond the labels, beyond the clichés, and beyond the scepticism that can sometimes surround this work. Ella shares her own understanding of healing as something far more nuanced and human than many people realise. We talk about the body, the nervous system, emotional residue, spiritual connection, and the unseen ways in which stress, fear, trauma, and survival can become stored within us over time.

One of the most powerful threads in this conversation is the reality of trying to stay connected to yourself while living in a country that has endured such prolonged pressure and instability. We talk openly about Israel, about the emotional and energetic weight that so many people are carrying, and about how collective fear, grief, uncertainty, and trauma can affect not just the mind, but the body, the heart, and the spirit too.

This episode touches on the idea that healing in a place like Israel is not abstract or performative. It is deeply practical. It is about survival, grounding, emotional regulation, and finding moments of peace, softness, and connection even when the world outside feels loud and fractured. Ella offers a compassionate and intuitive lens on what it means to hold your centre in difficult times and why healing work matters so much, especially in environments where people are living with chronic stress, vigilance, and emotional exhaustion.

We speak about how easy it is in modern life to become disconnected from our bodies, to override our inner knowing, and to move through life from the neck up, all thought, productivity, and survival, with very little true presence. Ella speaks beautifully about the importance of reconnecting to the body, listening inwardly, and allowing healing to be something felt, not just intellectually understood.

This is also a conversation about permission. Permission to slow down. Permission to feel. Permission to acknowledge that not all healing is linear, logical, or visible. And permission to recognise that healing is not about becoming someone new, but often about returning to who you were before life taught you to disconnect from yourself.

Whether you are deeply spiritual, cautiously curious, sceptical but open-minded, or simply someone trying to make sense of stress, emotion, and what it means to stay whole in a fractured world, this episode offers something meaningful. It is grounded, honest, expansive, and full of insight.

This is a conversation about energy, but also about humanity. About what we carry. About what we absorb. About what we need to release. And about the quiet, powerful work of becoming more present, more open, more attuned, and more alive.

A beautiful, soulful, and deeply resonant conversation with a woman whose work invites us to listen more closely, live more intuitively,

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

This week’s episode of The Do Good Podcast is different.

No guest.
No conversation.
Just a moment to pause… and to feel what is really happening right now.

As Jews around the world prepare to sit down for Passover, telling the ancient story of survival, exile, and liberation… that story no longer feels distant.

It feels present.

Because across the world, antisemitism is rising again.
Not quietly. Not subtly.
But in ways that feel familiar, unsettling, and deeply personal.

And in Israel, millions of people are not watching a war unfold.
They are living inside it.

Sirens.
Missiles.
Sleepless nights.
Children asking questions no child should ever have to ask.

This is not a headline.
It is a nervous system.

And in the middle of it all, life continues.

People still show up.
They still care.
They still rescue.
They still feed the animals shaking in fear from explosions they cannot understand.
They still open doors.
Still carry each other.
Still choose humanity… even when the world feels like it is hardening.

This episode is a reflection on all of that.

On fear.
On identity.
On what it means to be Jewish right now.
On what it means to stand with Jews.
On what it means to hold compassion in a time when compassion feels selective.

And on why Passover, this year, hits differently.

Because this is a story about survival.
And right now… that story is not just being told.

It is being lived.

A deeply personal episode about antisemitism, war, resilience, tenderness, and the quiet, defiant choice to keep doing good… even when the world feels like it is breaking.

At its heart, this episode is about more than conflict. It is about memory, identity, tenderness, resilience, and moral courage. It is about what Passover means this year, when the themes of Jewish survival and freedom feel painfully immediate. And it is about what it means to keep choosing humanity, compassion, and goodness in a world that can feel increasingly hard, hostile, and numb.

This is an honest and heartfelt reflection on antisemitism, war, fear, survival, and the quiet, stubborn acts of care that still matter, perhaps now more than ever.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

David Baden’s connection to Israel began back in 1983, when he studied at Tel Aviv University. Since then, Israel has never been far from his heart, with David returning almost every year and building a lifelong relationship with the land and its people.

When October 7th happened, horror quickly turned into something deeper: a need to go, to bear witness, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with his brothers and sisters in Israel during one of the darkest moments in the country’s history. After multiple failed attempts to get there due to cancelled flights and airspace restrictions, David finally arrived in spring 2024 and spent three weeks volunteering across Israel, using the Sword of Iron community to find ways to help wherever he could.

From farming with Leket, to packing food for soldiers and families, to helping rebuild kibbutzim, including meaningful time spent on Kibbutz Be’eri, David threw himself fully into the volunteer world, showing up each day with humility, purpose and heart.

And when he returned home to New York City, his commitment didn’t stop. David became an activist on the streets of NYC, walking the city each day with a rucksack full of Bring Them Home stickers and spray paint, covering over anti-Israel posters and standing visibly and unapologetically with Israel. In doing so, he also came face to face with the very real antisemitism that had surfaced so openly in the city he calls home.

This is a powerful and inspiring conversation about love for Israel, moral courage, and what it means to show up, both in the land itself and thousands of miles away.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

In this episode, I sit down with Shmuli Weissler to talk about his employment venture, Cruitie, a career support company dedicated to helping English speaking professionals find meaningful work in Israel.

Cruitie was created to solve a very real challenge. Many talented English speakers move to Israel full of ambition and capability, yet struggle to navigate the local job market. Language barriers, cultural nuances and unfamiliar hiring processes can make even experienced professionals feel stuck. Shmuli saw that gap and built a practical solution.

We explore how Cruitie works hands on with clients, refining CVs to meet Israeli market expectations, repositioning experience for local employers and coaching candidates to communicate their value with clarity and confidence. Shmuli approaches CV writing as a strategic exercise. It is not about listing responsibilities. It is about articulating impact.

Beyond documents, Cruitie prepares clients for interviews, helping them understand Israeli workplace culture, salary conversations and how to tell their professional story in a way that resonates. The company acts as a kind of bridge between international talent and Israeli businesses.

This conversation is about more than recruitment. It is about integration, confidence and unlocking potential. Cruitie represents a focused, entrepreneurial response to a real need in Israel’s employment landscape, helping English speakers not just find jobs, but build careers.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

The Do Good Podcast is a space for real stories of compassion, courage, and action. In each episode, we sit down with people who choose to step forward rather than stand by. From volunteers on the ground, to leaders, change makers, and everyday individuals who quietly make a difference, these conversations shine a light on what it truly means to do good in a complicated world.

This podcast is not about politics or posturing. It is about humanity. It is about showing up, lending a hand, building bridges, and holding on to empathy even when it feels difficult. Through honest storytelling and reflective conversation, the Do Good Podcast reminds us that impact does not always start with big gestures. Often, it starts with one decision to care.

Whether you are looking for inspiration, perspective, or a reminder that goodness still exists, this podcast invites you to listen, reflect, and perhaps be moved to action in your own way.

In this deeply moving episode of the Do Good Podcast, we meet Pamela Roy, a woman whose quiet courage and boundless compassion illuminate what it truly means to serve others.

Living in Sparks, Nevada, Pamela had always dreamed of visiting Israel, the land she felt spiritually drawn to. Her first tour was booked for October 12, 2023, but the horrors of October 7 changed everything. Watching the events unfold from afar, Pamela felt a pull she could not ignore. Widowed, and having never travelled outside the United States, she made a brave decision. In 2024, she boarded a plane to Israel, not as a tourist, but as a volunteer. She would return three more times in 2025.

A Christian by faith, and later discovering she was 14 percent Ashkenazi through genealogy, Pamela followed what she calls the light. When the Iran war forced the cancellation of her Sar El experience, she adapted without hesitation, choosing instead to volunteer every single day wherever help was needed. And help she did. From Shlomi’s food truck to Shuva Junction, from kitchens and food distribution points across the country to the chamals on Ben Yehuda with Pamela Lazarus and Revital, Pamela showed up again and again.

One of her most meaningful experiences was volunteering at Sheba Hospital, and her greatest joy came from feeding, supporting, and spending time with the soldiers of the IDF. She also bore witness at Nova Festival site, holding space for grief, memory, and humanity.

Pamela’s story is not loud or self promoting. It is steady, faithful, and full of heart. As she follows the light of her Christianity, she brings light into places of darkness through simple acts of service and love. Now preparing for her fifth trip in April 2026, with plans to volunteer throughout May, Pamela reminds us that doing good does not require perfection or prior experience. It requires presence, courage, and an open heart.

This episode is a testament to the power of one person choosing compassion, and the ripple effect that choice can create.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

In this deeply moving episode, we speak with Daniela Hupenbecker, a non Jewish woman from Berlin whose life took an unexpected turn after the events of October 7. Watching from Germany, she found herself horrified by what she was seeing unfold in Israel and equally disturbed by the hostility emerging on the streets of her own city.

Although she had never previously visited Israel, Daniela felt compelled to act. Over the course of the year that followed, she became one of the driving forces behind more than 300 counter protests in Berlin, standing in visible support of Israel amidst weekly pro Palestinian demonstrations. Her advocacy came at a personal cost. She faced threats, online abuse, and intimidation, including a Star of David daubed on her front door. Yet she did not retreat. She chose to stand firm.

One year later, Daniela boarded a plane to Israel for the first time. What began as conviction from afar became a deeply personal connection. Since that first visit, she has returned six times, volunteering through Sar El on army bases, donating blood during each trip, and serving at Shlomi’s food truck near Kibbutz Be’eri to provide meals for soldiers.

This conversation explores what it means to confront antisemitism and anti Zionism in contemporary Germany, what courage looks like when standing in the minority, and how one individual can transform outrage into sustained action. Emotional, honest, and inspiring, this episode tells the story of a woman who chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel during one of its darkest hours.

We hope you find it as powerful to listen to as it was to record

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Aron Schoenfeld, founder of Smile for Kids, a grassroots Israeli charity dedicated to bringing joy, relief and emotional support to children facing trauma and hardship and illness

Aron shares how Smile for Kids began with a simple but powerful idea: no child should feel forgotten, especially in moments of vulnerability. What started as small gestures of kindness centred around giving kids candy while their parents were away fighting, has grown into a hands on initiative supporting hospitalised children, families under strain, and communities impacted by ongoing conflict. Through hospital visits, gifts, practical essentials and volunteer led outreach, the organisation focuses on restoring dignity and creating moments of light in very dark spaces and has raised over $1.5 million dollars in its first year of operations

We talk openly about the realities of running a charity focusing on kids in Israel during challenging times. Aron speaks about mobilising volunteers, responding quickly to emerging needs, and the emotional impact of meeting children and families who are navigating fear and uncertainty. What stands out throughout the conversation is his belief that impact does not always come from scale. It comes from presence, consistency and heart.

This episode is about more than charity. It is about stepping forward when others are hurting. It is about leadership through action. And it is about the ripple effect created when one person decides to bring a smile to a child who needs it most.

A powerful conversation filled with compassion, resilience and the reminder that even the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s world.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

On October 6, 2023, Benay Weinribb was living in Austin, Texas, when she unexpectedly lost her job. At the time it felt unsettling. In hindsight, it felt like preparation.

A few months later, while visiting her parents in New York for a family simcha, Benay made a decision that would redefine her year. With family connections in Israel and a heart pulling her forward, she booked a ticket with no structured plan, no formal agenda, and no clear roadmap. She simply knew she needed to be there.

Landing at Ben Gurion Airport, she dove straight in. That very evening she joined her nephew to help tie tzitzit for soldiers. From there, her days unfolded organically. Using the Sword of Iron Facebook community, she planned her volunteering on the fly, travelling between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, joining farming initiatives with the Leket bus to support Israeli farmers, picking fruit, and working the land.

Her journey extended to visiting wounded soldiers at Sheba Hospital and participating in a guided trip with the JNF, where she also volunteered at a soldiers’ BBQ. Everywhere she went, connections were formed. Restauranteurs, fellow volunteers, soldiers, families. Each introduction seemed to lead to another embrace, another opportunity to give, another reminder of shared purpose.

Benay’s story is not about grand speeches or headlines. It is about showing up. It is about compassion translated into action. It is about stepping into uncertainty and finding meaning through service and connection. Perhaps the most touching story is the one she shares about meeting Shiri Bibas’ sister on their moshav. It is both heartbreaking and heart warming in equal measure

This episode is a powerful reflection on love for Israel, on community built in difficult times, and on what happens when someone chooses to say yes without knowing exactly how the story will unfold.

An inspiring conversation about courage, connection, and commitment.

Enjoy the episode.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD

Let us know what you think of each episode when you have had a listen #dogood

In this deeply moving episode, we are joined by Rachel Feldman from Montpellier, Vermont, an American whose connection to Israel spans decades and whose life was irrevocably changed by October 7.

Rachel had previously lived and worked in Israel as part of the Israel Teaching Fellows programme, supporting underperforming schools and building lasting relationships with her students. One of those pupils, Ronnie, later became a firefighter. On October 7, while attending the Nova music festival, Ronnie was murdered by Hamas after attempting to save his friends. When Rachel learned of his death, something shifted forever. Returning to Israel was no longer a question. It became a certainty.

Rachel took a three month leave of absence from her senior governmental role in Vermont and traveled to Israel. She arrived as part of a delegation and spent her first days visiting the massacre sites, bearing witness to the devastation and loss. Upon returning to the United States, her advocacy for Israel led to her role being changed and her voice effectively muted. Once Chief of Staff to the Governor, she was instructed not to speak publicly about Israel.

Within weeks, Rachel made the decision to return. This time she went back independently, determined to strengthen the land and people she loved. Basing herself in Jaffa, she continued to advocate for Israel openly through social media, while also giving television and radio interviews to US outlets directly from Israel. Alongside her advocacy, investigative journalism  she volunteered wherever she was needed, baking challahs, supporting soldiers through Sar-El, and offering practical help on the ground during a time of national trauma.

This is a powerful conversation about grief, moral courage, and choosing action over silence. Listen to Rachel Feldman’s extraordinary story of volunteering and advocacy as she strives to do good while the world around her is in chaos.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell us what you think :) #DOGOOD