The Frum Health Club Podcast

In this episode of the Frum Health Club Podcast, I sit down with Bentzi Taubenfliegel, a life coach and certified assisted stretching therapist based in Atlantic Beach, New York, who has been helping people move with more ease, less pain, and greater awareness for decades.

Bentzi has a background in martial arts and lifelong fitness, and through years of personal practice and working with others, he noticed a common pattern, especially in middle-aged men: as we get older, we stretch less, even though our bodies need it more than ever.

We talk about how flexibility, posture, breathing, and simple daily movement habits directly affect physical health, mental clarity, energy levels, and long-term resilience. Bentzi shares practical insights from his work with assisted stretching and explains why pain, stiffness, and fatigue are often not “normal aging,” but signals that the body needs attention.

Some topics we cover:
• Why flexibility becomes more important with age
• Static vs. dynamic stretching and when to use each
• How stretching helps prevent injuries, especially for runners
• Posture, sitting, and how modern habits quietly drain energy
• Assisted stretching explained and who it’s for
• The connection between tension in the body and tension in the mind
• Why breathing matters for mobility, relaxation, and recovery
• How stretching before bed can improve sleep quality
• Simple stretching habits anyone can start, even 5–10 minutes a day
• Staying active, grateful, and consistent over a lifetime

Bentzi also shares how he personally stays healthy, how movement strengthens family connection, and why caring for the body is essential for serving Hashem with joy, strength, and clarity.

Learn more or work with Bentzi Taubenfliegel:
WhatsApp: +1 (845) 300-6404

Join the Frum Health Club WhatsApp Community:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KaCltJZoGmp3qbeZh9K7z4

In this episode of the Frum Health Club Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Andrew David Shiller, a physician with world class training and decades of experience in integrative and holistic healing.

Dr. Shiller earned his M.D. at Duke University School of Medicine and completed double residency training at Harvard Medical School in Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He is board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Holistic Integrative Medicine, and is fully licensed in Israel, New York, Connecticut, Florida, and New Jersey.

We talk about what it really means to heal the whole person, why conventional medicine often treats symptoms instead of root causes, and how Dr. Shiller’s approach connects modern systems biology with deep Torah based principles of healing.

Some topics we cover:
 • Why mind, body, and soul must be addressed together
 • Root cause medicine explained through a powerful “tree” framework
 • The “3 M’s” model: Mind, Movement, Metabolism, and where real health happens
 • Stress, vagal tone, inflammation, and why calm is not just “mental”
 • Bringing Hashem-consciousness into eating, running, and daily life

Learn more about Dr. Shiller
Consultations (in person + telemedicine):
www.drshiller.com/consult

Join the discussion on Torah, Healing, and Medicine (Substack):
https://substack.com/@drshiller

Join the Frum Health Club WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KaCltJZoGmp3qbeZh9K7z4

In this episode of the Frum Health Club Podcast, I sit down with Michael Kaufman, author of Am I My Body’s Keeper: The Way of Torah and Science to Be Healthy and Fit, Lose Weight, Live Years Longer.

Michael is 93 years old, healthy, fit, and full of energy, and he truly lives what he teaches. This conversation explores the Torah obligation to protect our health, why so many good intentions around fitness fall apart, and what it actually looks like to build sustainable health into daily frum life.

At the core of this discussion is the Torah’s clear directive:
ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם
“You shall guard yourselves very well.”

We discuss how this mitzvah is not symbolic or optional, but foundational. Without health, every other mitzvah becomes harder or impossible to fulfill.

You will also see Michael’s powerful morning routine before davening. 

Get the book
Am I My Body’s Keeper: The Way of Torah and Science to Be Healthy and Fit, Lose Weight, Live Years Longer.
https://a.co/d/idGwgC2

Join the Frum Health Club WhatsApp Community
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KaCltJZoGmp3qbeZh9K7z4

In this episode of the Frum Health Club Podcast, we sit down with Richard Simon — director of digital strategy at Georgetown Law and author of the powerful book Unplug: How to Break Up With Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life.

Richard did something most people only dream of. He turned his smartphone off and lived for an entire year without it.
No apps, no constant messaging, no social media, no notifications stealing his life one tap at a time.

During that year he interviewed psychologists, educators, CEOs, parents, teens, and even MLB All-Star Nick Castellanos, who credits ditching his smartphone with helping him become one of the best hitters in baseball.

We talk about how phones are quietly reshaping our minds and daily habits, leaving us more distracted, drained, and anxious, and how changing our relationship with technology can restore our mental, emotional, and overall well-being.

What we cover

◼️ The shocking way the original iPhone was tested, and what that reveals about how these devices were engineered to hook us
◼️ Richard’s journey from “just a busy young professional” to realizing his phone was controlling his attention, sleep, and presence with his kids
◼️ What it was really like to switch his phone off for a full year — including withdrawal, boredom, and the surprising beauty on the other side
◼️ How smartphones hijack dopamine, why the anticipation of checking is so powerful, and what “attention residue” actually does to your brain
◼️ Deep work, focus, and why having your phone near you is like keeping a tray of cookies on your desk when you’re trying to diet

Get the book: Unplug – How to Break Up With Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life
https://a.co/d/g7knyye

Connect with Richard
[email protected]

Join the Frum Health Club WhatsApp Community
Be part of a growing chevra of frum men who are working on movement, health, and energy together:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/BjBc8CZIC8ZIIu7jwVuEQe

In this episode of the Frum Health Club Podcast, we sit down with Mordechai Sopher — fitness coach, educator, runner, and author of the book Frum Fitness.

Mordechai grew up in Los Angeles as a multi-sport athlete, later served in the IDF, and eventually discovered a deep connection between yiddishkiet and health. He has completed nearly twenty marathons, several ultra marathons, taught physical education in yeshiva high schools, and is currently completing a PhD. 

We talk about how frum men can stay active, build real consistency, and see fitness as part of their Yiddishkiet, not separate from it.

What we cover

◼️ Mordechai’s journey from LA sports kid to IDF soldier to frum fitness educator
◼️ Practical tips for total beginners who want to start running safely
◼️ Why the right shoes, softer surfaces, and good form matter so much
◼️ What it was like to represent Israel on the national flag football team
◼️ The story behind the Frum Fitness book and what makes it different from other health books
◼️ How to find the type of movement you actually enjoy so you can stick with it
◼️ “Informal fitness” — walking, standing, stairs, and daily habits that quietly change your life
◼️ Sleep, recovery, and why being more active often improves your sleep
◼️ Simple nutrition upgrades for the frum world, including better timing and less processed food
◼️ Using movement to reduce stress, improve emotional health, and deepen your avodas Hashem

Get the Frum Fitness book
https://mosaicapress.com/product/frum-fitness/?srsltid=AfmBOoqnHavl0SvUM1A4VDDAhymGxTgIRBo6O-yh3EegmOPQHKppycZo&v=4605f628f91d

Join the Frum Health Club WhatsApp Community:
Be part of a growing chevra of frum men who are working on movement, health, and energy together:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/BjBc8CZIC8ZIIu7jwVuEQe

B''H 

In this episode, we sit down with Zev Gelber and Akiva Pamensky, co-founders of the Achava Men’s Retreat, to talk about men’s retreats, breathwork, music, ice baths, and how real brotherhood can help Jewish men regulate stress, process life after October 7, and reconnect to their bodies, their neshamos, and Hashem.

Zev is a breathwork facilitator and cold-exposure therapist; Akiva is a musician. Together, they’ve created a grounded, Torah-aligned space in Eretz Yisrael where men can unplug, slow down, and reset in a powerful way.

What we cover

◼️ How Achava began after October 7

◼️ What a day on retreat actually looks like

◼️ Breathwork basics and a simple beginner practice

◼️ Using cold, breath, and grounding to calm the nervous system

◼️ The power of group singing and soulful tefilla

◼️ Keeping wellness aligned with Torah and intention

◼️ Small steps to bring more presence and health into daily frum life

Learn more & sign up for the next retreat (November 26th–28th)

https://www.achvaretreat.com

Join the Frum Health Club WhatsApp Community

https://chat.whatsapp.com/BjBc8CZIC8ZIIu7jwVuEQe

B’’H
In this episode, I sit down with Jon Engelson — veteran health educator, product innovator, and Chief Strategic Officer at Joburg Meats — to unpack how real food, simple habits, and clear thinking can transform energy, mood, and long-term health in the frum world.

Jon has spent 30+ years helping people reverse chronic issues by returning to real, natural eating. He founded You Are What You Eat, Inc., helped bring better snacks to schools and homes, advised top nutrition brands, and now champions clean, grass-fed, air-dried meat snacks for busy families.

What we cover
◼️ Jon’s personal path from misdiagnosis to holistic nutrition and practical coaching
◼️ Why most “healthy” processed foods are sugar bombs in disguise
◼️ Hidden starches that spike blood sugar, like maltodextrin and dextrin
◼️ Juice and “whole grain” myths, and how to read ingredients with clarity
◼️ Wonder foods that pull real weight: eggs, extra virgin olive oil, organic frozen berries, arugula, sauerkraut, and grass-fed meat
◼️ Raising healthy kids in a candy culture at shul and school
◼️ Cooking as a joyful skill for men and women that pays dividends
◼️ Health as a journey, not a destination, and how to keep an open mind while staying grounded


This Episode is Sponsored by Joburg 
Fuel your day with clean protein that actually fits a healthy lifestyle. Joburg Meats makes premium, grass-fed, air-dried beef slices with simple ingredients.
Special link: https://joburgmeats.com/frumhealthclub
Discount code at checkout: frumhealth18 for 18% off

Join the Frum Health Club
Get inspired, stay accountable, and share wins with the community:https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnelwCB486l73fbKlaHGl9

In this episode I sit down with Rabbi Moshe Chaim Proctor, Rebbi at Aish HaTorah, life coach, and host of Above the Rim and Within, to explore how health, mindset, and Torah work together to build a strong, joyful life of meaning. 

Rabbi Proctor shares his journey from a painful loss in childhood, to finding basketball as a lifeline, to channeling that same fire into Torah, personal growth, and coaching Jewish youth and adults.

What we cover

◼️ How a childhood tragedy and basketball shaped resilience, structure, and purpose

◼️ Simple ways frum families, schools, and Rabbis can model healthy living

◼️ Walking and small daily movement as underrated “wins” for everyone

◼️ Food rules that actually stick, and why environment beats willpower

◼️ Morning routines, sleep, and stacking habits without guilt or overwhelm

Practical takeaways

◼️ Start with 10–15 minutes most days and let consistency do the heavy lifting

◼️ Make it a lifestyle, not a stunt, by choosing one habit and protecting it

◼️ Keep junk out of the house, keep cut fruit and veg visible and ready

◼️ Use family, friends, and community for accountability and joy

◼️ Prioritize sleep so workouts and avodas Hashem feel easier, not heavier

Connect with Rabbi Moshe Chaim Proctor

◼️ Instagram: @coachmoshechaim

◼️ TikTok: @mosheproctor

◼️ Website: abovetherimandwithin.com

◼️ Coaching for youth: ontheirderech.com

Join the Frum Health Club

Get inspired, stay accountable, and share wins with the community:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnelwCB486l73fbKlaHGl9

B''H
In this episode, I sit down with Nachman Hoffman, founder of Only Up | Keter Coaching, to explore how health, mindset, and Torah work together to create real, lasting change.
Nachman, a CPA and MBA who began his career at EY, and now helps ambitious Jewish men live with alignment, discipline, and mission through his Elevation Blueprint, 5UP system, and Four Crowns framework.

What we cover:
◼️ The moment a family comment sparked a 30-lb transformation and life reset
◼️ Why physical health often becomes the doorway to teshuva and purpose
◼️ How Torah became his blueprint for structure, focus, and calm energy
◼️ The 5UP daily habits that build consistency and discipline
◼️ The mindset traps frum men fall into and how to break them
◼️ How to make health part of avodas Hashem — without guilt or overwhelm
◼️ Simple first steps anyone can start this week

Practical takeaways
◼️ Start with 10–15 minutes of focused effort most days
◼️ Create small fences around food and routine so habits stick
◼️ Read your My Why morning and night to stay aligned
◼️ Use family and community for accountability and joy

Get Nachman’s “My Why” 
◼️ DM “MY WHY” on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nhoffmanonlyup/
◼️ Or access it here:
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-6829a4d7c2d081918da4d8c5444da199-my-why-method

Connect with Nachman
◼️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoffmanonlyup/
◼️ Website: onlyup.me
◼️ Email: [email protected] | [email protected]

Join the Frum Health Club
Get inspired, stay accountable, and share wins with the community:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnelwCB486l73fbKlaHGl9

B’’H
Welcome to the Frum Health Club Podcast — where health, fitness, and Torah come together to help us live stronger, happier lives as frum Yidden.

In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Naiman — foraging guide, certified health counselor, and mashgiach ruchani at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah in Ramat Beit Shemesh, where he teaches a daily Healthy Jew class. He is the author of Land of Health: Israel’s War for Wellness and writes the Healthy Jew newsletter. Recently, Rabbi Naiman completed IDF training and joined the Israel Defense Forces as a reservist, reflecting his belief that true Jewish health includes physical readiness, emotional resilience, and spiritual strength.

We discuss:
✅ His journey into foraging, health counseling, and Torah-based wellness
✅ What “Israel’s War for Wellness” really means today
✅ How Torah guides nutrition, movement, sleep, and daily routines
✅ Practical ways to spot real food vs food-like substances
✅ Foraging in Eretz Yisroel and reconnecting to the land for body and soul
✅ Simple first steps for busy people to feel more energy and vitality
✅ Balancing family, learning, parnassah, and health without guilt
✅ How communities and yeshivos can champion health as a Torah value
✅ The Rambam’s view of guarding your health as avodas Hashem
✅ Mindset tools for calm, discipline, and long term consistency

Whether you are already active or just starting, this conversation gives clear, doable steps to live as a Healthy Jew in body, mind, and soul.

📲 Join the Frum Health Club to get inspired, stay motivated, and keep yourself accountable:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnelwCB486l73fbKlaHGl9

🔗 Learn more about Rabbi Naiman’s work, book, and newsletter:
https://healthyjew.org/
Rabbi Naimans newsletter: https://thehealthyjew.substack.com/p/welcome-to-healthy-jew
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If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who could use some chizuk in health.