Meaningful People

In this special throwback episode,Nachi Gordon sits down with Rivka Shotkin, a 16 year old from Passaic and the youngest guest in Meaningful People history. On January 31, 2021, a family ski trip in Tannersville ended when Rivka missed a turn on her last run of the day and went straight into a tree, breaking 11 bones, puncturing both lungs, and severing her spinal cord. She walks us through waking up in the ICU nine days later, three months of rehab during COVID without being able to see her family, and landing back in the hospital with septic shock just five days...

Nachi Gordon hosts a live panel on sexual abuse in the frum community, recorded at an event presented by Ray of Hope and Amudim right before Rosh Hashanah. He's joined by Amudim founder Zvi Gluck, Amudim's Director of Education Avi Landa, Amudim Clinical Director Dr. Miriam Lankry, and Ray of Hope founder Zelda Brody, who opens the evening by sharing her own story of abuse and the years of silent suffering that led her to build Ray of Hope. Using live audience polling throughout the night, the panel works through how well the community actually handles abuse, how young...

This week, Nachi Gordon sits down with Charlie Harari for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually means to love someone, honor your parents, and do teshuva. Charlie unpacks how modern therapy culture has replaced the role of a rebbe for a lot of people, and argues that real love isn't validation, it's pointing someone toward Hashem even when that's uncomfortable to hear. From there the conversation moves through honoring parents even when the relationship is hard, why teshuva is really about identity rather than behavior, and why tragedy seems to shake people awake to Hashem faster t...

As we mark 25 years since September 11, we're revisiting Ari Schonbrun's extraordinary story of survival. Ari worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. A series of seemingly ordinary delays left him running late that morning, placing him on the 78th floor when the first plane struck. Thrown to the ground by the impact and surrounded by smoke, fire, and chaos, Ari began searching for a way out.

That search brought him to Virginia, a severely burned coworker who begged him not to leave her. Ari made her a promise and...

This week, Nachi Gordon sits down with Yudi and Chumi Herzberg to talk about the life, story, and legacy of their daughter Charlotte, who passed away in a car accident on June 2. Yudi and Chumi walk through what made Charlotte so uniquely herself, the note she left her mother the night before the accident, and how they found out and told the rest of their kids. They also talk candidly about the ups and downs since then, including recognizing the driver as a close family friend, and how they came to see the tragedy as coming entirely from Hashem...

This week, Nachi Gordon sits down with philanthropists Yossi Hoch and Simcha Shain to talk about the world of tzedakah, from the pressure donors carry to the changing psychology of giving. They open up about what has shifted since their parents' generation, how technology and platforms like Charidy have reshaped fundraising, and why some of the most established organizations now struggle to compete with flashier, newer causes. Along the way they share candid stories about donors who quietly write six figure checks and others who give up their Shabbos soda money, and why both matter equally.

Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt grew up in Moscow as the son of the city's chief rabbi, trained in Bnei Brak and Ponovezh, and spent a decade as assistant rabbi at Manhattan's Park East Synagogue — until he was abruptly and very publicly fired. In this raw conversation with Nachi Gordon, he opens up for the first time about that moment: the New York Post headline, the car crash he got into reading about himself, and the isolation of losing not just a job but an entire community.

Out of that low point came Altneu, the congregation he and his wi...

Josh Livingstone is a husband coach who works almost exclusively with men, and in this episode he explains why so many well-intentioned husbands still leave their wives feeling unheard. He and Nachi unpack what he calls the real root of most marital friction: it's not a lack of communication, it's a failure to translate. Josh walks through the "headache test," the reason a wife asks her husband to do something 50 times, and why a woman getting controlling in a marriage is often a symptom of not feeling safe rather than a desire for power. He also explains why "I'm...

Mendel Krashunsky is the founder of the Frum Health Club, a worldwide movement pushing Yidden to finally take their health seriously. He opens up about losing his father, an oligarch who lived a life of total luxury, to a preventable illness at just 38 years old, and how the grief sent Mendel into his own spiral of emotional eating that left him 70 pounds overweight and battling GERD before he'd even turned 20.

From there, Mendel and Nachi dig into why health gets treated as optional in frum life, even though it's a mitzvah straight from the Torah...

Claire Blumenthal Zeitler was adopted into an Orthodox Jewish family as a baby — until, a year after her wedding, her biological mother tracked her down and revealed something nobody could have prepared her for: her biological father is part of the deposed royal family of Bahrain. In this deep dive with Nachi Gordon, Claire walks through the whirlwind of discovering she's half-Arab, the isolation of hiding it from her Chassidish community, and the identity crisis that followed — a woman raised frum and Ashkenazi who suddenly had to reckon with being 50% something she'd always been taught to fear.

What...

Moshe Tischler and Shloimy Zaltzman, two of the biggest names in Jewish wedding music, sit down with Nachi Gordon to trace how they broke into the industry, from meeting as yeshiva teenagers to Shlomi's near-miss record deal and the emotional moment years later when he watched another bandleader step into that same opportunity. They open up about what the job really costs, the travel away from their kids, showing up at full strength no matter how sick or drained they are, and the odd reality of being shy, private people who perform in the most public, high-stakes moments of...

A Tisha B'Av documentary that will challenge the way you think about achdus.

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Five years ago, Maya Namdar's world changed forever when a drunk driver took the life of her daughter Liel, just moments after a Shabbaton reunion in Woodmere. In her second appearance on Meaningful People, Maya returns to share the story in a way she never has before: the knock at the door, the screams that woke her neighbors, and the haunting last text Liel sent seconds before impact reminding a friend to say Shema. She opens up about the loneliness of grief, the guilt of not recognizing her daughter's quiet yearning for Moshiach until after she was gone, and...

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff takes us on a journey through the entire Jewish timeline, from Adam and Chava in Gan Eden to the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, the long exile, and the prophecies surrounding the coming of Moshiach. Together with Nachi Gordon, they explore why history unfolds the way it does, what Chazal and the Nevi'im teach about the end of days, the role of Eretz Yisrael, and whether the events unfolding in today's world fit into a much larger picture.

They also tackle some of today's biggest questions: Is there a potential Moshiach alive...

In this powerful conversation, Nachi sits down with Zahava Farbman, a crisis, trauma, and bereavement expert, to talk about what families really need after tragedy.

Zahava shares why grief is not something people simply "get over," how to speak to children after painful loss, what not to say to someone in pain, and why we never really know what is happening behind closed doors.

She also opens up about her work with Aleph Institute, supporting families of people in prison, and the shame and loneliness they often carry.

A conversation about pain, resilience...

Yossi Farro has turned a mitzvah into a global mission. In this episode of Meaningful People, he shares how a childhood spent putting tefillin on strangers in New York grew into a journey that has taken him around the world, connecting with celebrities, billionaires, entrepreneurs, influencers, and everyday Jews. From chance encounters with actors to live streams and meetings with some of the biggest names in business, Yossi explains how persistence, authenticity, and a simple pair of tefillin opened doors he never imagined. 

Along the way, Yossi discusses the Chabad philosophy behind mivtzoim, why he be...

On the ninth yahrzeit of Malki Klein, her father, Avrami Klein, joins Nachi Gordon to share the story of a daughter whose struggles were often invisible to the people around her. From learning challenges and school rejection to addiction and ultimately her tragic passing, this conversation explores the pain Malki carried, the misconceptions surrounding struggling teens, and the lessons her family learned through the hardest chapter of their lives. 

More than a story about loss, this episode is about belonging. Avrami reflects on what Malki taught him about acceptance, connection, and the life-saving impact of ma...

This special Gimmel Tammuz episode of Meaningful People explores the Lubavitcher Rebbe's letters and the conversations, questions, and life experiences behind them. Rabbi Shais Taub, Shmuel Greene, and members of the Sichos In English team join Nachi Gordon to share stories of the Rebbe's correspondence with people from all walks of life and what those letters reveal about his perspective on life, purpose, relationships, challenges, and personal growth.

Along the way, they share powerful stories of personal correspondence, unique relationships the Rebbe built with people from all walks of life, and the lessons that continue to resonate...

In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Nachi Gordon sits down with Rabbi Shmuel Diamond for an unforgettable conversation about one of the most dramatic transformations you'll ever hear. Rabbi Diamond grew up completely secular in North London, in a world where the very idea of God was treated as ridiculous, and didn't learn the Aleph Beis until he was 21. He takes us back through his years of searching, traveling through India, chasing photography, and sinking deeper and deeper into drugs, until he hit a point so low he knew something had to change. Then came the small...

In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Nachi Gordon sits down with Rabbi Tzadok Katz, a shadchan with over 23 years of experience, for one of the most honest and entertaining conversations about shidduchim you'll ever hear. From speed dating and picture sharing to the stigma facing working boys and the pressure that's been built into the system, Rabbi Katz pulls no punches about what's actually broken, and what's working better than people think.

The conversation covers everything from how technology has completely transformed the shadchan's job, to why girls are maturing faster than boys and what...

In this week's episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Keshet Starr, CEO of Shalom Task Force and a leading advocate in the fight against domestic abuse in the Jewish community, joins Nachi Gordon for a powerful and eye-opening conversation about one of the most difficult issues facing the Jewish world today. Keshet shares what domestic abuse actually looks like behind closed doors, why it is often missed by friends and family, and how emotional, financial, spiritual, technological, and physical abuse can manifest in relationships. She also discusses the realities of working with survivors, the warning signs people should recognize...

In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast,  and  dive into one of the biggest struggles facing the Jewish world today: are we creating people who truly think, feel, and connect… or are we just creating followers? From anxiety and burnout to authenticity, leadership, inner purpose, and the fear-based versions of Yiddishkeit many people quietly wrestle with, this conversation goes far beyond surface-level inspiration. Rabbi YY Jacobson challenges listeners to stop seeing themselves as powerless products of "the system" and instead rediscover the "prophet" inside every Jew. 

The episode also explores painful but deeply relevant topics...

In this week's episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Dr. David Rosmarin challenges one of the biggest assumptions people have about mental health: that anxiety is something to eliminate. A Harvard professor and leading anxiety expert, Dr. Rosmarin explains why trying to avoid discomfort may actually be making people weaker, more anxious, and less resilient. From parenting and dating to fear of failure, public speaking, and panic attacks, this conversation explores why anxiety might not be the enemy at all.

The episode also dives into anxiety in the frum world, the pressures of shidduchim, eating disorders, fear-based...

In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Rabbi Manis Friedman returns for one of the most thought-provoking conversations yet. From modern dating and marriage to masculinity, loneliness, relationships, and what it really means to need another person, Rabbi Friedman challenges some of the most accepted ideas in today's world. He explains why he believes marriage is not about compromise, why dating has become so broken, and why so many people feel alone even while surrounded by others.

The conversation then takes a deeper turn into Yiddishkeit, purpose, and Rabbi Friedman's controversial belief that Hashem "needs" us...

This episode dives into one of the most talked about trends in the Jewish world right now: Rolex raffles. Are they a creative, effective way to raise money for important causes, or are they feeding into something deeper and more problematic? We unpack the criticism, the psychology behind incentivized giving, and whether intention really matters when it comes to tzedakah. Along the way, the conversation expands into bigger questions about values, culture, and how we balance growth, authenticity, and reality in today's world.

But that's just the surface. This episode also takes a powerful turn i...

Answer the Polls Here: https://thisorthatpolls.com/events/pesach

In this special live episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, the conversation goes beyond theory and straight into reality, marriage, connection, and what actually happens behind closed doors. Through live polling and raw discussion, we uncover surprising truths: nearly 70% of people didn't feel prepared for marriage, and almost half admitted they questioned their decision within the first year. But what does that really mean? Is struggle a red flag, or part of the process?

This episode breaks down what's really at the c...

Get 40% off Meaningful Minute Plus with code APRIL26 — and unlock the full, unfiltered episode.

No one really prepares you for what marriage actually feels like.

Not the first few months.
Not the doubts.
Not the expectations that quietly fall apart.

In this Off The Record conversation, Kayla Levin breaks down the things most people don't talk about — from Shana Rishona struggles to miscommunication to the moments people quietly wonder, did I make a mistake?

If you're newly married… thinking about it… or years in and still figuring it out — this one wi...

Lakewood has become one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in America, and with that growth has come controversy, criticism, and a lot of misunderstanding. In this episode, we sit down with a key insider to break down what's really happening behind the headlines: the expansion, the backlash from surrounding towns, accusations of "hostile takeovers," and the viral narratives shaping public perception. From zoning battles and lawsuits to the reality of community life, this is a raw, unfiltered look at a story most people only hear one side of.
We also go deeper into the role of Agudah, the...

From struggling to sit still in class to becoming one of the most impactful voices on and off the court, Zevi Samet's journey is anything but typical. In this episode, he shares how sports gave him confidence, how failure fueled his growth, and how a relentless work ethic during COVID completely transformed his life. What started as a drive to become a better basketball player turned into something much deeper,discovering purpose, discipline, and a connection to something bigger than himself.

But the real story goes beyond basketball. Zevi opens up about building a platform to inspire...

This episode of the Meaningful People Podcast dives into a reality most people don't want to talk about. How good, well-meaning people can end up making decisions that change their lives forever. Through real stories and firsthand insights from Project 432 and the Aleph Institute, we explore the hidden pressures, rationalizations, and "small" choices that can spiral into serious consequences. From financial shortcuts to moments of desperation, this conversation breaks down how it actually happens, and why it's happening more often than people think.

But more importantly, this isn't about judgment,  it's about awareness. Whether you're in business, n...

As war continues in Israel, daily life has completely lost any sense of normalcy. Sirens, uncertainty, and constant disruption have turned even the simplest routines into impossible challenges. In this powerful conversation, Danielle Renov shares what it actually feels like to raise a family under these conditions, where every decision, from going to the store to putting kids to sleep, is shaped by the unknown. Beyond the physical danger, she opens up about the emotional toll, the impact on children, and the deeper struggle of living without structure while trying to prepare for Pesach.

The conversation then...

Rod Bryant was once a Christian pastor with a thriving congregation of hundreds. Today, he teaches Torah to a global community of Noahides. In this conversation, Rod shares the remarkable journey that led him from growing up in a deeply devout Christian home in Louisiana to serving as a U.S. Army chaplain during the Gulf War, pastoring a large church, and ultimately leaving it all behind in pursuit of truth. What began as theological questions, especially about the nature of God, turned into a years-long search that led him to study Jewish texts, listen daily to Torah classes...

El Al has been getting a lot of heat lately. Canceled flights, no callbacks, passengers feeling abandoned. Our community sent in hundreds of questions and I sat down with Alon Lavi, El Al's head of customer experience, to get real answers.

He's answering from a bomb shelter. That tells you everything about what they're dealing with.

We cover why flights are leaving half empty, how they're deciding who gets rebooked, the pricing controversy, and what they're doing to fix their customer service.

Born in Iran in the 1970s, Sammy grew up in a thriving Jewish community in Shiraz during the final years of the Shah's rule. But when the Islamic Revolution erupted, everything changed overnight. In this powerful conversation, he recounts what it was like as a child sensing the fear around him, hearing crowds chanting from rooftops, and eventually fleeing the country with his family. He shares the emotional memories of leaving Iran, the danger many Jews faced trying to escape, and why thousands of Jews still remain there today despite the risks.

Sammy's story doesn't end with...

This episode of the Meaningful People Podcast features Dovi Neuburger, a popular comedian and influencer who grew up as the son of a prominent rabbi and built his brand by poking at the frum world from the inside. In this conversation, he opens up about guilt over influencing younger followers, using religious culture as comedy material, and whether Jewish "inspiration" today is actually inspiration or just kosher entertainment. He challenges institutions, questions tuition, takes aim at the over-correction of emotional Judaism, and doesn't shy away from uncomfortable debates about shidduchim, schools, and community politics 

It's fu...

In this deeply personal episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Sruli Stern shares the hidden double life he lived for years as a compulsive gambler. From a childhood scratch-off card to high-stakes nights in Atlantic City, Sruli walks listeners through the slow escalation of an addiction that hijacked his logic, strained his marriage, buried him in debt, and nearly cost him everything. With raw honesty, he describes the lies, the rationalizations, the spiritual confusion, and the crushing moment when he lost his family's rent money and considered crashing his car rather than face the truth.

What follows...

In this episode of Meaningful People, we sit down with Rabbi Avi Landa, LCPC, Mashgiach at the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore Middle School, Director of Education for Amudim, and Director of the Landa Counseling Center, to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing children and teens today: bullying. Drawing on his work in schools, private practice, and prevention programs worldwide, Rabbi Landa breaks down what bullying actually is (and isn't), why simplistic zero-tolerance approaches often fail, and how power dynamics and repeated behavior can deeply impact a child's sense of self.

The conversation moves from theory...

In this episode, Emunah and Yaakov share their extraordinary journey from the Christian South to a fully observant Jewish life in Israel. Married young and raised in different Christian backgrounds, they describe years of deep questioning, searching for truth, and slowly uncovering Judaism, often completely on their own, without a Jewish community, rabbi, or guide. What began as questions about faith, practice, and God turned into years of living Jewish life in isolation, learning Torah, keeping Shabbat, and observing the holidays long before they ever met a Jew face-to-face. 

They walk through the emotional, spiritual, an...

In this powerful episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Greenwald and later with Rabbi Chananya Greenwald, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferet in Yerushalayim (TJ), to reflect on the life, legacy, and impact of Ronnie Greenwald z"l, a man who quietly changed the lives of thousands.

From building Camp Sternberg into a haven for kids who didn't fit the mold, to negotiating on behalf of Jews imprisoned behind the Iron Curtain and in hostile regimes, this conversation reveals the heart, courage, and relentless compassion behind the legend. We talk about m...

She grew up Catholic in Venezuela, never knowing Jews still existed, yet her family quietly lit candles, covered mirrors, and placed stones on graves. Centuries-old Jewish practices survived in her home without explanation, passed down in secret since the Spanish Inquisition.

In this episode, Reyna Simnegar shares her extraordinary journey from Venezuela to Judaism: uncovering crypto-Jewish roots dating back over 500 years, discovering her family's hidden mesorah, living through political collapse under Chávez, and ultimately converting Orthodox and building a Jewish life and family. From Schindler's List to UCLA, from Taco Bell to Jerusalem, this is...