Memories and Lessons with Pop

Have you ever felt as though everyone else was moving forward while you were left behind?

In this personal episode, I share the story of my teenage years—developing later than my peers, feeling ashamed of my body, and withdrawing from friendships, sports, and places I loved. Although college brought acceptance, friendship, and happiness, some of those old feelings followed me into adulthood.

Looking back, I explore what those experiences taught me: why reassurance is not the same as feeling understood, how shame can begin making our choices, and how we can respond to old in...

Before Pop ever asked Gay Phyllis for a date, he was leaving pennies on her desk. The pennies became nickels, then dimes—and eventually, a love story spanning 63 years.

In this tender, often humorous episode, Pop remembers the near misses before they met, their courtship in a Philadelphia law office, and the little surprises that brought them joy. At the heart of these memories is Gay Phyllis herself—a woman whose gentle strength and everyday kindness made the people around her feel safe, seen, and loved.

Before she passed away, Gay asked for...

We often know we need to take better care of ourselves. So why is it so hard to get started—and keep going?

In this episode of Memories and Lessons with Pop, Doc returns for a thoughtful conversation about caring for our bodies, our minds, and ourselves as we age. Drawing on more than 47 years as a practicing psychologist and his own experiences in his 80s, Doc shares why small steps and a little encouragement can make a difference.

Pop and Doc explore:
• Starting small with movement and healthier habits
• Keeping your mind active...

Some gifts take a lifetime to understand. For Pop, one of those gifts was a jar of 1,300 pennies his grandmother saved for his bar mitzvah. As a boy, he saw coins. Decades later, he sees 1,300 quiet reminders: “I thought of you today.”

In this heartfelt episode, Pop remembers his grandmother, Jenny Rothman—from her journey to America with a young daughter to the Sabbath candles, crowded family table, and playful moments that made him feel completely loved. Through her story, he reflects on gratitude that arrives late, the family questions we wish we had asked, and the small...

In our first two conversations about belief, we spent time with the thoughts that can hold us back. Now I’d like to ask a different question: what would you like to believe about yourself? Bring something you’ve wanted to change, even if you’re not sure where to begin, and let’s explore it together.

Be well, be kind, and be peaceful.

When does helping someone we love become taking over? My mother, Rose, helped me understand the difference—and I have never forgotten what she taught me.

At about sixty-eight, she began to discover a confidence and independence I had never seen in her before. Watching her find her own voice, and seeing how familiar family patterns gradually drew her back, taught me something about love: even our most caring intentions can leave another person less room to grow.

In this episode, I reflect on both of my parents with love and understanding. I share what th...

When someone needs help, what makes us step forward—and what holds us back?

In the first interview episode of Memories and Lessons with Pop, Pop welcomes Doc, a psychologist with more than 47 years of experience, to talk about why we choose to get involved. Doc shares a memory of stopping to check on a stranger and another of stepping forward to help someone choking.

Together, they explore how fear can keep us on the sidelines, how the kindness we witness growing up shapes us, and how imagining ourselves in someone else’s shoes can move...

I turned down a promising start to my legal career and accepted a job that paid far less, with no future promised. On my second day, I walked into the office and saw the woman who would become my wife and best friend for the next sixty-three years.

Her name was Gay Phyllis. And I cannot imagine how we would have met if I had followed the plan I thought made sense.

In this episode, I share the unexpected turn that brought us together—and what it taught me about love, regret, gratitude, and remaining op...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “That’s just the way I am”? In part two of our conversation about belief, I share the questions I began asking about my own familiar thoughts. If you made a list after part one, bring it along. Let’s take a closer look together, with a little honesty and kindness.

Be well, be kind, and be peaceful.

What makes a life meaningful? Watching my three sons has helped me find an answer: what we give to others.

In this episode, I share a father’s reflections on three very different lives. Jay leads with compassion, David brings skill and kindness to his work as a family doctor, and Michael helps people find their own answers as a life coach. Each has shown me that service begins with caring about the person in front of you.

Their journeys also remind me that a disappointment can lead us somewhere wonderful—and that a dream we s...

Have you ever wanted to try something, only to hear a familiar voice inside say you couldn’t? I’ve heard that voice too. In the first of three conversations about belief, I share where I began when I decided to look more closely at what I was telling myself. Come along as we begin exploring the stories we carry about who we are and what might still be possible.

Be well, be kind, and be peaceful.

A day on the road with my father has stayed with me for a lifetime. I was sixteen, newly licensed, and eager to drive. And what did I do? Later, in a small card shop, I watched him face another unexpected moment. Join me for two memories of a man whose quiet example means more to me with every passing year.

Be well, be kind, be peaceful. 

Welcome to Memories and Lessons with Pop, where Pop shares personal stories, life experiences, and the lessons he has learned along the way.
Be well, be kind, and be peaceful.