Today, I sit down with my friend, Zisi Zirkind for an unscripted conversation about burnout, motherhood, faith, friendship, and the holy delusion of believing your soul is needed in this world. This isn't an interview; it's a conversation between two close friends. We talk about why it's not always doing less that restores our energy, the undervaluing of women's work and how we each experience meaning in our homes, why faith doesn't have to be rigid to be strong, how we hold paradox in every identity, and how friendship can help us each remember who we are. Zisi Zirkind is the Rebbetzin of Yeshiva Center in Melbourne, teaches Chassidus through her weekly women’s Torah classes, teaches guided research classes at Ohel Chana Seminary, and is the host of the podcast Standing Between Earth and Sky. Find her podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EOKqR8gwDDnEEvq7W02z3?si=0c228c7fbde34a5f Contact her at [email protected]. * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Host's Intro: A Conversation Between Friends 00:02:25 Welcome Zisi Zirkind 00:02:50 Springboarding ideas as a way of bridging the human and holy 00:04:01 How much do I trust myself? 00:04:53 When you're taking a leap 00:05:19 A friend who can see you clearly 00:06:14 Sustained creative devotion is supported by a witness 00:08:14 Why sharing an idea forces it to become real 00:10:10 Is this my animal soul or my divine soul? 00:11:41 Delusion of separateness vs. delusion of holiness 00:12:54 Does what I do matter? 00:14:28 Burnout happens when you're not lit up by what you're doing 00:14:41 What will actually energize you? 00:17:06 Busy but not doing the right things 00:17:36 The Rebbe's "add another one" — what was he actually saying? 00:18:27 Showing up before the energy comes 00:20:27 The seductive permission to wallow 00:21:50 "I had to make a choice that I'm going to love my life again" 00:22:08 Hosting vs. being hosted — what really makes a place yours 00:24:08 Dissolution of self prepares you to rise 00:24:50 When to add, and when you need more support 00:25:42 Delegating what depletes you -- "I'm sick of cleaning" 00:27:10 Excellence and pride in the work nobody sees 00:27:55 Bringing the same creativity to home life 00:28:35 Why the years that look like pause are often the years that change you 00:31:51 Bringing your full self into your home 00:32:29 Letting yourself enjoy what you didn't think was "you" — dropping the identity attachment 00:33:43 Paradox: when opposing realities exist at once 00:35:17 Teaching style: opening to the text vs. filing it into systems 00:38:05 Tanya's permission for multiple parts of self to coexist 00:38:08 Trusting that Torah's truth can hold your questions 00:38:39 After the Bondi terror attack: "Faith doesn't have to be rigid to be strong" 00:41:51 Faith from intuition, not intellect 00:42:35 Why paradox can only be experienced 00:43:02 Faith as identity: "I'm here. This is who I am." 00:44:34 The ego in Torah study, and what it costs us 00:45:50 The never-ending process 00:47:38 Host's Outro

A conversation with Chana Kalmenson: shlucha of Chabad of Belgravia in London, poet, and teacher of Jewish mysticism, on the Sefirot of the Omer. Chana walks through each of the seven emotional Sefirot: Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut. What each one is, how they relate to each other, and how they show up in everyday emotional life. The episode also covers how the months of Nissan, Iyar, and Sivan mirror human development from childhood to maturity, why the inner work of the Omer is what prepares us to receive the Torah at Sinai, and how to approach the counting without falling into perfectionism. The conversation goes especially deep on three Sefirot: Hod (humility, gratitude, surrender), Tiferet (compassion, holding paradox, the antidote to shame), and Malchut (dignity, agency, authentic expression). Chana shares what she learned about humility from her father-in-law, the Chassidic teaching on the soul's forgetting at birth, and how to step out of comparison with others. A grounded, accessible introduction to the Sefirot for anyone counting the Omer or wanting to understand the Kabbalistic map of the inner life. * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Opening reflection: loved into existence, loving me as me 00:31 Tonia's Intro 01:58 Welcome, and Chana on women's circles 05:25 What is Sefirat HaOmer, really? Pesach as emergence, Sinai as the destination 11:38 Nissan, Iyar, Sivan — the child, the teenager, the partner 17:45 Walking through each Sefirah: Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, Malchut 22:10 Why we use consciousness to look at the inner emotional life 29:17 When perfectionism hijacks the practice (and what to do instead) 33:03 On Hod: humility, gratitude, the quiet power of the left leg 40:33 What Chana learned from her father-in-law about humility 46:10 The trauma of forgetting at birth, and the long work of remembering 50:37 On Tiferet: holding paradox, growing up, why compassion is truth 56:09 Self-compassion as the antidote to shame 1:00:14 On Malchut: dignity, agency, and what emerges when everything inside has a voice 1:09:33 Soul to soul

A deeply personal and Torah-rich conversation on facing darkness from within. Kiki opens up about her own journey with anxiety and depression, sharing how she moved from resenting the darkness she experienced to believing in its inherent blessing. Drawing on biblical stories, Kiki weaves profound insight with raw personal honesty. She explores what it practically means to face darkness, professional help as a prerequisite to faith-based tools and the belief that our inner light is inextinguishable, no matter what darkness we are facing. Kiki is a Chabad Shlucha for a community in Israel, teaches weekly Chassidus and Kabbalah classes in person and online. She is a bridal educator and mikvah attendant, and is passionate about learning and teaching chassidus. Find her classes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kabbalahwithkiki Find her classes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6uscGnRqwgd2j8qwkk542M?si=FIxIy73QQNWw7qVSbDYRUg Email her at [email protected] and find her on instagram at @kabbalahwithkiki. * * * * * * * Join our new virtual Tanya class! We will be hosting a live, three part series on the divine soul, through Chapter 2 of the Tanya, a space to explore the text through shared study, poetry, curated illustrations, songs, and guided reflection. Link to join us here: https://humanandholy.mykajabi.com/tanyaclass * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction 01:43 — Today's topic: Torah wisdom on facing inner and outer darkness 02:14 — Why this is personal: Kiki's journey with anxiety and depression 03:30 — Showing up to teach even on the hardest days 05:14 — Biblical context: Abraham, Yaakov, and descending into Egypt 06:00 — The Kabbalistic purpose of exile: 07:38 — Descent before ascent 08:20 — Yaakov wrestling with the angel 10:00 — What blessing is this bringing me? 11:15 — The blessing is not external 13:13 — Practically speaking: what does facing darkness actually look like? 15:00 — The Hillel model: lighting one candle when the darkness feels overwhelming 16:50 — Going outward as a tool: moving out of yourself to find light 18:35 — The fear of being swallowed by darkness 20:30 — Balancing inward processing and outward giving 23:10 — Designating time for pain 25:00 — When mental health requires medical treatment first 26:24 — Yosef vs. his brothers: two worldviews on how to live in a dark world 28:30 — The brothers' approach: protect holiness by withdrawing from the world 29:30 — Yosef's approach: engage with darkness and elevate it 30:45 — Galus as a dream: the power of opposites coexisting 35:00 — Two kinds of dreams: exile's confusion vs. Yosef's redemptive vision 40:50 — What happened to our dreams? 43:00 — Changing "if only" to "only because" 46:00 — Two approaches to supporting people in their darkness 48:00 — Yaakov's model: sometimes when you're in the pit can't climb out alone 50:00 — Yosef's model: the power of presence 52:30 — Just sitting with someone is enough 54:30 — Kiki's personal postpartum depression 56:30 — The inextinguishable light 58:30 — How to support someone in darkness 59:26 — Soul-to-soul closing message

A conversation with Devori Nussbaum, a psychotherapist and Tanya teacher, about emotional honesty in our spiritual growth and living with open-hearted presence. Devori shares her unique approach to integrating Chassidus and psychotherapy, offering powerful insights into shedding old identities, processing the grief of life, and tapping into the opportunity for connection with G-d at every moment. Devori is an integrative psychotherapist who has trained in many different healing modalities including body psychotherapy, imago therapy, logotherapy, the energetics of food, quantum touch, breathwork, CBT, NLP, EMDR, IFS, inner child work and somatic modalities. She is also passionate about teaching Chassidus in a way that is accessible, relevant and embodied, showing people that these teachings are not just nice ideas, but a description of our reality. Get in touch with Devori and find out more about her work on www.devorinussbaum.com. * * * * * * * EPISODE SPONSOR: "Miss Rose is Worried" by Estee Cohen is a heartwarming story that shows that every child's individuality is a gift. Their quirks and character traits, if nurtured rather than suppressed, become the foundation of who they are meant to be. Link to purchase the book here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-rose-is-worried-estee-cohen/1146818067 To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Sneak Peek & Sponsorship 02:25 – Meet Devori Nussbaum 04:45 – The Power of Real Human Presence 07:12 – What Is Chassidus Meant to Do for the Human Psyche? 12:00 – Finding the Balance Between Presence & Spiritual Aspiration 18:04 – Embracing the Void: Turning Emotional Numbness into a Portal for Growth 21:15 – Seeing Beneath the Surface of Reality 26:00 – How Unprocessed Grief Blocks Our Hearts—and How to Reopen Them 30:11 - The Role of Grief in Spiritual Growth 36:01 - Holy Honesty 38:00 – Bringing G-d into Daily Life 44:53 - Navigating the Fear of Change 47:00 – Regulating Your Nervous System 54:30 – One Minute a Day: Building Presence in Busy Lives 1:02:15 – Kavanah and Mitzvot: How One Moment Can Fill a Lifetime 1:07:30 – Animal Soul vs. Divine Soul: A Compassionate Integration 1:12:00 – Redefining Iskafya: Presence, Breath, and Spiritual Discipline 1:16:30 – Choosing Growth vs. Chasing Perfection 1:29:10 - Crumbling into Grief 1:41:00 – How to Navigate Religious Trauma 1:44:15 – Parents, Fear, and Compassion: Reframing the Narrative 1:47:00 – The Magic of Retreats 1:53:30 – Personal Journey: From Control to Joy 1:57:05 – Presence, Honesty, and Shedding the Snake Skin 1:59:00 – Host’s Outro

A conversation about discovering a loving relationship with G-d through grief. Bianca shares her personal journey of loss and how it led her to a deeper understanding of G-d's love and connection. We discuss expressing raw emotions in prayer, the Torah as a love letter from G-d, and the significance of gratitude and daily conversation in building a relationship with the Divine. Bianca Benisti Kaffash is a motivational speaker and spiritual coach who has walked through her own challenges to discover a deeper connection with Hashem and the beauty of Torah. She believes in the power of reconnecting with the sacred language of prayer and Torah—something that’s often been cheapened or lost. Now, Bianca is passionate about bringing others back to that language, helping them experience the profound beauty and strength it offers. Through spiritual coaching, personalized prayers, and leading meaningful events, Bianca empowers others to find healing, clarity, and a true connection with Hashem. Follow her on Instagram @ritainspired for raw, heartfelt inspiration and a journey back to the light of Torah. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:16 - Host’s Intro 01:10 - Introduction of Bianca Benisti 02:43 - Welcome Bianca 02:51 - Bianca’s Background + Starting Rita Inspired 04:31 - Grief and Torah as a Healing Language 06:05 - Being Reintroduced to the Torah as Hashem’s Love Language 06:46 - Shifting from Obedience to Connection 08:15 - Mourning Laws as Divine Comfort 09:59 - Inviting G-d In 11:07 - The Only Way Out is Through 11:50 - Experiencing Hashem’s Love Through Loss 13:35 - Surrendering to G-d 15:37 - Having a Conversation with G-d 18:33 - How to Pray When It Feels Imaginative 23:49 - Personal Gratitude and Emotional Honesty 28:46 - How Grief & Singlehood Shaped My Prayer 29:57 - Hashem Wants to Spend Time with Me 30:34 - The Exodus: Crying Out to G-d Sparks Redemption 32:05 - Simple, Raw Prayers Can Bring Miracles 34:13 - Studying Torah to Understand G-d 36:15 - Mitzvot Are Love Maps, Not Restrictions 38:32 - The Message Behind Jealousy 39:46 - Hashem Just Wants You to Be You 40:39 - When G-d Doesn’t Reveal Everything 42:01 - Being Motivated by Love 43:32 - Crisis Can Reveal G-d’s Emotional Presence 46:14 - Finding Clarity in Torah 47:49 - G-d will Find a Way to Get Into Your Painful Moments 48:22 - My Joy Under The Chuppah 51:35 - Host’s Outro

A personal journey of discovering Jewish meditation, taking the cerebral act of study and grounding it in the body through focus and breath. Explore the balance between body and soul, the power of intention in prayer, the difference between Jewish and Eastern meditation, and the spiritual practice of finding balance in our characters through the Sefirot. A mom of seven, Zeesy is the director of Sinai Academy Jewish International School and Cape Town Torah High School. She is the spiritual feminine leader of Blouberg Jewish Community Centre. Zeesy gives ongoing psycho-spiritual ‘soultalks’ in the community, sharing her passion of bringing people closer to their soul source. She coaches women around the world with ‘Echad coaching’ bringing body and soul together. Find out more about Zeesy's work here: www.echad.co.za Get in touch with Zeesy at [email protected] * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:17 - Host's Intro 01:17 - Support Human & Holy 01:39 - Welcome Zeesy 03:34 - The Birth of Echad: Mindfulness & Meditation 05:31 - Integrating Body and Soul in Spiritual Practice 09:01 - Learning & Practicing Meditation 10:47 - Chassidic Meditation Practice 14:05 - Jewish Meditation vs. Eastern Meditation 18:22 - An Example of Jewish Meditation 22:24 - How Torah Learning Becomes Embodied 24:57 - Da’at: Intimacy with G-d Through Torah and Body 32:10 - Practical Tools for Spiritual Integration 34:00 - The Power of Single Tasking 34:52 - Morning Rituals and Connection to Nature 36:13 - Building a Meaningful Prayer Practice 38:45 - Integrating Gratitude into Daily Life 41:00 - Heartfelt Prayer: Emotional Presence in Judaism 42:42 - Understanding the Sefirot and Personal Growth 48:19 - Balancing Character Traits 49:46 - Breathing the Sefirot Into Your Day 51:57 - Hashem in the Slow Lane: Trusting Divine Timing 54:18 - Peak Judaism: When Body and Soul Are One 55:34 - Experiencing G-d On Slower Days 57:30 - Vulnerability in Prayer 59:58 - Grounding Ourselves in Our Bodies 1:03:43 - Host's Outro

We celebrated Season Six of the podcast with an evening in LA, celebrating the innermost teachings of Torah with a spiritual gathering of art, poetry, and deep connection. Link to watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/bUQrJUFWpmY Link to the conversation cards created for this evening: humanandholy.com/download SPONSOR: Today’s episode is sponsored by SHARE, a global initiative connecting individuals to the timeless teachings of the inner dimension of Jewish wisdom, known as Pnimiyut Hatorah. Their mission is to inspire soulful living and learning by translating ancient insights for the contemporary moment. You can learn more on Share.Fund. Florals & lamps sponsored by Lark Floral Event & Design. Find out more at larkla.com. Instagram @larklosangeles Event planning, setup & magnificent foodscape by Shaina Liberow-Schmukler of The Graze LA. Found out more at thegrazela.com. Instagram @thegrazela To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation with Raizy Fried about discovering the Godly purpose of her natural personality, the way resurrection of the dead (Techiyas Hameisim) can be a practical, emotional experience, the realization that Hashem wants our full hearts, how Raizy's personal questions led her to deeper Torah study, how gossip and judgment can be a reflection of our own unfulfilled purpose, what compels her to stick her neck out to discuss taboo topics, and a transformative teaching from the Tanya that changed Raizy's life. Raizy Fried is a world-renowned author of the Lekovod Shabbos Kodesh series and The Anatomy of a Yenta, and a beloved speaker known for her warm, honest, and deeply relatable style. She brings clarity and depth to topics ranging from Shabbos to emotional wellness and personal growth. Through her platform, Inspired Living, Raizy reaches thousands of women with thoughtful content designed to uplift and enrich everyday life. Link to Inspired Living: watch.raizyfried.com Find her on instagram @raizyscookin * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.