Deep Meaningful Conversations

51

Get Ready For Pesach with Esti Hamilton

Mar 27, 2023

1:01:12

Pesach is coming, and DMC is here for you! Whether you’re defrosting your freezer or packing all the suitcases, we’re back to share conversations about the upcoming yom tov and help us get focused on the meaning of what we do. In this episode, we DMC with Esti Hamilton, the most relatable of rebbetzins, to give us some chizuk and inspo for Pesach. We discuss: Her personal relationship with Pesach, from childhood until today The stereotype of the woman falling asleep at the seder, having had no time for her own personal spiritual preparations Tips and suggestions for prioritizing ourselves in advance Connecting with our children who may struggle to connect on Pesach Esti’s favorite Pesach insights We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and you can email us at [email protected]. Show notes: Esti Hamilton’s website: https://rebbetzinesti.com/ Torah Anytime shiurim: https://www.torahanytime.com/#/speaker?l=682 DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us DMC EPISODE 33 SPONSOR: Smarty Had a Party https://smartyhadaparty.com/ Coupon code for 20% off: PESACH20 (314) 431-5400 866-4SMARTY

52

The Moderately Anxious Everybody with Ilana Cowland

Mar 13, 2023

1:03:38

Anxiety is something we all have to deal with as human beings, even if we don’t have a clinical diagnosis. And if we do struggle with clinical anxiety, let’s try to take away the stigma surrounding mental illness, so YES we are all in for a DMC about anxiety. Especially one designed for frum women who are already dealing with so many additional demands due to the frum lifestyle. Our guest is Mrs. Ilana Cowland who has just come out with a book that sold us with its title, The Moderately Anxious Everybody. As Ilana writes, “the great social like we all tell to cover up the truth we all know – everybody’s anxious.”  Ilana is a UK born educator, coach and relationship expert. She and her husband Jamie have been inspiring international audiences for over 25 years. In her debut book, she provides a deeper understanding of why our society is so anxious and what you can do, today, to deal with the anxiety in your life. In this DMC, we discuss: Why Ilana decided to write a book about anxiety Anxiety and women, particularly frum women What anxiety looks and sounds like Techniques to reduce anxiety Tips to bring calm and serenity into our daily lives We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected]. Show notes: The Moderately Anxious Everybody https://www.amazon.com/Moderately-Anxious-Everybody-Ilana-Cowland/dp/B0BDP111VF/ref=sr 1 1?crid=3NMBPZQCMND1B&keywords=the+moderately+anxious+everybody&qid=1678470179&sprefix=the+moderately+an%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1 Ilana’s TorahAnytime shiurim: https://www.torahanytime.com/#/speaker?l=326 Ilana’s Chizuk MIssion recordings: https://www.chizukmission.org/cowland DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us DMC EPISODE 31 SPONSOR: The Shabbos Maamad https://www.shabbosmaamad.com/2 [email protected] (212) 797- 7380

53

Kosher Comedy with Zeya

Feb 27, 2023

1:14:03

Zeya is a queen when it comes to kosher comedy. Between her shows, youtube videos and her social media posts, Zeya makes us laugh about our foibles and everyday realities as frum women. However in this interview, we get deeper than expected about the power of comedy and the meaning Zeya finds in the work she does. This DMC is just in time for Purim, and we straight talk about the joys and challenges of the holiday for women. In this episode we DMC about: What Zeya was like as a kid and teen and how she got into comedy Zeya’s unexpected career trajectory The types of issues she addresses through her comedy Her biggest flop and biggest success Purim chizuk by Zeya! We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected]. Show notes: Zeya’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfRnEc5eE9goiB4coErVNdA DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us DMC EPISODE 31 SPONSOR: YidCards https://yidcards.com/#/ (212) 600-CARD [email protected]

54

The Art of Everyday Living with Raizy Fried

Feb 13, 2023

1:32:13

This episode of DMC is about the art of everyday living, and we couldn’t have this conversation without our guest, Raizy Fried, who is the queen of this art. Raizy’s been called the Jewish Martha Stewart, her platform Inspired Living is devoted to helping women run their homes more efficiently, entertain with practicality and style, and learn all the clever homemaking and organizing techniques they can get their hands on. Raizy is a Chasidish homemaker who takes pride in her homemaking, and she’s a creative entrepreneur who has made a business of it! She’s full of ideas of how to elevate the everyday and gain pleasure and satisfaction from newfound systems and techniques that help make our lives more functional, beautiful and meaningful. On this episiode we DMC about: How Raizy discovered her passion to teach and inspire women to make every day more meaningful, beautiful and functional Raizy’s philosophy that homemaking and life is an art How Raizy built her business and her huge Instagram presence The response she’s gotten as a Chasidish woman online How she melds her values with her design aesthetic Her favorite tips of overwhelmed Jewish women We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected]. Show notes: Raizy’s Inspired Living: https://watch.raizyfried.com/ Raizy’s website: https://www.raizyfried.com/ DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us DMC EPISODE 30 SPONSOR: Yad Batya L’Kallah https://auction.yadbatya.org/mt-sponsor 929-486-0905

55

Backstage with Chanale

Jan 30, 2023

1:01:10

Female performers have had a renaissance in recent years, especially with live performances and concerts. In this episode of DMC, we go backstage with Chanale Fellig-Harrel, otherwise known as Chanale, who published her first album in the late 90s and she was one of the few frum female artists out there putting out albums and performing at the time. She’s also the consummate hustler, as evidenced by her podcast, The Weekly Squeeze. We’re curious to hear her thoughts and experiences about the emerging frum female music industry. In this episode we discuss: How Chanale first began to develop her musical talent What it was like as a frum female performer in the 90s and 2000s when it wasn’t as popular as it is today How making Aliya a few years ago impacted her musical career How Chanale uses her creativity to fuel multiple endeavors, including her podcast, running masterclasses, producing comedy videos and more Advice she would give aspiring frum female musicians and singers We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected]. Show notes: Chanale’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Cu8icnoTCNB6WLCU3UwLg Chanale’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly-squeeze-with-chanale/id1614568206 DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us DMC EPISODE 29 SPONSOR: Dor Yeshorim https://doryeshorim.org/ Hearing loss panel: https://doryeshorim.org/hearing-loss-panel-orders/ 1-718-384-6060 Project Inspire Convention https://www.projectinspire.com/convention/ [email protected] (718) 874-8875

56

Living Life on Purpose with Jackie Glaser

Jan 16, 2023

1:12:57

In this episode of Deep Meaningful Conversations, we’re going deep with all things personal development with our guest, Jackie Glaser. Jackie is all about accessing your greatness and living life on purpose. She's a life coach, a dating coach, a leadership developer – and was the resident psychologist on the Today Show in Australia. She also served as the Director of Leadership Development for 12 years at Olami. This episode is full of deep, profound and practical insights for anyone interested in self-improvement and accessing your greatness. We discuss: Jackie’s journey to observance and how it informed her career trajectory How life begins at the end of our comfort zone The importance of defining yourself internally vs. externally Self development in the context of bein adam l’atzmo (between a person and herself) Jackie’s dating story and her subsequent work with singles Tools to connect to yourself more deeply We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected]. Jackie’s website: https://www.jackieglaser.com/ Jackie’s book recommendations: Deeper Dating by Ken Page Practical Inner Torah by Miriam Millhauser Castle It’s All in Your Mind by Sara Yosef Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David R. Hawkins, M.D. Ph.D. Attached by Amir Levine, M.D. and and Rachel S.F. Heller, M.A. DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us DMC EPISODE 28 SPONSOR: OU Women’s Initiative Torat Imecha Parsha: https://www.ou.org/women/torat-imecha/parsha/ Torat Imecha Nach Yomi & Tehillim: https://www.ou.org/women/Nach23/

57

What’s Missing From Parenting Classes with Ruchi Koval

Jan 2, 2023

1:20:18

Welcome to a brand new season of Deep Meaningful Conversations, powered by Town Appliance! Parents in the audience, do you ever feel that while you have gained tools from the various parenting classes you’ve taken, some things feel left out or not addressed fully? No one parenting approach can fit all sizes – parents and children included – but the older we get and the more we learn, we’re able to more easily pick out the missing parts.  In this episode, we have the pleasure of DMCing with parent coach and author Ruchi Koval about what’s typically missing from parenting classes. Ruchi’s also is a mom of 7, rebbetzin to many and a Momentum trip leader, so she’s worked with a lot of parents. We’re really curious to find out what she feels we need to hear more about in our parenting journeys. In this episode we discuss: How Ruchi got into parenting coaching What it’s like to be in the limelight as a parent coach when you’re having your own parenting struggles Ruchi’s top topics that are either missing entirely from parenting classes, or not emphasized enough We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected]. Show notes: Ruchi’s books: Soul Construction: Shape Your Character Using 8 Steps from the Timeless Jewish Practice of Mussar  Conversations with God: Prayers for Jewish Women  Ruchi’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-of-life-weekly-wisdom-with-ruchi-koval/id1548215793 Recommended book: Raising a Loving Family - Essential Guidance from the Talks and Wisdom of Rabbi Shimon Russell  DMC YEARLY SPONSOR: Town Appliance https://www.townappliance.com/ 1-866-309-8119 https://www.townappliance.com/pages/contact-us DMC EPISODE 27 SPONSOR: 24Six https://www.24six.app/ https://www.24six.app/contact-us-user.html ------ DMC is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertisement program designed to provide a means for sites and creators to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This means we will be compensated if you choose to utilize the links that we provide.

58

Trailer

Dec 30, 2020

2:43

What this podcast is all about, and why you should absolutely listen. 

59

Behind Between Carpools with Leah Schapira

Dec 8, 2022

53:46

We could all use that "older sister" who knows the answer to everything and gives us those tips and tricks to make our lives run smoother. Between Carpools, the lifestyle website for the busy Jewish woman run by five talented women, fills that need beautifully. We sat down and had a DMC with Leah Schapira, known at the ultimate connecter. Like it says on their website, every team needs a mover, shaker, and motivator (and great recipe developer!) like Leah, who keeps the team moving with our eyes focused on the goal, and is always on the lookout for talent. Leah has authored and co-authored nine (!) cookbooks, and most recently, with the BCP team, helped create Artscroll’s brand new Best of Kosher Cookbook. Leah describes herself as a creative and is always juggling new ideas and projects with her team of very talented frum women whose goal is to make the lives of frum women easier, more enjoyable and more beautiful. On this DMC we discuss: Tips about when to quit a project and when to keep pushing The type of content BCP provides frum women and how the team comes up with fresh ideas Why Leah and her team decided not to include their faces in the branding of BCP (but yes, pictures of women are featured on their website) Staying focused and how not to let exciting new ideas get in the way of long term goals Leah’s perspective on the increased focus on aesthetics in the frum world What inspires Leah in meeting her career goals We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected] notes:Alex & Rivki on Jordana Baruchov’s podcast “Drink it In” https://anchor.fm/jordana-baruchov0/episodes/Alex-Fleksher--Rivki-Silver---Podcasters-Unite-e1qfdj0/a-a8ohdb1Between Carpools website:https://betweencarpools.com/Link to Best of Kosher https://amzn.to/3Fgq0RzDMC is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertisement program designed to provide a means for sites and creators to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This means we will be compensated if you choose to utilize the links that we provide.

60

Sarah Schenirer’s Legacy with Dr. Leslie Ginsparg-Klein

Nov 24, 2022

52:45

In this DMC, we’re talking with Dr. Leslie Leslie Ginsparg Klein about the history of the Bais Yaakov Movement, the lessons and legacy of Sarah Schenirer, and about girls education today. Dr. Klein is the Academic Dean of Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary & College in Baltimore. She speaks on Jewish history, Tanach, leadership and communication skills across the United States and internationally. Leslie received her Ph.D. from New York University, where she researched the history of Orthodox girls’ education in America and the Bais Yaakov movement, so she has a lot of insights to share with us on this topic.Here’s what we discuss in this episode: Leslie’s background and influences in her life which formed her passion for women’s education How Leslie decided to pursue a PhD on a religious topic in a secular institution Her favorite takeaways in her study of the Bais Yaakov movement Sarah Schenirer’s leadership legacy for us all The successes in today’s girls’ education that are in line with Sarah Shenirer’s legacy; what still needs improvement We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected] Notes:Dr. Klein’s website:https://www.lesliegklein.com/WITS:https://www.wits.edu/Lesle’s book recommendations:-Sarah Builds a School by Ann Koffsky and Leslie Ginspurg-Klein -The Rebellion of the Daughters by Rachel Manekin-Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America by Melissa Klapper-Reading Jewish Women by Iris Parush- Any of the books by Eliana Adler-Carry Me In Your Heart by Pearl Benisch

61

How To Enjoy Cooking with Esty Wolbe

Nov 10, 2022

1:06:22

Love it or hate it (or some feeling in between), meal prep and cooking is a big part of our lives as frum women. Some of us are systems people, with our weekly menu plan and shopping list carefully constructed and executed. Others are more off the cuff, preparing meals that feel right at the moment, as needed (and praying that we have the ingredients already defrosted in our refrigerator!) In addition to cooking styles, some of us feel an inherent satisfaction and creativity in cooking, while others feel either intense dislike, or at the very least, that they have other better things to do. On today’s episode, we DMC with Esty Wolbe, “food entertainer” extraordinaire of Kosher.com, who shares her cooking journey and tips along the way to help us make our cooking more manageable, and enjoyable. In our conversation with Esty, we discuss: What teenage Esty was like in her mom’s kitchen How Esty’s career in cooking developed Advice for women who dislike cooking Tips to add life and motivation into the grind of meal prep Esty’s favorite recipes and creative process We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected] notes:Esty’s amazing recipes shared in this episode!https://cookingwithtantrums.com/2017/01/ultimate-potato-kugel/https://www.kosher.com/recipe/best-challah-ever-3236 https://cookingwithtantrums.com/2016/05/chicken-and-rice/ https://www.kosher.com/shows/video/1224/spaghetti-cheatballsSee you next episode!

62

Unconditional Parenting with Blimie Heller

Oct 27, 2022

1:24:52

Parenting is all-encompassing and all-consuming, even if you’re not a helicopter parent. At the very bare minimum, we are tasked with keeping our offspring alive. Yet we also want to facilitate our children’s emotional, spiritual, psychological, physical, social and academic growth! And we very much don’t want to hinder their growth and development with our mistakes, missteps and full-blown fails.Enter Blimie Heller with her compassionate unconditional parenting approach, and parenting feels a lot more manageable. We’re grateful that Blimie shares her wisdom with us on this episode of DMC about how to be more compassionate towards our children in understanding the root of behaviors, as well as how to be more compassionate towards ourselves in our parenting journeys.In our conversation with Blimie, we discuss: what unconditional parenting is and how she discovered it strengthening the parent/child relationship the power of empathy in parenting dealing with feelings of failure in parenting how to see the root causes driving children’s behavior We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected] notes:Blimie’s website:https://www.blimieheller.com/On instagram as @unconditional parentingBlimie’s book recommendations:Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn Hold On To Your Kids by Dr. Gordon NeufeldNon-Violent Communication by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg

63

Dreaming of Parenthood with Chanie Bochner of Bonei Olam

Oct 3, 2022

43:42

24 years ago during candlelighting erev Yom Kippur, Chanie Bochner made the decision that she wanted to help others who were going through the same struggle as she was. What started as a grass-roots effort to support couples experiencing infertility morphed into an international organization that to date, has helped bring over 10,000 babies into this world.For this episode, we have the honor of speaking with Chanie Bochner who founded Bonei Olam. Bonei Olam is a Jewish organization that provides millions of dollars annually in fertility treatment funding. They leave no stone unturned to help couples achieve the dream of parenthood. They also provide various levels of support to couples facing infertility, from medical referrals to counselor support. Bonei Olam is also the founder of the incredible V’zakeini initiative that has almost 50,000 women donating a dollar at candlelighting to support couples infertility treatments. Chanie tells us about her personal journey and how she started Bonei Olam.By the end of today’s episode, we hope you walk away inspired by Chanie Bochner’s story and have a greater understanding and sensitivity to the experience of those who struggle with infertility. If you yourself struggle with infertility, we hope you gain chizuk from this conversation with the woman who has helped so many Jewish couples make their dream of parenthood come true. We also hope you appreciate Chanie’s comments about what she wants people to understand about the experience of couples facing infertility.We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected] notes:Bonei Olam’s website:https://www.boneiolam.org/V’zakeini initiative:Vzakeini - A Project of Bonei OlamKesher Networks Shidduch Initiative:https://www.keshernetworks.org/

64

The Power Of Forgiveness with Hudy Abrams

Sep 22, 2022

58:53

We’re entering the high holiday season. Quick, what’s the first word that enters your head?If it has anything to do with lists, shopping or cooking, don’t worry, you’re not alone. But brownie points to any of you who thought teshuva!This period is filled with both spiritual and physical demands. And as busy women, it’s easy to get stuck in the material demands of this season, and neglect the spiritual side. Especially if we aren’t spending much – or any – time in shul. This episode, we were privileged to sit down with Hudy Abrams who shares her incredible personal story about forgiveness, and what she learned from it. Hudy Abrams lives in Dallas, TX, where she is the co- director and Rebbetzin of The Jewish Learning Center, an outreach center and shul in the heart of Dallas. She runs programs, events and classes for Jewish families, and has led hundreds of women on life- changing missions to Israel. Hudy is passionate about empowering Jewish women to uncover their unique gifts and to step into their greatest selves. Her authenticity and ability to connect easily with others, as well as her transformational teaching style, have made her classes, talks and workshops popular among women across the country. To book her for a speaking engagement, email [email protected] wanted to know how she got to the point of being able to forgive someone close to her and what benefits she experienced from granting forgiveness. Also, we wanted to know what she would tell any of us who are living with hurt and pain, and how we can move forward from it, even if we aren’t ready to fully forgive.We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected]’s recommended reading/listening/watching on the topic of forgiveness:Rabbi Dr. Twerski’s book on forgiveness - Forgiveness: Don’t Let Resentment Keep You CaptiveLectures by: Rabbi YY JacobsonRabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz

65

Stopping Mental Health Stigma with Zahava List

Sep 8, 2022

1:06:22

Welcome to our 20th episode of DMC! In this episode, we sit down with Zahava List to discuss mental health. She shares with us her own journey to mental health, her perspectives on stigma surrounding mental health in the frum community, and how and why she founded Chazkeinu, an organization which provides chizuk for all Jewish women coping with mental illness. By the end of today’s episode, we hope you come away feeling inspired by one woman’s mental health journey and have developed a greater awareness about the mental health issues facing so many of us in our communities. In this episode of DMC you’ll hear: Zahava’s personal mental health journey How she filled a communal need by founding Chazkeinu The roles of peer-led mental health support and professional guidance The stigma surrounding mental health in the frum community – how far we’ve come and what work we have left to do First steps for someone embarking on his or her mental health journey We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected] notes:Increase in anxiety and depression due to pandemic:https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwideDr. Chaya Lieba Kobernick's Jerusalem-based practice, The CBT-DBT Centerhttps://thecbtdbtcenter.comChazkeinu’s contact informationhttps://chazkeinu.org/[email protected] Zahava’s recommended books and websites:Battle of the Mind - R' Avrohom SteierWith All I Am - Naomi ShulmanWhat's going on with my mother? - Rivka KaufmanDepressed - Yoni PalmerCalling out to you - Tehila Edelmanhopetorecharge.comrefuathanefesh.orgokclarity.com

66

Work-Family Synergy With Dean Marian Stoltz-Loike

Aug 25, 2022

48:19

For this episode, we’re going with “work-family synergy” instead of the ubiquitous “work-life balance.” Why? Because balance, quite literally, means 50/50. And we all know when it comes to work and home life, that’s not always realistic or ideal. Synergy connotes a combination, hopefully one that is mutually advantageous. And it doesn’t tell us that our work and our home life needs to be balanced. Sometimes it’s combined in a chaotic mixture! Join us for this DMC with Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike who is the Dean of Touro’s Lander College for Women and guides young women not only on their educational journeys, but also in finding ways to balance work, family and community.In this episode of DMC you’ll hear:The challenges facing frum women in careers, trying to juggle professional and domestic responsibilitiesTips about managing school/work and familyHow women can know how and when to contribute communallyWe’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can email us at [email protected] you next episode!

67

Kallah Classes 2.0 with Rochel Goldbaum

Aug 4, 2022

56:52

This episode really feels like a tackle. We’re talking about kallah classes, in other words, premarital education. Frum women have many feelings about their kallah classes. Kallah classes are typically where engaged women learn about the laws of family purity. When it comes to premarital education about intimacy, the amount of information shared in a kallah class is going to depend on numerous factors: when you took your kallah classes, who your teacher was, and possibly the community you’re in. So in hindsight, some women feel that their kallah teacher did a thorough job of preparing them for marital intimacy, and others feel that the topic was hardly addressed.Kallah classes have changed over the past number of years. There has been a communal recognition that kallah classes need to be thorough in covering more ground, from intimacy education to addressing relationship-building skills. Long gone are the days when kallah classes were just about niddah and preparation for the mikvah. At the forefront of this educational shift in kallah classes is Rochel Goldbaum. Rochel is a highly-sought after international speaker and focuses on marital harmony and intimacy in the Jewish home. She’s a dating and relationships coach, and mentors other professionals in the field. Rochel’s a leader in dating mentor training and kallah teacher training. She’s also the Education Director of MyGiftofMikvah.org.In this episode of DMC you’ll hear: How kallah classes have changed over the past few years Why changes were made; what was realized How we prepare kallah who may have too deeply internalized the middah of tsnius for marital life We’d love to hear from you. You can find Deep Meaningful Conversations on social media, or you can email us at [email protected].

68

Why Humor is Good For You with Yaffa Palti

Jul 21, 2022

1:08:29

Humor is much more than cracking jokes and stand-up comedy routines. Tapping into the full power of humor has emotional and physical therapeutic benefits. It’s also a tool that is sourced in our Torah tradition. All in all, humor is actually good for you, and we wanted to know how we can utilize it more in our everyday interactions to improve our lives. Enter Yaffa Palti, who uses humor masterfully in her shiurim and social media content. As you’ll hear in this episode, Yaffa had us laughing – and we definitely felt great after this interview!In this episode of DMC you’ll hear: How and why Yaffa uses humor professionally and personally Why humor is important to our mental health Why humor is important in our relationships How we can integrate humor if we’re not naturally funny We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]

69

Mini DMC about Parenting with Alex & Rivki

Jul 14, 2022

35:03

S2 Ep. 16 | Mini DMC about Parenting with Alex & Rivki

70

Five Habits Of Highly Effective Marriages with Kayla Levin

Jul 7, 2022

1:03:11

Tackling the topic of marriage DMC-style, we’re going with the assumption that everyone who is married experiences some sort of struggle or conflict. That there is at least one area in everyone’s marriage that needs improvement. But sometimes when we hear about “habits of highly effective marriages”, we can easily walk away feeling deflated and uninspired, disappointed that we don’t have those “effective habits” in my marriage. In this episode, we speak to Kayla Levin, Jewish marriage coach and the host of the “How to Glow” podcast, about her pick of 5 effective traits of a healthy marriage and what role we can take to make our marriages stronger. Even if we aren’t where we want to be yet, our goal with this episode is for us all to walk away feeling that we have the tools and newfound perspective to get there.We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out the video of this episode on Meaningful Minute’s YouTube channel!Show Notes:Kayla’s websitehttps://kaylalevin.com/Kayla’s podcast, How to Glow with Kayla Levin https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-glow/id1447257206

71

Mini DMC about Social Media with Rivki & Alex

Jul 3, 2022

41:35

Social media: keep or delete? This has been the conversation of late in the Orthodox world, and Alex and Rivki get deep and meaningful about their relationship with social media, and why they're choosing to grapple with it -- and silence notifications. If you have any topics that you’d like to listen to Alex and Rivki have a mini DMC about, email them at [email protected] notes:The Social Dilemma documentaryhttps://www.thesocialdilemma.com/Faces of Orthodoxy social media accounthttps://instagram.com/faces.of.orthodoxy?igshid=YzAyZWRlMzg=

72

Body Image with Rachel Tuchman

Jun 23, 2022

1:14:18

On this episode of DMC, Alex and Rivki tackle body image. They share their thoughts on how this impacts frum women: the messaging we receive about our weight and size during our upbringing from home and peers, pressure due to shidduchim, pressure to keep off weight after the wedding and post pregnancy, and more. The guest for this episode is Rachel Tuchman, LMHC. Rachel’s specialty is educating on weight stigma and diet culture, as well as starting conversations about mental health on social media. In this DMC with Rachel, you’ll hear: The concept of “health at every size” Main challenges facing frum women regarding body image Pressures about body size with shidduchim, and what changes need to be made Helpful guidance for women struggling with body image issues Advice for helping our children with body image We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out the video of this episode on Meaningful Minute’s YouTube channel!Show Notes:Rachel Tuchman’s websitehttps://www.racheltuchman.com/

73

Mini DMC about Staying Connected with Rivki & Alex

Jun 16, 2022

23:27

Staying connected to our Yiddishkeit during the various seasons of our lives is a challenge for many. In this mini DMC, Rivki and Alex share the times they’ve felt it, the times they haven’t, and what they’re doing these days to help keep connected. If you have any topics that you’d like to listen to Alex and Rivki have a mini DMC about, email them at [email protected].

74

The Power Of Sisterhood with Aliza Bulow

Jun 9, 2022

1:01:26

Keeping up our friendships seems like a nice thing in our hectic lives, but is it a necessity? Well, according to research on loneliness, it actually is. Having friends benefits us emotionally, physically and spiritually. There is real power in sisterhood. Don’t believe it? Believe it but don’t have the time or energy to invest in finding and maintaining friendships? Take a listen. On this episode of DMC, Alex and Rivki speak with Aliza Bulow, the founding director of Core, an organization designed to nourish and network frum women as the core of inspiring Jewish communities. Aliza is chock full of insights. We discuss: Why adult friendships are so crucial Takeaways from The Art of Gathering and Together than we can apply as frum women The biggest challenges to creating and maintaining adult friendships What we can do to prioritize connecting to other women in a meaningful way We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out the video of this episode on Meaningful Minute’s YouTube channel!Show Notes:Core’s websitehttps://coretorah.org/Aliza’s Torah website:https://www.abiteoftorah.com/The Art of Gathering by Priya Parkerhttps://www.amazon.com/Art-Gathering-How-Meet-Matters/dp/1594634939/ref=sr 1 1?crid=12VL1SW3CPF36&keywords=the+art+of+gathering&qid=1654623403&sprefix=the+art+of+gatherin%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1Together: The Healing Power of Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthyhttps://www.amazon.com/Together-Connection-Performance-Greater-Happiness/dp/0062913298/ref=sr 1 3?crid=2RLBQ0Q1ED5WO&keywords=together&qid=1654623470&sprefix=together%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-3

75

Mini DMC about Jealousy with Alex & Rivki

Jun 2, 2022

19:33

Jealous? Who's jealous? Me? NEVER.In this mini DMC, Rivki and Alex talk take a vulnerable plunge into the areas of their lives in which they struggle with jealousy (and maybe a little envy too), and how they work on being more content. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Let us know if you have topic requests for future Mini DMC episodes. And don’t forget to check out the video of this episode on Meaningful Minute’s YouTube channel!

76

Living Joyfully with Shaindy Plotzker

May 26, 2022

1:07:21

Who doesn’t want to live more joyously? On this episode of DMC, Rivki and Alex talk about what joy means to them, how they find it in their lives and how it can be hard to attain during the challenging times. Their guest for this episode is Shaindy Plotzker, singer and songwriter. Shaindy is well-known in the Jewish music world as a soulful and talented singer, but she’s also well-known for her positivity and general simchas hachayim (joy for life.) Rivki and Alex sit down with Shaindy to hear about her ascent in the Jewish music industry, but also to hear her secrets about attaining and maintaining a joyous attitude in our lives.We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out the video of this episode on Meaningful Minute’s YouTube channel!

77

Mini DMC about Shabbos with Alex & Rivki

May 19, 2022

18:08

In this Mini DMC, Alex and Rivki shmooze about Shabbos: what they love about it and what they find challenging about the day in the week they can’t live without!If you have any topics that you’d like to listen to Alex and Rivki have a mini DMC about, email them at [email protected].

78

Modesty: More Than A Dress Code with Jamie Geller

May 12, 2022

47:12

Tznius, or Jewish modesty, is a hot button topic for many frum women. It brings up lots of various feelings. Each frum woman has her own relationship with this value of modesty and its application in our everyday lives, whether it’s how she dresses, how she acts and how she expresses herself. For some it’s a love relationship, for some it’s a hate relationship and for others it’s a love/hate relationship.In this episode of DMC, Alex and Rivki get real about tznius the things they most appreciate about this mitzvah and way of life as well as the things they find most challenging. Their guest, Jamie Geller, chief media and marketing officer at Aish Global and founder and CEO of Kosher Network International, joins this DMC to share her insights on what tsnius means as a public figure. Jamie also shares a bit about her evolving relationship with tznius – as someone who came to observance later in life, and as a mom of teenage girls.We hope that by the end of this episode, you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the middah and mitzvah of tznius from hearing real experiences, honest perspectives and candid reflections.We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out the video of this episode on Meaningful Minute’s YouTube channel!Show Notes:Faigy Zelcer’s Penimi program (please note that Alex accidentally called it “Penini” instead of “Penimi”https://www.penimi.org/Jamie Geller’s website:https://jamiegeller.com/

79

Frum Female Entrepreneurs with Chayale Kaufman

Apr 28, 2022

41:28

If you’re a business owner, an aspiring one, or an admirer of the incredible female entrepreneurs in our communities, then this episode is for you. On this episode of Deep Meaningful Conversations, Rivki and Alex have a DMC with Chayale Kaufman, the CEO of the Jewish Content Network which provides advertising to the Jewish world, offering digital, print and social ads across dozens of different publishers. They discuss how Chayale got started, the risks she took, how she’s achieved success and her perspective on entrepreneurship for frum women – with nuggets of advice and insight throughout about work-life balance and running a business.We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out the video of this episode on Meaningful Minute’s YouTube channel!Show Notes:https://jewishcontentnetwork.com/

80

Overwhelmed, Burnt Out, and What to Do About it with Rachel Hercman

Apr 6, 2022

56:18

On this episode of Deep Meaningful Conversations, Rivki and Alex talk about managing the very real human emotions of overwhelm and burnout. As frum women, we have a lot of responsibilities to juggle, and sometimes it feels like we can’t do everything we need to do as well as we’d want to. Rachel Hercman, LCSW to the rescue! On this DMC with Rachel, we discuss:What the struggles of the overwhelmed frum woman typically looks likeSolutions for managing overwhelmThe role of burnout in meeting our responsibilitiesHow social media has impacted our attitudes towards strugglesWe’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes:Rachel Hercman’s website:https://rachelhercman.com/

81

Frum Finances: The Mystery Of Orthonomics with Yael Trusch

Mar 20, 2022

42:16

Orthonomics, a.k.a frum finances. Don’t start having heart palpitations and pass up this episode. While the discussion about the mystery of how to pay for the lifestyle we lead as Orthodox Jews can be stressful, on this episode of DMC, Alex and Rivki talk with Yael Trusch, host of the Jewish Money Matters podcast, and get a whole mindset overhaul on how we approach the concept of money as Jewish people. Don’t let this episode get away.On this episode we discuss:-A recap of Alex’s “Fuzzy Math” article in Mishpacha from January 2021 that started much of the communal conversation on frum finances-A new take on the typical understanding of “orthonomics”-The financial challenges unique to frum families and the common pitfalls frum families often fall into when it comes to finances-The Jewish approach to money-Tips on budgeting, saving, spending and splurging-Advice for those of us feeling pressured to keep up with the rising material standards in many of our communitiesWe’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes:Alex’s “Fuzzy Math” article:https://mishpacha.com/fuzzy-math/Yael’s Jewish Money Matters Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-money-matters/id1407025695Yael Trusch’s website:https://jewishlatinprincess.com/Yael’s Money Date checklist:https://jewish-latin-princess.ck.page/164d22d345

82

How Do I Become More Resilient? with Professor Leslie Gutman

Mar 6, 2022

46:16

We all want to be more resilient, to bounce back during times of stress and upheaval. But is resilience just about bouncing back to who we were before we experienced adversity, or is it more? On this episode of DMC, Rivki and Alex sit down with Professor Leslie Gutman, who recently published Resilience: A Jewish Guide to Facing Adversity, Fostering Strength and Living your Best Life, who shares some fascinating insights and helpful tools to help us grow our grit when (and before) the going gets tough.On this episode we discuss: What resilience is, and what it is not How we can boost our resilience What is spiritual resilience and why it’s important Being resilient in face of public vs. private nisyonos By the end of today’s episode, we hope you’ve gained tools to help you build and maintain resilience during the stages and moments of our life when we’re feeling we’re merely treading water, or even sinking.We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes:Professor Leslie Gutman’s website:https://drlesliemgutman.com/Her new book on resilience:https://mosaicapress.com/product/resilience/

83

Creative Frum Women with Bracha Goetz and Devora Rhodes

Feb 20, 2022

57:45

In this episode of Deep Meaningful Conversations, we talk all about utilizing our creativity as frum women. We all have creative streaks that express themselves in different ways, but the key is how we make sure we’re expressing our creativity in the context of our lives so we feel whole as human beings. In this episode, we speak with two creative frum women, Bracha Goetz and Devora Rhodes. Bracha has written 40 children’s books as well as a memoir for adults about overcoming food addictions and becoming observant. Devorah is a talented painter who has her own art business, Devora Rhodes Collection. By the end of today’s episode, we hope you will have gotten a glimpse into the blessings and challenges of being a creative in the frum world, and maybe even a spark of inspiration to pursue your own creative endeavors.We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes:Bracha Goetz’s website:https://www.goetzbookshop.com/Devorah Rhodes’ website:https://devorarhodescollection.com/

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Trailer

Feb 6, 2022

1:00

What this podcast is all about, and why you should absolutely listen. 

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Vulnerability and Oversharing with Shira Lankin Sheps and Yocheved Davidowitz

Feb 6, 2022

48:47

Welcome to Deep Meaningful Converstions! On today’s episode, we talk all about vulnerability and oversharing. Vulnerability is a popular topic these days, thanks to the work Dr. Brene Brown has done on the subject, and of course its relevance for anyone on social media. It’s really a fine line between being vulnerable in a healthy way and exposing too much. We talk with Shira Lankin Sheps, the author of The Layers Project, about her work in telling the stories of frum women via photography and interview and her perspective on vulnerability. We also sit down (in person!) to shmooze with Rebbetzin Yocheved Davidowitz who is our “in-house” rebbetzin and therapist to get a clinical and hashkafic perspective. By the end of today‘s episode, we hope you’ve gained a greater awareness of what vulnerability actually is, how it can serve us, and how not to fall into the trap of sharing too much of the parts of our identity that are not for public consumption. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes:Dr. Brene Brown’s TED Talk:https://www.ted.com/talks/brene brown the power of vulnerability?language=enShira Lankin Sheps The Layers Project website:https://thelayersprojectmagazine.com/Link to purchase Shira’s book:https://korenpub.com/products/the-layers-projectCoupon code:LAYERS10Yocheved Davidowitz’s Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deeper-conversation/id1536859442

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21: In-Town/Out-Of-Town

Dec 8, 2021

50:42

Today, we’ve got a fun, light-hearted topic for you. In-Town/Out-Of-Town. No, there won’t be any fights here about which one is morally superior. We’re just here to share the experiences of normal frum women who are living in-town and out-of-town, whatever that means. We’re going to be talking with three women: one who lives “in-town”, one who lives “out-of-town” and one who grew up out-of-town but currently lives in-town. We want to share with you their experiences and insights about what it’s like living in these different types of frum communities. What we loved about interviewing these women from different backgrounds and locations is that a lot of these stereotypes simply that: stereotypes. When you actually get to know people you realize that people are people and while yes, they of course are shaped by their environment, we also are individuals with our own individual values and personality traits. So wherever you live, we hope you enjoy this episode! We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected].

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20: Toxic Positivity

Nov 17, 2021

51:00

Mazel Tov! This is our 20th episode! And it promises to be a good one. Today’s episode is all about toxic positivity. We discuss our understanding of and opinions about this concept, and we’ve invited therapist Yocheved Davidowitz to weigh in on the Jewish perspective towards toxic positivity. What is toxic positivity, you may ask? It's the belief that a person should put a positive spin on all experiences, even tragic ones. No matter how difficult a situation is, one should make sure he or she maintains a positive mindset. Toxic positivity rejects difficult emotions in favor of a cheerful, often falsely positive, facade. Why do we engage in toxic positivity in dealing with others' emotional realities (and our own?) What’s bad about it, and how can we avoid it? We invite you to listen and find out. At the end of today’s episode, we hope you’ll have gained a greater awareness of the difference between positivity and forced positivity, and where optimism, hope and emunah fits in. This is so relevant when we’re faced with the difficult feelings of others, and when we’re faced with managing our own difficult feelings in response to other people’s discomforting emotions. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes: Yocheved Davidowitz’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deeper-conversation/id1536859442 WSJ’s recent article on toxic positivity: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tired-of-being-told-cheer-up-the-problem-of-toxic-positivity-11635858001

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19: Soul Construction With Ruchi Koval

Nov 3, 2021

41:45

We’re all under construction, aren’t we? In this episode, we talk with Ruchi Koval, author Soul Construction: Shape Your Character Using 8 Steps From the Timeless Jewish Practice of Mussar. Her book delves into 8 key traits from mussar teachings, but it really reads like a self-help book as well as a memoir because Ruchi shares parts of her life throughout the book. We give you a behind-the-scenes look into her book through our conversation. In this episode we discuss: How Ruchi’s book is helpful for normal frum women like ourselves, even though it's geared towards a non-religious (and even non-Jewish) audience. Which trait comes easiest to Ruchi, and which trait comes hardest What personal stories to keep and which to keep private when writing a book and being in the public eye The area of self-development that frum women generally struggle with the most We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes: Link to purchase Ruchi’s book Ruchi’s website: https://outoftheorthobox.com

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18: Parenting Neurodiverse Children

Oct 20, 2021

56:59

Neurodiversity may be a relatively new term, but about 30%-40% of the population are thought to be neurodiverse. This means that someone in your life probably falls into this category. Maybe it’s a student, a child, a spouse -- maybe it’s you. On today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Ilyssa Bass, a clinical psychologist and mother of four unique and wonderful children. Dr. Bass shares her own journey being a parent to a neurodiverse child. She’s passionate about helping parents appreciate and connect to their most difficult children. She also runs online courses, The Connection Course and Hidden Differences Course. In this episode we discuss: The meaning of the terms neurodiversity and hidden differences Advocating for neurodiverse children in school Advice for parents raising both neurodiverse and neurotypical children And lots more! This episode is supported by The Cleveland Corner Magazine. The Cleveland Corner is a free monthly magazine that can be opened each month to find a new spread of activities, pictures, recipes, current davening times and shiurim, contests, and more! Being the only frum, monthly magazine and with the ever-growing frum community, this is the place to advertise your business in Cleveland and have it noticed! To place an advertisement or to join the mailing list, contact us at [email protected]. To view current and previous issues, as well as to learn more, please visit clecornermag.com or follow them on IG @theclevelandcorner. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes: Dr. Ilyssa Bass’ website: https://drilyssabass.com/ Hidden Differences Online Course: https://hiddendifferences.lpages.co/hidden-differences-short-workshop/ Webinar Registration: drilyssabass.com/webinarbtc QUIZ:  https://go2.bucketquizzes.com/sf/c1d9b2bb

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17: Staying Connected

Oct 6, 2021

47:55

In this episode, we talk about staying connected to our Yiddishkeit. In other words, not putting our relationship with Judaism and Hashem on the bottom of our to-do list. (And boy, is that list long post-yom tov.) You’ll hear from Gila Ross, host of the Power Up! podcast. Gila shares lots of insights about how she works on staying connected, how she defines “connected” in terms of Yiddishkeit, and the need to tweak things as we fight for connection in our ever-demanding lives. Gila also talks about what she sees are typical challenges for frum women in staying connected and gives us lots of ideas of things we can do to help prioritize our spirituality. By the end of today’s episode, we hope that you’ll feel a little more motivated to make sure that your own spiritual connection isn’t on the bottom of your to-do list. This episode is supported by CB’s Shuk. Located in Cleveland, shipping worldwide, CB’s shuk offers a variety of beautiful and affordable head coverings and accessories, all the latest trends and styles of beanies, headbands, snoods, tichels, pretieds,  baseball hats and more. They also carry Snoga athleticwear, perfect for exercise or pool-side. And Kallahs can get 10% of all hair accessories during their engagement and shana rishona. Open by appointment only, call 718-734-8474, and follow CB’s Shuk on Instagram and Facebook. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. References: Gila Ross’ Power Up! Podcast: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/power-up-gila-ross-TMCxqOFUnv4/ Gila Ross' free PDF on Three Secrets For Loving Your Life: https://subscribepage.com/3-secrets-to-love-your-life

91

16: Back To Normal

Sep 14, 2021

55:54

In this episode, we talk about transitions. Settling into life after transitions, managing big transitions such as the one we are all experiencing in a world we thought was post-Covid. We speak with Dr. Aviva Goldstein whose passion is positive psychology and who focuses her work on the transitions that gap year students experience, particularly spending their year in Israel and coming home from their year in Israel. So if you have a child who just came back from Israel or who is there now, this episode is definitely for you. But she also talks about how to cope with the stresses of the various transitions life brings. Dr. Goldstein is chock full of insights, and we’re honored to have her as a guest on the podcast. By the end of today’s episode, we hope you feel empowered to face whatever transitions you’re experiencing head on with confidence and clarity. This episode is supported by the Grove Kosher Market. The Grove isn’t just a grocery store, it’s a destination, a vibrant part of the community. And The Groves shows its investment in Cleveland with a special teacher discount. Teachers can show their local teacher ID and enjoy a 5% discount off their shopping. Visit The Grove’s social media accounts or website to check out their extended holiday hours this month. Ready. Fresh. Grove. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes: Dr. Aviva Goldstein’s website: https://www.avivagoldstein.com/

92

15: In Search Of Normal Frum Men, Part Two

Sep 1, 2021

48:07

On this episode we talk all about the shidduch system with Merissa Gross, who has been setting up couples for 20 years. We also speak with Tziporah Zelmanowitz on her perspective and insights from her decade-plus dating experiences. We’re here to discuss it all with our guests: the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to shidduchim. And we’ve thrown in some of our shidduch horror stories for fun. This episode is supported by the Grove Kosher Market. We are sure you’ve heard the buzz around town about Cleveland’s fantastic new store -- the Grove Kosher experience has arrived!  Come in and be wowed by each department from sushi, bakery, grab & go, grocery, frozen food, dairy, and full meat section with butchers on premises. No more running around to numerous places, this is your one-stop shopping experience! Don’t forget to sign up for a VIP card so you don’t miss any of the latest sales! We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. Show Notes: Merissa Gross’ website: www.merissagross.com Merissa Gross’ webinars: https://www.merissagross.com/webinars

93

14: In Search Of Normal Frum Men, Part One

Aug 4, 2021

57:14

Shidduchim! (To the tune of “Tradition!”). This is a two-part episode devoted to the search for normal frum men. ;-) In this episode we talk with Professor Naomi Klapper, deputy chair of the department of psychology at Lander College. Professor Klapper also maintains a private practice in the Upper West Side and has a passion for guiding singles through shidduchim and dating. At the end of today’s episode, we hope you will have learned as much as we did from Professor Klapper about the interplay between psychology and shidduchim, the good and the bad about the shidduch system, and tons of helpful insights too for anyone involved in shidduchim, or anyone who cares about it. And that means YOU, since you’re listening! This episode is supported by the Grove Kosher Market. We are sure you’ve heard the buzz around town about Cleveland’s fantastic new store -- the Grove Kosher experience has arrived!  Come in and be wowed by each department from sushi, bakery, grab & go, grocery, frozen food, dairy, and full meat section with butchers on premises. No more running around to numerous places, this is your one-stop shopping experience! Don’t forget to sign up for a VIP card so you don’t miss any of the latest sales! We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. References: Professor Klapper’s website: https://klappertherapy.com/ Professor Klapper’s email: [email protected]

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13: Normalizing Religious Struggle

Jul 21, 2021

43:54

Normal frum women (and men, for that matter) have normal frum struggles. It’s normal. (Did we say that already?) And the mitzvah or societal norm that we struggle with may not be the ones you struggle with. We’re all on our own religious journeys and in our own unique relationships with Hashem. In this episode you’ll hear: - The religious struggles of some awesome normal frum women - The inspiration behind this episode (who is also our very first SURPRISE GUEST later on in the episode!!) - Alex and Rivki getting real about the mitzvos and societal stuff that can be challenging to them - How we deal with the the struggles that we have At the end of today’s episode, we hope you will have gained some chizuk in knowing that we all grapple at different points in our lives with different parts of Judaism, and that’s ok and even healthy. But at the end of the day, we want to come out of the struggle stronger. This episode is sponsored by Grove Kosher Market. We are sure you have heard the buzz around town, but now it's official! Cleveland, get ready for the FULL Grove Kosher experience people have come to know and love from the Florida Grove locations! Be sure to come by July 22nd for the grand opening! Enjoy live music, raffles, meet and greet the staff and many more surprises to come. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. 

95

12: BT Stages

Jul 7, 2021

49:41

We’ve all heard the inspiring stories of hashgacha pratis and self-sacrifice of BTs who have done whatever it takes to make the sometimes huge change to a life of Torah observance. But what happens after that initial decision to become observant? How do BTs navigate their new world which is full of unspoken rules that can’t exactly be found on Aish.com? We speak with Liv Sher, an undergrad at NYU, and newly observant NFW, as well as Penina Taylor, an inspirational speaker and master mindset coach, who has married off all her children. In this episode you’ll hear: What inspired Liv and Penina to become frum Challenges Liv has faced Liv’s message for the frum community The most valuable piece of advice Penina received Penina’s advice for BTs in earlier stages The 5 stages of Teshuva according to Penina At the end of today’s episode, we hope you’ll have gained more insight into, and appreciation of, the experiences of baalei teshuva in our community. This episode is sponsored by BakeBox For Kids, a monthly kosher baking kit subscription, providing hands on fun for little and big bakers. Each beautifully packaged box comes complete with pre-measured, individually packaged dry ingredients, step by step instructions and a fun activity. You can choose from the beginners or advanced option, and from a 1, 6 or 12 month subscription plan. Follow @bakebox for kids on instagram. Visit https://www.bakeboxforkids.com to subscribe today. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. And please send us your Takeaway mentioned in the episode! References: Penina’s podcasts: Leap of Faith -  https://anchor.fm/penina-taylor18 or https://israelnewstalkradio.com/category/penina-taylor/ Hold That Thought - https://anchor.fm/penina-taylor Penina Taylor’s website  peninataylor.com To book Penina for a speaking event this fall, email [email protected] The BT book that Alex referenced: https://becomingfrum.weebly.com

96

11: Road Trips

Jun 23, 2021

43:48

School is out, it’s hot and muggy outside, and we’re feeling some summer vibes! Today’s episode is all about road trips! And we’re not just talking about the cross-country types. Any time you get in the car to do something fun -- by yourself or with the family in tow -- counts. And we’ve learned lots of tips and tricks from our guest, Jodi Fried, founder of Love.Adventure.Mom and host of the To Mom Life podcast, who has a personal love for all things road trips! In this episode, you’ll hear: Rivki’s and Alex’s summer road trip memories Jodi’s approach to having fun on the road, whether it be a Sunday outing or a family vacation By the end of today’s episode, we hope you’ve gotten some helpful pointers, as well as a bit of inspiration, to get out of the house and plan a fun trip for you (and maybe your family too) this summer. This episode is sponsored by the Howie and Luba Penner  We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. And please send us your Takeaway mentioned in the episode! References: - Jodi Fried’s website: www.loveadventure.mom -Jodi's Road Trip Activity Guide  

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10: Talking About Marriage With Kayla Levin

Jun 9, 2021

46:40

So this week’s episode is a biggie: We’re tackling marriage. Or, as much as we can tackle in 45 minutes. The only expertise that we have on the topic is that we are each married, so whatever experience that comes with is what we’re bringing to the table. But, good news, we’re bringing on marriage coach Kayla Levin to give us the lowdown on some common issues and struggles she helps women deal with in their marriages. Today we’ll be talking about: Rivki and Alex’s top 3 common issues that come up in marriage Kayla Levin’s top 3 common issues she sees in her marriage coaching practice By the end of today’s episode we hope that you walk away with some practical tools and mindsets to improve your marriage, or any close relationship. This episode is sponsored by Rivke Gardner, Marriage Coach. Rivke Gardner is a Certified Marriage Coach trained by Dina Friedman. In her private coaching practice and group coaching programs she takes women on a transformational marriage journey: From conflict and resentment to love and connection. Connect with Rivke at [email protected] or call 216-926-9036. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. And please send us your Takeaway mentioned in the episode! References: -Kayla Levin’s website: https://firstyearmarried.com/ -Kayla Levin’s podcast: https://firstyearmarried.com/podcast/

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9: Being Content With The Life You Have

May 26, 2021

47:16

Last episode, we asked everyone in our takeaway to think about if life turned out the way you dreamed it would as a teenager, and what you would tell your teenage self about your future. We were really thinking ahead about today’s episode. So here we are: You’re an adult, and this is your life. There are going to be disappointments and dissatisfactions. It’s normal. But now what? How can we be content with the life we have? In this episode we’ll be talking about ways we have come to terms with how our lives are not the exact pictures we painted them to be. We’re also talking with author and Mishpacha Magazine contributor Esther Kurtz about the idea of “Jewish privilege” and how that plays out in our struggles of being satisfied with our lots. By the end of today’s episode we hope you walk away feeling inspired to better appreciate the life you lead, warts and all, and feel more empowered to deal with any interfering thoughts of comparison, inadequacy and disappointment that rob the joy out of life. This episode is sponsored by Master My Space, a luxury home professional organizing company based in Cleveland. Working with the way you naturally function, not fighting it. Want to find out your organizing personality and how to take advantage so it works for you? Contact [email protected] to schedule a session. Visit mastermyspace.com for more info and follow her on Instagram @mastermyspace. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. And please send us your Takeaway mentioned in the episode! References: - Brene Brown’s ideas on scarcity can be found in her book Daring Greatly. https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419 - https://www.estherkurtz.com

99

7: The Hows And Whys Of Self-Care

Apr 28, 2021

49:38

A lot's been said about self-care in the world of frum media. Based on all the passionate (and indignant) letter writers out there, it seems that the topic of what is self-care and what it isn’t, why we need it and how to do it, can get controversial at times. So we wanted to have the discussion right here on the podcast, Normal Frum Women-style! In today’s episode we’ll be discussing: - What self-care means and how to do it - Rivki and Alex’s self-care evolution - The crucial role of mental health in self-care, with psychotherapist Dr. Rachel Goodman - Practical tips and inspiration from the salon chair with aesthetician and sheitel macher Fariba Diamond By the end of this episode, we hope you’ll feel more inspired along with us to make YOU a priority in your busy life. This episode is sponsored by Wellness by Miriam, the 17-day diet plan, boutique nutrition and weight loss program . Visit www.wellnessbymiriam.com for more information and follow her on instagram @wellness.delivered. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. And please send us your Takeaway mentioned in the episode! References: Dr. Rachel Goodman’s website: www.drrachelgoodman.com Mental Health Shabbat: www.mentalhealth.tbdj.org Fariba Diamond: instagram - @faribadiamond

100

6: Getting To Know Alex And Rivki

Apr 14, 2021

45:04

You know how when you listen to a podcast and start feeling connected to the hosts and then think, “Hey, I would really like to know more about them! So many questions!” Well, we’re hoping you’ve had similar thoughts listening to Normal Frum Women! So to give our listeners more of a sneak peak into who we really are, we interviewed each other, and asked some pretty deep questions (as well as the 5 Questions at the end, of course). We hope our answers give you the opportunity to get to know us better. In today’s episode we’ll be discussing: - How we made some major life decisions - Things we struggle with in our Yiddishkeit - What we’re proud about being Orthodox Jewish women - What people wouldn’t guess about us based on our public persona - What we truly strive for in life And more!! We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on social media, or email us at [email protected]. And please send us your Takeaway mentioned in the episode! This episode is sponsored by Cleveland Kesher. Contact Yocheved Wylen for advertising information at [email protected]. References: Ruchi Koval’s Pesach article https://outoftheorthobox.com/an-ikea-passover/?v=7516fd43adaa Alex’s experiences at AishUK https://mishpacha.com/growing-our-resilience-muscles/ Rivki’s conversion story https://jewinthecity.com/2018/05/people-kept-asking-me-if-i-was-jewish-and-then-one-day-i-decided-to-be/

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