Category Archives: Episode

Healing as Activism

January 28, 2025Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Individual and collective trauma affects our potential to do good in the world as social visionaries, especially now in a broken landscape. So, how we seek awareness, perspective and healing is critical.

Rabbi Igal Harmelin — who is active in the trauma field and spoke at The Good People Fund (un)conference last fall — talks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger about the imperative to address our individual and collective trauma, and the primacy of self-healing and community in the process.

— For more information on the (un)conference and The Good People Fund, visit goodpeoplefund.org

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— For more information about Rabbi Igal Harmelin, visit www.igalharmelin.com

Stories of Hope: JLM Food Rescuers

December 17, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Merav filled her tote bag with fresh fruits and vegetables, a typical scene at a farmer’s market anywhere. But this one in West Jerusalem is different: food is rescued, prices are non-existent, and individuals and families facing food insecurity — like Merav’s — are welcomed and respected. The whole environment, created by JLM Food Rescuers — a Good People Fund grantee — is a seed planted to grow personal and collective power and change lives and communities.

— “Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Itay Peled, Daniella Seltzer, Shoshi Margolin

Stories of Hope: Israeli Transgender Association

December 16, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Often their life experience includes being ostracized from family … being homeless … being a sex worker … being abused … being shunned. So at Trans House in Tel Aviv, trans women are embraced for who they are without judgment or whispers. Linor Abergel is CEO of the Israeli Transgender Association — a Good People Fund grantee advocating for rights and services for the trans community. “Here we are your family … we will support and be here for you as long as you want or need us. I didn’t have this, and I wish I did.”

— “Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— Thank you to our narration team: Jamie Allen Black, Linor Abergel, Shoshi Margolin

Stories of Hope: BirdieLight

December 16, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Beth Weinstock walked into that classroom carrying grief … but also a driving purpose. In 2021, her college-aged son Eli accidentally ingested fentanyl and died. Yet six months later, Beth and her daughter, Olivia, co-founded BirdieLight — a Good People Fund grantee — to honor Eli by spreading awareness about fentanyl in drugs to students, parents and educators.

— “Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

— Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

— Thank you to our narration team: Jamie Allen Black, Naomi Eisenberger, Julie Fisher, Shira Shapiro

Stories of Hope: Ruca’s Farm

December 13, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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At an oasis of calm and healing called Ruca’s Farm — a Good People Fund grantee — IDF veterans like Gideon are finding relief from trauma and a path toward light. Here, social visionary Nir Lahav, who grew up on a kibbutz in northern Israel, is combining his own love for the land with a deep commitment to the welfare of Israel’s veterans, giving them space for needed healing and growth.

>”Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

>Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

>Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Nir Lahav, and Gideon Boaz

Stories of Hope: Medical Justice Alliance

December 13, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:02 — 4.2MB) | Embed

Samara, incarcerated and suffering from advanced lymphoma, received a compassionate release from prison, a move that arguably saved her life due to the intervention of Medical Justice Alliance — a Good People Fund grantee. MJA mobilizes volunteer clinicians as expert medical witnesses for advocates seeking care or outright release for clients facing often life-threatening illnesses, says Dr. Mark Fenig, MJA Founder and Executive Director.

>”Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

>Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

>Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Naomi Eisenberger, and Glenn Rosenkrantz

Stories of Hope: Rekindle

December 13, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Jereme is a Black pastor and salvage company manager. Aaron is a white, Orthodox Jewish human resources executive. A friendship seems unlikely … but a tight one formed from their participation in Rekindle — a Good People Fund grantee joining members of the Black and Jewish communities to rebuild their historic relationship and accelerate positive change. Their connection through Rekindle evolved into a collaboration establishing a satellite GED program in Jereme’s church. “Zero chance they’d have ever met if not for Rekindle,” says Matt Fieldman, Rekindle Co-Founder.

>”Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

>Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/

>Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Matt Fieldman, and Glenn Rosenkrantz

Voices from Israel: Marking a Year Since October 7

October 7, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Besides heading The Israel Lemonade Fund — a Good People Fund grantee — Shari Mendes serves on an Israel Defense Forces reserve unit dedicated to caring for the bodies of female IDF soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. In this episode — presented as we mark one year since October 7 — Shari describes her experiences and observations on and after that day … the imperative to honor and dignify those we lost … and the place of testimony and remembrance as legacy. She speaks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger.

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of atrocities, including sexual violence, committed on October 7. Listener discretion is advised.
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The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

The Good People Fund 2023 Journal of Good:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/#

For Breast Cancer Patients, Offering Financial Help … and Lessening Stress

September 24, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Shari Mendes is a breast cancer survivor — who during her journey of treatment and recovery, met patients facing severe financial struggle exacerbated by loss of work and other factors. Responding, she founded Israel Lemonade Fund — a Good People Fund grantee — to help breast cancer patients in financial crisis, offering one-time grants covering basic living costs and alleviating distress. Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, she speaks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger.

Share to your social media and subscribe to Good People Talk!

The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

The Good People Fund 2023 Journal of Good:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/#

Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
www.komen.org/about-komen/our-impact/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month

(un)conference Preview! Repairing a Challenged World, with Ruth Messinger

September 3, 2024Episodegoodpeopletalk

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Good People Fund (un)conference keynote speaker Ruth Messinger is a prominent social change advocate, and former President and current Global Ambassador of the American Jewish World Service. In this special pre-(un)conference episode, Ruth speaks about the Jewish and moral imperative to repair the world … the challenges facing visionary leaders … and what she’s planning to impart in her keynote address at the (un)conference in November in New York City.

Share to your social media and subscribe to Good People Talk!

The Good People Fund:
www.goodpeoplefund.org

More about Ruth Messinger:
https://ajws.org/stories/ruth-messingers-story

The Good People Fund 2023 Journal of Good:
https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/news-and-publications/annual-reports/#