Since the October 7th attack, false narratives have intensified tensions and prejudice, in academic settings. Drawing from their own experiences of war, Dr. Bar-Halpern and Hess recognize the urgency of sharing stories of hope and resilience. Our Stories Matter Season 5, We Will Dance Again, strives to dismantle these harmful narratives, strengthen unity on college campuses, and confront polarization. Featuring storytellers from varied perspectives—Jews, Arabs, and Christians—the podcast works to cultivate compassion and understanding, break down polarization, and drive civil engagement to spark meaningful dialogue and across college communities.
Episode 1 – A Polarized Reality
Susie Hess, Associate Professor of Practicum Education at USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work and Co-Founder of Trauma Informed Learning Alliance, and Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program at The Boston Child Study Center and a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, reflect on the circumstances surrounding their introduction to each other. Sharing intimate and vulnerable stories describing how they navigated holding space for their loved ones while also prioritizing their own healing during a time of war, Susie and Miri highlight the central theme of the podcast: post-traumatic growth. In addition, Susie and Miri speak to the polarizing paradigms on college campuses and ways we can dismantle these narratives. Ultimately, Susie and Miri ask us, how do we give meaning to what happened and how can we bring healing and compassion to everyone?
Bonus Episode – Sequence of Events
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you our listeners to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 2 – Chasing Butterflies
Natalie Sanandaji, Public Affairs Officer at the Combat Antisemitism Movement, shares what it was like to narrowly survive the Nova festival massacre on October 7th. Hoping to find an escape within the music festival, Sanandaji describes the trauma that actually came from it. In addtion, she describes the idea of a “choiceless choice” and how this ultimately allowed her to escape. Using storytelling as a way to heal and process her own trauma, Sanandaji continues to demonstrate strength and resiliency as she uses her voice to speak for those no longer with us.
Bonus Episode 2 – I’m Thinking About You
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 3 – Rebuilding Hope
Syrian-Lebanese/German activist Rawan Osman, Founder of ArabsAsk, a forum meant for Arabs to ask questions and challenge preconceived notions about Judaism and Israel, and Chairwoman of PostOctober7, describes how she navigates hatred and criticism throughout her activsm. In addition, she provides insight into how to combat misinformation and polarization on college campuses and how to have productive dialogue about the Middle East. Osman emphasizes the importance of early education, sharing how this was pivotal in her journey to become an advocate for peace in Israel.
Bonus Episode 3 – Hatered
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 4 – A Mosaic of Healing
Dr. Ilana Kwartin is the Executive Director of Healing Space Rishhpon, an innovative healing center that aims to rehabilitate the mind-body connection ruptured by trauma. Dr. Kwartin recounts her experiences at the start of the war and how she has been prioritizing the healing of those most affected, all while holding space for her own healing and her family’s healing. She explains how the body keeps the score and the importance of Healing Space Rishhpon’s work as they provide individuals with a safe, healing environment to process their trauma.
Bonus Episode 4 – Sadness
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 5 – Legal stand: Combating hate
Marie-Alice Legrand, a recent graduate of Columbia Law School and co-founder of the Law Students Against Antisemitism student organization at Columbia Law School, discusses navigating the aftermath of October 7th. Legrand credits her unequivocal support for the Jewish community to her upbringing in Germany. In addition, she emphasizes the importance of early education when it comes to combatting anti-Semitism and the importance of being a vocal ally. Lastly, she draws parallels between today’s political climate with that of World War II, noting that history may be repeating itself.
Bonus Episode 5 – Traumatic
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 6 – I’m That Jew
Eitan Chitayat, Founder and Creative Director of international Natie Branding Agency and creator of the viral video “I’m that Jew,” speaks to the importance of being openly Jewish. Chitayat believes that being outwardly proud allows Jews to take control of their narrative, ultimately humanizing their existence and resisting the false narratives put upon them. In addition, Chitayat emphasizes the importance of collective healing within the Jewish community. By coming together, rather than hiding, we can foster strength and resilience.
Bonus Episode 6 – Hole
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 7 – Bridging Minds, Bridging Conflict
Dr. Nesrin Lubbad, Chief Medical Director of the Child and Adolescent psychiatric unit at Geha Mental Health Center and an Arab Israeli psychiatrist, details the complexities of navigating two identities during a time of war. She reflects on her upbringing, being born in Denmark and moving to Israel. In addition, she pulls from her training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), describing how she relied on distress tolerance and emotional regulation techniques to keep her afloat. Lastly, she stresses the importance of disengaging from polarizing paradigms by holding space for two truths at once and emphasizing the mindset of “both and.”
Bonus Episode 7 – Life Goes On
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 8 – Being Jewish
Join us as we speak with Jonah Platt, artist, activist, and host of Being Jewish. Jonah shares his journey as a proud Jewish advocate, insights on combating antisemitism, and strategies for navigating tough conversations with empathy and compassion. Through humor and wisdom, he inspires listeners to embrace their roots, foster dialogue, and build bridges in a divided world.
Bonus Episode 8 – Infinite Sadness
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 9 – Courage on Campus
In this episode, we speak with 19-year-old UCLA student and activist Eli Tsives, whose powerful story highlights the alarming rise of antisemitism on college campuses. Eli recounts his experience of being blocked from attending his classes simply because he is Jewish, offering a personal perspective on the challenges Jewish students face in academic spaces.
Despite these obstacles, Eli has become a passionate advocate for justice and inclusion, using his voice to combat hatred and misinformation. We discuss his journey, the importance of standing up to discrimination, and how to foster understanding and unity on college campuses.
Join us as Eli shares his courageous story, offering both inspiration and actionable insights on dismantling antisemitism and creating a more inclusive academic environment for all.
Bonus Episode 9 – Whole New Year
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern shares her writings, her collection of poems related to the October 7th massacre. She is inviting you, our listeners, to send in your poems relating to a traumatic event in your life. Calling all poets.
Episode 10 – Warriors of the Heart
Dr. Or Duek is a licensed clinicial psychologist and assistant professor at the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Community Health Sciences at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. His research focuses on the effects of exposure to stress on humans. Using his clinical background, Dr. Duek joined the IDF as a mental health lieutenant where he helped soldiers navigate their own trauma during the war. Drawing on a strength-based perspective, Dr. Duek shares how he is helping soldiers reframe their traumatic experiences into a coherent narrative that promotes strength and resilience.
Best of Episode: Susie and Miri
Susie Hess, Associate Professor of Practicum Education at USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work and Co-Founder of Trauma Informed Learning Alliance, and Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program at The Boston Child Study Center and a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, reflect on the circumstances surrounding their introduction to each other. Sharing intimate and vulnerable stories describing how they navigated holding space for their loved ones while also prioritizing their own healing during a time of war, Susie and Miri highlight the central theme of the podcast: post-traumatic growth. In addition, Susie and Miri speak to the polarizing paradigms on college campuses and ways we can dismantle these narratives. Ultimately, Susie and Miri ask us, how do we give meaning to what happened and how can we bring healing and compassion to everyone?
Re-Air Dr. Illana Kwartin
Dr. Ilana Kwartin is the Executive Director of Healing Space Rishhpon, an innovative healing center that aims to rehabilitate the mind-body connection ruptured by trauma. Dr. Kwartin recounts her experiences at the start of the war and how she has been prioritizing the healing of those most affected, all while holding space for her own healing and her family’s healing. She explains how the body keeps the score and the importance of Healing Space Rishhpon’s work as they provide individuals with a safe, healing environment to process their trauma.
Sarit’s Poem
Episode 11 – Echoes of Resilience
Jonathan Bar Giora, renowned Israeil composer and head of the BFA School of Audio and Video Arts at Sapir College, shares powerful stories of grief and resilience. Describing the time after October 7th as a “marathon of pain and tragedy,” Bar Giora describes how he found strength within his community. He details the commmunity he created with his students and how they engaged in collective healing. In addition, Bar Giora speaks to the medium of film as a meaningful way to process one’s trauma.
It’s October Again
Episode 12 – From Prison Walls to the Wailing Wall
Dr. Yehudah Pryce, a Senior Director of National Mental Health and Well-Being Programs at a national nonprofit organization, psychotherapist, and clinical social worker, discusses his journey of finding joy and healing since the tragedy of October 7th. Dr. Pryce expresses his struggles with processing his pain and grief with the way society has responded to the tragedy. Lastly, he discusses the intersections that come with being part of the Black and Jewish communities.
Episode 13 – Our Story
Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev and Reem Abed Elhai, CEO and Senior Nurse of Schneider Hospital, respectively, discuss their journey of finding connection during a time of war. They speak candidly about navigating personal and professional relationships between a diverse staff of Arabs and Israelis and how they cultivated a space of compassion and transparency, ultimately providing staff with a space to feel safe as they expressed their own personal struggles with the ongoing war. Furthermore, they discuss their abiilty to foster cultural competency amongst staff and how this benefitted both the patients and the staff. Lastly, they touch upon the long-term psychological impacts of war and how this, unfortunately, is only the beginning.
Waiting
Episode 14 – War Through Teen Eyes
Amit Halpern Navigating a normal teenage life while also living through multiple wars, Amit Halpern describes how he is managing under such extreme circustances. Demonstrating innate strength and resilience, he describes what it has been like to be alive through four wars. In addition, Halpern speaks to feeling safer in his identity while in Israel, even with an ongoing war, than he would in any other country, especially the United States due to the rampant anti-Semitism. Lastly, Halpern discusses the effects of generational trauma and how this has affected his upbringing.
Can’t Breathe
Episode 15 – Game of Life
NBA player and mental health advocate Michael Sweetney and nonprofit leader Eric M. Rubin who is the Global Ambassador for the Maccabi World Union and the Executive Director of Project Max, demonstrate how taking action on dismantling hate is central to their healing. Sweetney, who is coaching at Yeshiva University, shifted the focus on his NBA career to mental health advocacy, and is using his platform to deliver wellness presentations focusing on inclusivity and mental well-being. Rubin, a seasoned executive, leverages sports diplomacy to combat antisemitism and racism, engaging with global organizations to foster unity and tolerance. Both individuals highlight how their efforts to fight hate not only support others, but also contribute to their own healing and growth. Their journeys underscore the transformative impact of using sports and advocacy to promote unity and dismantle hate.
Forgive Me My Child
Episode 16 – Being Human
Lucy Aharish, an Arab-Israeli journalist, news anchor, television host, and mother, discusses how the events of October 7th have affected her personally and professionally. Aharish opens up with her struggles of reporting on atrocious, antisemtic acts. In addition, Aharish emphasizes the importance of education and critical thinking when it comes to engaging in meaningful discourse. She also talks about how it is her duty, as a journalist and civilian, to criticize her government and fight for her country. Lastly, she speaks to the uncertainties of life during a time of war and her struggles with learning how to rebuild a life full of hope. Aharish wonders, how do we regain our compassion, and how, if ever, will we return to normal life?
Season 4 Finale Coming Soon
Sneak Peek at Season 4 Finale Bonus Episode with FATHER Gregory Boyle, Founder of Homeboy Industries shares his wisdom through compassion and love.
Video editing and music: @ivan_r_714
