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Explore every episode of the podcast Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories

Dive into the complete episode list for Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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1–50 of 207

TitlePub. DateDuration
She Used Tanya to Disarm a Burglar08 Nov 202601:03:17
Joanne Zagnoev is a clinical psychologist whose life was transformed by Chassidic teachings.
How Two Searching Souls Became One01 Nov 202601:08:53
The tapestry of Rabbi Sholom and Roni Pasternak's journey includes a miraculous encounter with the Rebbe, a stilted music career, a "chance" encounter in a street mall, and now a center of Jewish learning in the mystical city of Tzfat.
My 23-Year-Old, Pregnant Daughter Was Gone in a Moment25 Oct 202601:12:00
Nechama Laber devoted her life's mission to teaching and inspiring others through Torah and creativity. Now her work is guided by her daughter's gentle humility and devotion to others.
“Even Walmart Is Two Hours Away”18 Oct 202601:15:45
Hear from Raizy Mendelsohn about raising 9 children in remote Wyoming, grief, faith, and learning to see the soul.
I Wanted to Die. Judaism Saved Me.11 Oct 202601:08:59
Abuse drove Danit to the edge. A bad relationship led her to a Passover Seder, where she discovered Judaism and a healthy relationship with G-d and herself.
When Terrorists Shot Her Dad, She Found Her Voice05 Oct 202601:12:31
The daughter of Bondi hero Reuven Morrison, Sheina Gutnick tells about her miraculous birth, how her father lived with joy and faith, and how she's become a fearless warrior against antisemitism and misinformation.
The Singer Who Almost Never Sang28 Sep 202601:11:27
Shaindy Plotzker is a queen of the women-only stage. But she once was too shy to sing and preferred to teach. A medical scare gave her the inspiration she needed to start inspiring others.
I Never Dreamed I'd Marry a Religious Jew22 Sep 202601:03:38
She was born Jewish, but her mother had unwittingly gotten her involved in church. Could she reclaim Judaism as her own?
My Son Almost Burned to Death!14 Sep 202601:02:41
There were times of great struggle and doubt, but the Benjamin family surrounded themselves with a loving community, positivity, and the stubborn faith that things would turn out OK.
She Prayed to Die and Learned to Live06 Sep 202601:01:03
Raised in a strict Christian home, Chaya Rivka was abused and afraid. Then she discovered her father's Jewish heritage and became a Jew herself, today living in Israel with dozens of grandchildren.
The Queen of Cleveland30 Aug 202601:23:00
Two sisters share what it was like to be raised by a woman who literally put her life on the line for Judaism in the Soviet Union time and time again.
Kabbalist Tells All23 Aug 202601:06:59
Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf opens up about being the child of survivors and how the Rebbe guided his career in teaching the secrets of the Torah.
A Secret Mission From My Neighbor, the Rebbe16 Aug 202600:58:41
A fatal car accident, infidelity, and a kind rebbetzin catapulted Hensha from Ohio to Chasidic Brooklyn, where she married a widower with five children and settled across the street from the Rebbe.
This Jew Spent 20 Years in an Ashram09 Aug 202601:03:30
A "chance" encounter with a rabbi and a medical scare rekindled Arnie Herz's Jewish soul and inspired him to live a full Jewish life and share it it with others.
I Almost Converted to Islam!02 Aug 202601:04:46
A rising performer, Deborah Jacobi pined for spirituality. A meal in a sukkah and meeting the Rebbe changed her course forever.
Syncing With My Soulmate27 Jul 202601:06:13
After she left a Christian cult, she reconnected with her boyfriend--now husband--and embarked on a life journey of sharing Judaism with others.
My Daughter Gave Birth While Her Husband Was Dying20 Jul 202601:01:16
When tragedy struck, the rabbi needed to find inner strength, faith, and focus to be there for his daughter, his grandchildren, and most of all himself.
Full Circle in the Arctic Circle13 Jul 202600:57:54
When this Air Force chaplain was sent to remote Greenland, he knew it was G-d's will. He also knew he had a lot of preparing to do.
I Was a Missionary, But It Felt All Wrong!06 Jul 202600:48:38
Raised by a mother who was struggling with mental health issues, Leah turned to the church for support. A trip to Israel (and a lot of conversations) finally helped her find her way back to Judaism.
The Prison Rabbi29 Jun 202601:05:12
Rabbi Binyomin Scheiman shares about how he sees the good in every person and every circumstance and built a community of ex-criminals.
She Raised Her 7 Orphan Siblings 22 Jun 202600:45:51
Now a successful real estate broker and philanthropist, Naomi Streicher shares her personal approach to challenges, charity, setbacks, and faith.
The Rebbe's 99-Year-Old Cousin15 Jun 202601:02:45
Rebbetzin Hadassah (Schneerson) Carlebach shares about her father's heroism under Communism and during the Holocaust, how they rebuilt their lives afterward, and what gives her satisfaction today.
I Begged the Rebbe to Come to My Wedding08 Jun 202600:51:41
Rabbi Shabse Alpern was a kid from Brooklyn, whom the Rebbe sent to Brazil. Hear how the Rebbe's blessings, directives, and lessons have been the guiding light of his life.
My Jewish Identity: Made in China01 Jun 202601:09:54
Yaakov Schy spent years living and working in rural Asia, where he discovered that everyone had a tribal identity except for him. That led him to rediscover Judaism.
I Was in a Coma and the Doctors Gave Up on Me25 May 202600:54:24
Nikki's turnaround came when a rabbi came into her room with a shofar. She went on to publish his book after he was murdered by terrorists.
How a Baptist Girl from the Deep South Became a Chabad Rebbetzin18 May 202601:13:40
It took a trip to Germany and a lot of self-discovery for Eliana to find her place in the Jewish community. Today, together with her husband, she leads a small Jewish community in South Africa.
The Man Behind Jews for Judaism11 May 202601:00:42
Rabbi Kravitz shares how he almost fell prey to missionaries in college and how he devoted his life's work to equipping Jews with the knowledge and confidence they need to stand up for their faith.
My Baby Died on the Operating Table04 May 202601:06:11
After experiencing searing loss, Elissa Felder found comfort in caring for the departed. When her grandchild died decades later, she needed to do the unimaginable.
The Rabbi and the Skinhead27 Apr 202600:59:40
Cameron was steeped in white supremacy and neo-Nazi hate. In prison, he met a Chabad chaplain, and his life changed forever.
Miracle After Miracle Saved My Husband20 Apr 202601:08:21
When her husband felt chest pains, Lieba knew something was off. Little did she know how her faith in G-d would play a major role in helping him survive what would come their way.
The Pianist Who Chopped Off Her Finger13 Apr 202600:55:32
Katia Bolotin's unlikely journey from Friday night concerts to Shabbat observance had plenty of unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Hosting a Seder in a City Without Cars30 Mar 202601:08:19
Life lessons from welcoming thousands of visitors to the first ghetto in the world, making connections, and lighting up souls.
My Husband Has Not Said a Word for Over a Decade23 Mar 202601:06:12
Since the dreaded diagnosis, Dina and Rabbi Yitzi have emerged as a power couple whose faith, determination, wonder, and joy have inspired millions.
She Was Anti‑Religious, He Wasn't Jewish16 Mar 202601:10:10
How Divine providence, a car crash, a Shabbat table, and countless twists and turns brought two souls to Torah and to each other.
The Dutch Film Star Who Found Shabbat 09 Mar 202601:01:52
Smadar Morag was acting, acting, and riding a wave of fame, but Judaism filled a hole in her soul she never knew existed.
How She Overcame Her Mother's Trauma02 Mar 202600:57:40
Rishe Deitsch, longtime editor of Chabad women's magazine, shares about her challenging childhood, her own triumphs, and what she's most proud of in her life.
No Contradiction: Torah and Science24 Feb 202600:56:04
Rabbi Yechiel Krisch details how his scientific expertise deepens his understanding of Torah and strengthens his faith, and how he maintains his proud Jewish identity in secular environments.
The Rebbe Guided My Life17 Feb 202601:04:56
A legendary Chassidic personality shares how the Rebbe remained a presence in her life ever since she first met him as a toddler in Paris.
The Ex-Convict With Real Conviction10 Feb 202601:00:37
Seeking connection, Yehudah fell in with gangs and crime. During his 24-year sentence, he discovered Judaism. Now married, Jewish, and educated, he is a social worker who empowers others to soar.
I Was Barely 20, But the Rebbe Believed in Me03 Feb 202601:02:23
Bassie Garelik shares about growing up in a Chassidic home in Pittsburgh and putting down roots with her Soviet-raised husband in far-off Italy, a task in which the Rebbe guided them every step of the way.
The Power Woman Behind 21 New Jewish Day Schools27 Jan 202601:06:36
How Holly Cohen decided to marry a Chassidic man and embrace her role as founder of Tamim Academy, which has branches from Burlington, Vermont to Victoria, BC, and more are opening every year.
Japan's Afghan-Jewish Fertility Expert20 Jan 202601:03:56
Rabbi Dr. Hertsel Simantov's life is anything but typical. Hear how he was raised in Kabul, educated in Israel, and ended up in Japan with the blessing of the Rebbe.
Beliefs Over Baseball13 Jan 202600:37:37
Ari and Elie Kligman are college baseball players with MLB aspirations. Learn how Chabad helps them balance Shabbat, Torah, kosher and competitive sports.
G-d Chose Me to be Shot by a Terrorist06 Jan 202601:02:01
Leibel Lazaroff was shot while protecting a police officer at the Bondi massacre. Hear him and his mother share their journey so far.
Bringing Light to Alaska's Darkest Days30 Dec 202500:49:12
Chani Wolf shares how she and her husband are lighting up souls in Fairbanks, Alaska, where winter feels like one endless, snowy night.
The Train Crash Was G-d's Message to Me23 Dec 202500:58:43
Hear from Keren how the Rebbe personally cared for her family after they left the Soviet Union and how she eventually discovered the beauty of Judaism.
We Lit the Menorah in Saddam's Palace18 Dec 202500:58:36
Moshe and Laurie Lans are a military couple--he in the Army and she in the Navy--currently stationed in Germany. They're also observant Jews, who use every opportunity to bring Judaism to their surroundings.
I Never Met a Jew Until I was 2009 Dec 202501:06:00
Rabbi Chananya Duthy's journey to Judaism is full of surprise twists and turns, with G-d's hand visible just beneath the surface, including guiding him to becoming a rabbi in the city he originally discovered Judaism.
Faith in a Foxhole02 Dec 202500:56:01
The Rebbe gave Sheldon Baer tefillin and told him to wear them every day. They saved his life in battle.
From Celebrity Journalist to Celebrating Judaism25 Nov 202500:58:52
Molly was a successful producer, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. Then a Shabbat candle in Brazil turned her world upside down and introduced her to the Rebbe, who changed her life.
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