Former FBI counterterrorism expert Lara Burns reveals how the radicalization she once tracked overseas is now taking root on America’s college campuses. Full episode premieres on June 26th. 

In this episode, Arno Michaelis, a former Neo-Nazi and author of My Life After Hate, and Mubin Shaikh, a former jihadist extremist turned counterterrorism expert, join this powerful episode to share their journeys from radicalization to redemption. Now colleagues at Parents 4 Peace, Arno and Mubin work as exit interventionists, helping individuals disengage from extremism and educating communities across North America about the warning signs of radicalization. They reflect on their personal transformations, the beliefs that once fueled their hatred, and the turning points that led them to leave extremist ideologies behind. Together, they draw striking parallels between the radical movements they once belonged to and the polarization growing on today’s college campuses. This episode is a moving exploration of change, accountability, and the urgent need for empathy and dialogue in confronting hate.

Former extremists Arno Michaelis and Mubin Shaikh open up about their journeys out of hate and into healing. This is a preview of an unforgettable conversation about change, compassion, and confronting radicalization. Full episode drops Thursday, May 22.

In this episode, Eden Yadegar, a senior at Columbia University, shares her journey as a leading advocate against antisemitism on college campuses. As president of Columbia's chapter of Students Supporting Israel, Eden has organized rallies and educational events to promote Jewish identity and push back against rising hostility. In November 2024, she testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, offering powerful testimony about her experiences. She discusses her activism, the challenges she’s faced, and the methods she’s found most effective for fostering open, respectful dialogue in today’s polarized environment.

Eden Yadegar, a student leader at Columbia University, offers a glimpse into her fight against antisemitism and her testimony before Congress. Don’t miss her insights on activism, identity, and hope. Full episode drops Thursday, May 15.

Adela Cojab Moadeb, a Mexican-Jewish student activist and NYU graduate, shares her courageous journey of standing up against antisemitism and radicalism on college campuses—long before October 7th. In this episode, Adela reflects on her decision to sue her university, her experiences navigating intersectional identities, and her commitment to advocating for marginalized communities. She discusses the mental health impact of hate speech on Jewish students, the importance of interfaith solidarity, and the need for inclusive, safe spaces. Having spoken on platforms like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, Adela emphasizes resilience, unity, and the power of speaking out. Her story is one of strength, activism, and the bravery to lead even when standing alone.

Adela Cojab shares her powerful journey of speaking out against antisemitism and radicalism on college campuses—long before October 7th. Hear a preview of her courageous activism and why her voice matters now more than ever. Full episode drops Thursday, May 8.

This season on Our Stories Matter, we’re confronting the mental health crisis and rising radicalization on college campuses. Students, survivors, and changemakers share powerful stories of resilience, resistance, and the courage to speak out in the face of hate.

Season 6 premieres May 8th.

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? 

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. 

Yasmine Mohammed, author of Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam, shares her harrowing story of escaping religious fundamentalism and an arranged marriage to an Al-Qaeda terrorist. In this episode, Yasmine opens up about risking everything for the safety of her daughter, the emotional toll of living in hiding, and her ongoing fight for human rights. She draws powerful parallels between the extremism she fled and the rising hatred seen on college campuses today. Through her organization, Free Hearts Free Minds, Yasmine supports ex-Muslims facing persecution and advocates for freedom of thought. This conversation explores resilience, liberation, and the urgent need to challenge radicalization in all its forms.

Amit Halpern Navigating a normal teenage life while also living through multiple wars, Amit Halpern describes how he is managing under such extreme circumstances. 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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Yasmine Mohammed escaped religious extremism and now fights for human rights. In this preview, she reflects on the cost of freedom and why her story resonates on today’s campuses. Full episode drops Thursday, June 19th.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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." 

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.

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. 

Shoval Tshuva, an Israeli filmmaker, shares her powerful story of resilience, creativity, and the painful reality of being silenced. In this episode, Shoval opens up about her short film Funky, which addresses sexual assault and was gaining recognition at film festivals—until she was abruptly canceled for being Israeli following October 7th. She discusses the disturbing erasure of Jewish and Israeli women’s experiences of sexual violence, despite mounting evidence and survivor testimonies. Shoval reflects on the broader implications of this silencing, particularly on college campuses, where survivors are often met with skepticism or denial. Her story sheds light on the double standards in advocacy, and the urgent need for truth, justice, and the unwavering belief in every survivor’s voice. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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 addition, 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. 

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.

Susie Hess, Associate Professor of Practicum Education at USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work and Co-Founder of Trauma Informed LA, 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? 

Israeli filmmaker Shoval Tshuva shares the story behind her film Funky—and how she was canceled for being Israeli. A powerful episode about silencing, survival, and the fight to be heard. Full episode drops Thursday, June 12. 

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 Associate Professor Susan 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.

Our Stories Matter Season 4 Finale Bonus Episode! Father Greg Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. Detailing the origins of Homeboy Industries, he reflects on powerful moments and stories that shaped his journey. He discusses the importance of unwavering compassion, the intentional act of loving, and dares to ask us – what would happen if we believed that people are unshakably good and we belong to each other?

Visit the Our Stories Matter homepage to learn more about the podcast. Follow @TraumaInformedLA on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.

Damon Cooke is the co-founder and CEO of the Uncuffed Project, a non-profit organization that aims to change the narrative inside the prison system and reduce recidivism. Damon is a vivid example of resilience and determination, and what is like to bring change within the carceral system that is set up to oppress BIPOC communities. In this episode, Damon along with Susan Hess, who is a  Associate Professor at USC School of Social Work and extensive experience in the field of domestic violence, James Debbaco who currently serves as the Chair of the Unchained Scholars student caucus and is an MSW student at USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, and Martin Leyva, program coordinator for Project Bound at California State University, San Marcos and a doctoral student UC San Diego in education share their lived experiences and explore how the intersectionality in their struggles has brought healing in their journeys.

Visit the Our Stories Matter homepage to learn more about the podcast. Follow @TraumaInformedLA on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.

Dr. Daniel Siegel is a Clinical Professor in the Psychiatrist at the UCLA School of Medicine and the author of the book IntraConnected where he explains the concept of MWe (Me + We) as the integration of the Self, Identity, and Belonging. He describes how culture, especifically in the United States, has taught society that identity is an individual and separate concept unrelated to the collective whole. This creates a lot of mental distress as individuals begin to feel like they don't fit in or don't belong. Drawing from wisdom of Indigenous and contemplative traditions, Dr. Siegel shares how the self (Me) is connected with others and is within all the human world and nature (We), creating an intraconnection that helps us realize that we are a Me as much as we are a We - a MWe - to create a better world that would also be inclusive of formerly incarcerated folks.

Visit the Our Stories Matter homepage to learn more about the podcast. Follow @TraumaInformedLA on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.