Explore every episode of the podcast The Upstander Ripple Effect
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Mindfulness with Stacy Sims | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:26:10 | |
Being the best version of ourselves, so we can be upstanders for the world around us, takes time and intention. Stacy Sims, Executive Director and Founder of The Well, joins us in this episode to help us understand the importance of mindfulness in an age of distraction. “If we don't have practices that allow us to be sort of old school - out in nature, walking around, reading books, playing games - we're just going to keep buying the narrative that the technology is selling us.” -- Stacy Sims, on the need for people to unplug in order to foster mindfulness Stacy is a Cincinnati-based wellness expert who walks the talk. She explains how mindfulness practices including movement, breath work, and meditation can help counterbalance the effects of the technology we consume and the disconnection from our inner selves that is so prevalent. The conversation explores the role of character strengths in mindfulness practices, and how celebrating strengths can promote harmony in our lives. Download this episode for help integrating mindfulness into your everyday life to improve mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here to make sure you don’t miss a thing https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for their support of this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/ Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media Episode Resources Learn more from Stacy and her team Investigate your own character strengths for free Dive deep into character strengths and positive psychology with our partner, the VIA Institute on Character https://www.viacharacter.org/ Learn what it means to “tow” a character strength The book Stacy mentioned, The Anxious Generation The Surgeon General’s announcement on youth and social media use Visit us anytime | |||
| Episode 7: "Building Community" featuring Rob Herman, Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland | 22 Nov 2024 | 01:02:50 | |
This episode tackles the daunting task of building community in a deeply divided post-election landscape head-on. "I think it is the essential project of this moment and it’s something I Hosts Kevin Aldridge and Jackie Congedo acknowledge the challenges inherent in that task, but insist it's essential work. They explore historical models of community, from the exclusionary Volksgemeinschaft put forward by Nazi Germany to Dr. Martin Luther King's inclusive Beloved Community, to illuminate the path forward. The conversation delves into the evolution of American identity, from melting pot to salad, and the dangers of ideological bubbles. From the archive, we bring you the story of Rob Herman, the son of Holocaust survivors who relied on upstanders and community to make it out alive. Then, Jackie and Kevin share more with the upstanders at the Pantsuit Politics podcast. Ultimately, this episode is a call to action - a challenge to listeners to reflect on their role in being a "light" and contributing to community-building. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Watch Rob Herman’s episode of Hear My Story Find out more about Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland on Pantsuit Politics and watch their episode of Hear My Story Read Kevin’s article with Rep. Greg Landsman Read the Op-Ed by Ari Jun https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2024/11/04/opinion-we-must-hold-empathy-for-those-who-lose-tuesdays-election/75928117007/ What the Nazis envisioned when they spoke of community https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/volksgemeinschaft-peoples-or-national-community Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beloved Community” Opinion: Americans have to try to understand each other https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/11/12/election-aftermath-understanding-political-opponents/ Eric Ward on the “radical” center | |||
| The Upstander Ripple Effect: Standing Up Strong with Roger Bretherton | 11 Jul 2024 | 00:32:33 | |
Standing Up Strong with Dr. Roger Bretherton “Sometimes there's a critique of sort of positive psychology that says, this is very individualistic, it's just about making people feel better. And I would stand with you guys really in the sense of saying, ‘No, I actually think this is an issue that is for society. It's for a culture, it's much wider.’” -Dr. Roger Bretherton on how the intentional use of character strengths ripples out to make positive change Discover the transformative power of character strengths with insights from Dr. Roger Bretherton, renowned for his expertise in clinical psychology and the cultivation of virtues. In this compelling discussion, Dr. Bretherton reveals strategies to shift from focusing solely on deficits to embracing and enhancing personal strengths. Explore practical tips for developing and utilizing character strengths effectively in everyday life, including innovative techniques like strength priming and positive discussions of others' strengths. Join us to uncover how these approaches not only impact us as individuals but also foster positive change within our communities. The Upstander Ripple Effect is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Immerse yourself in stories that speak to the resilience of the human spirit here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this series. How have you used your character strengths? Email us at podcast@cincyhhc.org EPISODE RESOURCES: Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Take the character strengths survey for free https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/ Find out about upstander trainings and professional development with character strengths https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/trainings-and-offerings/ Visit the VIA Institute on Character https://viacharacter.org/ Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/ This episode made possible with generous support from the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family. Find all the content in the Guttman Family Center for Storytelling here https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/storytelling/ Find out more about Dr. Bretherton
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| Episode 2: "Turning Points: Moments of Upstanding" featuring Werner Coppel and Debra Messing | 27 Jun 2024 | 01:26:23 | |
It’s time to celebrate the remarkable impact of upstanders. From commemorating Juneteenth to addressing the aftermath of an antisemitism controversy at Pride this year, local upstanders are making a pivotal difference. Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge take you into the archives at the Holocaust & Humanity Center, unveiling artifacts from a notable upstander in Cincinnati's Holocaust survivor community whose moment of upstanding started a movement. We're also thrilled to have Debra Messing as our special guest, who shared her powerful insights on combating antisemitism during her recent visit to Cincinnati to celebrate this year's Upstander Award winners. This episode made possible with generous support from the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family. Learn more about the Guttman Family Center for Storytelling here https://youtu.be/oP6VUOjuK5A?si=WvC_B0tZnK8Yq8_d Visit our YouTube channel to catch all our stories, including HHC statement on Israel and antisemitism https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/never-again-is-now/ Book a speaker for your school or group through the Coppel Speaker’s Bureau https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/programs-and-events/book-a-speaker-coppel-speakers-bureau/ Read Kevin Aldridge’s recent columns https://www.cincinnati.com/staff/2647297001/kevin-s-aldridge/ Find out more about this year’s upstander award winners Read more about Debra Messing https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/4-things-to-know-about-cincinnati-upstander-awards-headliner-debra-messing/ News stories mentioned | |||
| The Upstander Ripple Effect: Standing Up Strong with Jake Campbell | 13 Jun 2024 | 00:20:20 | |
Character strengths are a set of 24 traits that are present in everyone, no matter their age, race, culture, or beliefs. Sharing the science of these strengths is what Standing Up Strong is all about. Jake is the Senior Manager of Professional Development Trainings & Upstander Education at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. He works with groups from school age through adulthood, to help them understand the framework of character strengths in partnership with the VIA Institute on Character. A free, short survey is available to everyone to find out what their top character strengths are. They represent the best in us, and some strengths come to us more easily than others. This episode, hosted by Jackie Congedo, will inspire you to get to know your character strengths and explain why you might feel better about the world once you do. | |||
| Episode 1 featuring Elisha Wiesel and Sister Nancy Linenkugel | 24 May 2024 | 01:14:28 | |
One act by one person in one moment can have lasting effects, and when we use our character strengths, there’s no limit to the kind of positive ripples we can start! That's the Upstander Ripple Effect. Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge bring you the first podcast from the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Included in this episode, hear the story of Sister Nancy Linenkugel, a Catholic nun who forged a friendship with Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, and the scrapbook of their connection that now lives in our archives. Also, catch part of our conversation with Elisha Wiesel, an upstander who is carrying on the legacy of his father, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. Join us here - where upstanders are everything. Connect with us: Email: podcast@cincyhhc.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity Episode Resources: Learn more about us https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ This episode generously supported by the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Visit our YouTube channel, where you can find all our videos and full episodes of Hear My Story, including Sister Nancy Linenkugel and Elisha Wiesel. https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity HHC statement on Israel and antisemitism https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/never-again-is-now/ Elie Wiesel Foundation https://eliewieselfoundation.org/ Read Co-host Kevin Aldridge’s most recent columns https://www.cincinnati.com/staff/2647297001/kevin-s-aldridge/ Find out more about Brothers N Motion, the story shared by Kevin https://ceaicincy.org/brothers-n-motion/ News stories mentioned: | |||
| The Upstander Ripple Effect: Standing Up Strong with Neal Mayerson Part 2 | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:29:02 | |
We pick up the second part of our conversation with Neal, one of the founding researchers in the field of positive psychology. Neal helped us lay the groundwork to understand the science of character strengths, and how they are key to unlock our potential to be upstanders. Questions about character strengths? Email us your thoughts podcast@cincyhhc.org Episode Resources: Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center – holocaustandhumanity.org Take the character strengths survey for free: Assess Your Character Strengths | Personality Assessment (holocaustandhumanity.org) Visit the VIA Institute on Character: VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports | VIA Institute Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this episode: Home - Mayerson Foundation | |||
| The Upstander Ripple Effect: Standing Up Strong with Neal Mayerson Part 1 | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:21:46 | |
Character strengths are the key to unlocking your potential to do good that you may never have heard of before. We sat down with one of the founding fathers of the field of positive psychology, Dr. Neal Mayerson to break down the science, and how it’s changing lives around the world. Episode Resources: Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center – holocaustandhumanity.org Take the character strengths survey for free: Assess Your Character Strengths | Personality Assessment (holocaustandhumanity.org) Visit the VIA Institute on Character: VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports | VIA Institute Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this episode: Home - Mayerson Foundation | |||
| SNEAK PEEK: The Upstander Ripple Effect | 30 Jan 2024 | 00:01:13 | |
WHAT YOU DO IN THIS MOMENT MATTERS. The world needs more upstanders — people who stand up for themselves and others in the face of injustice — bending the arc of humanity toward its better nature. The first podcast from the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center features inspiring untold stories of courage and resilience from those who survived the Holocaust, curated exclusively from our archives. We’ll introduce you to people activating their character strengths to stand up for justice in our world today. And we’ll show you how to tap into your own strengths to become an upstander right now. Chief External Relations Officer at the Holocaust & Humanity Center Jackie Congedo joins co-host Kevin Aldridge, Opinion Editor at the Cincinnati Enquirer, in sharing these stories and thoughtful perspectives on what’s happening in the world today. The Upstander Ripple Effect will remind you that you can start ripples of change right where you are, right now.
The Upstander Ripple Effect is a production of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling.
Coming soon. | |||
| Removing labels with Lea Lachey | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:29:56 | |
Lea and Drew Lachey have been reaching audiences for decades as singers, choreographers, and performers on screens big and small. Now they’re turning their sights from just entertaining people, to encouraging them to be the best of humanity. We were so pleased to welcome Lea to the podcast studio to talk about their project – a musical called label-less. “It's really just about human stories” - Lea Lachey on the show label-less As Lea and Drew describe the show, “You’re invited to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Using contemporary music, powerful choreography and personal stories to spread a message of Heart, Humanity and Hope.” Lea joined Jackie in the podcast studio to talk about how the show came about, how she’s handling criticism of some of the monologues in the show, and her visit with the cast to the Holocaust & Humanity Center that left them feeling, “so empowered.” Download this episode today, and then share it with a friend. Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for their support of this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/ Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media Episode Resources Find out more about label-less Assess your own character strengths for free https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/ Visit the VIA Institute on Character to learn more about all 24 character strengths | |||
| Episode 6: "Lightness and Dark" featuring Zahava Rendler | 01 Nov 2024 | 01:02:07 | |
In the face of darkness, every small act of courage and empathy can ignite a beacon of hope. That lens of dark versus light is how we’re examining stories in this episode. “As I'm sitting there having this conversation with her, it's just chilling to think this person in front of me had this experience. This was not generations ago. I'm talking to the human being who spent the first two years of her life in darkness, or the first chunk of her life, right? It's just remarkable.” Zahava Rendler has spent her adult life sharing her experience of the darkness of her childhood – being born in 1941 in Poland to a Jewish family. Her family was forced to make incredibly hard decisions to survive Nazi persecution. Even through that darkness, Zahava is able to see the light that upstanders brought to her story, hiding her and her family. Jackie and Kevin also share the way light has shown up in their lives and in the news lately, and are here to remind you that whatever light you have to bring to the table is needed because we all have times when darkness seems like it’s going to win. Download this episode today, and then share it with a friend. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here Episode Resources Admission to the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center will be free every January! Read John Trautmann’s op-ed about his experience in Western North Carolina Experience Rutka at Playhouse in the Park General John Kelly’s words about Donald Trump and Hitler Read about the generals in the Nazi regime Historians are wrestling with whether Donald Trump meets the definition of a fascist. https://theconversation.com/is-donald-trump-a-fascist-heres-what-an-expert-thinks-242243 Follow Eric Ward at Race Forward https://www.raceforward.org/ Meet our Scholar in Residence | |||
| Growing the strength of courage with Dr. Cynthia Pury | 10 Oct 2024 | 00:37:12 | |
When was the last time you acted courageously? Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a courageous person. This episode can help change that. Dr. Cynthia Pury is an expert on courage, and researches the topic at Clemson University. She joined Jackie Congedo to talk about what it actually means to be courageous and how we can grow it. “I now define courage as... taking a worthwhile risk.” - Dr. Cynthia Pury Courage is one of the six virtues defined by VIA. These virtues are a way to classify the 24 character strengths that lie in all of us. VIA says “Courage describes strengths that help you exercise your will and face adversity.” The unique strengths VIA classifies as part of the virtue of courage are bravery, honesty, perseverance, and zest. In this episode, Dr. Pury shared that one way to shift your thinking about courage is to link it to your values. For instance, if you value inclusivity, it may be easier to take the risk to stand up when someone is being excluded, when you remember your personal value. She also introduced us to the notion of personal courage – acts that might not seem courageous to others, but are meaningful and risky for the individual. We learned so much from Dr. Pury in this episode, and we hope you do, too! Download this episode and start to grow your courage today. Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/ This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here for updates and new episodes https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Episode Resources: Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Take the character strengths survey for free https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/ Visit the VIA Institute on Character: https://viacharacter.org/ Find out more about Dr. Pury | |||
| Episode 5: "New Beginnings" featuring Helen Kaltman and Whitney Austin | 30 Sep 2024 | 01:15:25 | |
Throughout our lives, there are times and seasons when it’s required, or desired, to start something new. New beginnings can take many forms but there are some common elements to them – uncertainty, the need for bravery and resilience, and parts of oneself or one’s story that get left behind to make room for the new. In this episode, Jackie and Kevin explore the idea of new beginnings by examining a story in the headlines from Springfield, Ohio, where Haitian immigrants became the focus of national debate and concern. From our archive, you will hear the story of Holocaust survivor Helen Kaltman. Helen was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1937. As the threat against European Jews grew, her family fled to Russia, but was deported to Siberia. Two generations of her family joined Helen to share their reflections on what it meant for Helen to survive, and how she subsequently started her life over, not once, but twice…first in Israel and then in the United States. Then we bring you part of Jackie’s conversation with mass shooting survivor and upstander Whitney Austin. Whitney defied the odds when she was shot 12 times and lived. That was 2018. Now she is the force behind Whitney/Strong, the organization that she founded to find common ground solutions to gun violence. Download this episode today, and please share this with a friend you think might enjoy it. Thanks for being part of the Upstander Ripple Effect community! Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here to make sure you don’t miss a thing https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Episode Resources: Learn more about the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Follow Whitney Austin’s work Watch Whitney’s episode of Hear My Story Find a Stop the Bleed training Background on Haitian stereotypes
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| The Upstander Ripple Effect with Julie Dellecave and students from Winton Hills Academy | 05 Sep 2024 | 00:19:50 | |
Thousands of students come through our doors every year here at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. One special class wrote books about being upstanders. “You have to know not to judge the book by his cover, you have to actually go in depth to their into their character, into their heart.” - McKenzie Williams, Winton Hills Academy student Julie Dellecave brought her class of 6th graders to visit us, and learn more about upstanders. Upstanders are people who stand up for themselves and others against injustice. After their visit, the class took the lesson a step further and formed small groups to write books based on their experiences. In the book My Kind a boy travels the world to find people like him. He realizes everyone can be "his kind" if he accepts them. Watch the students narrate My Kind https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RIOVTwSecaMrMi3ihv-qRGz0YhiuMiNt/view In the book Human the main character is a nameless human who reflects on how people often harm each other. The authors remind us to lift each other up. Watch the students narrate Human https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UfH5CSjnmv2dkz-tyeIvDOFzy31h5Zh_/view This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation and the VIA Institute on Character for their support of this series. We want to hear from you! Email us at podcast@cincyhhc.org, or connect with us here: Learn more about us https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Find out more about what it means to be an upstander https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/ | |||
| Episode 4: "Bearing Witness" with Ed Kruszynski and Patrice O'Neill | 22 Aug 2024 | 01:10:18 | |
Jackie and Kevin start this conversation by remembering the life of a Cincinnati Holocaust survivor, Dr. Renate Neeman, z”l. As a young girl, she was hidden by the Dutch resistance - upstanders whom she credited with her survival. She shared her story for many years with students and others as part of our Coppel Speakers Bureau. Jackie and Kevin discussed a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Holocaust Museums at a crossroads” and the challenges facing organizations like the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. We also introduce Cincinnati author, Ed Kruszynski. Ed's father, Sgt. Edmund Kruszynski, led dozens of medics on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and for days afterwards, and later treated people at multiple concentration camps after liberation. Ed discovered documents that told his parents’ story, and began writing about them. The result is his book, The Medic’s Wife. Jackie and Kevin shared their reaction to Ed’s work bearing witness to all his parents went through during and after the war. The upstander featured in this episode is Patrice O’Neill. Her film, Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life tells the story of the community response to the deadly attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2018. 11 people were murdered by a gunman motivated by antisemitic hate, and the area was left reeling, but as Patrice’s moving film shows, vowed not to let hate have the last word. Share your thoughts on this episode with us: Episode Resources: Learn more about the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ We remember the life of Dr. Renate Neeman, z”l https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/remembering-dr-renate-berg-neeman-zl/ Book a speaker through our Coppel Speakers Bureau HHC staff members' trip to Auschwitz Catch the full episode of Hear My Story with Ed Kruszynski https://youtu.be/e6SZrhgFwPU?si=czfId5NPIoE_UHn0 Buy your copy of The Medic’s Wife https://www.amazon.com/Medics-Wife-Love-War-Secrets/dp/B0CHG8T2WG | |||
| Cultivating Hope with Dan Tomasulo | 05 Aug 2024 | 00:35:04 | |
If you’re in need of a healthy dose of hope, this episode is for you. Even if you don’t feel hopeful, we’re going to introduce you to an expert who can help you grow the character strength of hope that lies within all of us. “What emerged was a new science of hope. And that really got me excited, because instead of it being something that you either had, or didn't have, or it came to you, there were clearly ways that you could manifest it (if you use that language) or cultivate it.” – Dr. Dan Tomasulo Hope isn’t just a feeling. According to the VIA Institute on Character, hope is a character strength, and Dr. Dan Tomasulo says it’s a strength we can grow if we’re mindful. Dan has studied positive psychology for many years and was inspired to research hope when a colleague, Dr. Martin Seligman (one of the founders of the field of positive psychology) wrote a book called Learned Helplessness. It got Dan thinking – if people can learn to feel helpless, maybe they could also learn how to exercise hope. He’s written his own book, Learned Hopefulness, and joined host Jackie Congedo to help us understand more about the topic. He explained to Jackie that feeling like you’re in a negative spot can actually be the trigger that you can use to lean into hope, “Hope is the only positive emotion that requires negativity or uncertainty to be activated, that's what makes it so powerful and unique.” Download this episode and find out the small, simple ways you can start to activate more hope today. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don’t miss an episode. https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation and the VIA Institute on Character for their support of this series. We want to hear from you! Email your thoughts to podcast@cincyhhc.org or connect with us on social media. EPISODE RESOURCES: Learn more about the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Find out more about character strengths from the VIA Institute on Character https://www.viacharacter.org/ Our thanks to the Mayerson Foundation for their support of this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/ Find out more about Dr. Dan Tomasulo https://www.dantomasulo.com/ Read more from some of the authors Dan mentioned: Dr. Martin Seligman https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/people/martin-ep-seligman
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| Episode 3: "The American Ideal" featuring Al Miller and Eric K. Ward | 26 Jul 2024 | 01:10:42 | |
What is the American ideal? In this episode of the Upstander Ripple Effect, we dive into some of the characteristics that are often thought of when we talk about being an American – belonging and welcoming and also uniqueness and differences of perspective.
“The reality is that history doesn’t repeat itself. It echoes.” - Jackie Congedo
To best think through our current times, we rely on our understanding of history and our character strengths. We recall the lessons of the past while realizing that this moment is unique. In this episode, Jackie and Kevin bring their individual perspectives to the table to help everyone think a little more deeply about this moment in America. We share the inspiring story of Dr. Al Miller’s first encounter with an American – an immigration officer who welcomed him and extended him grace when Al realized he had temporarily misplaced his documents allowing him into the country. We also share part of our conversation with Eric K. Ward, noted expert on civil rights. Eric has done extensive work to illuminate the places where racism and antisemitism intersect, and we know you’ll find his expertise helpful to broaden your own understanding of the way hate is at work in our country now. Download this episode today, and don’t forget to leave us a review and a rating. Learn more about the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Catch the episode of Hear My Story on the life of Dr. Al Miller here https://youtu.be/mNoOIsFpGJY Watch our whole conversation with Eric Ward here https://youtu.be/KqclFr1bOq0?si=39vDxmUoev5U-nG7 Learn more about the Reichstag Fire and its place in pre-WWII history https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-reichstag-fire This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here to make sure you don’t miss a thing https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity
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| The Positivity Project with Jeff Bryan | 03 Jan 2025 | 00:20:52 | |
In this episode of The Upstander Ripple Effect, Jeff Bryan, co-founder of the Positivity Project, shares how his military background and studies in positive psychology inspired a nationwide initiative to teach character strengths in schools. | |||
| Episode 8: "Gratitude" featuring Henry Fenichel and Emily Kendall | 19 Dec 2024 | 01:01:19 | |
This episode brings a heartfelt exploration of gratitude, fittingly marking the final episode of 2024. "Gratitude is the kinetic energy behind the ripple effect." – Jackie Congedo, host and CEO of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge reflect on the year gone by, using the theme of gratitude as both a lens for reflection and a springboard for action. By closing the year on a note of thankfulness, they encourage listeners to pause and recognize the transformative power of gratitude, especially as it ties to hope, resilience, and the ripple effect of positivity in the world. They share part of a conversation with Holocaust survivor Henry Fenichel, where Henry and Director of Collections & Exhibitions, Cori Silbernagel, each express their gratitude to the other for the ways Henry’s story is shared and curated at the center. The episode also celebrates modern upstanders, such as Emily Kendall, whose work was inspired by her son Luke's ability to live in the present and approach life with inherent gratitude. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media Episode Resources Read what the VIA Institute on Character says about the strength of gratitude USC study mapping gratitude in the brain Previous episode with Dr. Dan Tomasulo on cultivating hope and practicing gratitude Watch upstander Emily Kendall's episode of Hear My Story
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| To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The life of Werner Coppel | 18 Sep 2025 | 00:23:20 | |
“Because it was brought here to Cincinnati, I think it also gives way to this idea that, you know, the Holocaust is, is international history, right? It's European history, global history, but it's our local history too.” – Director of Collections & Exhibitions Cori Silbernagel on the suitcase that Holocaust survivor Werner Coppel carried from Europe to Cincinnati Werner Coppel was just 19 when he survived a death march from Auschwitz, only to open the newspaper decades later and be faced with outright Holocaust denial in Cincinnati - the city where he had rebuilt his life and now considered home. He chose to fight back by using his voice and speaking his truth. He began telling his story and shared his personal experiences with audiences until his death in 2016. “My dad realized if he didn’t speak up, he’d be a bystander and he couldn’t do that. He had to stand up. He had to be an upstander,” said his son, Steve Coppel. This episode takes you into our archives to learn about some very important artifacts – not frequently seen publicly - that help tell Werner’s incredible story. You can learn more about Werner’s life both in the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center and in the exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. The exhibition opens in October, 2025. Link to tickets below.
The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Western & Southern Financial Group Les and Renee Sandler The Kanter/Knue Family The Neil Bortz Family Rosenthal Family Foundation Beth and Louis Guttman
To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series.
Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Presented by NEON.
Musealia https://www.musealia.net/
Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum https://www.auschwitz.org/en/
NEON https://www.neonglobal.com/en/
Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/
Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/
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| To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The lives of Henry Meyer & Bella Ouziel | 12 Sep 2025 | 00:26:51 | |
“We hear that in a lot of survivor stories... saying you're trained as something, that you're not, in a way, to survive.” - Trinity Johnson, Director of Holocaust Programs & Museum Experiences at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center This episode of our limited podcast series accompanies the upcoming exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., opening October 2025 at Cincinnati Museum Center. We share the powerful local stories of two survivors: Henry Meyer, a violin prodigy from Dresden whose musical gift became his lifeline, and Bella Ouziel, a young woman from Salonika who endured loss but found strength in camp sisterhood and spiritual resistance. Their journeys of survival and rebuilding in Cincinnati illuminate the resilience of the human spirit. The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Western & Southern Financial Group Les and Renee Sandler The Kanter/Knue Family The Neil Bortz Family Rosenthal Family Foundation Beth and Louis Guttman Interviews of Roma Kaltman, Rozalia Berke, Henry Meyer, and Bella Ouziel are from the archive of the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education For more information:
To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Presented by NEON. Musealia Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum NEON https://www.neonglobal.com/en/ Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/ Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ | |||
| Episode 11: "Resilience" and Jackie hosts from Jerusalem | 28 Mar 2025 | 00:51:32 | |
Host Jackie Congedo, CEO at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, joined this episode from her hotel in Jerusalem, where she was with leaders from Holocaust education centers around the world, studying and collaborating. “Their son had a knack for connecting with people, and for seeing the humanity in somebody else, and for caring enough about another human being with a different story to ask about that story, to want to know more about it.” -- Jackie, on meeting the parents of an Israeli soldier killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Now, they honor his memory by passing out packets of instant coffee, urging people to listen to people who are different than them. Jackie and her co-host Kevin Aldridge, Opinion & Engagement Editor at Cincinnati.com talked about some of the people she met and the experiences she had during her time in Israel, including Holocaust survivors and their families. She was also very moved by her time meeting other leaders in Holocaust education, which faces multiple challenges right now – the loss of remaining survivors, rising antisemitism, and a growing gap in knowledge about the Holocaust itself. During our taping, sirens went off in Jerusalem, indicating a safety threat, and Jackie had to quit recording and take shelter. She is fine, and we were able to continue the episode. This brief interruption left us all with a greater sense of empathy for the daily realities that people on both sides of this conflict are living with right now and the incredible resilience required to sustain life there. This episode touches on the human toll of conflict, the importance of preserving and learaning from history, and how even small acts can create ripple effects of empathy and understanding. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity Episode Resources Visit us in person or online https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Removal of articles from government websites https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/19/politics/pentagon-website-purge/index.html Dr. Eyal Kaminka and his wife Elena, on the loss of their son, Yannai, at the hands of Hamas https://time.com/6327936/israel-mother-son-death-hamas-war/ | |||
| Authentic Resilience with Fatima Doman | 21 Mar 2025 | 00:26:53 | |
“How can we all stand up for each other? Help each other more? Help each other thrive?...I believe that we're more resilient when we're building resilience together.” - Fatima Doman on being upstanders and becoming more resilient In this episode of The Upstander Ripple Effect, Fatima Doman joins the Center’s Director of External Strategic Engagement, Kara Driscoll, and explores the power of resilience and character strengths to shape how we respond to life's challenges and to be upstanders when it counts. Hear how resilience isn't just something we're born with—it can be developed intentionally. Drawing from her background in positive psychology and coaching, she shares how mindset matters when building our resilience, with such approaches as shifting from an "inner critic" to an "inner coach." Fatima highlights how bravery, kindness, and spirituality are closely linked to resilience and how these strengths can empower us to be upstanders. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build resilience and activate their strengths to make a meaningful impact! This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here to make sure you don’t miss a thing https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation and the VIA Institute on Character for their support of this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/
Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Episode Resources Learn more about Fatima Doman and take the character strengths survey Fatima’s YouTube Channel Fatima’s Books on Amazon:
Find out more about the strengths linked to resilience | |||
| Episode 10: Special Episode - Nuance in the current political environment with Dr. Sarah Crane | 02 Mar 2025 | 01:35:10 | |
“If fear is what's driving us right now, let's find out what people are afraid of, and let's have a conversation. Let's have a talk. Let's talk about that first. Let's lean into that courageously and have some honest conversations about, what is it that we're really all scared about right now, and how do we push past that, overcome that fear, to get us to a place of productivity.” host Kevin Aldridge Sometimes, episodes don’t go as planned. That happened with this shoot. Here’s why. It is early in the second Trump administration, and we have heard people express concerns about what they view as authoritarian actions. Some, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have gone as far as to warn about parallels to Nazi Germany. We wanted to address these issues with as much thought and careful consideration as possible. To do that, Jackie and Kevin invited Holocaust scholar and visiting professor at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Sarah Crane to join them. Dr. Crane has perspective to offer on the comparisons between the current moment and 1930’s Germany. We thought we would get to our regularly planned content – a story from the archives and an upstander to highlight – but the conversation with Sarah went long, and we felt it was important enough that we didn’t want to cut it off. We’ll have the stories we planned in the next episode. We hope in the meantime, that this conversation will be helpful as we all engage in the important work of listening and questioning what it means to be an American, and members of a democracy in this moment. Episode Resources
As always, we invite you to visit us in person in historic Union Terminal or online https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/
Learn more about Holocaust history
Jackie’s op-ed
News stories mentioned https://www.nprillinois.org/government-politics/2025-02-19/read-gov-pritzkers-budget-address | |||
| Learning and Perspective on the Holocaust with Dr. Sarah Crane | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:26:11 | |
This episode explores the evolving landscape of Holocaust remembrance with Dr. Sarah Crane, Visiting Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Cincinnati and Scholar in Residence at the Holocaust & Humanity Center. "The Holocaust gives us ways to answer deep questions about what it means to be human—but it’s going to keep evolving, and that’s why these conversations remain relevant." — Dr. Sarah Crane Lauren Karas, Chief Learning Officer at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, and Dr. Crane are guided by their character strengths of love of learning and perspective. They discuss how memorials, survivor testimonies, and historical trials shape our collective memory and challenge us to confront modern injustices. They emphasize that Holocaust remembrance is an ongoing, dynamic conversation—one that continues to evolve as we ask deeper questions about history, humanity, and responsibility. Tune in to discover how engaging with history can empower us all to be upstanders in today’s world. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for their support of this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/
Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Episode Resources
Read Dr. Sarah Crane’s blog post https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/scholar-in-residence-spotlight-december-2024/ Learn More About the Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Take the VIA Character Strengths Survey https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/ Read Annette Wieviorka’s book, The Era of the Witness https://www.amazon.com/Era-Witness-Annette-Wieviorka/dp/0801473160 Learn more about the trial of Adolf Eichmann https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/eichmann-trial Learn more about positive psychology with our partner, the VIA Institute on Character
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| Episode 9: "Keeping Memory Alive" feat Bob Mermelstein & Joyce Kamen | 30 Jan 2025 | 00:58:14 | |
What do we choose to remember and why? What memories should we work to keep alive? Jackie and Kevin explore that in this episode. “I think it's important for us to understand, too, why it's important to keep these stories, these legacies, alive... we all stand on the shoulders of the accomplishments and sacrifices of these individuals who've made our country, our world, a better place.” January marks two important occasions of memory for the nation and the world – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Jackie and Kevin explore the character strengths that made Dr. King a transformative leader and how the Holocaust & Humanity Center is expanding its efforts to keep the memory of the survivors who founded its predecessor organizations alive. Joan Mermelstein survived Auschwitz and two other concentration camps. Her son Bob shares how he's keeping her memory alive. Joyce Kamen did meticulous work in preserving Holocaust testimonies in the 90's and demonstrated how stories must be handled with care and reverence. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Episode Resources Read the article Making Heroes is Community Work Visit the exhibit on Emmett Till at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center Read more on the lives of Dr. King and Anne Frank, born just months apart in 1929 How the world is marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day Watch the episode of Hear My Story featuring Bob Mermelstein Watch the episode of Hear My Story with Joyce Kamen
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| Leadership with Dr. Gail Fairhurst | 16 Jan 2025 | 00:25:30 | |
One way we can be upstanders is to embrace our ability to be leaders. Dr. Gail Fairhurst has studied communication and leadership extensively, and joins us to share her best insights on how we can lean into leadership in our everyday lives. " A communication approach is going to look at how we together negotiate meaning about whatever is the task before us, whatever our identities are, or what our relationship is like together." – Dr. Fairhurst on approaching leadership with a communication lens Dr. Fairhurst is a Distinguished Research Professor in the University of Cincinnati’s School of Communication, Film and Media Studies. In this episode, she shares her expertise on how language shapes meaning and influences leadership. In this conversation with Kara Driscoll, Director of Marketing & Events at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, Dr. Fairhurst encourages us to reflect on our communication styles and habits and become more sensitive to the power of words. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for their support of this series
Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Episode Resources
Investigate your own character strengths for free https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/
Dive deep on character strengths and positive psychology with our partner, the VIA Institute on Character https://www.viacharacter.org/
Read more about Dr. Fairhurst and her work https://canopy.uc.edu/default/news/detail?feed=uc_news&id=edf7d1fb-ca3d-5135-9e8b-49b2d68f56a0
Buy The Power of Framing: Creating the Language of Leadership
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| The Upstander Ripple Effect: Self-Awareness | 12 Sep 2025 | 00:26:51 | |
“Bias doesn’t just live in the people we don’t like. It lives in the mirrors that we look in every day in our homes.” – Kevin Aldridge Season 2 of The Upstander Ripple Effect kicks off with a powerful conversation about self-awareness—how recognizing our own biases, blind spots, and strengths shapes how we behave in our lives and communities. Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge reflect on current events, the challenges of honest self-reflection, and the importance of “knowing ourselves accurately.” Later, guest Carrie McCarthy shares how Pleasant Hill Middle School in Cincinnati is embedding character strengths and upstander values into the heart of its culture, inspiring students to see themselves—and each other—as capable of creating positive change. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity Episode Resources Kevin’s Op-Ed The Key to Critical Self-Awareness by Arthur C. Brooks (subscription required) https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/04/know-yourself-socrates/682458/
Upstander curriculum resources https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/resources/upstander-activities/
Action Reconciliation Service for Peace
From Nazism to Never Again by Richard Evans (subscription may be required) https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/western-europe/2017-12-12/nazism-never-again | |||
| To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. A trip to Poland | 15 Aug 2025 | 00:14:47 | |
Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. opens at Cincinnati Museum Center in October 2025. For those who have never visited the camp, it represents an unparalleled learning opportunity. “The people are not present… but there are traces of them still in those buildings.” —Cori Silbernagel What can Auschwitz still teach us today? A visit to Poland made by two of our staff, Cori Silbernagel, Director of Collections & Exhibitions, and Trinity Johnson, Director of Holocaust Programs & Museum Experiences, may help shed some light on that question. They share powerful moments from behind-the-scenes spaces like Block 10 and an unpreserved barrack, where the fingerprints of Soviet POWs remain in the brick mortar. 80 years after liberation, the world may think it knows most everything about the space and history of Auschwitz. Cori and Trinity’s conversation shows us that we are never really done learning, and that Auschwitz still holds lessons for us today. Those who visit Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. will not just see the same exhibition shown around the world. They will also get in-depth local stories of Auschwitz survivors who immigrated to Cincinnati. During WWII, the historic train station where this exhibition will be shown saw millions of American servicemen come through its doors. But there was another group of travelers whose lives would be impacted by Union Terminal. More than 1,000 Jews who survived the Holocaust immigrated to Cincinnati, arriving in the very building where the public will be able to view Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Western & Southern Financial Group Les and Renee Sandler The Kanter/Knue Family The Neil Bortz Family Rosenthal Family Foundation Beth and Louis Guttman To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Presented by NEON. Musealia https://www.musealia.net/ Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum https://www.auschwitz.org/en/ NEON https://www.neonglobal.com/en/ Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/ Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/
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| To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The lives of Roma Kaltman & Rozalia Berke | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:17:23 | |
She said, "Will you take me as a sister?" And we said, "Yes, you will be our third sister.” And that's how we went through the war to be known as the three sisters." We were always holding hands together so we wouldn't be separated. - Rozalia Berke, Auschwitz survivor In Auschwitz, two sisters chose resistance — not with weapons, but with books, courage, and love. Roma and Rozalia Kaltman survived the Holocaust by clinging to each other and forming a chosen family with a third girl in the camps, Danka. Together, they became "the three sisters," and stayed alive despite dehumanization and death marches. Cori Silbernagel, Director of Collections & Exhibitions is joined by Trinity Johnson, Director of Holocaust Programs & Museum Experiences to explore the stories of these incredible women by sharing a few minutes of them in their own words. Even though Roma and Rozalia are gone, their lives continue to move and inspire us. This episode is part of a limited series, created to enrich the experience of visitors planning to attend the exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. Coming to Cincinnati Museum Center in October, 2025. Those who visit will not just see the same exhibition shown around the world. They will also get in-depth local stories of Auschwitz survivors who immigrated to Cincinnati. During WWII, the historic train station where this exhibition will be shown saw millions of American servicemen come through its doors. But there was another group of travelers whose lives would be impacted by Union Terminal. More than 1,000 Jews who survived the Holocaust immigrated to Cincinnati, arriving in the very building where the public will be able to view Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Western & Southern Financial Group Les and Renee Sandler The Kanter/Knue Family The Neil Bortz Family Rosenthal Family Foundation Beth and Louis Guttman Interviews of Roma Kaltman, Rozalia Berke, Henry Meyer, and Bella Ouziel are from the archive of the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education For more information: http://sfi.usc.edu/ To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Presented by NEON. Musealia https://www.musealia.net/ Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum https://www.auschwitz.org/en/ NEON https://www.neonglobal.com/en/ Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/ Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ | |||
| To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The lives of Henry Carter & Leo Wilich | 01 Aug 2025 | 00:12:37 | |
Step behind the scenes, into the archives of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, in Union Terminal, to explore the lives of Henry Carter and Leo Wilich—Auschwitz survivors who rebuilt their lives in Cincinnati. “Henry didn't sit idly by in the ghetto. He, through acts that were both big and small, did what he could to resist, and he became involved in the underground movement. When I look at this photograph of Henry, I can see - I can see that courage within his face.”
You’ll hear how Henry risked everything to resist Nazi rule from inside the Krakow ghetto, and how he later adopted a child orphaned by the Holocaust. We also explore Leo’s ritual of putting on his camp uniform during hard times—reminding himself that he had already survived the worst. We share these stories ahead of a landmark collection of artifacts and photos from Auschwitz, coming to Cincinnati in October 2025. In this limited series, we’ll add insight and local context to this internationally renowned exhibition. Those who visit will not just see the same exhibition shown around the world. They will also get in-depth local stories of Auschwitz survivors who immigrated to Cincinnati. During WWII, the historic train station where this exhibition will be shown saw millions of American servicemen come through its doors. But there was another group of travelers whose lives would be impacted by Union Terminal. More than 1,000 Jews who survived the Holocaust immigrated to Cincinnati, arriving in the very building where the public will be able to view Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Western & Southern Financial Group Les and Renee Sandler The Kanter/Knue Family The Neil Bortz Family Rosenthal Family Foundation Beth and Louis Guttman To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Presented by NEON. For more information, please visit: Musealia Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum NEON https://www.neonglobal.com/en/ Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/
Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ | |||
| To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati | 23 Jul 2025 | 00:29:19 | |
A landmark collection of artifacts and photos from Auschwitz is coming to Cincinnati in October 2025. To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Presented by NEON. | |||
| Episode 14: Upstanders Rise (Season finale) | 30 Jun 2025 | 01:05:57 | |
The last show of Season One is officially in the books! In this episode, we wrap up the first season of The Upstander Ripple Effect with gratitude, reflection, and—of course—inspiration. Jackie and Kevin dig into some of the headline-making moments shaping our world, from political hypocrisy to the challenges of breaking out of our echo chambers. Together, they explore what real resistance looks like, what it means to build (not just tear down), and how upstanders can center shared humanity in times of crisis. We also celebrate the 2025 Upstander Awards—highlighting everyday heroes like Mitch Morris, who’s bringing hope to Cincinnati’s youth and communities impacted by gun violence. Plus, hear about celebrity host Jesse Eisenberg, who made this year's Upstander Awards truly special. Tune in for one last dose of courage and curiosity this season! This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Episode Resources
Visit the Center in person or online https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ Kevin’s award-winning commentary on Sunlite Pool https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/2024/03/13/cincinnati-symphony-orchestra-coney-island-sunlite-pool-closing/72932938007/ “I study the resistance against the Nazis. Here’s what the US left can learn from it.” by Luke Berryman https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/22/democratic-resistance-trump “Op-Ed: You Don’t Get To Burn It Down If You’ve Never Built A Damn Thing” by Eric K. Ward https://newsone.com/6203638/palestinian-israel-op-ed/ “Cognitive Dissonance in Politics: How Conflicting Beliefs Shape Political Behavior” by the NeuroLaunch editorial team https://neurolaunch.com/cognitive-dissonance-in-politics/ Read more about Upstander Award winner Mitch Morris https://www.saveouryouthcincinnati.com/ Coverage of Jesse Eisenberg’s visit to Cincinnati https://www.wlwt.com/article/jesse-eisenberg-hosts-upstander-awards-at-humanity-center/65149012 Free educational webinar series HHC is participating in https://ahecinfo.org/what-history-teaches-the-rise-of-nazism/ | |||
| Episode 13: "Perspective" featuring Lisa MacVittie & Dr. Christian Gausvik | 06 Jun 2025 | 01:17:26 | |
Attacks on Jewish communities. Corporate retreats from Pride Month. Rhetoric heating up on all sides. What does it take to pause, reflect, and truly see the world through someone else’s eyes? | |||
| Episode 12: "Empathy" featuring Conrad Weiner & Tulane Chartock | 09 May 2025 | 01:01:45 | |
In this episode of The Upstander Ripple Effect, hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge dive deep into the idea of empathy—what it really means, why some people are questioning its value, and how it plays a powerful role in standing up for others. Along the way, they reflect on how empathy is often misunderstood as agreement, when really, it’s about connection and understanding. As Kevin puts it: “Empathy is what helps bring us to a point of understanding, which then can dictate better our responses, our actions, and our words... What you are validating is their lived experience, which cannot be invalidated.” The episode also features moving stories from the archive at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, including Holocaust survivor Conrad Weiner, who reminds us of the danger of indifference, and Tulane Chartock, a social worker who helped Holocaust survivors rebuild their lives in Cincinnati. Both stories show how empathy can shape our lives. And in our Upstander Shoutout, we recognize Brandon Saho, a former Cincinnati sports reporter turned mental health advocate. Through his podcast The Mental Game, Brandon is creating space for honest conversations about mental health, especially in the often tough-it-out world of sports. This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org Find us on social media https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Episode Resources Visit the Center in person or online https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/
Upstander month is coming up in June – learn about all the incredible events here https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/events/upstander-month/ Watch Conrad’s full story https://youtu.be/HOolNTqKAo8 Watch Tulane’s story https://youtu.be/uBE4tsLmvPY
Articles on the subject of “toxic” empathy https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/politics/elon-musk-rogan-interview-empathy-doge/index.html The late Pope Francis' words about empathy https://catholicreview.org/pope-skill-performance-are-not-enough-empathy-heart-needed-at-work/ Upstander work by Brandon Saho, fighting the stigma around mental health https://www.facebook.com/BrandonSaho Apply for a free suicide prevention “You’re Not Alone” sign | |||