Inherited Fear and Anxiety with Dr. Benjamin Goldstein
Chosen For What?
In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, an Israeli-Canadian physician and third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors. Drawing from personal reflection and lived experience, Dr. Goldstein explores how inherited fear and anxiety can quietly shape family dynamics, identity, and worldview, often without being recognized until much later in life. He shares vivid memories of his grandparents’ habits (like never leaving food on the plate or clinging tightly to loved ones) that once seemed harmless but now reveal the deep...
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Guilt, Gratitude, and Hope with Monica Mendel
Chosen For What?
This week, Chosen For What? host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Monica Mendel, a second-generation Holocaust survivor whose life has been profoundly shaped by her parents’ wartime experiences. Monica shares the moving story of her family’s survival, the silence that often surrounded those memories, and the emotional journey of uncovering the details later in life. Together, Tommy and Monica explore how growing up with Holocaust survivor parents can influence everything from identity and values to parenting styles and worldviews. They discuss the importance of Holocaust education, the...
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Fourth Generation Reflections with Emma Berger
Chosen For What?
In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Emma Berger, the great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivor Anne and granddaughter of Heidi Berger, President of the Foundation for Genocide Education. As the first fourth-generation guest on the podcast, Emma offers a unique and deeply personal perspective on how the memory of the Holocaust continues to shape identity, values, and family connection—even generations later. She shares how carrying her great-grandmother’s Hebrew name has profoundly influenced her sense of self, and what it means to grow up...
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Understanding Trauma with Eva Fogelman
Chosen For What?
What does it really mean to inherit trauma? In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Dr. Eva Fogelman, a renowned psychologist, author, and pioneer in the study of Holocaust trauma and its intergenerational impact. Dr. Fogelman challenges the common assumption that the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors directly inherit trauma. Instead, she explains that what is often passed down are worldviews, communication styles, and relationship patterns shaped by survivor experiences. Together, Tommy and Dr. Fogelman explore how this legacy unfolds over...
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The Importance of Holocaust Education with Barbara Goldstein
Chosen For What?
Holocaust education isn’t only about teaching history; it’s about ensuring that the human stories behind that history are never forgotten. On this episode of Chosen For What? host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Barbara Goldstein, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and a dedicated advocate for Holocaust education in the United States. Barbara shares her personal journey of growing up with survivor parents, each carrying profoundly different experiences of the Holocaust, and how those legacies shaped her own identity. She also reflects on her work as an educator in Florida, where...
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Keeping Their Memories Alive with Agneta Hollander
Chosen For What?
On this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Agneta Hollander, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors who chose to speak openly about their experiences. Her mother was deported to Auschwitz at just 14, and her father spent four and a half years imprisoned in camps. For Agneta, growing up in a home where these stories were part of daily life profoundly shaped her understanding of identity, resilience, and responsibility. In their conversation, Agneta reflects on how traditions, recipes, and rituals became a way to honor the grandparents she never met. She also...
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Planning for the Unimaginable with Barbara Cieply
Chosen For What?
In the premiere episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Barbara Cieply, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, to explore how her family’s history of loss, resilience, and survival has shaped her life. Through Barbara’s story, we gain an in-depth, personal understanding of why Holocaust education is so important; not just to remember the millions of Jews who were murdered, but to ensure that future generations learn from the past and stand against hate and violence in all its forms. Barbara shares just how her parents’ remarkable journey, from surviving...
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TRAILER: Chosen For What? Presented by the Foundation for Genocide Education
Chosen For What?
Chosen For What? is a powerful new podcast that dives deep into the personal stories of second and third generation Holocaust survivors. Hosted by acclaimed broadcaster and author Tommy Schnurmacher (whose own mother survived the horrors of Auschwitz), this original series features raw, unfiltered conversations with the children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of those who endured and survived the Holocaust. The first episode drops on October 9th, with new episodes every Thursday thereafter. To make a donation or to learn more about The Foundation for Genocide...
info_outlineIn the premiere episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Barbara Cieply, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, to explore how her family’s history of loss, resilience, and survival has shaped her life.
Through Barbara’s story, we gain an in-depth, personal understanding of why Holocaust education is so important; not just to remember the millions of Jews who were murdered, but to ensure that future generations learn from the past and stand against hate and violence in all its forms.
Barbara shares just how her parents’ remarkable journey, from surviving Nazi-occupied Poland to rebuilding their lives in a new country, impacted her upbringing and outlook, as well as the ripple effects that followed.
Barbara reflects on the unspoken trauma passed down through the generations, the cultural and emotional challenges of growing up in a Holocaust survivor household, and how she’s found ways to honour her family’s legacy.
This candid conversation offers insight into how Holocaust survivors coped and rebuilt their lives after the genocide , and how their stories can inspire today’s fight against hatred and intolerance.
Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides.
To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.