Dovid Bashevkin | The Achdus Crisis We Pretend Doesn’t Exist
Release Date: 07/12/2025
Mendel Mintz | "We Just Wanted To Build a Family"
Meaningful People
In this deeply personal conversation, Mendel Mintz shares his journey of growing up in Crown Heights with a lifelong physical disability, building a life of community impact, and finding unexpected love with his wife, Miriam, a beloved special educator from Baltimore born with dwarfism. He opens up about their dream of building a family through IVF, the joy of being on the brink of shlichus together, and the unimaginable tragedy of losing Miriam to an extremely rare complication at the very height of their lives. Mendel reflects with searing honesty on grief, walking out of the hospital alone,...
info_outline
Glenn Cohen | The Former Mossad Psychologist in the Room When the Hostages Returned
Meaningful People
In this extraordinary episode, Nachi Gordon sits down with Glenn Cohen — former chief psychologist of the Mossad, helicopter pilot, and trauma expert — for one of the most riveting conversations ever featured on Meaningful People. From rescuing soldiers in Lebanon to counseling hostages freed after October 7th, Glenn has witnessed the darkest sides of humanity — and the boundless strength of the human spirit. He shares powerful firsthand accounts from meeting newly released hostages, insights into Mossad’s secret world, and the psychology of resilience that enables ordinary people to...
info_outline
Michal Weinstein: Her Father Vanished. 19 Years Later, the Truth Finally Came Out.
Meaningful People
The Miracle After the Darkness – Michal Weinstein’s Unbelievable Story When Michal Weinstein was just ten years old, her father — a respected diamond dealer and Israeli diplomat — vanished without a trace. For nearly two decades, her family lived in painful uncertainty, surrounded by rumors, fear, and unanswered questions. In this gripping episode, Michal opens up to Nachi Gordon about the shocking twists that followed: corruption at the highest levels, a decades-long mystery, and an unimaginable discovery that finally brought truth and closure 19 years later. From her childhood in Far...
info_outline
Why the Frum World Is Becoming Financially Unsustainable
Meaningful People
In this Meaningful People episode, financial advisor Moshe Alpert and community advocate Shmuly Hartstein unpack why many frum “middle‑class” families earning $200–300K still feel underwater—tuition that rivals a salary, yom tov and camp costs, seminary and simcha expectations, and the quiet creep of credit‑card debt. They debate income‑based tuition and communal funding versus personal responsibility, and share practical moves: make a real plan, build a budget, ask for a raise or start a side hustle, prioritize local schools in tzedakah, consider lower‑cost simchas or...
info_outline
The Shidduch System May Be Broken. Adina Reich Has a Solution.
Meaningful People
In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, veteran shadchan Adina Reich traces the evolution of the shidduch system — from handwritten index cards to WhatsApp chats — and reflects on the hopes, heartbreak, and faith that define it. She opens up about the challenges singles and parents face, the emotional toll on shadchanim, and her groundbreaking new initiative, The Shidduch Lounge, designed to bring back organic, Torah-centered connections. With humor, honesty, and compassion, Adina offers both an insider’s view of the shidduch world and a vision for how it can heal. This episode...
info_outline
Our Most REPLAYED Moments Ever (You’ll See Why)
Meaningful People
The Meaningful People Podcast had hundreds of incredible moments but some stood out above the rest. In this special episode, we’re looking back at the most rewatched clips that YOU couldn’t stop sharing. From miraculous stories at sea, to raw debates about Aliyah, to powerful street interviews after October 7, these were the conversations that went viral, sparked emotion, and left people talking long after the episode ended. 🎥 Featuring unforgettable moments with Danielle Renov, Flynn Goldstein, Shulem Lemmer, and more. These clips are just a taste of the many deep, funny, raw, and...
info_outline
Rachel Tuchman: Ozempic, Weight Loss, and Our Community’s Obsession
Meaningful People
In this eye-opening conversation, therapist Rachel Tuchman dives deep into the way we talk about food, body image, and health in the frum community — and why it matters more than we think. From Yom Tov tables filled with diet talk to the surge of GLP-1 weight-loss injections, Rachel explores how these messages shape our children’s self-image, strain our relationships, and fuel anxiety. She challenges the obsession with quick fixes and encourages a shift toward true health — meaningful connection, joy around food, and emotional well-being. A must-listen for anyone who wants to build a...
info_outline
R’ Shoff Q&A on the Campus Where Charlie Kirk Was Killed
Meaningful People
Rabbi Elchanan Shoff visits the campus where Charlie Kirk was tragically shot to host an open Ask Me Anything with students. In this powerful and candid conversation, he answers tough questions about Judaism, Israel, antisemitism, faith, and the meaning of life after tragedy. Students raise concerns about controversial Talmud passages, AIPAC and politics, interfaith differences, and what happens after death — and Rabbi Shoff responds with clarity, warmth, and respect. This unique exchange captures raw, honest dialogue at a moment of national shock, bridging gaps between communities and...
info_outline
Gila’s Story: A Father’s Mission to Save Lives
Meaningful People
In this deeply moving conversation, Rabbi Hammer opens up about his daughter Gila—her vibrant spirit, her struggles following a traumatic assault, and the painful journey that led to her tragic passing. He shares stories of Gila’s infectious joy, her kindness, and her larger-than-life presence, as well as the challenges she faced when navigating pain and despair. Through this heartfelt interview, Rabbi Hammer reflects on the importance of open dialogue about mental health and suicide prevention. He speaks about the founding of Gila’s Way, an organization dedicated to raising awareness,...
info_outline
From Puerto Rico to Satmar: Malkie Wiener's Improbable Journey
Meaningful People
In this inspiring episode, Malkie Weiner shares her extraordinary life story: from her Catholic upbringing in Puerto Rico, to her family’s unexpected spiritual search, their conversion to Judaism, and their eventual integration into the Hasidic community of Williamsburg. Malkie opens up about: 🌍 Growing up between two worlds: Puerto Rican roots & New York life 🙏 Her father’s spiritual quest that led the family to Judaism ✡️ The challenges and beauty of converting and becoming part of Klal Yisroel 💔 Facing antisemitism as a child and finding strength in her...
info_outlineIn this wide-ranging and deeply honest episode, Dovid Bashevkin unpacks one of the most pressing and overlooked issues in the Jewish world today: the fragmentation of the Orthodox community and the illusion of unity we like to project. With humor, vulnerability, and rare clarity, he explores why we’re lonelier than ever despite packed shuls and buzzing WhatsApp groups, how labels like “Modern Orthodox” and “Yeshivish” have shifted from ideological statements to institutional shorthand, and what it would actually take to foster real achdus, not just feel-good unity, but the kind that demands humility, discomfort, and real work.
Dovid doesn't just point to problems; he calls for a fundamental shift in how we build community, raise children, and see ourselves in relation to other Jews. He challenges the frum world to stop outsourcing spiritual leadership to secular institutions and to reclaim the responsibility of engaging with the entire Jewish people, across lines of observance, geography, and history. This conversation dives deep into questions of identity, leadership, and personal responsibility, offering a sobering yet hopeful vision for what Jewish life could look like if we stopped waiting for the shofar and started living like redemption is already possible.
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:
►Blooms Kosher
Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.
______________________________________
► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again!
https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp
_______________________________________
► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka
_______________________________________
► Toveedo
Visit- https://toveedo.com/
Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off!
_______________________________________
► Lalechet
We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.
https://www.lalechet.com
___________________________________________
►Rothenberg Law Firm
Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!
Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation
____________________________________
► NRS Pay - Honest, clean credit card processing.
_________________________________________
► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp
https://www.townappliance.com
https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp
______________________________________
► Faith It Till You Make It
Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan’s course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing!
Your guide to keeping your faith in today's complicated world!
www.Meaningfulminute.org/censible
____________________________________________________
► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
https://apple.co/2WALuE2
https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO
Or wherever Podcasts are available!
Editor: Sruly Saftlas